Explore every episode of the podcast Manga Tak
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 126 - Shangri-la Frontier by Katarina and Ryosuke Fuji | 26 Oct 2026 | 00:58:48 | |
After years of playing trash games, Rakuro Hizutome finds himself switching gears to play Shangri-la Frontier: a massively popular, full dive VR game that is anything but trash! Naming his character Sunraku and starting out with a duel wielding swordsman with a bird mask, Rakuro soon learns to love the game... It isn't until a chance encounter leads him to cross paths with a unique monster, Lycagon, that he sees the game's true potential and vows to become one of SLF's greatest players! On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by tattoo artist Bar to discuss Shangri-la Frontier by Katarine and Ryosuke Fuji. Join us as we get into what we think this mmo-based-manga gets right on the gaming side of things, before broaching more weighty topics like what it's fair to expect of a shonen manga and how sometimes you find meaning in completely unexpected places! --- Show Notes --- Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akatami The King's Avatar by Hu Dielan Overlord by Kugane Maruyama and So-bin Log Horizon by Mamare Touno and Kazuhiro Hara Sword Art Online by Reki Kawahara Solo Leveling by Chugong and DuBu Kuroko's Basketball by Tadatoshi Fujimaki Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 125 - Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju by Haruko Kumota | 19 Oct 2026 | 01:05:36 | |
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 himself in Yakumo's car and being called Yotaro? Maybe there is such a thing as a second chance after all?! On this week's episode, Mat is joined by illustrator Jessica Lai to discuss Haruko Kumota's excellent Descending Stories! Join us as sit down to talk about the book's incredible storytelling and memorable characters, our mutual love of Rakugo, and take the time to compare the manga to the anime and live action adaptations! --- Show Notes --- A link to the post on Jess' Workshop in Decemeber! Through The Painting's Translation of Tokyo Media Lab's 2013 interview with Haruko Kumota. Link to the English Rakugo Association's website! --- Akane-Banashi by Yuki Suenaga & Takamasa Moue Goodbye, Eri by Tatsuki Fujimoto Ristorante Paradiso by Natsume Ono Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 124 - Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP | 12 Oct 2026 | 01:03:00 | |
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 CLAMP! We get into our feelings about the all female manga collective, how nostalgic we felt reading this JRPG inspired story and our hopes for the upcoming Rayearth anime! --- Show Notes --- Here's a link to the excellent CLAMP Cast In Wonderland Podcast! And here's that Tsubasa / xxxHolic list from redditor u/BlackCell69 --- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles by CLAMP --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 123 - The Marshal King by Boichi | 05 Oct 2026 | 01:02:02 | |
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 once and for alll! But upon enrolling in the prestigious US Marshall Training Institute, his classmates can't help but wonder: is there more to Jimmu than meets the eye? On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by his podcasting partner in crime, Tom to discuss The Marshal King by Boichi: a book that almost feels like a smoothie made of every book we've ever discussed on the podcast together! Join us as we discuss Boichi rising to the challenge of aiming to create a manga conceived for the global stage, get into the book's love for the capital C 'COOL' moments of every major manga of the last 40 years, before facing the toughest question of all: how do you pick an MVP in a book that's literally full of them! --- Show Notes --- Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki & Boichi One Piece: Ace's Story by Ryo Ishiyama & Boichi Blood Blockade Battlefront by Yasuhiro Nightow Fist of The North Star by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part 2: Battle Tendency by Hirohiko Araki Full Metal Allchemist by Hiromu Arakawa --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 122 - The Girl From The Other Side: Siúil, a Rún by Nagabe | 28 Sep 2026 | 00:53:07 | |
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 call him, decides to look after her... but fate has other ideas! On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by designer and artist, Allie Oldfield, to discuss The Girl From The Other Side: Siúil, a Rún by Nagabe! Join as Mat wrestles with the fact he somehow never picked up the 2nd volume, Allie's insightful observations on the book's artistic tone, and get your Type nerd hats on as we talk about Lys Blakeslee's lettering choices! --- Show Notes --- Love on the Other Side by Nagabe Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 121 - Versus by ONE, Kyōtarō Azuma and bose | 21 Sep 2026 | 00:58:40 | |
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 twelve! Problem solved right? Well, it turns out they're not the only version of humanity facing extinction... and for each new variety of human, there's also a new, powerful enemy to deal with! On this week's episode, Mat summons Zane from the Undisputed Anime podcast to help him talk about Versus by One, Kyōtarō Azuma and bose! Join us as we get into how we feel about this book's take on 'who would win?' discuss if it's really an Isekai, and more importantly, discuss whether we're willing to pick up the 2nd volume! --- Show Notes --- One-Punch Man by One and Yusuke Murata Bug Ego by ONE and Kiyoto Shitara Record of Ragnarock by Takumi Fukui and Azychika --- Comic Natalie Interview with the book's creative team (in Japanese) Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 120 - Blood Blockade Battlefront by Yasuhiro Nightow | 14 Sep 2026 | 01:02:20 | |
