Black Torch

Black Torch (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsuyoshi Takaki. It was serialized in Shueisha's monthly manga magazine Jump Square from December 2016 to March 2018, and later on the digital platform Shōnen Jump+ from April to July 2018. Its chapters were compiled in five volumes. In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media. An anime television series adaptation produced by 100studio is set to premiere in July 2026.

Plot

Jiro Azuma is a teenage punk, trained in the art of the ninja, who has the incredible ability to talk to animals. Despite this, he was constantly bullied as a child for talking to animals; he could only find solace with other animals, such as his dog Nachi. One day, Jiro is led into the woods by some birds and encounters a gravely injured cat. He nurses the cat back to health, who is shocked to find out that Jiro can understand him. The cat reveals himself as Rago of the Black Star of Doom, an immortal, or evil spirit. He reveals that he was attacked by other for refusing to help them. Later that night, Rago attempts to escape from Jiro's house, but they are attacked by one of the Rago encountered earlier. This kills Jiro by stabbing him through the chest with his immense claws. Feeling pity and indebted to Jiro for saving him earlier, Rago fuses with Jiro to give him a second chance at life. With their combined power, they kill the mononoke, but are then taken into custody by the Bureau of Espionage. The two later join the Bureau in order to stop more in the future.

Characters

• Jiro Azuma (我妻 弐郎)
• Rago (羅睺)
• Ichika Kishimojin (鬼子母神 一華)
• Reiji Kirihara (桐原 零司)
• Hana Usami (宇佐美 花)
• Koga (咬牙)
• Amagi (天鬼)
• Ryosuke Shiba (司場 涼介)

Media

Reception

In 2019, Black Torch was one of manga titles that ranked on the "Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens" by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association.[30]

Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network gave the first volume a B, praising the character dynamics and story devices, but criticized its rushed start and lack of character development. She noted that Takaki's art style resembles that of Tite Kubo (Bleach) and other Weekly Shōnen Jump authors, but without being an imitation of any of them. Silverman concluded, "If you're in the mood for a new shounen action series, this is one worth checking out, because once it works out its issues, it could definitely go places".[31]

See also

• Heart Gear, another manga series by the same author

Further reading

External links