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 identity?On this episode of Manga Tak, Mat sit's down once again with Tom to discuss one of the biggest names in Weekly Shonen Jump's history: Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata. We discuss the book's tight concept, rollercoaster ride of a plot and talk a lot about the series' signature art style to determine if Death Note still holds up almost 20 years after it's initial conclusion! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod
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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!How does a magic less boy complete in a world of wizards? Simple: BRUTE FORCE.On this week's episode, Mat is joined once again by Bar to chat about Mashle: Muscle and Magic by Hajime Kōmoto. With the gags coming thick and fast, we take some time to pick apart the humour a little, talking about what we love about Kōmoto's storytelling and why it's Season 2 Theme Song became part of the cultural zeitgeist but left it's source material behind! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod
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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't help wonder about the life she's forgotten. Is it a life worth remembering? Or are some mysteries left better off unanswered?On this week's episode, Mat is joined by Tsutsudae from Undisputed Anime to discuss Wash It All Away by Mitsuru Hattori. The book promised to be 'something to sooth the chaos of the modern world', so we get ready to soak in some Slice-of-Life goodness! We talk plot, art and tone, as well as where we'd like the book to go in it's next volume! Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod
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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 find the reason for her family’s murder. She’s aided by Detective Lei, the cop who failed to prove her innocence, and Miku Higa, a Japanese Go prodigy who can see 5 minutes into the future... And that's only the beginning!This week, Mat is joined once again by Georgie (aka Mainly.Manga) to talk about the new Manhua Yan by Chang Sheng (review copies provided by Titan). We dive headfirst into discussing the work's tantalising plot that keeps upping the stakes, reflecting on the clear cinematic and comic book influences we see in the work, before gushing about it's incredible artwork!Thanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod
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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 with revolutionaries, government cover-ups and the same psychic beings that started this chain of events. All the while, the city seems to hum with the whisper of one, mysterious name: Akira.This week, Mat and comic creator Ian Sta. Maria dive into Katsuhiro Otomo's legendary manga. Often called one of the greatest comics ever made, we explore what makes Akira so compelling—its art, pacing, and storytelling—while asking whether new readers can enjoy it on its own merits, separate from its massive cultural impact.Show Notes:'The Abridged Akira'Naoki Urasawa and Hisashi Eguchi talk Otomo (Manga Brog)Otomo interview on AkiraThanks to Juliano Zucareli for our theme music!Find us on:X: Manga Tak PodBluesky: Manga Tak PodInstagram: Manga Tak Pod
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