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 lawless city... but maybe this rag-tag bunch of misfits is more than Leo bargained for! On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by Tom to discuss another Yasuhiro Nightow book! No, not Trigun Maximum but his current project: Blood Blockade Battlefront! As it's third season of anime draws to a close, we thought now was the right time to get into it! We discuss it's interesting publishing history, how it differs from Nightow's work on Trigun, and what our hopes are for the future of the series as we (spoilers) agree to read on! --- Show Notes --- Find the Interview between Nightow and Kawasaki Hiroshi here (machine translated) --- Manga --- Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 119 - Appleseed by Masamune Shirow | 07 Sep 2026 | 01:09:18 | |
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 city walls! On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by writer and artist, Ian Sta. Maria to discuss Masamune Shirow's debut work, Appleseed! With the new omnibus editions from Dark Horse about to hit shelves, we thought now was the perfect time to crack out our old (flipped!) copies and talk about what makes the book so special. We get into Shirow's incredible creative vision, where his love of drawing ladies took his career, and how we feel about a story thats as hard sci-fi as you're likely to see on the pages of a manga! --- Show Notes --- First up! A correction - Mat says on the podcast that nobody knows Shirow's real name, but it is in fact Masanori Ota! --- Shirow Interviews: KABOOM! Explosive Animation from America & Japan" exhibition (listification) Dark Horse interview with Masamune Shirow (1995) Toren Smith's Interview with Masamune Shirow (geocities) Link to Mat's reel of the Masamune Shirow Exhibit in Tokyo (2025) --- Manga --- Five Star Stories by Mamoru Nagano My Name Is Shingo by Kazuo Umezu Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow Intron Depot 1 by Masamune Shirow Dominion (aka Tank Police) by Masamune Shirow Gunsmith Cats by Kenichi Sonoda (I can't believe I forgot his name! - Mat) Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 118 - Burn The Witch by Tite Kubo | 31 Aug 2026 | 01:13:02 | |
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's not going to be as easy to keep the status quo as it seems! This week, Mat is joined once again by Mitch Proctor (aka Bon.Idle) of Cømpact / Koguchi Comics to discuss Tite Kubo's 2019 spin-off to Bleach, Burn The Witch! We drop into Reverse London and share our feelings on the setting, the character design and how we feel as Brits about Kubo's interpretation of the city. Then we get into the juicier topics of how we feel about Manga 'seasons' vs. weekly syndication, and if it's better to be optimistic about a series' potential when you're not sure you'll get more than one volume! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- The Hunter's Guild: Red Hood by Yuki Kawaguchi --- Bleach Terms / Kubo Stuff --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 117 - One-Pound Gospel by Rumiko Takahashi | 24 Aug 2026 | 01:06:36 | |
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 to watch over this lost lamb... but maybe he's not the only one who should be worried about temptation! This week, Mat is joined once again by AC Yoshiimura (aka @prodtally) to discuss one of Rumiko Takahashi's lesser known works, One-Pound Gospel! With the book finally back in print, we sat down to discuss where it sits in the rankings of Takahashi's work, it's incredibly sporadic publication history and, of course, how the Christian elements of Sister Angela's character play into what is essentially a sport's gag manga! --- Show Notes --- The only two interviews with Rumiko Takahashi (from the fine folks over at Rumic World) mentioned in the pod can be found here: Rumiko Takahashi x Kiyoshi Hatanaka Rumiko Takahashi x Atsushi Kamijo --- Manga --- Urusei Yatsura by Rumiko Takahashi Mermaid Saga by Rumiko Takahashi Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi Neon Genesis Evangelion by Hideaki Anno Hajime no Ippo by George Morikawa (which just got announced to be coming out in English from Kodansha!) Kids on the Slope by Yuki Kodama Ashita no Joe by Asao Takamori & Tetsuya Chiba Tokyo Alien Bros by Keigo Shinzo Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic by Shinobu Ohtaka Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 116 - Magi The Labyrinth of Magic by Shinobu Ohtaka | 17 Aug 2026 | 00:58:34 | |
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 boy? And why does he have such a habit of attracting trouble? Let's find out! On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by Tsutsudae of the Undisputed Anime podcast to discuss Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic by Ohtaka Shinobu - a classic work of shonen manga based on the One Thousand and One Nights folktales. The boys get into the book's unique setting, what Tsu believes makes it stand out amongst other shonen books of the time and more importantly, if it's worth checking out at all! --- Show Notes --- Sumomomo, Momomo by Shinobu Ohtaka Magi: Adventure of Sinbad by Shinobu Ohtaka and Yoshifumi Ohtera Sinbad by Atsuji Yamamoto (Mat Note - originally published in Monthly Comic Nora, Not WSS ;) ) Ichi The Witch by Osamu Nishi & Shiro Usazaki Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 115 - Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata | 10 Aug 2026 | 01:07:32 | |
