Manga Tak
Manga Tak is a weekly podcast about manga. Each episode focuses on standout first volumes, discussing what makes them worth reading. The hosts aim to help listeners choose their next favorite series and build a manga collection. It offers recommendations and conversation for both new and longtime manga readers.
Episodes
Episode 125 - Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju by Haruko Kumota
When a bumbling ex-Yakuza heads straight for the Yose after gettting out of prison, he doesn't know the man he's determined to apprentice for, Yakumo Yuurakutei, is a Rakugoka who not only refuses to take on apprentices but has vowed to commit Rakugo Shinju: a double suicide with his artform in which he aims to take his art to the grave with him! But somehow this unlikely ex-con finds hi
Episode 124 - Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
A school trip to the Tokyo Tower sees three high school girls transported to a strange world called Cephiro! Hikaru, Umi and Fuu soon learn that they've been summoned to help save Princess Emeraude and that they are the legendary Magic Knights fated to rise in this very moment... On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Tsutsudae from Undisputed Anime to discuss Magic Knight Rayearth by
Episode 123 - The Marshal King by Boichi
It is an age of Desperados.... but the greatest outlaw of them all, M.Godspeed is dead. Killed by his own son, Jimmu, the boy shows up with his father's corpse in a steal, cross-shaped coffin not to claim the bounty, but to hand him in as proof of his convictions. Jimmu Godspeed is not his father. In fact, Jimmu Godspeed wants to be the Marshall that will put an end to the age of Desperados o
Episode 122 - The Girl From The Other Side: Siúil, a Rún by Nagabe
Is there anything more terrifying than a curse spread by a simple touch? Those who bare such a tragic fate turn into monsters and are simply known as Outsides, while those who remain human get to live inside the castle walls. But when such an Outsider finds a little girl, named Shiva, who despite supposedly being touched by a curse being exhibits none of the usual signs, Teacher as she begins to c
Episode 121 - Versus by ONE, Kyōtarō Azuma and bose
Humanity's last days draw near... 47 legendary heroes stand against the Demon Lord's army in a last ditch effort to save their race! However, when this last stand seemingly falls short, one fallen hero named Hallow learns from his brother Zaybi that there's another plan: summon heroes from another world! When they do though, they don't just summon one group of humans, but twelv
Episode 120 - Blood Blockade Battlefront by Yasuhiro Nightow
After a portal opens above New York, erasing the city from the map, a new, more twisted city appears from the mist. It's name is Hellsalem's lot, and it's where a young boy named Leonardo Watch needs to go in order to find answers after a demon gave him the mysterious eyes of the Gods... Instead of answers, he finds Libra: a secret organisation dedicated to keeping the peace in the
Episode 119 - Appleseed by Masamune Shirow
In a world ravaged by war, two mercenaries named Deunan and Briareos accept an offer to live in a mysterious metropolis known as Olympus. Once inside the city, the two end up joining the city police force, but can't seem to shake the feeling something isn't right about the supposed utopia... And just maybe, this life isn't better than the one they left behind scavenging beyond the c
Episode 118 - Burn The Witch by Tite Kubo
Reverse London is a city filled to the brim with Dragons! While some co-existt alongside humanity, an astounding 72% of all deaths in London proper were supposedly caused by them! Enter Witches from the Western Branch of Soul Society, who are the only people legally aloud to interact with these fearsome beasts! But when Noel and Ninny, two young Pipers find themselves looking after Balgo Parks, it
Episode 117 - One-Pound Gospel by Rumiko Takahashi
Kosaku Hatanaka could have been a contender... if only he could watch what he eats! Much to his coach's dismay, Hatanaka just can't seem to resist the temptation of a delicious meal and keeps blowing his weight checks as a result. Out of desperation, a hungry Hatanaka stumbles into a church and meets a naive, trainee nun named Sister Angela. Seeing a man falling into temptation, she vows
Episode 116 - Magi The Labyrinth of Magic by Shinobu Ohtaka
