Yuki Kawaguchi, the creator of The Hunters Guild: Red Hood, has launched a new manga series titled Otr of the Flame. Viz Media and Shueisha’s MANGA Plus have licensed the manga for English release. The series debuted in Japan on May 12, 2025, in Weekly Shonen Jump’s 24th issue and is being simulpublished on Shueisha’s MANGA Plus service, the Shonen Jump app, and Viz Media’s Shonen Jump library. As of the time of writing, the first chapter is available to read for free.
A World Shrouded in Ice
Otr of the Flame is set in a world encased in winter due to the advances of the Ice Kingdom. The story follows Otr, a kind-hearted young boy who dreams of becoming a warrior like his father. However, instead of fighting on the front lines, Otr is entrusted with keeping the fires burning as a cook in a fortress.
Synopsis
MANGA Plus provides the following synopsis of Otr of the Flame:
The world is encased in winter due to the advances of the Ice Kingdom. Kind-hearted Otr, who dreams of being a warrior like his dad, has been entrusted with keeping the fires burning as a cook in the fortress. But when the fortress is attacked by the demonic army of the Ice Kingdom, the people and the flame are in danger of being snuffed out. Can Otr awaken a power that can turn the tide? A hero’s journey of fire and ice now begins!
Otr’s Awakening
In the first chapter, Otr is working as a cook in the fortress when it is attacked by the Ice Kingdom. The Ice Kingdom’s army decimates the area, with the leader using magic to turn deceased Forest Kingdom soldiers into Draugr. As Otr faces death, his determination allows him to fuse with the holy flame from his village and overcome the Ice Kingdom army. He gains the power of a flaming sword and shield given to him by a fire spirit named Filja, whom he breathed on. Filja helps him defeat the army and tells him that she will help him end the endless winter.
Yuki Kawaguchi: From Red Hood to Otr of the Flame
Yuki Kawaguchi is a former assistant to Kohei Horikoshi, the creator of My Hero Academia. He published several one-shot manga in Japan from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, he published the one-shot for Red Hood, which won the 14th Gold Future Cup Award. It was later serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump as The Hunters Guild: Red Hood in 2021. The Hunters Guild: Red Hood ran from June 28, 2021, to November 8, 2021, and was collected into three volumes. Viz Media printed the series in physical format, while it was released digitally in English on MANGA Plus.
Kawaguchi’s Growth as a Mangaka
According to Comic Book Revolution, Kawaguchi learned from his experience with The Hunters Guild: Red Hood and made a greater effort to ensure the world of Otr of the Flame was fully realized from the start. The strength of the world-building makes Otr and his moments stand out even more.
Art Style
While Kawaguchi was a protégé of Kohei Horikoshi, his art style is very much his own. Comic Book Revolution notes that there are some rough edges, as the artwork is much simpler, especially with round faces. However, this simplicity works well with the Viking-inspired setting of Otr of the Flame. The choice of direction makes Otr’s transformation into his Flame Spirit hero mode an even bigger moment, capturing how this is a moment of hope returning to a world plagued by darkness.
Similarities to Red Hood
Otr of the Flame shares some similarities with Kawaguchi’s previous work, The Hunters Guild: Red Hood. Both series are battle manga rooted in European folklore. They are both about a boy who is not particularly strong but wants to be, thanks to their father, and is pretty useless in a fight until they unlock a magical weapon that lets them fight the monsters of their world. Both also feature a clearly archetypal style of female character.
A Promising Debut
Otr of the Flame has received positive early reactions. Comic Book Revolution called the first chapter an extremely impressive debut, with Yuki Kawaguchi clearly learning from his experience with The Hunters Guild: Red Hood. The strong world-building and compelling characters make readers want to read more.
Where to Read
Otr of the Flame is currently being simulpublished on Shueisha’s MANGA Plus service, the Shonen Jump app, and Viz Media’s Shonen Jump library. The first chapter is available to read for free on these platforms.
Conclusion
Otr of the Flame is a promising new manga series from Yuki Kawaguchi, the creator of The Hunters Guild: Red Hood. With its Viking-inspired setting, compelling characters, and strong world-building, Otr of the Flame is poised to become a hit with manga fans. The series is available to read on Viz Media and MANGA Plus.