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 become a voice actor he makes a pledge to her: he will team up with Akito, the two of them will create a smash hit manga, get it made into an anime for Miho to voice, then the two of them will get married! Yes folks, Mat and Tom sit down to talk about the renowned manga about making manga, Bakuman by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, and run face first into a romantic high school drama! Will the content be enough to hook them? Will it be as good as Mat remembers? And more importantly, does the second creative work from the Death Note duo improve upon their first hit series? --- Show Notes --- Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata Fist of The North Star by Buronson and Tatsuo Hara Akane Banashi by Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue Jojo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki --- Books on Manga! --- Manga in Theory and Practice by Hirohiiko Araki Manga School by Akira Toriyama The Shonen Jump Guide to Making Manga How to Draw Manga by Osamu Tezuka Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 114 - Drawing From Your Memory by Shiki Kawabata | 03 Aug 2026 | 00:53:49 | |
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 wrongs and save her senpai...? Or is there some other reason she's been sent back? This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Marg (aka @MargReadsManga) to discuss Drawing From Your Memory by Shiki Kawabata! Join us as we dive into our feelings on time loop mysteries more broadly, why certain choices didn't work for us on a second read, and, more importantly, if we plan to see this 5 volume series through to its conclusion! --- Show Notes --- Love at First Memory by Narumi Hasegaki The Long Summer of August 31st by Ikkado Ito Blank Canvas by Akiko Higashimura --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 113 - Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki | 27 Jul 2026 | 01:12:09 | |
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 thought he created, might be something bigger than he can ever comprehend! This week on Manga Tak, Mat sits down with Ramzee to discuss Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. While they mainly try to stay on topic about the book, it's central themes of stories, creation and symbolism draw out many tangents about authorial intent, the meta levels of storytelling in comics and a whole lot besides! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka by Naoki Urasawa Pineapple Army by Naoki Urasawa Master Keaton by Naoki Urasawa New Treasure Island by Osamu Tezuka Hunter x Hunter by Yoshiro Togashi Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami --- Books / TV / Essays / Ted Talks?! --- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson The Singing Detective by Dennis Potter Manben on Naoki Urasawa (warning: contains spoilers) George Orwell's The Decline of English Murder Kirby Ferguson - Everything's a Remix Kirby Ferguson - Creativity is a remix Do Conversation by Robert Poynton --- People --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 112 - Tokyo Alien Bros by Keigo Shinzo | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:54:13 | |
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 command, forcing them to send Fuyu's older brother, Natsutaro, down to the planet to see what's happening! This week, Mat is joined by Nick from Retrobreak to discuss Tokyo Alien Bros by Keigo Shinzo! Join us as we peel the invisible shrinkwrap on this NSFW book (and by extension podcast) to discuss it's themes, art and how it compares to Shinzo's later work, Hirayasumi! --- Show Notes --- Midori no Hoshi by Keigo Shinzo Wash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori The story of Keigo Shinzo's hospitalisation is in 'No Sentimental Reactions' by Keigo Shinzo, available soon from Denpa --- Keigo Shinzo Interviews! --- Mangabrog: Asano, Shinzo and Matsumoto 2018 Journal Du Japan Interview (machine translated) Misaki Takamatsu x Keigo Shinzo (machine translated) Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Bonus Episode - Strange Pictures by Uketsu / Kikou Aiba | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:18:24 | |
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 again to Titan Manga for sending us advanced copies of this book, available now wherever good comic books are sold! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 111 - Thunder 3 by Yuki Ikeda | 13 Jul 2026 | 00:59:07 | |
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 all odds and get her back...? This week Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to talk about Thunder 3 by "Yuki Ikeda"... The Mangaka's name is in air quotes because, well, we've got some thoughts on that! Join as we get spoiler heavy on this 1st volume! Discussing it's incredible premise, how we feel about "Ikead's" other work, the value of libraries, and how we could see this idea expanded to other works / media! ---- Show Notes --- Manga --- Goodnight Punpun by Inio Asano --- Movies & Video Games --- Frog Fractions by Twinbeard Studios Who Framed Roger Rabbit by Robert Zemeckis Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 110 - Ichi The Witch by Osamu Nishi and Shiro Usazaki | 06 Jul 2026 | 01:05:11 | |
