Manga Tak (Manga Tak)

On this pilot episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Zane from Undisputed Anime to talk in depth about Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen Zero. 

The story follows Yuta, who is a high school student haunted by his childhood sweetheart, Rika. After a tragic accident, Rika is turned into special grade, vengeful curse that forces Yuta to keep his distance from everyone for fear of what she’ll do to them. After an incident at his old school, Yuta is taken in by Satoru Gojo and enrolled in Tokyo Jujutsu Technical High: a training school for Jujutsu sorcerers, in order for him to learn to use his powers.

Join us for a very in-depth chat that ended up informing the format of the show going forward, but be warned: there will be spoilers!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Join us we set sail on a new podcasting adventure called Manga Tak! On this first episode, Mat talks with his long time podcasting partner Tom to discuss Eiichiro Oda's classic: One Piece!

One Piece is the story of Monkey D. Luffy, a young man who embarks on a quest to seek out Gold Roger's ultimate treasure, the One Piece, and fulfil his dream to become the King of Pirates! 

Join us as we talk about one of our favourite Manga series' of all time and why we think that even if you're intimidated by it's 100+ volumes, One Piece is something that should be on your manga reading list!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this  episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by AC (aka ProdTally) to talk in depth about Rumiko Takahashi's Urusei Yatsura.

It’s the story of Ataru Moroboshi, an extremely unlucky and lecherous guy who is randomly selected by a computer to face off against an alien race, known as the Oni, in a game of tag to prevent them taking over the world. His opponent? The daughter of their leader, the vivacious Lum. And that’s only the start of it! 

Join us as we chat about what we love about Lum and Takahashi's work in general, what made AC start #DailyLum and much more besides!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Ian Sta. Maria (takbotikbalang) to talk about the excellent Battle Angel Alita by Yukito Kishiro!

Originally published in Shueisha’s Business Jump from 1990 to 1995, Gunmu, or Battle Angel Alita as we know it in the West, is a Cyber Punk epic about an amnesiac female cyborg called Alita. Who after being revived by cyber doctor Daisuke Ido, sets off on a quest to uncover her forgotten past on the streets of Iron City.

Join us as we chat about what makes the book so strong, the challenges of localisation and why you should never take the word of a teenage tastemaker at your local comic book store!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Alex (aka snesdrunk) to talk about the wonderful Frieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe

As the title suggest, the manga is the story of Frieren, the titular Elven mage, who at the beginning of the story has defeated the Demon King with her fellow adventures and brought peace to the land. But Frieren, being an elf, will long outlive the rest of her former party. 

Decades after their victory, at the funeral of one of her party members, Frieren is forced to confront her near immortality and sets off to fulfil the last wishes of her old comrades and start a new adventure.

Join us as we chat about why it's the best 16-bit RPG never made, the wonders of stories like this and how it's a warm cup of tea in manga form!

For the avid newsletter readers amongst you, find and support Alex's substack here!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined once again by Tom to talk about one of our favourites: Fullmetal Alchemist.

Launched in 2001 in Square Enix’s Monthly Shonen Gangan, Fullmetal Alchemist is a corner stone of early 2000’s shonen manga. It’s the story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers with a gift for alchemy, on a quest to find the philosophers stone to right the wrongs of their youth and restore their bodies after a failed attempt to bring their mother back to life using their gift.

Join us as we about why this manga is still remembered so fondly almost 20 years after release, why it was big in the UK and how it balances humour and tragedy like nothing else on the shelves of your local comic book store!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by the AC MacDonald, creator of Twistwood Tales, to discuss the excellent Akane Banashi!

Started in Shonen Jump back in February 2022, it's the story of a teenager who wants to become a Rakugo performer (aka a Rukugo-Ka) to prove the worth of her father's art after his explosion from the Arakawa school.

