Manga artist Wataru Karasuma, known for the action-packed series “Not Lives,” is set to release a new manga titled “Bakko” on October 24. The announcement was made in the October issue of Square Enix’s Monthly Big Gangan magazine.
Delving into “Bakko”: An Occult Sword Battle
“Bakko” is described as an occult sword battle manga, a departure from some of Karasuma’s previous works. The story will center on a gloomy and introverted middle school girl named Bakko Shinno. Her ordinary school life takes a turn when, after being left to clean the classroom by her classmates, she secretly visits a shrine to pray for a peaceful existence and the misfortune of extroverts. It is there that a mysterious demon reportedly targets her, thrusting her into danger.
Wataru Karasuma’s Previous Works
Wataru Karasuma has a notable history in the manga industry, with “Not Lives” being one of his most recognized series.
“Not Lives”: A Deadly Virtual Reality Game
“Not Lives” is an action, science fiction manga that garnered a significant following. It centers on Mikami Shigeru, a high school student and gaming genius who finds himself trapped in a deadly virtual reality game. In this game, he controls a female avatar named Amamiya Kyouka, and losing the game means not only the loss of his avatar but also his real life. The series was serialized in Kadokawa’s Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh magazine starting in 2011, with all ten compiled volumes published by Kadokawa and licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.
“Kakuregami”: A Supernatural Suspense
Another of Karasuma’s works was “Kakuregami” (Hidden Gods), a suspense story that began in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh in February 2020. This manga followed a group of five friends who encounter a mysterious “nodule” at a shrine, leading to supernatural events where they become unseen by others. The series, however, concluded abruptly in 2021 due to “various circumstances” after two volumes were published.
Fans of Wataru Karasuma’s distinctive art and storytelling style can anticipate “Bakko” to offer a fresh narrative within the occult sword battle genre. The manga is set to appear in the next issue of Monthly Big Gangan on October 24.
