Want to read a new manga but aren't sure what to pick? You're in luck! We loved the first Manga Spotlight so much, we decided to make it a permanent series in the Teen Blog. Every 10th post we'll feature manga that are action-packed, wholesome, or just plain neat. Read on to see our October manga pick!
Last time we picked a lively comedy, so this time we wanted to switch it up a bit with an action-packed shonen: Kaiju No. 8!
With 12 manga volumes currently published in English and 23 anime episodes along with a movie special, Kaiju No. 8 is an exciting series for lovers of monster movies, comedic sci-fi manga, and characters who represent the strength of humanity.
So, why should you be reading it? We're excited to tell you! You should read Kaiju No. 8 because of its:
One-of-a-kind protagonist, Kafka Hibino!
Kaiju No. 8's main character is a refreshingly unique character in the world of shonen. Instead of being young, confident, and strong, Kafka starts his series as a middle-aged man with a slightly pudgy belly and no clue what he's doing. At 32 years old, he's easily one on the oldest manga protagonists in a sea of teenagers and 20-somethings, which is a pleasant surprise to read. He also has a great personality! With his kind heart and dedication to those around him, Kafka is hard not to root for.
From a young age, Kafka has dreamed of being a member of the defense force (the kaiju hunters of his world). But now that he's middle-aged, his dreams have started to fade in the face of reality-- Kafka is too weak to fight on the front lines, so he settles for being a sweeper who cleans up the messy remains of the kaiju that are killed in battle. All he wants is a change and a chance to do something meaningful in his life-- and as fate would have it, he's granted that chance in a way he could never have imagined!
One brief encounter with a tiny insect kaiju mutates Kafka into a half-human, half-kaiju hybrid, giving him intense physical power but even more intense stress! How can a guy fight public enemy number one when he is public enemy number one?? It's a treat to watch Kafka come into his own as he learns to master his new abilities.
Tone that balances action and comedy in just the right moments!
Just like its main character, Kaiju No. 8 knows how to strike the perfect blend of comedic and action-packed while at the same time understanding when the scene calls for a serious tone. From its hilarious shenanigans as defense force members try to hunt him down to Kafka's awesomely badass fights against kaiju in scenes reminiscent of iconic monster movies, Kaiju No. 8 has the perfect blend of elements to keep us engaged. Some fans compare Kaiju No. 8 to One Punch Man, and we agree-- with their powerful protagonists and comedic tones, the two series are more similar than they appear!
And of course, the Kaiju!
Kaiju No. 8 wouldn't be complete without its iconic monstrous enemies to fight! Translating to "Strange Beast", all kaiju are unique in looks and abilities, with powers ranging from flight to shapeshifting and more that help distinguish them from the rest. The most common of these abilities include intense strength, durability, and proliferation, making them hard to defeat in combat. All kaiju posses two unique organs that separate them from other creatures: their Uni-organ, which gives them the immense powers that they're characterized by, and their Core, a vital organ similar to a heart which is a kaiju's strongest weakness and the only way to reliably them.
To evaluate a kaiju's power and threat level, each kaiju is classified as one of four categories based on their fortitude level. Here's a brief overview of what each level means!
- Yoju (aka residual beasts): At the lowest fortitude level, Yoju are fairly weak on their own but can be dangerous in large numbers. Most appear alongside Honju in battle and are not generally seen on their own.
- Honju (aka main beasts): Honju are significantly more powerful than Yoju, requiring an entire platoon of soldiers or a high-ranked captain to defeat. With their large strength and ability to generate Yoju, these kaiju present a challenge in most cases.
- Daikaiju (aka large monsters): Daikaiju are extremely strong kaiju that pose an immense threat to humanity, with only elite members of the defense force standing a chance of beating them.
- Identified Daikaiju: These kaiju are the rarest of the rare and are identified by a numbered codename to signify their intense danger status. So far only 15 Identified Daikaiju have appeared throughout history-- including the recently mutated title character Kaiju No. 8!
Fun fact: Kaiju No. 8 makes references to many pop culture kaiju including Knifehead and Slattern from Pacific Rim and the pop culture phenomenon Godzilla, so keep an eye out for them!
We hope you liked this week's post on Kaiju No. 8! Do you have another manga that you think deserves the spotlight? Email us at teens@tadl.org and we'll feature it in our next manga spotlight!