In a world filled with deadly dungeons, filled to the brim with untold riches, Ali Baba wants to leave behind the life of a wagon driver and fulfil his potential... but it isn't until he ends up giving a ride to a young boy named Aladdin, who just happens to be packing a Djinn in a magic flute that he thinks he really has a shot of succeeding where others have failed... But just who is this b
Episode 115 - Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Moritaka Mashiro is an average 14 year old middle schooler who's jaded with the system. His plans to coast through life hit a snag one day when one of his classmates, Akito Takagi, snags his notebook and proposes the two of them create Manga together. Moritaka initially refuses because he's seen first hand what being a mangaka means, but after learniing his crush, Miho Azuki plans to bec
Episode 114 - Drawing From Your Memory by Shiki Kawabata
Mahoro Haruta the a top selling manga artist, who's series Revive Line has sold over 50 million copies, but the truth is it wasn't her idea: the original creator of the characters and the story were her High School Senpai, Shu Yukishima, who passed away while they were studying. After a fall though, she's somehow transported back before Yukishima's death! Can Mahoro right her w
Episode 113 - Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki
As Billy Bat flys off American comic book shelves, it's creator, Kevin Yamagata is in emotional turmoil. After learning he may have copied the character from something he saw while stationed in Japan during the war, Kevin sets out to find it's original creator and make amends... what he finds instead is a web of conspiracy that threatens to insnare him, and the knowledge that the bat he
Episode 112 - Tokyo Alien Bros by Keigo Shinzo
Fuyunosuke is a quirky, fun-loving Tokyoite who's loved by his friends at the University in-spite of his idiosyncrasies (and kinks!).. But there's a reason for his odd behaviour... Fuyunosuke is an alien! His mission? Gauge Earth's potential for Alien colonisation! Except he's not doing his job! Despite being on Earth a whole year, he's failed to report back to high comman
Bonus Episode - Strange Pictures by Uketsu / Kikou Aiba
On this Manga Tak-ked On (aka a Bonus Episode), Mat is joined one again by Marg (aka margreadsmanga) to talk about Strange Pictures by Kikou Aiba, adapted from Uketsu's NYT Best Selling Novel of the same name!Join us as we discuss how manga is the perfect medium for this visual mystery, how we'd love more books in the genre and what are hopes are for the next instalment! Thanks once aga
Episode 111 - Thunder 3 by Yuki Ikeda
After borrowing a disk from their teacher that promised to open a rift between dimensions, the small three (aka Pyontaro Tezuka, Hiroshi Ochanomizu and Tsubame Azuma) find themselves in crisis when Pyon's little sister, Futaba crawls through the screen into this parallel world! But when they discover this world is filled with alien invaders who've abducted her, how will the boys overcome
Episode 110 - Ichi The Witch by Osamu Nishi and Shiro Usazaki
Ichi is a orphaned hunter who lives his life by one motto: Death for Death: he only hunts creatures that seek to harm humans and come at him with the intent to kill. Which is why when he stumbles upon a battle between the world's most powerful witch, Desscaras, and the King of Majik, Uroro, he throws himself into the fray! But in this world, magic can only be controlled by women, and is not l
Episode 109 - Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
As mankind tilts on the edge of the apocalypse, a young boy named Shinji Ikari travels to Tokyo-3 after receiving a cryptic message from his estranged father. But the summons isn't the reunion Shinji was hoping for: instead of reconnection, he is asked to pilot a giant robot known as an Eva... And just like that the fate of the entire human race rests on one boy's shoulders...This week,
Episode 108 - Psyren by Toshiaki Iwashiro
After the disappearance of his classmate, mysterious telephone card leads Ageha Yoshina into an alternative reality called Psyren where his life is always at stake and things aren't quite as they seem... Can Ageha figure out the mystery of this death game? Can he save his friend Sakurako? And just who is the mysterious figure, Nemesis Q who's seemingly pulling the strings...?On this week
Episode 107 - The Bugle Call: Song of War by Mozuku Sora and Higoro Toumori
Arboral Year 1294. It was an age when wars were fought over the spires. In the shadows of the battlefield lies one young boy, shunned by the mercenary troupe he accompanies because of a single horn growing from his head and bleeding out from a wound in battle, he desperately tries to sound the retreat... only for his song to unlock something within him he didn't know was possible. His name is