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 learned by earned by overcoming the trial of majiks: wild, animal-like forces that form the basis of a witch's power. Somehow, Ichi is the rare exception and becomes the world's first male witch! When Desscaras offers him the chance to hunt more majiks, of course he jumps at the chance! But what will the world make of it's first male witch? This week Mat chats with Undisputed Anime's Zane Reid to discuss Ichi The Witch by Osamu Nishi and Shiro Usazaki. Join us as we get into the world's interesting magic system, discuss how it mixes shoujo magical girl tropes with shonen battle manga and speculate on it's place in this golden age of fantasy manga! --- Show Notes --- Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 109 - Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto | 29 Jun 2026 | 01:05:56 | |
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, Mat sits down once again with Tom to discuss Neon Genesis Evangelion. While they try to stick to Volume 1 of the manga bu Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the boys cannot help but spill into broader discussion about Evangelion as a whole, so BIG SPOILER WARNINGS for the anime / End of Eva / the Rebuild Movies if you haven't seen them! If you have watched the anime (or just don't care about spoilers) get on your plug suit and sync up as we discuss the manga's similarities to the anime, it's length serialisation and how it's totally ok dropping a huge spoiler right in the 5th chapter! For Eva fans, this isn't one to miss! --- Show Notes --- There aren't any ;) We somehow just manage too keep things to Eva, but for those a little confused about releases: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth Neon Genesis Evangelion: End of Evangelion Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 108 - Psyren by Toshiaki Iwashiro | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:56:44 | |
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's episode, Mat is joined once again by Tsutsudae of the Undisputed Anime to discuss Psyren by Toshiaki Iwashiro. This is one title from the golden age of Weekly Shonen Jump that isn't often discussed, but with it finally getting an Anime adaptation in October, we thought now was the right time to get listeners in on the ground floor! Join us as we talk about what works about the book, notice it's similarities to Gantz and finally land on why we think this book wasn't held to the same lofty heights of it's contemporaries in WSJ. --- Show Notes --- D. Gray-Man by Katsura Hoshino Mieru Hito by Toshiaki Iwashiro Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 107 - The Bugle Call: Song of War by Mozuku Sora and Higoro Toumori | 15 Jun 2026 | 00:55:11 | |
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 Luca and he is one of the Branch-hexed. In a world plagued by war, all he wants is to stop using music as a tool for war and play for pleasure, but first he must help The Pontiff, the head of religion called Spiralism, defeat a mysterious power known only as The Garland. Does Luca have what it takes? And even if he succeeds, will The Pontiff keep his word? On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by SonMangaKing to chat about Vol. 1 of The Bugle Call: Song of War written by Mozuku Sora and illustrated by Higoro Toumori. Join us as we discuss the book's clear influences in other Seinen fantasy, how Luca's powers are used to dazzling effects on the page and why we'll be reading on with the story despite some initial apprehension! --- Show Notes --- Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 106 - Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma | 08 Jun 2026 | 01:03:24 | |
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 again by AC MacDonald of Twistwood Tales to discuss Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma. We discuss the Mangaka's past hit Azumanga Daioh and how Azuma's start in Yonkoma bleeds into his long form comic work, why this series is a masterclass in character writing, and why we think this series is a home made soup for the soul! --- Show Notes --- Find the interview with Kiyohiko Azuma on Mangabrog here. --- Manga / Comics --- Azumanga Daioh by Kitohiko Azuma Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi (listen to the previous pod here) Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson Wash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori (listen to the previous pod here) --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 105 - Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto | 01 Jun 2026 | 01:03:08 | |
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 last of the big 3: Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. Join us as we discuss how we both discovered the book as kids, how we feel it compares to the other titles that make up the 'big 3' before asking the ultimate question: would we recommend this book to a young reader today? --- Show Notes --- The link to the Kishimoto interview referenced during the podcast via fanverse. Follow Andrea's Copenhagen Pop-ups! --- Manga --- My Hero Academia by Kōhei Horikoshi Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa Ghost In The Shell by Masamune Shirow Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Bonus Episode - Yan Volume 3 | 27 May 2026 | 00:15:48 | |
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 Titan Manga for providing advanced reading copies of the book! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 104 - Record Journey by Ryoichiro Kezuka | 25 May 2026 | 00:51:08 | |
