Manga Review: "Kaiju No. 8" Vol. 1
"Kaiju No. 8" official manga volume 1 cover.
Quick Info
Author: Naoya Matsumoto
Distributor Viz Books
Published: December 7, 2021
Availability: In print, buy on Amazon, RightStufAnime, Kindle, wherever books are sold, read on the Shonen Jump app with a subscription
Story Summary
Kafka Hibino is part of a monster cleanup crew in the near future where Kaiju are rampaging in cities all over the world, but especially in Japan.
Kafka works for Monster Sweeper Inc., a Kaiju professional cleaning company. He had big dreams of joining the 27th division, a group that fights Kaiju. One day while working, he tries to protect his coworker from a Kaiju attack and ends up in the hospital. He is found by a strange Kaiju that he swallows and discovers he’s turned into a Kaiju.
The story of Kaiju No. 8 seems like it’s going to be another generic Shonen manga, but the manga has several things in it that are fun and interesting. It’s one of the rare Shonen manga that features adult protagonists instead of your typical high school student.
I like the setting and the characters are interesting, and I like the cast of characters.
The Story Is Fun and Has an Interesting Premise
I like the characters in this manga. They’re interesting and they act like adults instead of teenagers. While they’re still some teenagers, there are plenty of teenagers in the story. Kafka Hibino is a fun main protagonist that does have a lot of common Shonen character traits and tropes, but he’s still an entertaining character.
Mina Ashiro is an interesting character because she’s the successful character that the protagonist looks up to and admires. She has a serious personality but she’s also an interesting character that is disappointed in the protagonist for failing to follow her to the Defense Force.
Leno Ichikawa is Kafka’s coworker that also joined the Defense Force along with Kafka. He’s also an interesting character and I like him, he’s alos an interesting protagonist.
Kikoru Shinomiya is also an interesting character because she wants to fight Kaiju to live up to her family’s reputation. She’s a fun and interesting character and I like her.
I think all the characters are quirky and interesting, even if they’re not an original idea and use a lot of character tropes found in Shonen manga. They are still entertaining and I enjoy reading about them.
Kafka rescuing Leno Ichikawa from a Kaiju.
I Like the Characters
The artwork for Kaiju No. 8 is very nice, I like how the characters have unique character designs that I like. I also like the designs of the kaiju that the manga shows. I also like some of the action scenes in the manga.
The character designs are unique and the characters are memorable and I can distinguish them when I look at the artwork. I like the unique designs of the characters and the weapons they use to fight the Kaiju.
The main character Kafka Hibino’s design for his Kaiju is also cool and eye-catching. He’s an interesting character in both human and Kaiju forms, but his Kaiju form is what fans remember when they think of Kaiju No. 8.
The other characters have cool visual designs and are very memorable both visually and for their individual personalities.
The art looks nice throughout the manga and I like the setting and aesthetic of the manga. It also has a nice setting and while you can’t see too much of the city, the inside of the apartment is very detailed.
The artwork is very nice and keeps the manga interesting and visually entertaining. The illustrations look great and the Kaiju are all visually diverse monsters.
The fights are also nicely drawn and they’re visually exciting.
The Artwork Is Very Nice
The first volume of Kaiju No. 8 is a manga with a slow start. It’s not the most exciting manga volume, but it has an interesting premise, but not all readers want a slow start to a story. I enjoy the story, the setting, and the characters, but the manga could be a little more exciting in its first volume.
The slow pacing won’t appeal to certain manga readers that like fast-paced storytelling. Not too much happens in this volume, but it mainly introduces us to the main characters of the manga’s cast.
The first volume is off to a decent start and I found it to be an entertaining read. It may not be an amazing start, but it is fun.
The First Volume Is Slow Paced
The first volume of Kaiju No. 8 is a manga with a slow start. It’s not the most exciting manga volume, but it has an interesting premise, but not all readers want a slow start to a story. I enjoy the story, the setting, and the characters, but the manga could be a little more exciting in its first volume.
The slow pacing won’t appeal to certain manga readers that like fast-paced storytelling. Not too much happens in this volume, but it mainly introduces us to the main characters of the manga’s cast.
The first volume is off to a decent start and I found it to be an entertaining read. It may not be an amazing start, but it is fun.
Captain Mina Ashiro and the Japan Defense Force that kills Kaiju.
Reader Poll
The Concepts Aren't Unique but It's Fun
I like the concept for the story and setting of Kaiju No. 8, it takes tropes that have been done in other Shonen manga and puts a fun spin on them. The characters are fun and interesting. I like the initial story setup. The story has an interesting hook that grabbed my attention, since this doesn’t have an anime adaptation yet, it has to stand on its own as a manga.
I do think that the manga does stand on its own without an anime adaptation. I enjoy the story that the manga has set up and I’m looking forward to reading the next volume.
The story is fun and entertaining and I’m enjoying it so far.
While the story isn’t mind-blowing out the gate, it’s still a lot of fun to read and the art is nice to look at. It has a lot of potential, even if the pacing is a little slow and the story’s taking its time to introduce you to the main cast.
I enjoy it but it’s not a perfect story, it’s still fun and a nice Shonen with adults in the cast that aren’t just side characters.
It’s very nice to follow a Shonen story where adults are part of the main cast as the protagonists and not just supporting cast members.
Quick Summary
| What Works: | What Doesn't Work: |
|---|---|
Interesting story, characters, premise, and world-building | The story uses common Shonen manga tropes |
The manga has nice artwork | The pacing is slow |
Features adult protagonists rather than just high school students |
My Grade: B+
I recommend Kaiju No. 8 to any manga fan that wants a fun Shonen manga that uses familiar tropes in a fun way. I like the story and the setup, I like the setting and the characters. The story is entertaining and I like how this story starts.
The pacing is a little slow but Kaiju No. 8 is an interesting premise that takes common tropes and uses them to create an entertaining story that may not be unique, but it’s fun to read.
I recommend using the Shonen Jump app to see if you like Kaiju No. 8. If you enjoyed the manga then you should pick it up from Amazon, RightStufAnime, or your local bookstore. You can see if your local library has it to borrow the manga to try before you buy it.
I won’t be picking up the manga for my collection, but I do enjoy reading it on the Shonen Jump manga app.
Kaiju No. 8 is an entertaining manga that is worth your time but not necessarily your money. I enjoy the manga but not quite enough to buy a physical or digital copy of it when I have access to the manga via the Shonen Jump app. It is a very entertaining manga that is a lot of fun to read.
If you want to read it you should see if your local library has it on their shelves and check the manga out if it’s available. If you are subscribed to the Shonen Jump app you should start reading Kaiju No. 8 and see if it’s a manga that you’ll keep reading. I enjoy the story and I’ll be reading the next volume very soon. It is worth your time to read.
There is no anime adaptation yet but I’m sure there will be one eventually because the premise is very interesting. It may not be mind-blowing or amazing, but it’s fun, and I enjoy it a lot.
I recommend giving the manga a try and seeing if you’ll enjoy it. It has become popular in the manga circles but a lot of anime-only fans haven’t read it yet. You should check it out and maybe you’ll find a wonderful story that you weren’t expecting.
My Rating
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