Honda, the creator of the popular comedy manga Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, has launched a new manga series. Fans of Honda’s witty and relatable storytelling can rejoice as they dive into the world of a novelist grappling with the dreaded writer’s block.
From Bookstore Tales to Writer’s Woes
Honda gained recognition for Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, a manga series based on their real-life experiences working in a bookstore. The manga, serialized on the pixiv Comic website from August 2015 to March 2019, offers a humorous look into the daily life of bookstore employees, their interactions with customers, and the behind-the-scenes happenings of the book industry. The manga was collected into four tankōbon volumes and even inspired an anime television series that premiered in October 2018, which was streamed by Crunchyroll. Yen Press publishes the manga in English.
After the success of Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san, Honda explored a different genre with Yameru Hoshi yori Ai o Komete (From Sick Planet With Love), a science-fiction manga that ran in Akita Shoten’s Mystery Bonita magazine from January 2020 to January 6, 2025. Akita Shoten published five compiled book volumes for the series, with the last one released on March 14, 2025.
A New Chapter: Utsubushi-sensei no Kakenai Seikatsu
Honda’s newest manga, titled Utsubushi-sensei no Kakenai Seikatsu (Utsubushi’s Life With Writer’s Block), debuted on Friday on Shinchosha’s Comic @Bunch Kai digital manga magazine. This comedy manga centers on Tadao Utsubushi, a novelist working for the fictional publisher Hakugeisha, who is currently suffering from writer’s block. The story follows Utsubushi’s struggles as he tries to overcome this creative hurdle and get back to writing.
What to Expect From the New Manga
Utsubushi-sensei no Kakenai Seikatsu promises to deliver Honda’s signature blend of humor and relatable situations. Here’s what readers can anticipate:
- Relatable struggles: Writer’s block is a common experience for many creatives, making Utsubushi’s plight relatable to a broad audience.
- Industry insights: Just as Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san offered a glimpse into the world of bookselling, this new manga may provide insights into the publishing industry from an author’s perspective.
- Comedy: Given Honda’s previous work, Utsubushi-sensei no Kakenai Seikatsu is expected to be a comedy, using humor to explore the challenges and absurdities of the creative process.
Where to Read
Utsubushi-sensei no Kakenai Seikatsu is currently serialized on Shinchosha’s Comic @Bunch Kai digital manga magazine. While there is no official English translation available at the moment, fans can keep an eye out for potential future releases by Yen Press, which has previously published Honda’s Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san in English.
Honda’s new manga offers a fresh and funny take on the struggles of a writer facing writer’s block. With their knack for relatable characters and humorous storytelling, Honda is sure to deliver another entertaining series.