Join us as we discuss why we both adore this manga, the joys of stories about stories and how the manga inspired Mat to seek out a real Rakugo performance while on his last Tokyo trip!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by the Tsu Tsu Dae, co-host of the Undisputed Anime Podcast to discuss our first Shōjo title, Orange! 

Launched in Shueshia’s Bessatsu Margaret magazine in March 2012, Orange is a manga by writer / artist Ichigo Takano. It's a story of teen angst, time travel and a the challenges of mental health. While the latter aren't your typical Shōjo plot points, Orange is considered to be a modern classic of the genre.

Join us to hear why we both love this book, how it manages to delicately handle sensitive topics and why we need more Shōjo in the English language!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined once again by Tom to discuss the under rated single volume story by Akira Toriyama, Sand Land!

Originally serialised in Shonen Jump between May and August of the year 2000, Akira Toriyama’s Sandland is a 14 chapter, single volume work set on a barren Earth where Demons and Humans co-exist. 

In this world, the only known water supply is controlled by a greedy king, so a sheriff called Rao enlists the help of Beelzebub and Thief to look for a long lost lake to challenge the status quo. Along the way, they get into tank battles, fight bandits and even face off against a dragon. It’s a very Akira Toriyama tail for sure!

Join us to hear why we both love this book, how we'd have loved more 'mature' works like this from Akira Toriyama and how one man's pain of drawing tanks can lead to such a great story!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined (for real this time!) by Zane of the Undisputed Anime Podcast to chew the fat about Delicious in Dungeon by Ryōko Kui!

Originally published in Enterbrain’s Harta magazine from 2014 to 2023, Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui is a manga that undoubtedly became the smash hit of the Spring 2024 anime season. The story follows a party of young adventurers determined to fight their way back through a dungeon to save a fallen comrade. There’s just one problem: after their latest escape, they’ve lost all of their money and provisions! How can they survive in a dungeon without food?

But Laios, one of the young adventurers has a brilliant idea: ‘what if instead of buying food, we ate monsters in the dungeon instead?’ Picky eaters beware, because as the party soon learn: everything is Delicious in Dungeon.

Join us to hear how we both bought this book at the same time, how Ryōko Kui reinvented some classic monsters and why this book deserves a place on your shelf!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, I'm joined by Lea from Faraos Cigarer in Copenhagen to discuss the excellent God Bless the Mistaken by Nakatani Nio!

Originally published in ASCII Mediawork’s Dengeki Daioh magazine in Japan, God Bless the Mistaken is the 2021 follow up to Nakatani Nio’s incredibly popular Bloom Into You. Rather than Yuri romance though, God Bless the Mistaken is a sci-fi slice of life story in which Kon Wataya becomes a research assistant of his landlord, Kasane Himesaki, the world’s leading expert on Exceptional Phenomena.

What are Exceptional Phenomena, while simply put, they’re bugs in reality that cause the world to alter in interesting and often inconvenient ways. In their ever changing world, there’s only one thing that’s certain, and that’s the most ordinary moments can sometimes be the most extraordinary of all!

Join us to hear our theories on the title, the dangers of working construction in a bug filled world and Lea's top 3 one shot recommendations!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, I'm joined by Graphic Designer / Comic artist Jibé to discuss the classic manga The Ghost in The Shell by Masamune Shirow.

Originally published from April 1989 to November 1990 in Kodansha’s Young Magazine, The Ghost in the Shell is considered a seminal work not only in the manga sphere, but as a foundational piece of the cyber punk genre. 

It is the tale of cyborg super agent Major Motoko Kusanagi and the Public Security Section 9 counter-cyberterrorist organisation. When Major Kusanagi tracks the master hacker, the Puppet Master, her quest leads her into a world beyond information and technology where the very nature of consciousness and the human soul are turned upside down.

It’s a tale of politics, technology and metaphysics that poses the question: what does it truly mean to be human?