Episode 106 - Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma
When the quirky green haired Yotsuba and her father, Yousuke Koiwai, move in next door, the Ayase family don't know what to think. What soon become apparent to them (and us as readers) though is that this little girl is a ray of sunshine who's childlike curiosity and ability to find wonder in the most mundane of subjects is an infectious sight to look up! This week, Mat is joined once ag
Episode 105 - Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
In a secret ninja village, a young orphan is ostracised by the people around him for an unknown reason. Determined to prove them all wrong, this young boy fights against all odds to surpass them all and become the greatest leader the villlage has ever known. His name is Naruto Usumaki and this is his story...This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined by professional chef Andrea Piras to serve up the la
Bonus Episode - Yan Volume 3
Yan's Trilogy concludes with it's exciting (orange) third volume, so Mat and Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) jump on the mic to talk about Chang Sheng's latest work. Now the story's over, was it everything we hoped it would be? Was this super hero thrill ride all killer, no filler? Or did it stumble trying to keep so many plot points afloat? Listen along and find out!Thanks again to
Episode 104 - Record Journey by Ryoichiro Kezuka
Music has the power to take it's listener on a journey, and whether it's a recording of a song in an unknown language, or a scratchy bootleg from a rooftop jam session, you can find it all at Miyama Records! Sit back, relax and join us as we take a record journey of our very own!This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to discuss Record Journey by Ryoichiro Kezuk
Episode 103 - Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara
A man with white hair in a long, brown overcoat wanders from place to place, offering help to problems with no clear solution. His name is Ginko and he is a Mushishi: someone wise in the ways of Mushi. What are Mushi? Beings beyond our comprehension, that can only be described as life in it's purest form. They sometimes unintentionally cause harm to humans, and so Mushishi wander Japan to off
Episode 102 - Wistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino Ōmori and Toshi Aoi
In the prestigious Rigarden School of magic, young wizards hone their skills with a wand, hoping one day to ascend to the world's greatest honour: becoming one of the Magia Vander - the protectors of all. But one young man, born without magical ability, is set to change that. Wielding a sword instead of a wand, young Will Serfort aims to take on the world, graduate with honours and sit beside
Episode 101 - Me and The Alien Mumu by Hiroki Miyashita
Facing extinction, an alien race travels to Earth and decides to blend in amongst the population to rediscover the technological secrets it has lost. After scanning the planet's inhabitants and declaring it's rulers to be cats, they descend upon the planet... Mumu, one such invader finds himself in the home of Sakurako Umeyashiki, a freshman university student who's a bit of shut in
Episode 100 - Ping Pong by Taiyo Matsumoto
Ping Pong. For two young boys, Smile and Peco, it isn't just a game. For Peco, it's a way of life. For Smile, it's a way of keeping close to his childhood friend... but it soon becomes apparent that they both must walk their own paths in order to grow as players and as people. But with Peco so convinced he's invincible, and Smile not really invested in the game, will the two ev
Bonus Episode - Unemployed Killers Support Group by RIO
Locker Loyed, one of the underground's best snipers, it forced to take early retirement after a job gone wrong. In the assassination industry, these things happen! Fortunately for Locker, his handler tells him that there's a support group for people like him, but as he soon learns maybe his past isn't quite done with him...On this Manga Tak-ked On (i.e. a Bonus Episode), Mat is join
Episode 99 - Baki The Grappler by Keisuke Itagaki
When an unknown 17 year old enters the 18th annual Real Fight Tournament, everyone is amazed as this kid takes down every pupil of the legendary Shinshinkai dojo... Even the tournament's reigning champion, Suedo, is no match! Just who is Hanma Baki? How did he get so insanely strong? And more importantly, why is he trying to become the world's strongest fighter?This week, Mat is joined o
Episode 97 Audio Issues Now Fixed!
