Magu-chan: God of Destruction

Magu-chan: God of Destruction (Japanese: 破壊神マグちゃん, Hepburn: Hakaishin Magu-chan) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kei Kamiki. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since June 2020, with its chapters collected into two tankōbon volumes by publisher Shueisha as of January 2021. Viz Media has licensed the series for English release in North America.

Magu-chan: God of Destruction
Cover of the first tankōbon volume, featuring Ruru and Magu.
破壊神マグちゃん
(Hakaishin Magu-chan)
GenreComedy[1]
Manga
Written byKei Kamiki
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original runJune 22, 2020 – present
Volumes2

Plot

About 600 years ago, the God of Destruction Magu Menueku, one of the Gods of Chaos (混沌の邪神), was summoned to Earth by the Cult of Chaos (混沌教), but was sealed away in a crystal by the Holy Knights (聖騎士). In a remote beachside town in the present day, middle school student Ruru Miyanagi finds and accidentally releases Magu from the sealing crystal. Although Magu tells her of his Godly status, Ruru is unimpressed and the two form an unlikely relationship; the lonely Ruru looks at him as a friend of equal status, while Magu considers her his lowly human disciple. Having sensed Magu, the God of Madness Naputaaku breaks out of his sealing crystal and the two continue their rivalry to rule humans, although both have lost most of their power. After learning that they both hate Magu, Naputaaku and Ruru's friend Ren Fujisawa form an alliance. The young Holy Knight Izuma Kisaragi makes occasional appearances in the town trying to stop Magu from taking it over. Izuma is often accompanied by Uneras, the God of Providence who betrayed her fellow Gods of Chaos and sided with the Holy Knights, leading to their sealing 600 years earlier.

Characters
Ruru Miyanagi (宮薙流々)
A middle school student, she is kind and carefree but gullible and a little dense. Her father died when she was young, and her mother Rui (涙依) is rarely home as she works on the otherside of the sea, thus Ruru is often lonely.
Magu Menueku (マグ＝メヌエク)
A God of Chaos, ranked in the First Pillar, and the God of Destruction, who has massive destructive abilities. But as a result of having been sealed in the crystal, his physical body is much smaller and his powers much weaker. His goal is to regain his powers and amass a following like the former Cult of Chaos, which he thinks he is doing by having others sign their name in "The Book of the Destruction Disciples' Blood Oaths" (really Ruru's old BFF book).
Ren Fujisawa (藤沢錬)
Ruru's friend and classmate who has a crush on her. Unlike Ruru, Ren is suspicious of the Gods and vows to protect her. He tries to get closer to Ruru and ask her out on dates, but most are ruined as she always brings Magu along. In order to keep Magu quiet about his crush, Ren is the first to sign "loyalty" to Magu in his BFF book. His family owns and runs a local restaurant, Fujisawa Eatery (ふじさわ食堂).
Naputaaku (ナプターク)
A God of Chaos, ranked in the Fifth Pillar. He is the God of Madness, earning him the nickname "Naputaaku the Mad", and has the power to control living beings by instilling madness in their minds. He too has lost his size and powers because of a sealing crystal, and now looks like a star fish. Using his ability, he is only able to recruit an army of 100 hermit crabs to do his bidding. Naputaaku becomes friendly with Ren and starts working at his family's restaurant, where he develops a love for cooking.
Uneras (ウーネラス)
A God of Chaos, ranked in the Fourth Pillar, who betrayed them and sided with the Holy Knights, leading to Magu and the other Gods being sealed in the crystals she created. She is the God of Providence, and can infuse objects with magic by altering the laws of nature. Unlike Magu and Naputaaku, Uneras is knowledgeable and curious about modern human society. She fakes being caught by the Knights so that she can enjoy the luxuries they provide her in exchange for her protecting them from the other Gods. As her real body is locked up in the Holy Knights' headquarters, she appears as a clione that hides in a sleeve on the leg of Izuma's pigeon.
Izuma Kisaragi (イズマ・キサラギ)
A 16-year-old descendant of the Holy Knights from another country. He has sworn to eradicate the Gods of Chaos and can detect the "aura of chaos" they give off. Izuma is under the impression that Ruru is under the control of the evil Magu and repeatedly tries to save her. He has a homing pigeon that acts as a lookout. Unable to beat Magu, Izuma eventually enrolls at Ruru's middle school to keep an eye on him, despite being high school age.
Yuika Oze (尾瀬唯歌)
Ruru's rambunctious and fun-loving friend and classmate. She loves to tease and is labelled an "innocent brat," who is without malice or regret.
Kikyo Komiyama (小深山桔梗)
Ruru's friend and classmate who is obsessed with aliens, cryptids and the occult. She immediately recognizes Magu and the other Gods as not of this world and is interested in researching them. She was the only member of the school's Occult Research Club until her friends and Magu join to save it from disbandment.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Kei Kamiki (上木敬), Magu-chan: God of Destruction began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump on June 22, 2020, in the 29th issue of the year.[2][3] It was preceded by a one-shot version published in Shōnen Jump Giga 2019 Summer Vol. 3.[4] Kamiki was credited by the name Keiji Kinoshita (木下敬次) for the one-shot. Kamiki said he came up with a pen name to use when he got serialized in Jump, but his editor rejected it.[5] He revealed that Uneras is based on a lot of things, but became a clione because of "Crypto's drones,"[6] which is presumably a reference to Apex Legends. Publisher Shueisha began collecting the individual chapters into tankōbon volumes with the first released on November 4, 2020.[1] As of January 4, 2021, two volumes have been released.[7] Both Shueisha and Viz Media began releasing the series in English the same day it began in Japan, the former on its Manga Plus website and application.[8]