Join us as we role up our philosophical (not to mention metaphorical) sleeves to discuss the themes of the book, compare what's on the page to the anime OVA and somehow end up drawing comparisons between it and classical literature... 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, I'm joined by my good friend, illustrator and graphic designer, Crystal to discuss Kaiju No. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto.
 
First published digitally on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ app, Kaiju No. 8 is a series written and illustrated by Naoya Matsumoto. It’s the story of Kafka Hibino, a kaiju-corpse cleanup guy who still dreams about making it into the Japan Defence Force, an elite military unit who eliminate the Kaiju that terrorise the country, to fulfil a childhood promise to his friend Mina. 

But when Kafka gets a second chance to try out for the defence force, he undergoes an unexpected transformation! How can he fight Kaiju now that he’s become one himself? 
 
Join us as we get into the weeds on what it means to be 'kaiju', the fine line between quality and originality, and dropping many, many hot takes...

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined once again by Tom to discuss the classic Go Nagai horror manga, Devilman!

After Toei Animation requested a lighter version of his manga, Demon Lord Dante, that could be turned into an anime, Go Nagai created Devilman. Given specific direction to make the manga darker, Nagai launched a more adult work in Kodansha’ Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 1972, just a month before the anime was due to air.

Devilman is the story of Akira Fudo, a high school student who absorbs the power of a demon called Amon in order to battle the demons hidden in human society. Only a human with a pure heart can wield such a power without fear of corruption. Once little more than a crybaby, Akira now weilds the terrible power of a devil, yet holds the innocent soul of a man… Thus Devilman!

Join us to hear why Mat finally isn't loving a book covered on the podcast, the influence of Go Nagai on the world of manga and how even in a bleak story, a little bit of hope goes a long way!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Nick (aka RetroBreak) to discuss Insomniacs After School by Makoto Ojiro.

First published by Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirit, Insomniacs After School is a seinen manga by Makoto Ojiro. It's the story of Ganta Makami, an insomniac high school student who struggles socially thanks to his constant state of tiredness. 

His life changes one day when he stumbles across Isaki Magari, a fellow student and insomniac, napping in the school's abandoned (and supposedly haunted) observatory, and the two form an unlikely friendship because of their affliction.

It all goes smoothly until one day a teacher discovers they're using the observatory without permission, forcing Ganta and Isaki to restart the school's astronomy club to stay in their sleepy sanctuary. 

Join us as discuss how Nick found out about this book, how we feel about it and more importantly, would we recommend you to pick it up for yourself!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Bar (aka InkByBar) to discuss Kodansha's epic football / soccer manga, Blue Lock.

First published in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine back in 2018, Blue Lock, written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and drawn by Yusuke Nomura, is a Football Battle Royale mange in which to craft the world’s best striker, 300 Japanese high schoolers are asked to join the Blue Lock program in the hopes of producing the next top striker to help Japan win the World Cup.

It’s an insane premise, but one Yoichi Isagi gladly signs up for. However, he quickly learns that life in Blue Lock isn’t at all like the football he’s been playing all his life, and that to live up to the expectations of the new Japanese coach, Jinpachi Ego, he will have to relearn the game and what it means to be a striker.

Join us as we discuss sports manga in general, the amazing character design and above all else, if we think this book is worth picking up! 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Christophe Galati to discuss Hayao Miyazaki's epic Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

Originally published in the pages of Japan’s premier otaku magazine, Animage, Nausicaa is Miyazaki’s Manga Magnum opus. 

Like his movie of the same name, Nausicaa is the story of the titular princess from a small kingdom, who finds herself thrown into a war fought between rival nations over an ancient weapon. 

Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic earth, Nausicaa is a tale that touches upon man's relationship with nature, the ecological impact of industry and the horrors of war.

Join us as we discuss it's huge impact on Japanese pop culture, how the work ripples through all of Miyazaki's work and why it's always good to support local manga stores!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Just in time for the launch of the new anime reboot from Mappa, Mat is joined once again by AC (aka @ProdTally) to talk about another of Rumiko Takahashi's works: this time it's the undisputed classic, Ranma 1/2!

