With popular titles such as Kimetsu no Yaiba, The Promised Neverland has came to an end, jump has experimented with a new slate of titles such as Morking, Time Paradox Ghostwriter, Ayakashi triangle and latest to debut this week is Magu-chan: God of Destruction a simple gag comedy manga with lots of potential. So here is our review on Magu-chan chapter 1.
Magu-chan is the third comedy series to join the ranks of shonen jump coming from rookie artist Kei Kamiki. The story has many underlying themes such as dark comedy, tragic past, battle action romance and so far has proven to succesful for setting up the chemistry between the two leads. Shueisha describes it story as such, “The God of Destruction Magu Menueku has been summoned by the Chaos Cult. Humanity’s last hope is the honorable Holy Knights! The battle to save mankind…took place hundreds of years ago… But now a girl out in the country named Ruru releases the legendary god of destruction who had been trapped in a magical jewel! Will the natto-eating, destruction beam-blasting Magu-chan fill the world with complete chaos? This heart-warming, destructive comedy series is ready to explode onto the scene!”
In the first chapter we are introduced to Ruru Miyanagi, a second year middle schooler who lives in countryside near a beach. While searching for clams at rhr beach, she discovers a jewel which she accidentally broke a bit. While fixing the crack she accidentally breaks it and unleashes the GOD OF DESTRUCTION Magu Menueku….. but with in chibi form. The sealing has worked on his body and no longer has same level of power like before. Ruru seeing a talking octopus-like creature with a big eye on her hand is terrified and unknowingly just spikes him to ocean. Although she later she takes him home.
Comedy bits like these are something I really enjoyed about the series. They feel natural and something any individual will do if he is be put in such a situation. My favourite one was when Magu just blows up wall just to silent the telephone. Also it rare to see two characters hit off from the start. Author has manged to create a reasonable relationship between the two. Ruru who has gone through some tough times since her father’s death understands Magu’s loneliness he is going through after entering a world completely unknown to him. Another bit I loved was Magu’s review on Natto cause most of the japanese food stinks and tastes like choas when you first eat it. However it slowly grows on you. It is something I was continuously bothered by while watching the 8th son are you kidding me?.
Talking about the art, it is rough around the edges but those panels with Magu and his beam attacks are beautifully drawn without much shading or extreme detailing. They are able to express the impact of those attacts and I can clearly see it becoming a battle action manga. However I am not a big fan of character designs here, especially the eyes. But I hope it will improve in the coming chapters.
Conclusion
Magu-chan is fun, intresting and lots of potential of being a hit or a disposable gag shit among all other titles, which all depends on how author takes the story from here. It can completely go romance route where Magu helps to bring Ren and Ruru together or can switch to action manga if they wish to bring holy knights descendents.
Magu-chan: God of Destruction is freely available on Viz and Mangaplus in English.
That’s all for today on Magu-chan: God orf destruction review. This is my first time doing a review article and I don’t have much experience in it so I just wrote what was going through my mind while reading the first chapter. Anyway I hope enjoyed reading it.
