In July 2020, Naoya Matsumoto entered the realm of sci-fi action manga with Kaiju No. 8, which rapidly became a next-gen fan favorite among Shonen Jump‘s readers. Recently, Matsumoto spotlighted a competing action manga that has the potential to become one of Shonen Jump‘s next big flagship titles.
Shueisha recently published Vol. 9 of the popular action-comedy manga Shinobi Undercover, which is written by Ippon Takegushi and illustrated by Santa Mitarashi. As detailed on the manga’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, the slip-on book jacket for the latest volume includes a comment from Matsumoto praising the series: “The manga’s balance of seriousness and comedy is wonderfully strange. It fires you up, warms your heart and makes you laugh through tears.”
Kaiju No. 8’s Naoya Matsumoto Praises Shinobi Undercover’s ‘Wonderfully Strange’ Story
From the orange-clad optimist Naruto to the near-immortal anti-hero Gabimaru the Hollow, ninjas have an incredibly diverse presence in the world of shonen. In the case of Shinobi Undercover, the series revolves around a highly skilled ninja who suffers from severe social anxiety. The manga launched in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on Sept. 17, 2024, making it a relatively new series.
VIZ Media, which publishes the series in English, describes the plot: “The first day of school is tough for most, but when you’re an awkward ninja tasked with secretly guarding a total klutz by the name of Aoi, it’s absolutely daunting! But as Yodaka soon discovers, his charge is not just a danger to herself — there are also rogue ninja assassins in the school targeting her. And it’s his and the other undercover shinobi’s job to save her life without blowing their covers!”
Matsumoto’s Kaiju No. 8 also utilizes a major staple of Japanese pop culture: giant, highly destructive monsters. Set in a futuristic version of Japan plagued by kaiju attacks, the manga revolves around Kafka Hibino, an aspiring member of Japan’s Anti-Kaiju Task Force. Motivated by the trauma of losing his hometown alongside his childhood friend Mina Ashiro, Kafka dreams of becoming a world-class kaiju slayer.
Unfortunately, he repeatedly fails his entrance exam and is saddled with the demoralizing job of cleaning up debris and remains after kaiju rampages. Not long after Mina rises to become a Captain of her own division, a parasitic being enters Kafka’s body. Consequently, he gains the power to transform into a half-human, half-kaiju hybrid with incredible fighting abilities.
After escaping from military custody, Kafka’s failing marks are suddenly overlooked, allowing him entrance into the task force — despite the fact that his alternate form is now the group’s #1 target. Notably, Kafka’s predicament is similar to Yodaka’s — he labors to keep his alter ego a secret from his allies, including Mina.
As of early September 2026, Kaiju No. 8 has over 20 million copies in global circulation. Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Star Wars Visions) released an anime adaptation in April 2024. The series garnered a massive audience, earning it a second season, two additional OVAs and a spin-off miniseries titled Kaiju No. 8: Narumi’s Week at Work. Season 3 is currently in production, with a release date yet to be announced.
Kaiju No. 8 and Shinobi Undercover are both available in English from VIZ. Additionally, the Kaiju No. 8 anime series is streaming on Crunchyroll.
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- Release Date
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September 16, 2024
- Author
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Ippon Takegushi
- Artist
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Santa Mitarashi
- Genre
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Action, Comedy
- Chapters
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25
- Volumes
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2
In Shinobi Undercover, elite ninja Yodaka is assigned to protect high school student Aoi Mukai, the heiress to a vast fortune, from lurking dangers. Despite his combat prowess, Yodaka’s social anxiety makes blending into high school life challenging. As he navigates teenage dynamics, he must safeguard Aoi while concealing his true identity.