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 Kezuka. Right from the off, we dive into the strengths of this book's art and it's anthology style story set up! From there, we weigh up the books pros and cons of it's nostalgic storytelling style, before getting into a list of other music manga we'd love to see make its way into print in English! Thanks to Titan Manga for sending advanced copies of the book for review before it's May 26th release date! --- Show Notes --- Otomachi Record by Ryoichiro Kezuka Wandering Island by Kenji Tsuruta Kids on the Slope by Yuki Kodama Boku Wa Beatles by Kaiji Kawaguchi & Tetsuo Fujii Shiori Experience by Yuko Osada & Kazuya Machida Blue Giant by Shinichi Ishizuka Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 103 - Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara | 18 May 2026 | 01:18:38 | |
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 offer aid.. This week, Mat is joined once again by Lea to discuss Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara. Join us as we discuss the differences between the original Del Rey editions and the new hardback collectors editions from Kodansha, how the book seamlessly blends melancholic vibes with slice of life storytelling, and how the stories somehow manage to be uplifting despite their similarities to campfire horror! --- Show Notes --- God Bless The Mistaken by Nio Nakatani Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou by Hitoshi Ashinano Wandering Island by Kenji Tsuruta Kino's Journey by Keiichi Sigsawa and Kouhaku Kuroboshi Touring After the Apocalypse by Sakae Saito The Apothecary Diaries by Hyūganatsu Frieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe Pet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 102 - Wistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino Ōmori and Toshi Aoi | 11 May 2026 | 01:13:58 | |
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 his childhood companion, Elfaria, as part of the Magia Vander. But with no magical ability, can Will make the cut? This week Mat is joined by Zane Reid from the Undisputed Anime podcast to talk about Wistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino Ōmori and Toshi Aoi just in time for the anime's second season! Join us as we get into the book's obvious comparison points, it's incredible artwork and discuss at great length about how in a time of top tier fantasy manga, the world needs more B-tier books! --- Show Notes --- Mashle: Magic and Muscles by Hajime Kōmoto Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama Witch Hat Aterlier by Kamome Shirahama Frieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui Black Torch by Tsuyoshi Takaki Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 101 - Me and The Alien Mumu by Hiroki Miyashita | 04 May 2026 | 00:42:52 | |
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. Together, the two become proud members of the Human Regeneration Study Group in order to understand technology better! This week on Manga Tak, Mat is joined by Ginta1jm to discuss the sci-fi comedy/explainer manga Me and The Alien Mumu by Hiroki Miyashita. Join us as we deconstruct this book and put it back together again, talking about it's similarities to other explainer manga, how effective it's comedy can be and why this might just be the cat manga Mat's been searching for all his life! --- Show Notes --- --- Manga --- Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki & Boichi Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction by Inio Asano Mujina Into The Deep by Inio Asano Set it and Forget it! by Kakaru, Kiri Tono & Five-star Rice Meister Rie Shibuya Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 100 - Ping Pong by Taiyo Matsumoto | 27 Apr 2026 | 01:05:19 | |
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 ever achieve their potential? On this 100th episode, as requested by you, the audience, I'm joined once again by tattooist and comic book artist CROM to discuss the epic Ping Pong by Taiyō Matsumoto. Join us as we gush about the book, ruminate on it's characters and reflect on where this book falls on our personal listings of Matsumoto's work! --- Show Notes --- Interview with Matsumoto from 1995 Bird King Vol. 4 by Daniel Freedman & CROM Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Bonus Episode - Unemployed Killers Support Group by RIO | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:11:40 | |
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 joined one again by Georgie to discuss the newly released Unemployed Killers Support Group by RIO, published in English by Titan Manga! Join us as we give our quick takes on the book's unconventional take on hitmen, it's blend of dark and slapstick humour, as well as it's incredible art style! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 99 - Baki The Grappler by Keisuke Itagaki | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:56:23 | |
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 once again by a formidable opponent: Georgie of the Shojo Style. Listen as they go toe-to-toe, squaring off to discuss Itagaki's unique illustration style, cackle at the book's irreverent violence and, with Kodama Tales being a new challenger to the English manga market, give their thoughts on the quality of the book overal! It's a bout not to be missed! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- Fist of The North Star by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kiojima Me and The Alien Mumu by Hiroki Miyashita Ichi The Killer by Hideo Yamamoto Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama The Climber by Shin-ichi Sakamoto Jojo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki --- NHK interview with Keisuke Itagaki Wiki article on Kazuo Koike, featuring a section on the Gekika Sonjuku School Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 97 Audio Issues Now Fixed! | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:02:28 | |
