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 ...
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 oppre...
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 thi...
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 f...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod Bluesky: Manga Tak Pod Insta...
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. Thank...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod Bluesky: Manga Tak Pod Instagram: ...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod Bluesky: Manga Tak Pod Instagram: Manga Tak Pod
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 so...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod Bluesky: Manga Tak...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod ...
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, a...
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! F...
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...
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...
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! Find us on: X: Manga Tak Pod Bluesky: Manga Tak P...