Join us as we talk through Ranma's cultural context and history, both in Japan and as one the trail blazing first manga to crack the Western market, how it differs from Urusei Yatsura, and more importantly, why it's such a beloved work the world over!  

Warning: Light Spoilers on the Manga's end from 37:24 - 38:60

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Want to hear all about the Manga behind the hottest new Anime of the Fall 2024 line up? Well, look no further! Mat is joined by the hosts of The Undisputed Anime Podcast, ZaneTaichou AND TsuTsuDae to talk about one of our favourite current Manga titles, Dan Da Dan!

Join us as we talk about the book's impact, how it blends incredible art and humour to tackle difficult subjects, not to mention getting into the weeds on how we view different creators and their creations...

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined by LumRanmaYasha to talk about a triple header of firsts for the podcast: Yuri, Food and Josei, with She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki.

Join us as we talk through the books representation of identity, how food is the perfect engine for emotional storytelling, not to mention how joyful it can be to see two people just chow down!  

(Sorry again about the audio hick-ups folks - it won't happen again!)

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, we're dusting off another classic! Mat is joined by one again by Tom to talk about a seminal text of action / battle genre, Fist of the North Star. Written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara.

Join us as we talk about the book's impact on Manga as a whole, including it's influence on works like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Berserk!, how hyper is the 'hyper violence' in the book, as well as discussing great eyebrows and many manly tears...

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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A manga about intelligent machines replacing humans in the work force sounds like something brand new to reflect today's headlines: but what if I told you that My Name is Shingo was originally published in 1982? This week, Mat is joined by the Lord of Shojo, Georgie (aka @Mainly.Manga) to talk about a classic manga from Kazuo Umezu.

Join us as we discuss how this book played with our expectations at every turn, how young love makes you walk into walls and why you should never let two graphic designers anywhere near a book cover this beautiful

For those interested, find the interviews with Kazuo Umezu mentioned in the podcast here and here.

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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A historical manga on Heliocentrism? Really? Well don't be alarmed dear listener, because there's more to this manga than meets the eye! This week, Mat is joined by storyteller / cartoonist Ramzee, to talk about the manga by Uoto that is the basis for the NHK/Netflix anime of the same name.

Join us as we discuss this manga's seemingly unusual theme, how it uses science both as the story's engine and it's protagonist, and perhaps most shockingly of all, how you don't even need to like astronomy to get the most out of the book! 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Stop us if you've heard this one before, but this week Mat is joined once again Tom to talk about another classic manga: The Birth of Kitaro by Shigeru Mizuki, published in english by Drawn and Quarterly.

Join us as we talk about the Mizuki's incredible art style, his unique way of assembling a story and how in a book all about Kitaro, it's actually a rat-man who managed to steal our hearts!

Find the NHK documentary talked about several times over the course of the pod here, and for non-British listeners, an intro to 'The Beano' here.

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Maria Salgado to talk about the closest thing we'll likely ever get to an 'indie manga' in English: An Invitation From a Crab by Panpanya, published by Denpa!

Join us as we talk about Panpanya's focus on vibes over story, how they create breath taking comics with mixed medium, and more importantly, how they create comics that are full of whimsey, nostalgia and maybe even a little loneliness!

Find the Mangasplaining episode on the same book (including an interview with the book's English Translator, Ko Ransom) here!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined one again by the one and only Zane Taichou from Undisputed Anime, to talk about the next big thing in Weekly Shonen Jump: Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono, published in English by Viz Media!

Join us as we discuss how Hokazono blends his love of Western Cinema and modern manga together, the buzz around this book from day 0, and whether or not the hype of it being 'one of the next tentpoles of Weekly Shonen Jump' was on the money or not!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Budjette Tan, writer of horror/crime komik Trese, to talk about 'The Summer Hikaru Died' by Mokumokuren.