Hey folks, just a quick update from me explaining some of the unfortunate audio errors in the Witch Hat episode - hopefully the file should be fixed now and available for your listening pleasure! Sorry to those who listened and thanks to the eagle eared listener who flagged it... Fingers crossed they're not present in episode 98 or any future episodes! New processes will be implemented (and o
Episode 98 - March Comes In Like A Lion by Chica Umino
Rei Kiriyama is a shogi prodigy who has overcome incredible hardship to become a professional player. Despite having his own Tokyo apartment at 17, he's incredibly lonely. After a young hostess takes pity on him, Rei is invited more and more to spend time with the Kawamoto sisters, who are themselves dealing with grief... Can they help to heal each others wounds? Or will they sink under the w
Episode 97 - Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama
Coco is a young girl who's had put her dreams of becoming a witch aside because she was not born one... However a child's curiosity can never be quenched, and so after discovering that magic is something one does with a pen and ink, Coco can't help but test out the book of spells and wand she received as a child from a mysterious figure in a brimmed hat... with disastrous results!B
Episode 96 - Shaman King by Hiroyuki Takei
To the casual observer, Yoh Asakura seems like a laid back teenager with street and book smarts in equal measure, but unbeknown to his new classmates, Yoh is actually a shaman: a human blessed with the powers to not only commune with the dead, but also use their abilities to help their shaman wielders! However, Yoh can't live a peaceful life forever! Between his classmate Manta discovering hi
Episode 95 - Revolutionary Girl Utena by Chiho Saito and Be-Papas
A young girl is given a rose signet ring by a mysterious prince who saves her life... But when she grows up and finds herself at Ohtori Academy, where the student council also hold matching rings and end up challenging her to duel, what is young Utena Tenjo to do but throw herself in head first? This week, Mat is joined by Sarah and Joe of the Shoujoe Podcast to discuss Revolutionary Girl Utena by
Episode 94 - One Piece: Ace's Story by Boichi and Ryo Ishiyama
Stranded on a desert island with no hope of rescue, an unnamed writer suddenly finds himself face to face with a young pirate by the name of Portgas D. Ace. While he isn't much to look at, just a scrawny kid in a hat, after saving the writer's life and accidentally eating the mysterious Flame-Flame Fruit, it becomes clear that maybe he's destined for greatness! This week, Mat is jo
Episode 93 - Phantom Busters by Neoshoco
Eugene Korekishi is the smartest kid in his class, but despite his Grandma's promise to one day come back to haunt and hang out with him, he doesn't believe in ghosts. That is until one day, a young exorcist in training named Mogari Shishikuno joins his class! While Mogari can't see or hear ghosts himself, he can perform exorcisms by eating spirits who refuse to pass on! Another han
Episode 92 - Love Bullet by inee
Love can hit you when you least expect it... Sometimes it's up close with a 9mm, other times it's at a distance from an semi-automatic! Some people even end up falling in love as collateral damage from a stray grenade... All is fair in love and war when cupids are involved! Anything to earn that karma to get re-incarnated! This week Mat's once again joined by Behind The Manga co-fou
Episode 91 - D.N.Angel New Edition by Yukiru Sugisaki
Daisuke Niwa's 14th birthday isn't going according to plan: rejected by the girl he has a crush on, and receiving no sympathy from his mother, Daisuke suddenly feels a weird transformation coming on... but this isn't puberty, it's something in his DNA! Before Daisuke knows it, he's transformed into Dark Mousy, the legendary phantom thief! With the only way to break the cur
Episode 90 - The Climber by Shin-ichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Nabeta & Hiroshi Takano