Magu-chan: God of Destruction is receiving a Vomic adaptation, where voice actors, music and sound effects are heard as the manga images appear on screen. Beginning on November 18, 2020, episodes are uploaded to Jump Comic's official YouTube channel.[9]

Volume list
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 November 4, 2020[10]978-4-08-882512-0——
  • Chapter 1 : "The Girl Ruru Miyanagi" (少女宮薙流々, Shōjo Miyanagi Ruru)
  • Chapter 2 : "The Boy Ren Fujisawa" (少年藤沢錬, Shōnen Fujisawa Ren)
  • Chapter 3 : "Naputaaku the Mad" (『狂乱』のナプターク, Kyōran no Naputāku)
  • Chapter 4 : "The God of Destruction's First Errand" (破壊神はじめてのおつかい, Hakaishin Hajimete nō Tsukai)
  • Chapter 5 : "Victims' Alliance" (被害者同盟, Higaisha Dōmei)
  • Chapter 6 : "The Ruler of the Night Sky" (夜空の支配者, Yozora no Shihai-sha)
  • Chapter 7 : "The Holy Knight Izuma Kisaragi" (聖騎士イズマ・キサラギ, Hijiri Kishi Izuma Kisaragi)
2 January 4, 2021[7]978-4-08-882531-1——
  • Chapter 8 : "A Scorcher of a Duel" (焦熱の決闘, Shōnetsu no Kettō)
  • Chapter 9 : "Ruler of the Sea" (海原を統べるもの, Unabara o Suberu Mono)
  • Chapter 10 : "Naputaaku's Counterattack" (ナプタークの逆襲, Naputāku no Gyakushū)
  • Chapter 11 : "Troublemaker Yuika Oze" (悪童 尾瀬唯歌, Akudō Oze Yuika)
  • Chapter 12 : "Pursuer Kikyo Komiyama" (探求者 小深山桔梗, Tankyūsha Komiyama Kikyō)
  • Chapter 13 : "Providential Uneras" (『摂理』のウーネラス, Setsuri no Ūnerasu)
  • Chapter 14 : "A Scream of Chaos Echoes Through the School" (学び舎に響く混沌の呼び声, Manabiya ni Hibiku Konton no Yobigoe)
  • Chapter 15 : "The Blood-Soaked Pitch-Dark Hound" (血濡れし漆黒の猟犬, Chi Nureshi Shikkoku no Ryōken)
  • Chapter 16 : "The House Where the Young Girl Sleeps" (少女の眠る家, Shōjo no Nemuru Ie)
3 March 4, 2021[11]978-4-08-882578-6——

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump.