Join us as we discuss why we're both suckers for an intriguing book title, the wonders of being surprised by the unexpected and why we love a good use of sound effects to build tension!

Find Budjette on BlueSky and Instagram here!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by 'The Lord of Shojo' Georgie, to discuss the excellent Josei (?) skateboarding manga 'Sketchy' by Makihirochi, published in English by Kodansha.

Join us as we discuss the best Melancholy Moments, how this book proves we need more MCs in their 30's, and why it's a book you can absolutely judge by it's cover, in an episode full of big cat energy.

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Mat is joined once again by AC (aka @ProdTally) to talk about another great work from Rumiko Takahashi: this time it's her short horror series, Mermaid Saga!

Join us as we talk through the what makes a great 'immortal' story, how the book fairs compared to other classics of the genre in other mediums and why we won't be sharing any of the colour spreads on Instagram... 

Find the interview translated by  Rumic World mentioned in the podcast here for further reading!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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This week, Mat is joined by Ida from Denmark's biggest Anime, Manga and Cosplaying convention, J-Popcon to talk about Adachitoka's Shonen smash hit Noragami: Stray God.

Join us as we delve into a world of lost souls, Gods for hire and the things living in the spaces in-between! We also talk through our slightly conflicted feelings on the manga: how it managed to hook us without using conventional methods, it's interesting world building and the things that we think would make us stick around for the full 27 volumes despite it's slow start...

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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This week, Mat is joined by comic book creator and publisher Mitch Proctor (aka Bon Idle)  to talk about the second of 'The Big Three' to grace the podcast: Bleach by Tite Kubo!

Join us as we get into why we love the book, and the series, in general! We even get slightly off topic once or twice to discuss some other Shonen titles, demographics in general and even discover a perfectly British metaphor for anthology manga offerings! 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined once again by AC MacDonald, creator of Twistwood Tales, to discuss the wonderful, comedy manga CITY by Keiichi Arawi of Nichijou fame.

Join us as we figure out our plans to relocate to a CITY where comedic characters live increasingly funny lives, dine at it's finest restaurants on a diet of tapas-like gags, before getting our serious faces on to discuss duck-lips and world building!

A link for those curious to the Python Sheep Sketch discussed, and a much more eloquent explanation of 'The Stan Lee Principle'.

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat is joined once again by LumRanmaYasha to discuss THE GREEN YURI aka The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All by Sumiko Arai

Join us as we discuss the how the book blends together romance and music, how it's signature neon green is used for more than just branding, and find out exactly what it feels like to see yourself as 'the old man' character in a book about young love!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined one again by Zane Taichou from Undisputed Anime, to talk about the latest title from Weekly Shonen Jump to receive an anime: Sakamoto Days by Yuto Suzuki

Join us as we discuss how Hitmen never really get to retire, if we think the mash-up of Gag Manga and Action really work for us, and how sometimes the best works need to grow into their potential! 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by his podcasting partner in. crime Tom, to talk about one of our favourite manga, Trigun by Yasuhiro Nightow, recently re-published in english by Dark Horse Comics and getting the deluxe treatment it deserves!

Join us as we discuss the various forms Trigun has taken over the years since it's debut in Monthly Shonen Captain almost 30 years ago, what makes a great Manga MC and how even if you're new to the world of Vash the Stampede, there's something in the pages of this manga for everyone!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again joined by Ramzee to discuss Asadora! the latests book from 'The Master of Suspense' Naoki Urasawa.

Join us as we talk about the book's themes of what it means to live, how a plucky young girl can embody the spirit of Japan, and how Urasawa's cartooning blends humour and tragedy to great effect!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by one half of the Undisputed Anime Podcast, TsuTsuDae, to talk about some  modern High School Shōjo: Honey Lemon Soda by Mayu Murata!