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 old mice reinstated) to make sure this doesn't happen again... Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 98 - March Comes In Like A Lion by Chica Umino | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:53:58 | |
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 weight of their collective grief? This week, Mat is joined once again by Ramzee to discuss the excellent March Comes In Like A Lion by Chica Umino. Join us as we discuss the thawing of Rei's emotions, our hopes and fears about how this series balances tragedy on a knife's edge, and the excellent cat (and dog) energy that can be found within! --- Show Notes --- Link to the Manben Episode with Chica Umino Link to Ramzee and Claude T.C's new book, Rex Power! --- Manga --- Hikaru No Go by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi Honey and Clover by Chica Umino --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 97 - Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama | 06 Apr 2026 | 01:07:33 | |
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! Before she knows it, her mother is turned to stone and needs the assistance of Qifrey, a witch seemingly obsessed with the brimmed hats, to help her reverse the spell she cast! She joins his Atelier as an apprentice, but Coco soon learns the road to saving her mother and fulfilling her dreams won't be so easy! On this week's podcast, Mat is joined by artist and designer Allie Oldfield to discuss Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama! Join us as we get into the incredible world Shirahama's created: discussing not only it's wonderful magic system, but the metaphor at it's heart. We even talk about the fantastic exhibition at Angouleme of Shirahama's original manuscripts, as well as the many, many artistic influences we see on the pages of the manga! --- Show Notes --- Mangaka, Artists and Writers --- --- Anitrendz TCAF Interview with Shirahama Crunchy Roll Germany Interview with Shirahama --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 96 - Shaman King by Hiroyuki Takei | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:55:57 | |
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 his ability, the constant attention of restless souls and rival shaman seeking him out, Yoh's dreams of living a carefree life soon turn to him focusing on becoming the Shaman King: a shaman so powerful they can channel the power of the great spirit and reshape the world! This week, Mat's joined once again by designer / illustrator Bastian Najdek to talk about Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King! We get into how big this manga was for Bastain (and in Poland in general) growing up, Takei's friendship with Eiichiro Oda, as well as the series' odd publishing history and sequels! --- Show Notes --- The Takei Doc we talk about all episode from Achipel Link to Polish Publisher, Studio JG's version of Shaman King! Manga --- Shaman King: Flowers by Hiroyuki Takei Shaman King: The Super Star by Hiroyuki Takei Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 95 - Revolutionary Girl Utena by Chiho Saito and Be-Papas | 23 Mar 2026 | 01:11:19 | |
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 Chiho Saito and Be-Papas! As Shoujoe are currently watching Utena for their podcast, we spend a lot of this episode comparing and contrasting the manga to the anime, delving deeper into this cross media franchises' creative process before highlighting the strengths of each version of this classic shoujo story! --- Show Notes --- Utena Specific! --- The very insightful Wiki page of Utena 2017 interview with Chiho Saito and Kunihiko Ikuhara NYCC INTERVIEW WITH SAITO AND IKUHARA 1998 UTENA CD ROM(!) INTERVIEWS --- Manga / Anime --- Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda Skip Beat! by Yoshiki Nakamura Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori Kime no Todoke by Karuho Shiina Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 94 - One Piece: Ace's Story by Boichi and Ryo Ishiyama | 16 Mar 2026 | 00:55:46 | |
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 joined once again to discuss One Piece: Ace's Story (the manga) with Art by Boichi, Storyboards by Ryo Ishiyama, based on a concept by Eiichiro Oda, but more specifically based on light novels by Sho Hinata andTatsuya Hamazaki... That's a lot of names I hear you cry! Well strap in as we unpack this tale of Luffy' Older Brother... SPOILER WARNING: If you've not read past 'Marine Ford' in One Piece, maybe skip this one and come back later ;) --- Show Notes --- Manga --- One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji by Yuto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki Dr. Stone by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi --- 'The Loss' Shirt Mat was wearing! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 93 - Phantom Busters by Neoshoco | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:59:32 | |
