The summer months are officially upon us, and considering how we’re hitting some of the hottest recorded days in history, sitting inside a comfortable, cool space with a nice manga series sounds like a much more refreshing alternative. Thankfully, the month has led to plenty of impactful titles to check out, with the introduction of our new favorite series The Summer Hikaru Died, and a few returning titles that are sure to spawn an array of polarizing emotions from hope to dread. Now let’s break down the month’s best manga so you know what deserves to be on your radar, shall we?
The Summer Hikaru Died
Volume 1
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Manga
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Premise: Two boys lived in a village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. The two did everything together…until the day Hikaru was encompassed by a mysterious light. That was when everything changed—Hikaru most of all. Yoshiki still wishes from the bottom of his heart to always stay by his side…but is there even a Hikaru left to be with?
Currently: It has Hikaru’s face. It has Hikaru’s voice. It even has Hikaru’s memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn’t Yoshiki’s best friend. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed—as if Hikaru isn’t gone—would be crazy…but when it looks so very like Hikaru…and acts so very like Hikaru…
Why It Works: The Summer Hikaru Died is one of our most anticipated releases of 2023, taking key elements of horror, unspoken chemistry, mystery, and dread, effectively creating the perfect manga. And for being only one volume into the genre title, we couldn’t be more eager to recommend this particular series as a must-read. Kicking off with two characters post-tragedy, the genre-layered manga introduces readers to the lives of two young men who share a deep, unexplored connection – with Hikaru (the titular character) openly revealing that he’s not the boy Yoshiki has known his entire life.
By jumping into the fray at this very starting point, the manga masterfully begins to dig deeper into their history and unavoidably, the sadness that comes with longing for the past. And more impressively, both characters bring such equal, distinctive potential to The Summer Hikaru Died, that you can’t help but gravitate toward the humanity, and inhumanity presented by the series. Because at every well-paced turn, there’s new information divulged which ultimately changes the stakes, honing in on Yoshiki’s internal uncertainty when it comes to following his heart or his head.
Artistically, the series caters to the most devious, eerie stylistic choices imaginable – ranging from pitch-plack horrors and heightened emotions, to comedic instances that provide levity. Throughout its first collection of chapters, we also are shown various detail-heavy demonic attributes and even creatures lurking in the shadows, letting its audience know that there’s plenty of pulse-pounding tension to look forward to. Essentially, The Summer Hikaru Died is an instant classic that you don’t want to miss.
Hirano and Kagiura
Volume 3
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Manga
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Premise: Akira Kagiura has decided. He will marry him. Taiga Hirano, roommate—and the most perfect man who has ever existed! After all, Hirano’s bad boy vibe doesn’t really matter when he acts so sweet. Like when he wakes Kagi up every morning or cheers him on when he’s feeling down…So now there’s only one thing left to do: enact his grand plan and overcome the first hurdle—confessing his feelings! From the creator of Sasaki and Miyano— the story of Miyano’s bad boy senpai and his BL life with his roommate!
Currently: Akira Kagiura—his roommate and underclassman. That’s all he is, right? At least, Hirano thought so, but ever since Kagi’s declaration, he’s been seeing Kagi in a different light. Hirano doesn’t really want anything to change, but is that even possible…especially if they’ll be living together for another year?
Why It Works: If you’ve seen any of our previous manga spotlight features, you’ve likely noticed that we completely adore the Yen Press title Sasaki and Miyano, along with its equally compelling spin-off manga series Hirano and Kagiura – which is currently only three volumes into an endearing tale of kinship and romance. And as of the third volume, Hirano and Kagiura is categorically on par with its flagship title in terms of well-crafted storytelling, leaving us fully invested in the fictional world established by Shou Harusono. If you know, you know!
As of now, the story has teetered around romantic feelings between both titular characters (and more complexly, as roommates) making each interaction feel like a potential gateway into a passionate relationship between the two. Within the pages of the new volume, those feelings become even more prevalent as roommate reassignments loom, forcing them to address their future together (or apart) and presenting readers with productive conversations about how to move forward. This moment pushes Hirano out of his comfort zone in order to offer Kagiura some type of answer about his previous declaration – proving that internalizing his feelings and taking Kagiura’s emotions for granted is an obstacle that could damage the foundation of their bond. Fortunately, the story’s momentum leads to promising developments for Hirano and Kagiura, so we’ll just have to wait and see the progression by the manga’s fourth volume.
Soichi
One-Shot
Publisher: VIZ Media
Format: Manga
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Premise: Soichi, the unhinged second son of the Tsujii family, chews nails and makes them clatter and clack as he spouts horrific curses to bring about the most bizarre happenings. Whether it’s summer holidays or a birthday party, Soichi can turn any occasion into a nightmare in a heartbeat. What is the terrible secret of his origin? Meanwhile, tormented by his little brother’s never-ending pranks, older brother Koichi has a soundproof room built. But why does it have a series of four doors? And then there’s the strange phenomenon surrounding the handmade casket their grandfather left behind. What on earth—or hell—has the family seen there?