Join us as we talk about why the book didn't quite hit for us but how we see glimmers of hope in it's bubbly surface, how it  measures up to similar books like Kimi Ni Todoke, and discuss the leading man's many, many hats...

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by Georgie to discuss the lastest work from two legendary Mangaka: Trillion Game by Riichiro Inagaki and Ryoichi Ikegami, published in English by Viz Media.

Join us as we discuss the Mangaka's careers, how this series fumbles a little while finding it's feet, but how despite some of those early missteps ends up winning us over! 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Fred Tornager to discuss a comic book about comedy: and the excellent Show-Ha Shoten! by Akinari Asakura & Takeshi Obata, published in English by Viz Media.

Join us as we 'dissect the frog' of comedy, gush about Obata's artwork, then talk about what works and doesn't in the first volume of the 'Bakuman of Manzai Comedy'. 

Find the 'Unpacking Japan' episode Mat discusses in the intro with professional Manzai comedian, Nick-niisan, here.

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat's bacon is saved emergency guest TsuTsuDae of the Undisputed Anime Podcast, to talk about the long running Shonen classic, D.Gray-Man by Katsura Hoshino.

Join us as we talk about the book's long history, how it balances mature themes with lighthearted moments, and get nostalgic for the bygone era where the local comic book shop dictated what you read... 

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this Manga Tak-ked On (i.e. a Bonus Episode), Mat is joined one again by Undisputed Anime's TsuTsuDae, to talk about his complete 180 on modern High School Shōjo Manga, Honey Lemon Soda by Mayu Murata, published in English by Yen Press.

Join us as we get into a spoiler-tastic (upto Vol 6. from 00:04:00 on) episode where Tsu tells us where Honey Lemon Soda really put Shōjo sparkles in his eyes, and why Mat is now regretting talking to him, as it's been added back onto the 'to read' list as result!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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On this week's episode, Mat's joined by Pippa (aka StrawberryShojo), to talk about a Classic work of Historical Fiction / Shojo Manga, The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda, published in English by Udon Entertainment.

Join us as we talk about the book's place in history, scratch the surface of it's themes, and get sucked in by all of the drama! Suffice to say, it's a premium release of a classic work that's worth picking up!  Join us to find out why!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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What happens when you take a tale written by 'The God of Manga' and let the 'Master of Suspense' retell it? Well, you only get one of the greatest works of Manga ever written!

On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by his podcasting partner in. crime Tom, to talk about an undisputed masterpiece: PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka by Naoki Urasawa, published in English by Viz Media.

This week there's no doubt in our minds: we want you to read this book if you haven't and we're going to tell you why!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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Is Negi Haruba's dark take on sentai heroes a revolutionary deconstruction like 'The Boys,' or just another forgettable genre flip?

This week, Mat welcomes back Zane Taichou from Undisputed Anime to dive deep into Kodansha's provocative manga sensation 'Go! Go! Loser Ranger!'

Together, they unpack the series' subversive themes, examine whether those Garth Ennis comparisons hold water, analyze what makes the storytelling so captivating, and deliver their verdict on whether the anime's first season successfully captures the manga's edge. 

For fans of Power Rangers, superhero deconstructions, or anyone curious about the manga ahead of the anime's second season - this is one episode you won't want to miss!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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The cops claim it. The Yakuza fight for it. Gangs and hoodlums bleed for it. But everyone in Treasure Town knows the truth: these streets belong to two orphaned kids named Black and White. Their legendary story, still hailed as manga royalty three decades later, isn't just about survival—it's about the soul of a city itself.

This week, Mat welcomes acclaimed comic artist CROM (Raiders, Bird King) for a deep dive into Taiyō Matsumoto's urban masterpiece, Tekkonkinkreet. They'll unpack how this classic story stacks up against Matsumoto's celebrated catalog and discuss its profound influence on CROM's own artistic evolution.

