Author: Jalil Shareef

Sui Ishida has returned to the manga game with his new series Choujin X Vol. 1. Fans of Tokyo Ghoul should be ecstatic about his latest story, which is a must-read. The story takes place a few decades in the past, and the world commonly deals with beings called “Choujin.” These Choujin beings have unique abilities and properties depending on the motif behind the ability. Without revealing too much (the volume starts off crazy), I can say it revolves around a young man named Tokio, a recluse who lives behind the shadow of his polar opposite best friend, Azuma. Azuma…

Light Novels have a terrible reputation within the mainstream manga community because people feel the light novel content is not canon to the series itself. I can understand that sentiment due to light novels sometimes not being good adaptations of the source material. However, Jujutsu Kaisen Summer of Ashes, Autumn of Dust is the opposite of that, embodying what Jujutsu Kaisen is while giving us a different view of our characters’ everyday lives. The light novel covers four chapters, giving perspectives of our main trio and Gojo and even Mahito. What makes this light novel so enjoyable is the slice…

Romance is always a beautiful story to follow when not written in a tragic sense like a Shakespearean play, especially when it’s an innocent romance growing between two adolescents discovering themselves through their hobbies and interests. She, Her Camera, and Her Seasons capitalizes on that charm but focuses on the romance between two young girls who seem to be direct opposites. Of course, the opposites attract trope is nothing new, but the execution of it is what makes or breaks a romance manga. The introspection of the main character Akari in her third year of high school makes this story…

The importance of representation in media is constantly debated in society, either defending the practice of inclusion or arguing against it. It can become dangerous to insert political or sociological views into a story as a writer because there is no guarantee that the perspective will be well received – no matter its intention. It is essential to understand that representing a minority group has to be done correctly and respectfully for the point of inclusion to be understood truly; that is how To Strip The Flesh impressed me. The story presented in this manga focuses on Chika Ogawa, a…

Volume 3 of Kaiju No. 8 continues the entire frontal battle between Kaiju No. 9 and the Anti-Kaiju defense force, with Kafka joining the fight in his Kaiju form. Climatic moments where the hero storms in to save his allies are as cliche as it gets, but that’s one of the unconventional strong points that Kaiju No. 8 possesses. The execution of these cliche clashes and hero moments are always emotionally charged for the characters and the audience due to the build-up established through character introspection and relationships. Kafka inserts himself into the battle with Kaiju No.9 with anger at…

Weekly Shonen Jump has been known for having a wide range of genres for the shonen demographic in its magazine, from classics like Hunter x Hunter and One Piece to less conventional series like PPPPPP and Witch Watch. Elusive Samurai Vol. 1 seems somewhere in the middle, balancing comedy, action, and historical events in Feudal Japan while keeping the reader hooked with its unusual writing style.  The story focuses on Hojo Tokiyuki, the son of Lord Hojo Takatoki. Without diving into the intricacies of feudal japan’s ruling system too soon, Yusei Matsui – the author – showcases the complications for…

Believing that you can do anything you put your mind to is a very powerful tool for self-confidence and creativity, while to other people, it may look as if you are fighting for the impossible. The words “you failed” or “you can’t” will ring inside the mind, stopping many people from pursuing goals that could lead them to achieve their dreams. A Nico-colored Canvas Vol. 1 takes this dilemma and executes it using Nico, the main character; however, she isn’t the one experiencing the sense of helplessness. Instead, the characters around her could use her outlook on life. But, on…

Coming out of Kodansha Comics publishing as its new idol series, Phantom of the Idol by Hijiki Isoflavone is precisely what the cover looks like; a cute, positive series about the life of an idol in Japan. However, a nice twist makes this manga something that stands out in this genre of manga; Ghosts. Well, one ghost, to be exact- Asashi Mogami.  Without giving away too much of the first volume’s story information, Phantom of the Idol focuses on Yuya Niyodo, a rising idol in the duo Zings. Yuya isn’t your typical idol; he seemingly hates the job and only…

Initially released in October of 1989,  Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai makes a return to the manga scene, finally getting an officially licensed release in English by Viz Media. The timing of this licensing matches with the current success of the 2021 anime adaptation of being widely successful across the board, introducing Dai to a new generation while bringing a sense of nostalgia for old fans. With a new release decades later, Dragon Quest Adventures of Dai Vol 1 updates the art from the original manga, making it clear, cleaner, and very sharp, probably due to the new digital tools…

Witch Watch is a newer series in Weekly Shonen Jump that is simul-published weekly on the Shonen Jump App, but Volume 1 has just been released with upgrades to the art from the original posting in the weekly format. Despite its name, Witch Watch isn’t your stereotypical Shonen Jump magic manga with the over-the-top action scenes to get you hooked in the beginning; instead, it’s a cute slice-of-life series about Nico the Witch and her childhood friend Morihito, the Ogre.  This manga stands out for its simple yet effective backstory, which covers the circumstances behind the manga’s story. Without saying…

