If you’re looking for any fun springtime titles to add to your collection — April introduced quite a few immersive manga and manhwa reads that are certainly worthwhile for casual readers and die-hard fans alike. In fact, his month includes several inspiring sporty scenarios, sibling hijinks, and even a dose of post-apocalyptic tension to offer readers an eclectic combination of top-tier content.
But we’ll save our complete feelings for the detailed breakdown below, so let’s get started!
Run on Your New Legs
Volume 4
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Manga
Release Date: April 18, 2023
Premise: Shouta Kikuzato’s hopes of starting on his school’s prestigious soccer team are derailed when a terrible incident costs him his leg. Now in his first year of high school (again), Kikuzato has resigned himself to never reaching his athletic dreams. But when Chidori, a passing prosthetist, notices Kikuzato’s artificial limb— and speed—as he races through the train station, the specialist proposes a partnership: Chidori will build Kikuzato a brand-new leg designed solely for speed. All Kikuzato has to do is run!
Currently: When the worsening pandemic forces schools to close temporarily, Kikuzato and the other members of the track and field club must find creative ways to keep up their training. The anticipation of his new custom running prosthesis is more than enough to motivate Kikuzato, but his excitement is undercut by the presence of his father, now working from home. Will being in close quarters bring father and son together or drive them even further apart?!
Why It Works: There are a lot of warm, charming, and undoubtedly heartwarming ongoing manga and manhwa titles to choose from at the moment, but the Yen Press licensed series Run on Your New Legs might just be a contender for the highly-coveted MVP of the month title. It’s just innately endearing. From the starting moments of the manga, there’s a very emotional gut punch that’s entirely unpredictable, acting as the catalyst for a story that marvelously transcends the stagnant pain of loss and perceived limitations. And it’s this exact unavoidable undercurrent about pushing your limits that makes it an essential read with true purpose.
In fact, if the first few volumes were designed to introduce us to Kikuzato and his ability to adapt to a prosthetic (plus the need to rediscover his own motivation), the fourth volume is arguably all about commitment. We get to witness Kikuzato come up against a roadblock that feels minuscule in comparison to what it took to get to this point, which further adds to his unwavering resilience and aids its status as a compelling and inspiring read from start to finish. On a more interpersonal level, the briefly explored relationship between father and son caters to a different style of (still) grounded take on light drama, relating to anyone who understands the potential for a personality clash within the family – still taking the time to facilitate an important moment that follows its own trend of taking real hardship and discovering new ways to evolve. And did we mention that underneath it all, it’s primarily a fun, feel-good read?
The Boxer
Volume 2
Publisher: Ize Press
Format: Manhwa
Release Date: April 18, 2023
Premise: While searching for a final prodigy to train, legendary boxing coach K stumbles across a bewildering scene—an apathetic teenager simply standing still as his bullies throttle him. But Coach K sees more than this, sees the precision, grace, and uncanny perceptiveness in the boy’s movements. He knows right away that this is the fighter he’s been waiting for. Yet when he tries to recruit him, the boy with the lifeless eyes only asks one question: “Is it any fun? Hitting people…Is it fun?”
Currently: After landing Baeksan in the hospital, Yu finds himself taking up K’s offer to join his gym. The legendary coach sweeps Yu away and gives him a new hairstyle, a new place to live, and a new goal: become king of the boxing world! But K’s other prodigies aren’t too keen on a clueless, scrawny newbie receiving all their trainer’s attention… Still, Yu may have bigger fish to fry—his first professional fight has been set, and he’s facing the infamous “rookie killer,” John Taker. Can Yu’s innate genius hold a candle to years of experience and underhanded tricks?!
Why It Works: Following our trend of spotlighting sporty titles this month, we have the Ize Press release The Boxer, which is now officially getting into the thick of it. So naturally, as an action-heavy manhwa, the rookie series tries to initiate itself quickly by introducing an unlikely tough guy who’s more apt to be being attacked as opposed to being the initiator. Thankfully, within the scope of the previous first volume, we were able to see our lead character Yu somewhat recognize his own potential with the right guidance – pushing his own limitations and finally attempting to raise the bar for himself. Now, after getting that initial burst of confidence, it’s all about proving himself to his newfound peers (and to some degree, his own internalized doubts) Because the fight never ends, right?