Ten tales that celebrate the sinister and hilarious world of Junji Ito’s favorite antihero, Soichi!
Why It Works: First and foremost, you already know renowned author Junji Ito. He’s literally the mastermind of Japanese horror, with (what feels like) countless short stories that have gone on to inspire several anime adaptations for mainstream streaming platforms including Crunchyroll and Netflix. But anime aside, Ito’s work is most known for terrorizing readers for decades within the pages of his manga titles due to his haunting visuals, unsettling storylines, and sheer originality that’s clearly limitless.
Throughout his history with the genre, Ito has invented tons of characters forever ingrained in our minds, though one of his most prominent (and popular) characters known by Soichi has taken on a new level of creepiness with cameos that have made him one of Ito’s only recurring faces. And an unsettling one at that! With this title, fans who have encountered Soichi throughout the years now have a specific release tailored to his family with a healthy blend of short stories that will leave you wishing you knew even less about him. It’s Ito, so you know it’s going to get a little weird!
Can’t Stop Cursing You
Volume 4
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Manga
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Premise: It was just an ordinary day at Yami High..until it wasn’t. A ringing cell phone and the splatter of blood marked the beginning of a deadly game. The rules: Contractor Mikiya has thirty days to curse-kill thirty people-or meet a fate worse than death. On the other side, Curse-Breaker Saeyama must identify the killer… without falling prey to one of Mikiya’s curse-kills. Only time will tell who will emerge victorious…
Currently: And a one—a two—a one, two, three, four! A series of grisly murders brings Curse-Breaker Saeyama and his trusty assistant Yamazaki to…the world of idols? When suspicions fall upon the members of Maid On!, it’sup to the pair to find which of these pop stars is set to implode. But when a curse kill threat is sent to the police from a seemingly different contractor, yet another game is a foot! Who will live, who will die—and will anyone be brought to justice…?! The final chapter of Saeyama and Yamazaki’s partnership is underway!
Why It Works: For being only four volumes into the Yen Press title Can’t Stop Cursing You, the rapid-fire deaths aren’t slowing down – so we’re confident that this isn’t a clickbait title that’s close to running out of steam! For example, the volume already comes in hot on the heels of a bloody cliffhanger, which (after addressed) takes its foot off the gas to head into an investigative theme before once again going full-force into a brutal information dump that’s quite a moment to unpack for the sleuth types.
Furthermore, the wicked narrative tendencies of the title (skillfully) ensure its longevity by keeping up a pace that promises resolve without painting itself into a corner where readers might eventually grow tired of a story that overstays its welcome. When we actually obtain a lead in Can’t Stop Cursing You, there’s good reason to speculate, because its eventual slasher reveals come with a nice setup for future arcs without missing a beat. And let’s be honest if you’re looking for madness, chaos, and a dash of gore, the series’ art relishes in building itself a fearless genre read that’s bound to entice aficionados.
Dead Mount Death Play
Volume 9
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Manga
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Premise: It’s a showdown for the ages as the legendary hero takes on the corpse god necromancer, but when the dust settles, something isn’t quite right… In the final moments of their epic confrontation, the corpse god’s final gambit shot was wholly unexpected — reincarnation magic! Across space and time, a boy named Polka Shinoyama awakens feeling…not quite himself…… Who could’ve expected that the climactic battle between good and evil would turn out like this??
Currently: Powerful forces—supernatural and otherwise—have converged in the streets of Shinjuku. The police are on the trail of Fire-breathing Bug, who has a vendetta against the Bastard Children of Sabaramond—a group now face to-face with Solitaire! The Corpse God was not the first to arrive from the world beyond, and not all who preceded him shared his desire for peace…
Why It Works: It’s hard to imagine that Dead Mount Death Play is now on its ninth volume, and over the course of its wide selection of chapters, it’s still maintaining a spot as a crucial read for various demographics of manga fans. Especially those inclined to enjoy things with a little more supernatural tenacity or even a love for something that’s tethered to blending comedy and action (a slight genre pattern for this month’s best-of releases). So after making it this far into the series, we’re rather satisfied with the trajectory it’s currently on.
The new Dead Mount Death Play carves out ample time in its earlier chapters to explore dialogue, current character motivations, and even opportunities to switch allegiances, with a more introspective approach to the first half of the volume. By the time the violence is officially activated, there’s a fun (nostalgic and traditional shonen-ish) meeting between two powerful beings who attempt to outwit and overpower each other – leading to several characters entering the fold for a climactic cliffhanger that’s likely leading to another standout story for its milestone 10th volume. If you’re looking for a lengthy read with a combination of classic and modern manga storytelling traits, this one’s for you.