Buntarō Mori transfers to a new school in the hopes of being left alone... Only for a school bully to send his life down an unexpected path: a new passion for solo climbing! Mori, a gloomy loner, soon opens up under the watchful eye of his teacher, Oonishi and the students form a climbing club... But after a climbing trip gone wrong, Mori's life starts to catch up with him... Maybe this is on
Episode 89 - The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi and Shin Kibayashi
The passing of world-renowned wine critic Yutaka Kanzaki sends shockwaves through the industry... but perhaps nobody is more surprised by his passing than his son, Shizuku, who has been estranged from his father for many years and in an act of defiance after his harsh upbringing, never touched a drop of wine...But upon hearing from his father's lawyer, Shizuku discovers that if he wants claim
Episode 88 - Fly Me To The Moon by Kenjiro Hata
After agreeing to marry a mysterious, beautiful girl after a near death experience, Nasa Yuzaki has his world turned upside down on his 18th birthday when she suddenly appears on his doorstep with a marriage form in hand! Who is this woman and why does she remind him so much of the fabled moon princess Kaguya?This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined once more by AC Yoshimura (aka prodtally) to discus
Episode 87 - 10 Dance by Inouesatoh
In the world of competitive ballroom dancing, there are two competing styles: standard and latin, but in order to be the best in the world, two Japanese 'kings of ballroom' will have to come together in order to rise to the challenge of 10Dance: a glittering triathlon that would see them compete in both styles! This week, Mat is joined once again by Ida to discuss 10Dance by Inouesatoh.
Have Your Say on Episode 100!
Just a quick message from me to ask with your help picking the manga and guest for the 100th episode of the show! Get your vote in now using this link - https://forms.gle/oiXmaX24ry6sHvEf9Voting will close on February 20th, so be sure to get your vote in ASAP!Thank you in advance!MatThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak
Episode 86 - Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto
A young Fujino publishes a weekly comic strip in her school paper to the fanfare of all her classmates, dreaming to become a Mangaka when she grows up... However, after another student named Kyomoto is published in the same paper, the way Fujino and her classmates see her work changes forever. It's the start of an unlikely friendship and a tragic story: one that echoes it's creator'
Episode 85 - Suzuki-Kun's Mindful Life by Yuhki Fujimoto
Looks can be deceiving. Kaoru Suzuki is a towering boy who strikes fear into the hearts of his classmates with his intimidating looks... If they just got to know him, they're realise he's a kind, gentle boy but unfortunately nobody takes the time! That is until one day on the train to his new high school, he’s saved by a delicate but tough boy called Arata Haruna. The two boys hit it off
Episode 84 - Duranki by Kentaro Miura and Studio Gaga
Duranki is book with two tales to tell... On one hand, it's the story of an androgynous child named Usumgal, born of the gods, but who is neither god nor human, neither male nor female. On the other, it's an experiment by Kentaro Miura to see if his manga studio, Studio Gaga, would be able to produce a work that could reach the high bar set by his masterpiece, Berserk. Unfortunately, wit
Episode 83 - Short Game by Mitsuru Adachi
If you've spent years thinking that the work of Mitsuru Adachi isn't for you because you have no interest in baseball, pull up a chair! This week on Manga Tak, I talk to designer and illustrator Bastian Najdek, to discuss Short Game! A collection of 5 short stories from one of Japan's masters of romance, that proves that while the book is about baseball, it also REALLY isn't!Jo
Episode 82 - Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura
Vikings have seen a resurgence recently thanks to shows like (ahem) Vikings, and games like Assassins Creed Valhalla and Valheim, but what if I told you the best piece of Viking fiction of the past 20 years was actually a manga? And more importantly, that it's story is based on real vikings!This week, Mat's not only joined by another passionate lover of comics, but a descendant of Thorfi
Episode 81 - Initial D by Shuichi Shigeno