  1. "A Chaos-Inducing Illness" (混沌をもたらす病, Konton o Motarasu Yamai)
  2. "Night Parade of a Hundred Demon Destruction Disciples" (破滅使徒 百鬼夜行)
  3. "A Day in the Life of the Frenzied Troops" (狂乱の軍勢の一日)
  4. "Autumn Training" (修行の秋)
  5. "Three Wicked Gods Creeping at Night" (暗夜に蠢く三邪神)
  6. "The Boy's Secret Plan" (少年の謀略)
  7. "The Gambling Den of Madness" (狂乱の鉄火場)
  8. "The North Wind and Sun, Part 1" (北風と太陽(前編))
  9. "The North Wind and Sun, Part 2" (北風と太陽(後編))
  10. "The Mom, Rui Miyanagi" (母 宮薙涙依)
  11. "A Destructive First Shrine Visit" (破滅の新春初詣)
  12. "Lucky Beans" (福豆と鬼)
  13. "Zonze Ge of Despair" (『暗澹』のゾンゼ＝ゲ)

Reception

Reiichi Narima of Real Sound described the series as a gag comedy set in real life that draws from the Cthulhu Mythos, and compared it to Fujiko Fujio's Little Ghost Q-Taro. He said that while this might seem like a surprising combination, it works in the same way other Japanese series have yōkai and other monsters happily interacting with children. Narima called the scenery of the rural seaside town where the manga takes place "fresh" and a "hidden highlight." He called Magu-chan: God of Destruction an "oasis for the mind" after reading its tense Weekly Shōnen Jump battle manga counterparts Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, and expressed his wish that it will continue for a long time.[12] Comic Book Resources' Hannah Collins also compared Magu to H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu.[4]

Reviewing the early chapters, The Fandom Post's Antonio Mireles wrote that Kamiki chose a weird mixture for a comedy, but this "mixture of various tropes of dark comedy, with hints of tragedy, romance, and battle manga" works wonders.[13] He praised the cast and their enjoyable interactions;[14] the relationship between Ruru and Magu,[13][15] and Ren for providing an outsider's view of their uncanny relationship.[14] Mireles cited the art as the manga's greatest challenge: "There are instances where Kei Kamiki can draw charming images or frightful terrifying images that will shake you to your core. And then there are many moments where it feels like its a rough sketch that should have been worked on a bit more."[16] However, in a review of chapter nine, he stated that the art saw a massive upgrade.[17]

References
  1. "弱体化した破壊神と女子中学生のゆるいコメディ「破壊神マグちゃん」1巻". Natalie (in Japanese). November 4, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. "破壊神を復活させてしまった女子中学生のほんわかコメディがジャンプで". Natalie (in Japanese). June 22, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  3. "Kentarō Yabuki, Ryūhei Tamura Launch New Manga in Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine in June". Anime News Network. June 7, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  4. "Shonen Jump's Magu-Chan Is the Cuddliest Lovecraftian Abomination Ever". Comic Book Resources. June 24, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  5. "Mangaka Musings 06/26/2020". Viz Media. June 26, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. "Mangaka Musings 11/08/2020". Viz Media. November 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. 破壊神マグちゃん 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  8. "Viz, Shueisha Add Magu-chan: God of Destruction Manga in English". Anime News Network. June 22, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  9. [Shonen Jump]"Hakai-shin magu-chan" Part1 [Manga dub/Motion Comic & Audio Drama] (video) (in Japanese). YouTube. November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  10. 破壊神マグちゃん 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  11. 破壊神マグちゃん 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  12. "『破壊神マグちゃん』ジャンプ本誌のオアシス的存在に　クトゥルー神話×ギャグ漫画の楽しさ". Real Sound (in Japanese). November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  13. "Magu-Chan: God of Destruction #1 Review". The Fandom Post. June 23, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  14. "Magu-chan: God of Destruction #2 Review". The Fandom Post. July 1, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  15. "Magu-chan: God of Destruction #4 Review". The Fandom Post. July 15, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  16. "Magu-chan: God of Destruction #3 Review". The Fandom Post. July 7, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  17. "Magu-chan: God of Destruction #9 Review". The Fandom Post. September 1, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.