Tokyo Revengers is a manga series by Ken Wakui that mixes action, science fiction, thriller, and yankī (delinquent) genres in a story about fate, gang wars, and time travel. The main character, Takemichi Hanagaki, is a 26-year-old failure who gets a chance to go back to his middle school days, when he was in love with Hinata Tachibana, his first and only girlfriend. He finds out that Hinata was murdered by the Tokyo Manji Gang, a ruthless group of criminals that has been ruling the city for years. He decides to join the gang and change the future by stopping Hinata’s death and the gang’s rise to power.
The manga has 31 volumes and 279 chapters, and it was published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from March 2017 to November 2022. It won the 44th Kodansha Manga Award for the shōnen category in 20201. It has also been made into an anime series, a live-action film, and two spin-off manga2.
The manga has received positive feedback from critics and fans alike, who complimented its captivating plot, lively characters, emotional scenes, and realistic representation of the yankī subculture. Some of the common themes that reviewers have pointed out are:
The idea of time travel and its effects: The manga examines the paradoxes and dilemmas that come from changing the past and the future, as well as the ethical and moral implications of doing so. Takemichi often faces hard choices and unexpected results as he tries to save his friends and loved ones from their sad fates. He also learns that changing one thing can have consequences on other aspects of history, creating new problems and enemies along the way.
The depiction of friendship, loyalty, and brotherhood: The manga shows the strong ties that form between the members of the Tokyo Manji Gang, who share a common goal and a sense of belonging. Despite their differences and conflicts, they support each other through good and bad times, risking their lives for their comrades. The manga also portrays the rivalries and alliances that exist between different gangs, as well as the respect and honor that they maintain in their battles.
The character development and growth: The manga features a large cast of diverse and memorable characters, each with their own backstory, personality, motivation, and role in the story. Takemichi is the main focus of the manga, as he undergoes a significant transformation from a scared and hopeless loser to a courageous and determined leader. He also influences and inspires other characters to change for the better or worse, depending on his actions. The manga also explores the complex relationships that Takemichi has with his friends, enemies, love interests, and mentors.
In summary, Tokyo Revengers is a manga that offers a thrilling and engaging reading experience for fans of action.
About The Author
Ken Wakui is a Japanese manga artist who is best known for his series Shinjuku Swan and Tokyo Revengers. He started his career in 2005 with Shinjuku Swan, which won a jury recommendation at the Japan Media Arts Festival and was adapted into two live-action films. He launched Tokyo Revengers in 2017, which won the Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category and was adapted into an anime series and a live-action film. He is also the author of other manga such as Abaddon, Budgerigar, and Desert Eagle12.
Wakui’s manga are influenced by his experiences with street gangs, bar hosts, and the yankī subculture. He often explores themes such as time travel, fate, friendship, loyalty, and brotherhood in his stories. He has a distinctive art style that features realistic and detailed character designs, dynamic action scenes, and expressive facial expressions