Takumi Fujiwara is a kid who doesn't really care about cars... Every morning he has to get up at the crack of dawn to make deliveries for his father's tofu shop. To him it's a hassle because of the strict requirements his father places on him... but those same requirements have also moulded him into the fastest racer on the Akina slope!This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie
Episode 80 - RuriDragon by Masaoki Shindo
After starting High School, Ruri Aoki thought that she was ready to deal with changes in her life... That was until she woke one day with a pair of horns growing out of her head, and her Mum told her it's because her Dad's actually a dragon!But this isn't a fantasy shonen title! In fact, it's actually a slice of life! Rather than battling mythical creatures with her newfound po
Episode 79 - Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzō
Hiroto Ikuta is a carefree, and optimistic guy who's totally fine taking each day as it comes. While those around him worry he's approaching 30 with no real ambitions or love life, he's not worried at all! However, after the older woman he befriended passes away and he inherits her house in Tokyo, his life begins to change in unexpected ways! The most notable of which is his cousin,
Episode 78 - City Hunter by Tsukasa Hojo
All you need to do to hire the service of the City Hunter is to write XYZ on the bulletin board of Shinjuku station and they’ll do the rest.... These Sweepers are guns for hire, with no case to big or small: anything goes...This week I'm joined once again by Tom to discuss the '80s cult classic City Hunter by Tsukasa Hojo! While the series debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1985, it's
Episode 77 - Tokyo Tarareba Girls by Akiko Higashimura
Being an over 30's Toykoite is difficult: it's hard to find a man, you lose your passion for your work and your only way to let off steam is to goto the local Isakaya with your friends to let of some steam. But what if that's part of the problem?After being caught off guard by the announcement of the Tokyo Olympics, Rinko vows to get married before 2020! But being single is the leas
Episode 76 - Super Ball Girls by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Akira Hiramoto
Eita Ichiyoshi is a young man being driven slowly mad by the mundanity of his job at a confectionary factory. That is until while walking home alone on Christmas Eve, he catches a mysterious bouncy ball that he decides to take home. After throwing it to relieve his frustrations, he can’t believe his luck when it turns into a beautiful, naked woman with perfect lips!But all it took was a kiss for I
Episode 75 - Touring After the Apocalypse by Sakae Saito
The bike's charged, the skies are blue and the open road is calling.... there's one issue: there's seemingly only two women left to burn rubber and explore it! After leaving their bunker, Youko and Airi set out to retrace Yuoko's sister's footsteps by following her old social media... Why were they in a bunker? What happened to everyone else? Why are penguins so adorable?
Episode 74 - Black Torch by Tsuyoshi Takaki
Jiro Azuma isn’t your run of the mill Ninja though, oh no - he also has the unique ability to talk to animals. It’s this special skill that leads him to nurse a dying cat back to health… but this isn’t just any cat: it’s Rago, the Black Star of Doom: a Mononoke of incredible power. Before he knows it, Jiro has fused with this vengeful spirit in the middle of a fight to the death and is immediately
Episode 73 - The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity by Saki Mikami
Rintaro Tsumugi attends Chidori High. It's a boy’s school that only takes the dregs of society, which just happens to stand next door to the prestigious Kikyo Girls’ High! While the girls from this elite school never dream of socialising with anyone from Chidori, Kaoruko just happens to have a sweet tooth and when she notices Rintaro behind the counter of his family’s Cake Shop, suddenly past
Episode 72 - Takopi's Original Sin by Taizan 5