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 handy trick he has up his sleeve is the ability to touch someone with a supernatural ability and borrow their powers... Given this high school is seemingly filled to the brim with super natural talent, it's time to form a club and get recruiting! This week, Mat is joined once again by Zane Reid of Undisputed Anime to talk Phantom Busters by Neoshoco! Join us as we discuss the book's spin on the traditional shonen manga format, who exactly it's audience might be and how we feel about a book that delivers more punch-lines than punches! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- One-Punch Man by ONE and Yusuke Muruta Wistoria: Wand and Sword by Fujino Omori Witch Hat Atelier - Kamome Shirahama Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togarashi Frieren by Kanehito Yamada & Tsukasa Abe Black Torch by Tsuyoshi Takaki Phantom Seer by Togo Goto & Kento Matsuura Bungo Stray Dogs by Kafka Asagari & Sango Harukawa Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 92 - Love Bullet by inee | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:56:16 | |
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-founder Winter Venom to discuss Love Bullet by inee! We get into the book's premise, a yuri manga where gun-toting cupids take matchmaking to the extreme, discuss it's potential scope, as well as the mix of action and emotion that forms the foundation of a wonderful first volume. --- Show Notes --- Find MangaAlert's Review of Love Bullet here. --- Manga --- The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All (aka Green Yuri) by Sumiko Arai Mechanical Buddy Universe by Takuji Kato This Monster Wants to Eat Me by Sai Naekawa Lycoris Recoil by Yasunori Bizen Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 91 - D.N.Angel New Edition by Yukiru Sugisaki | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:49:32 | |
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 curse being to get his crush to return his affection, and his classmate, Satoshi Hiwatari turning out to be a young prodigal detective, Daisuke's going to need more than angelic powers: he's going to need a miracle! This week, Mat is joined once again by Tsutsudae of Undisputed Anime to discuss Yukiru Sugisaki's Shojo masterpiece, DN Angel, in it's shiny (and we mean SHINY) New Edition from Yen Press! We discuss how the series has held up during it's many hiatuses, talk phantom thieves in anime / manga at large, before ruminating a little on how great it is that fans of this series from 1997 will finally get a chance to read it's ending almost 30 years later! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- Lupin the Third by Monkey Punch Phantom Thief Jeanne by Arina Tanemura Saint Tail by Megumi Tachikawa --- Sugisaki Interview with Comics Natalie Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 90 - The Climber by Shin-ichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Nabeta & Hiroshi Takano | 16 Feb 2026 | 00:59:07 | |
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 one climb he must face alone! This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to discuss The Climber by Shin-ichi Sakamoto, Yoshio Nabeta & Hiroshi Takano. We discuss not only the book's high-highs, but it's interesting publishing history, Sakamoto's other works and the author's own journey from a young Mangaka to almost retiring from Manga altogether before the success of this work! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- Innocent by Shin-ichi Sakamoto #DRCL Midnight Children by Shin-ichi Sakamoto The Summit of The Gods by Jiro Taniguchi A Journal of my Father by Jiro Taniguchi The Solitary Gourmet by Jiro Taniguchi The Walking Man by Jiro Taniguchi -- Interviews Etc. --- Shin-Ichi Sakamoto Manben Episode! Kerastyle Interview with Shin-ichi Sakamoto Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 89 - The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi and Shin Kibayashi | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:51:01 | |
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 his inheritance, the world's most expensive wine collection, he must correctly identity 13 wines: 12 'apostles' and a wine cryptically referred to as 'The Drops of God' in a competition against another renowned wine critic, Issei Tomine, who was adopted by his father just before his passing! This week, Mat sits down once more with Árni Beck Gunnarsson to talk The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi and Shin Kibayashi! Join us as we discuss if this wine manga had us reaching for another glass, or if it's approach to wine left us longing for something stronger. We speculate on it's tone and target audience, while Mat also gets into his thoughts about the Live Action TV show currently streaming on Apple TV! --- Show Notes --- Manga --- Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata Great Teacher Onizuka by Tooru Fujisawa Oishinbo by Tetsu Kariya Akira Hanasaki Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma by Yūto Tsukuda and Shun Saeki --- TV Shows --- --- Jarret Melendez' story about a Tokyo Jazz Bar can be found in Vol.1 of IDW's Full Bleed Anthology! Listen to Mat and Arni talk Manga more broadly on Tegenseriessnak here! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 88 - Fly Me To The Moon by Kenjiro Hata | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:59:13 | |
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 discuss T̶o̶n̶i̶k̶a̶k̶u̶ ̶K̶a̶w̶a̶i̶i̶ Fly Me To The Moon by Kenjiro Hata! Join us as we discuss the dangers of 2am Don Quixote visits, how the manga compares to the anime, and watch in real time as Mat does a complete 180 turn on reading on based solely on the mention of one of his favourite movies... --- Show Notes --- Manga --- Urusei Yatsura by Rumiko Takahashi Revolutionary Girl Utena by Chiho Saito / Be-Papas Neon Genesis Evangelion by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Wash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori --- Other --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 87 - 10 Dance by Inouesatoh | 26 Jan 2026 | 01:02:07 | |