From its raw, kinetic visuals to its haunting meditation on innocence and violence, discover why Tekkonkinkreet continues to captivate readers and why you need more Taiyō Matsumoto in your life!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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When a tyrant god's reign is prophesied to fall, does it herald salvation—or apocalypse?

Three centuries ago, the God of Thunder committed the ultimate betrayal: murdering the Heavenly Emperor and seizing the throne of Tenkai for himself. His reign has brought nothing but darkness and cruelty to the celestial realm. Now, a lone stargazer's prophecy speaks of a being with the power to split the heavens asunder. Is this mysterious figure the long-awaited saviour who will free Tenkai from oppression? Or does their arrival mark the first step toward universal annihilation?

On this week's episode, Mat welcomes Lucy and Robin from the excellent 'CLAMPcast in Wonderland' to delve into RG Veda—the stunning professional debut of the legendary manga collective CLAMP, published in English by Dark Horse.

Together, we unravel the book's mythological trappings, incredible artwork and overall immaculate vibes. 

The conversation extends beyond RG Veda itself, examining how its main themes of fate and destiny became foundational elements throughout CLAMP's illustrious body of work, as well as suggesting other entry points into their huge back catalog of works based on taste and genre preference! 

Join us for this divine journey into the dawn of one of manga's most influential creative forces!

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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The Trouble Shooter agency doesn't just solve problems—they OBLITERATE them! Join us as we dive into Yuto Sano's adrenaline-pumping world of "Gokurakugai," where monster hunting isn't just a job, it's an art form.

This week, Mat is joined once again by Lea to dissect what some consider to be the next big Shonen series! We'll be unpacking: the jaw-dropping artwork that leaps off every page, it's excellent characters and how in almost every frame, we see a flicker of classic shonen woven into Sano's vision (for better and worse...)

We ask ourselves is "Gokurakugai" destined for shonen superstardom? Or will its familiar elements prevent it from claiming the title of 'the next big thing'? 

**CONTENT WARNING:** Though not explicit, this episode touches on trafficking, exploitation, and sexual themes. Listener discretion advised.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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In the nostalgic labyrinth of Kowloon Walled City, realtor Reiko Kujirai stands out as a woman hungry for change in a place clinging to the past. Her colleague Hajime Kudou—stubborn, traditional, and oddly charming—represents everything she's trying to leave behind. As these opposites find themselves increasingly drawn together, something mysterious lurks beneath their budding connection, a secret that could make their romance impossible.

Join Mat and special guest Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) as they get into the first volume of Jun Mayuzuki's masterpiece— which may very well be the most captivating Vol.1  featured on the show so far! 

In this spoiler-filled deep dive of the first volume, they uncover:

• The breathtaking cinematic techniques that transform Kowloon from setting to character
• How subtle sci-fi elements create layers of intrigue beneath the romance
• The provocative content that earned this manga its shrink-wrapping.
• How it stacks up against Mayuzuki's other work: After The Rain.

Whether you're already enchanted by Mayuzuki's world thanks to the new Anime or just curious about this critically-acclaimed series, this episode promises to enhance your appreciation of this uniquely atmospheric love story set in a reimagined piece of history.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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"Strange beasts and monsters, secret treasure hoards, undiscovered wealth... mystical places, unexplored frontiers... 'the mysterious unknown'... there's magic in such words... for those captivated by its spell... They are called 'Hunters'."

Beginning with those captivating yet foreboding words, Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter has gone on to delight generations of Shonen readers over the course of its 27-year run. Renowned for its deconstruction of shonen tropes and infamous for its lengthy hiatuses, Hunter x Hunter has undoubtedly earned itself a place in the Weekly Shonen Jump Hall of Fame.

With the release of the new 3-in-1 omnibus from Viz Media, Mat sits down with Ramzee to discuss the first volume to see if it still holds up. Along the way, they fight the urge to divert the podcast into one about Yu Yu Hakusho, get into detail about their thoughts on Togashi as a creator, and more importantly warn those about to start the series about its varying quality.

Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!

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