The adventures of Giorno and the rest of the gang continue in the third volume of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 5. Narancia’s stand battle with Formaggio and his Stand; Tiny Feet. The Boss’ daughter still needs protection and guidance to the boss’ location. In the iconic Jojo fashion, the stand battle between the two gang members heats up, with Narancia consistently shrunk over time by Tiny Feet’s ability.  We see Narnacia shine in all his glory to overcome his enemy’s attacks, using his wit to its maximum. The Boss gives the group their next assignment, leading the boys to Pompei,…

It is 2022, and the past year has been filled with fantastic manga series spanning from romance to sports and even comedy. Of course, Noisy Pixel has been there every step of the way, reviewing some of the best manga volumes to release for US audiences. However, there are ten series we want to highlight (spoiler-free) that you may or may not have run into last year, so hopefully, you’ll find interest in one below! Call of the Night Vampires and romance not of the Twilight kind, Call of Night takes what can feel like a modern-day cliche and remixes…

Junji Ito is probably the most renowned Horror Mangaka in the world, with their story Uzumaki considered their magnum opus of the genre. Deserter: Junji Ito Story Collection is a reminder of the fantastic and satisfyingly creepy mind behind such groundbreaking horror stories that represent Japanese Horror overseas.  Since Deserter is a collection of stories, there is not much depth to their delivery, making the enjoyment of the manga stem from Ito’s way to spook the reader with traditional body horror and suspenseful encounters of the supernatural kind. Each one of the stories within this collection feels like small homages…

Fullmetal Alchemist is an established anime and manga masterpiece with die-hard fans across all mediums. Fullmetal Alchemist: A New Beginning is a new Western entry for the Fullmetal Alchemist Light Novel series, but it was initially released in Japan back in 2007. Finally, localized for English-speaking fans, the latest entry is sure to be a treat for all fans but Rockbell fans especially. [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]This volume is such an enjoyable read for grounding the sense of the world and bringing back the core heartfelt values that make Fullmetal Alchemist such an engaging series.[/perfectpullquote] Being…

Spy x Family Vol. 6 hilariously continues with Nightfall, the newly introduced co-worker and underling of Twilight, trying to convince her mentor that she is the most fit to be his wife for “Operation Strix.” She decides to take their current mission together as the opportune moment to show off her prowess as a spy. In the previous Volume, Nightfall noticed that Twilight might not be necessarily acting when showing affection for his “Wife” Yor, convinced he is weakening as a spy. Their mission together requires them to apprehend a painting owned by Energy Sector Giant turned Classical Art Collector,…

I am all for highlighting indie games that emphasize fun experiences and replay value, and developer Studio Thunderhourse delivers that in their newest game, Flynn: Son of Crimson. Not only does it exceed my expectations, but it also has me immersed in its setting and characters. Described as a 2D Metroidvania, Flynn: Son of Crimson brings back the appeal of handcrafted platformers that reward the player with fun gameplay, fantastic characters, and lore. https://youtu.be/MA-qBVsysek Flynn: Son of Crimson begins as the Island Roscantica is being threatened by an ancient evil attempting to break the barrier between Roscantica and “The Scourge,”…

Ultra Age is a new indie action-adventure game by Visual Dart & Next Stage Studios that makes high-speed action the forefront of its experience, requiring a good bit of skill to overcome its short runtime. In many ways, this game succeeds at what it’s trying to be, but it isn’t as smooth sailing as some would hope. The standout action-adventure games rely on their combat and story elements to immerse players. It can be difficult to keep the player engaged if one or both is lacking, but in rare cases, if the combat is great or better, it can acquire…

Undead Unluck Vol. 3 continues where Vol. 2 left off, showcasing the True Undead Negator, Vichtor, and the extreme difference between him and Andy’s personality. However, it seems like all is lost now that the evil side of Andy has awoken, and Fuko is the main target of his aggression. All is seemingly hopeless for Fuko until the Union arrives, adding excitement to the battle shonen, opening up the opportunity for deeper combat and expansion on the unique group of Negators. However, it can feel too quick and almost inaccurate to the dangers that have been foreshadowed in the previous…

Taiyo Matsumoto returns to the manga industry with No.5 Vol. 1, a Sci-Fi psychological experience where he continues his popular form of storytelling that challenges the reader to think more profoundly than what is given at first glance. Unfortunately, where one of his most famous previous works, Ping Pong, shines in this regard, it feels as if No.5 drops the ball to seemingly haphazardly pick back up farther into the Volume. It isn’t that No.5 lacks structure as a whole, but the execution of the first volume seems to reach toward a trippy experience surrounded by mystery to hook the…

Hiro, Baymax & the rest of the Big Hero 6 gang return with Big Hero 6: The Series. Vol 1 of the new manga series follows more of a Korean Manhwa format by reading left to right, obviously to cater to the Western fans of the Original Disney Movie. The events of Big Hero 6: The Series takes place after the movie, ruling out any retelling that may scare off those interested, and they do an excellent job sticking to the core of what makes Big Hero 6 great. The charm of each one of the Big Hero 6 team…