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. It's the first BL on the show, so after taking some time to discuss what the genra is and isn't, we get into what's so appealing about the book! It's tension, the romance and at times, the artwork! Along the way, we talk BL tropes, the Netflix live action adaptation of the manga, as well as give some recommendations for other books that contain other queer stories that will leave you smiling at the end! Show Notes: --- --- BL Descriptors! --- --- Manga --- Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide by Mone Sorei What Did You Eat Yesterday? by Fumi Yoshinaga I'm Kinda Chubby and I'm Your Hero by Nore Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama She Loves To Cook, She Loves to Eat by Sakaomi Yuzaki (podcast episode!) Even Though We're Adults by Takako Shimura --- Movies --- 10Dance Live Action on Netlfix Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Have Your Say on Episode 100! | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:02:09 | |
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/oiXmaX24ry6sHvEf9 Voting will close on February 20th, so be sure to get your vote in ASAP! Thank you in advance! Mat Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 86 - Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto | 19 Jan 2026 | 01:06:12 | |
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's feelings and real life incidents. But is it worth reading? This week, Mat is once again joined by writer and illustrator, A.C. MacDonald, to discuss Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto. In this spoiler filled episode, we look at Look Back in relation to Fujimoto's other works, discuss how the creator reflects his own thoughts and feelings through the story, as well as asking each other questions on the nature of art and why we both feel the need to create things! Join us for perhaps one of the most introspective episodes of the podcast ever, but we hope you'll agree: it's likely the kind of conversation someone like Fujimoto would want us to have about this book! --- Show Notes --- Twistwood Tales by A.C. MacDonald --- Other Works of Fujimoto: --- Manga Tower Dungeon by Tsutomu Nihei Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 85 - Suzuki-Kun's Mindful Life by Yuhki Fujimoto | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:51:40 | |
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 immediately and slowly Suzuki begins to come out his shell to his new classmates, by revealing his unexpected passions for baking and gardening! This week, I'm joined by once again by Marg (aka MargReadsManga) to discuss Suzuki-Kun's Mindfull Life by Yuhki Fujimoto. Can this Shojo slice of life win us over? What does this book about challenging gender rolls have to say? And more importantly, how do we feel about the prospect of an age gap romance... --- Show Notes --- Manga --- The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity by Saka Mikami Wash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori After The Rain by Jun Mayuzuki My Love Story!! by Kazune Kawahara & Aruko --- TV Shows (and Podcasts) --- --- Yuhki Fujimoto Interview (Japanese) Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 84 - Duranki by Kentaro Miura and Studio Gaga | 05 Jan 2026 | 00:55:37 | |
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, with Miura's untimely passing in 2021, neither of these stories will see an ending. Like the ancient myths on which Duranki is based, we're only left with a fragment of those stories...And just like scholars do with those tales of old, Mat and Tom will speculate widely on what IS there! Join us as we dig into Duranki: exploring the stories' 6 chapters, contrast it development concept also included in the volume on which it was based, before finally asking the question: should a creator's work continue after they're gone? And perhaps more fitting for a podcast that mainly recommends manga, is Duranki a good starting point for the Berserk-curious reader? --- Show Notes --- Giganto Maxia by Kentaro Mirua Dragon Ball Super by Akira Toriyama and Toyotarou --- Production Interview on Duranki with Mirua (in Japanese) --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 83 - Short Game by Mitsuru Adachi | 29 Dec 2025 | 01:02:02 | |
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! Join us as we take the field to discuss Adachi's beautiful compositions and writing, spend a little time in the outfield discussing badly dubbed Polish anime, before swinging for the fences and picking our favourite stories in the collection! --- Show Notes --- Mangaka --- Manga Short Program by Mitsuru Adachi H̶e̶l̶l̶o̶ What's Michael? by Makoto Kobayashi Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||
| Episode 82 - Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura | 22 Dec 2025 | 01:09:50 | |
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 Thorfinn Karlsefni himself: author and translator, Árni Beck Gunnarsson! Join us as we really dive into Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura! We not only explore the book's story and themes, but actually talk at the length about viking history and the Icelandic sagas! It's an episode not to missed! --- Show Notes: ---- Podcasts: The excellent Mangasplaining episode on Vinland Saga Árni's podcast, Tegneseriesnak --- Manga: My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi Farewell My Odin by Chihiro Yoshioka --- Danish Viking Comics: Tall Tales of Midgard by Bjørk Matias Friis --- TV Shows / Movies --- Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music! | |||