For being the new guy, Yu is almost immediately sized up by others surrounding his newfound life (and path as a boxer) appearing to be the weak link. Sure, he has the backing of K to help kick start his journey, however, just like Yu, there are plenty of others who were discovered with palpable potential that similarly caught someone’s attention. And that simple fact suggests that his raw talent alone isn’t enough in order to earn respect and establish himself as the mighty fighter that K believes him to be. In order to avoid spoiling the outcome of the first step of his current quest, we’ll just say that the second volume doesn’t pull any punches and goes from character growth to precise action without missing a single blow. Make sure to check this one out for yourself while it’s still early enough to be accessible to your busy schedule!
The World After the Fall
Volume 2
Publisher: Ize Press
Format: Manhwa
Release Date: April 18, 2023
Premise: One day, without warning, gargantuan towers appear around the globe. Humanity’s surprise and puzzlement soon turn to panic and terror, as swarms of horrific monsters descend upon the world to wreak havoc. Mankind’s only hope for survival rests on Jaehwan and his fellow Tower Walkers, who are tasked with one mission—Climb to the top. …Or so they believed. Jaehwan begins to sense that things are not what they seem, and he must trust no one but himself. As webs of deception threaten to ensnare him at every turn, can Jaehwan reach Floor 100 and finally uncover the truth?
Currently: The tutorial is over, and Jaehwan’s journey continues in the vast realm of Chaos! After years of solitude inside the Tower, he finds himself in the company of others once again. But something seems…off with these people. When the terrible truth about Chaos finally dawns on him, Jaehwan must find the answer to the question—what does it mean to be human?
Why It Works: The World After the Fall is a fun (and relentless) manhwa, enveloped by action, over-the-top fashion, and surprising layers of character drama, all while playing into a few classic comic-like qualities (and tropes) that make this feel similar to Japan’s popularized Isekai (fantasy/parallel world) genre with an apocalyptic twist. Does it all work when you combine it into a different colorful medium like this one… Absolutely! And with Jaehwan’s justifiable unenthused personality at the forefront of the increasingly popular manhwa, there’s even more reason to enjoy its versatile strengths.
Throughout the majority of the second volume of The World After the Fall, there’s been enough significant time that’s passed, giving us a better understanding of how Jaehwan is adjusting to the undeniably daunting task at hand. Minor spoiler alert: trust and comfort aren’t easy things to establish in this conflict-heavy world. Even when Jaehwan does have people alongside him, the title’s circumstances are so high-stakes and action-packed, that there’s a clear difficulty to create comradery – which does culminate in a perspective-flipping outcome that might have just sparked a new, well-placed motivation for the stoic protagonist.
So after becoming enthralled by the rapid-fire exchanges, atmospheric pops of color, and seemingly deadly outcomes, we’re pretty curious to see what The World After the Fall plans to introduce next.
Sunbeams in the Sky
Volume 1
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Manga
Release Date: April 18, 2023
Premise: Himari Akeno can’t wait to start high school! Even though she’s parting ways with her twin sister, Mio, Himari’s enthusiasm to start this new chapter of her life is palpable―that is, until a traumatic incident sends her home to hide in her room…Watching Himari’s dreams shatter is more than Mio can bear, especially when her sister still longs for an ordinary student life. Determined to see her twin get back out into the world, Mio “catches a cold” and convinces her sister to fill in until she “recovers.” As long as the shy, introverted Himari can pull off impersonating the bubbly, energetic Mio, nothing could go wrong…right?
Why It Works: The brand new Yen Press release Sunbeams in the Sky is a title that’s all about hijinks – leading readers right into a goofy series of mishaps that stems from an event that only twins could find themselves in. In fact, for those familiar with the twin-centric classic film The Parent Trap, or even the noir-themed series Ringer, completely relies on the dynamic of twins who are vastly different, yet still able to use their (near) identical appearance to essentially scam those surrounding them… which is exactly what the polar opposite siblings in Sunbeams in the Sky are prepared to take on in manga form. And if we know anything about the genre, it’s that romance and affection are always close behind.
While its zany concept might sound like a massive inconvenience to her sister, a quickly blossoming connection with a boy begins to lessen the complications and actually adds incentive to this entire charade for her – also creating a need to play off two very different personalities when lives become unavoidably entangled and messy. Even with its palpable tension due to a fabricated persona, the title never veers off the path enough to make this peculiar tale anything other than a slice of life with a little romantic tension. So what are you waiting for? Add it to your list if you haven’t already.