CONTENT WARNING: This episode deals with some pretty heavy themes including suicide and physical abuse, so skip this one if you're not comfortable with those topics!After a small, octopus looking alien from the Planet Happy arrives on Earth, determined to spread happiness to everyone he meets, he runs into a morose young girl called Shizuka who isn’t impressed with his happy gadgets... In fac
Episode 71 - They Were 11! by Moto Hagio
Ten hopeful candidates embark on a test to survive for 53 days aboard an abandoned space shuttle to earn themselves a place at the prestigious Cosmo Academy. However, once inside the airlock they realise something is amiss: they are now eleven. Can they put their suspicions aside in order to pass? Or will the threats they face cause them to give into despair and abandon the test, and with it, thei
Episode 70 - Search and Destroy by Atsushi Kaneko
In a world populated by mechanical 'creatures' and humans, where the lines between man and man-made are blurred, a girl called Hyaku straddles the line between human and mechanical. Fuelled by rage, she is targeting the high profile krechs of the underworld to seek vengeance, and her stolen body parts! Will it ease her pain? And more importantly, in doing so, will she regain her humanity
Episode 69 - You Can't Live All On Your Own by Mizoko Tsuno
This is the story of Shuuko, Eika, Misaki and Shio: four best friends who share an apartment together in the heart of the city. While they might share a roof, they all face individual problems! For Shuuko, it's the societal pressure to get married, for Eika, it's how to climb the corporate ladder. Misaki's trying to figure out her situation-ship and Shio's in a panic about how
Episode 68 - Tokyo These Days by Taiyō Matsumoto
After the failure of his last project, Mr. Shiozawa quits his job as a Manga editor after 30 years and ponders his next move. But try as he might, the medium he loved, the calling he devoted his professional life to, has a hold on him that he isn't quite ready let go. Suddenly he finds himself deciding to put together 'the perfect manga' and to do so, he's going to need a littl
Bonus Episode - Yan Volume 2
On this Manga Tak-ked On (i.e. a Bonus Episode), Mat is joined one again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to talk more on Yan by Chang Sheng now that Volume 2 has dropped!Join us as we discuss how our fears over volume 1's huge setups were mislead, the book's ability to ramp up an already action packed first volume, and honestly just how much enjoyed the middle instalment of this trilogy! T
Episode 67 - Sanda by Paru Itagaki
In the year 2080, Christmas a thing of the past: declining birthrates have meant fewer children, changes in climate have distorted the seasons and the disappearance of Santa has relegated 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' to an ancient tradition. But on December 25th, the conditions have been met to break the curse robbing the world of old Saint Nick, with the death of Kazushige Sand
Episode 66 - My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi
In a world where everyone has a 'quirk' the gives them super human abilities, a young boy called Izuku Midoriya who is born without one may have to give up on his dreams of becoming a super hero. That is until one day after trying to rescue a classmate, he is given the opportunity of a lifetime by the world's Number 1 Hero, All Might: Will Midoriya accept his quirk, a mysterious abi
Episode 65 - Senpai no Kohai by Hanakage Alt
Sometimes all it takes is a kiss to send you spiralling. Years after putting an unrequited college love behind her, Sayuri Terazono is a working professional at a prestigious company. Her life is forever changed one day when that girl from college, Risa Nakayama, shows up at Sayuri's office as a new hire in her team! And all it takes is one bold move from Risa makes Sayuri question everything
Episode 64 - Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You by Jinushi
Worn down by the daily grind of being a 40 something salary-man, Sasaki has found a cure to his working blues: the warm smile of Ms. Yamada at the local S Mart. However after arriving late one day after a grueling shift, he misses his chance to see Ms. Yamada, but somehow ends up behind called behind the super market for a smoke instead by 'Tayama' an employee he's never met before.
