It's Manga Mania

Tech Fever


It’s Manga Mania!

Following the rise of mangas like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Jujustsu Kaisen as well as the release of wildly popular animated films from renowned Japanese animator Makoto Shinkai, it seems that we are now welcoming another boom in manga mania and anime craze! But we’re definitely not complaining, as the phenomenon has uncovered even more swoon-worthy titles or simply allowed us to revisit our old-favourites. Here’s a selection of our recommended reads!

 

1. One Piece, Vol. 96

No manga fan can claim to be a true-blue otaku if they’ve not heard of One Piece. The series has many awards and publishing records under its belt, and is ranked by critics, reviewers, and readers as one of the best mangas of all time. Join Monkey D. Luffy and his swashbuckling crew in their search for the ultimate treasure, One Piece! As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally gained the power to stretch like rubber… at the cost of never being able to swim again! In this volume, Oden encounters the legendary future pirate king Gold Roger in his journey with Whitebeard’s crew. What does their meeting mean for the world? And what has Orochi been up to while Oden was gone from Wano?!

 

 

2. Your Name

Often hailed as “the new Hayao Miyazaki”, Japanese animator Makoto Shinkai has some big shoes to fill. And fill it he does, with a series of films that have proven to be both critical and commercial successes. His film, Your Name, became the highest-grossing anime film worldwide of all time, overtaking Hayao Miyazaki’s classic, Spirited Away. Now, you can revisit the beautiful art and heart-stirring narrative in this manga version of the film.

 

 

3. Komi Can't Communicate #20

For the more introverted teenagers among us, Komi is probably someone you can relate to. Socially-anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. That is until she meets Tadana, a timid wallflower who decides to step out of his comfort zone to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends. In Volume 20, Komi and her friends are going on a ski trip to have fun and show off their winter fashions! But things take a turn for the awkward when Manbagi and Tadano get left behind and have to spend the night in snow country.

 

 

4. Candy Series

The characters in the Candy series are so adorable that we almost forget they are also as positive and wholesome as they come. It tells the story of three close friends, Joni, Emilia, and Mia who come together to form the pop band, Candy JEM. Join them as they learn anout health, moral values, good habits, and much more! It’s a lively educational series which aims to enrich readers with educational values through stories that are not only entertaining but thought-provoking too!

 

 

5. Mob Psycho 100 #3

Written and illustrated by One, Mob Psycho 100 follows Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed Mob, a boy who has strong psychic powers, and his struggles to find the simple happiness he is looking for. Mob wants to live a normal life just like those around him, but a barrage of trouble keeps coming after him. Since its release, the title has garnered international fame, with comic book writers of San Diego Comic-Con listing it as one of the “Most Wanted Manga” from 2016. It’s certainly a rising star you should check out!

 

 

By Sim Yi Wen