Episode 63 - Guyabano Holiday by Panpanya
At a loss after no longer being able to find delicious Guyabano juice in their local world food store, a plan is quickly hatched and travel booked. The location? The Philippines. The Goal? To hunt down, and devour, a Guyabano fruit. Guyabano Holiday, the titular story of Panpanya's story collection, is just one of the surreal and dreamlike short stories that await you, dear listener! This wee
Episode 62 - Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun by AidaIro
They say that if you go to the third stall from the end of the girls' bathroom on the third floor of the old building... You'll find Hanako-kun! And after knocking three times on the door, maybe Nene wishes she hadn't! After finding herself bound to the spirit of one of the school's Seven Mysteries, Nene begins to assist Hanako-kun in his job as caretaker for the spirits of Kam
Episode 61 - Blank Canvas by Akiko Higashimura
After realising her dreams of art school aren't as close as she thought, a young Akiko Hayashi finds herself out in the sticks attending an unconventional art class, run by a bamboo sword wielding teacher who tells her she'll need to come to class everyday if she has any hope at succeeding. But Akiko realises that this seemingly brash teacher has a heart of gold, and just maybe, might be
Episode 60 - Gachiakuta by Kei Urana
All of humanity's waste finds its way into The Pit... even those society deems unworthy of living on The Sphere. After being convicted of a murder he didn't commit, Rudo finds himself in a place where trash monsters roam and the other humans he finds have become ruthless in order to survive. Fortunately for Rudo, he soon meets Enjin, who offers him a chance at salvation and the answers h
Episode 59 - Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
When high schooler Light Yagami discovers a mysterious “Death Note,” he dismisses it as a prank... That is until he writes a name inside and someone dies! With the death god Ryuk as his guide, Light embarks on a quest for global domination, earning the moniker “Kira” as bodies pile up. But with Interpol’s enigmatic detective “L” closing in, who will be the first to discover the other's true i
Episode 58 - Mashle: Muscle and Magic by Hajime Kōmoto
In a world where magic is everything, being born without it means death. Raised in secret by his father Regro, Mash Burnedead has trained his body to impossible limits to survive.After being discovered by the Bureau of Magic, Mash is given a deadly ultimatum: enrol in Easton Magical Academy and earn the title of ‘Divine Visionary’, the school’s highest honour, or he and his Father will be killed!H
Episode 57 - Wash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori
In the picturesque resort town of Atami, a young woman named Wakana Kinme spends her days running Kinme Cleaning: a laundry service that prides itself on quality and caring for people's clothing. While Wakana clearly enjoys her work, the reason she views it so fondly is that it’s the only thing she can remember from her past. As she builds new memories with the residents of Atami, Wakana can&
Episode 56 - Yan by Chang Sheng
30 years after the massacre of the Yan Opera troupe, a young woman, dressed in the stage clothes of a Peking opera performer, executes an man on a live stream and claims to be the ghost of Yan Tieh-hua: the only the survivor of the murders who died in an unknown research facility 10 years ago after being framed for her family’s killing.What follows is a tale of action and suspense, as Yan tries to
Episode 55 - Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo
38 years after World War 3 on the streets of Neo Tokyo, a biker gang led by the charismatic Shotaro Kaneda finds itself embroiled in the fate of the world after one of it’s members, Tetsuo Shima has his psychic powers awakened in an accident caused by a chance encounter with a physic child.To save his childhood friend, Kaneda must become more than a simple street punk and enters a world filled wit
Episode 54 - Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama
When Dr. Slump burst onto the scene in February 1980, nobody expected that a tale about a mischievous robot girl named Arale and her hapless inventor 'father' would conquer Japan. Fewer still would have guessed that it's young creator, Akira Toriyama, would go on to conquer the world!On this special anniversary episode of Manga Tak, Mat and Tom dive into Toriyama's debut work,
Episode 53 - The Hunter's Guild: Red Hood by Yuki Kawaguchi
Living with the constant threat of werewolves, the villagers of Kasoka's only hope for survival is to send for a member of The Hunter's Guild... Only the one they got wasn't what they were expecting! When Grimm, a little girl in a red hood appears, Velou, the hamlet's young huntsman is assigned to help her track the wolf and save the town... But as they soon discover, the real
Episode 52 - Manhole by Tetsuya Tsutsui
When a grotesquely disfigured man emerges from the depths of a city manhole only to collapse and die on the crowded streets of Sasahara, veteran detective Ken Mizoguchi discovers that some nightmares are all too real. What begins as a bizarre crime scene transforms into a race against a biological apocalypse when the autopsy reveals a horrifying truth: the victim harboured a contagious parasite th
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