Scum of the Brave (勇者のクズ) is a Japanese light novel series written by Rocket Shokai and illustrated by Yūya Kusaka. It was initially serialized as a web novel published on Kadokawa Corporation's Kakuyomu website between February and March 2016. A single volume was published under Fujimi Shobo's Kadokawa Books imprint in December 2016. A manga adaptation illustrated by Nakashima723 initially began serialization as an independent comic in June 2018, before beginning serialization on Leed Publishing's Comic Border manga website in February 2022. A new edition of the light novel series illustrated by toi8 began publication by Shueisha under their Dash X Bunko imprint in January 2026. An anime television series adaptation produced by OLM premiered in January 2026.
Plot
Set in mid-21st-century Tokyo, the criminal underworld is dominated by Demon Lords, gang leaders who have gained overwhelming powers through ether enhancement and Demon King Transformation Surgery. To counter them, the government sanctions "Heroes", bounty hunters who amplify their own ether abilities using the drug E3 and are legally permitted to kill.
The story follows Yashiro, a lone wolf Hero known as the Reaper, who lives a dissolute life and prefers to work alone. His routine is disrupted when Jōgamine, a determined high school girl who declares herself his apprentice inserts herself into his work. Soon after, Yashiro is approached by additional aspiring high school heroes and agrees to train them for money. As Yashiro becomes entangled with his would-be students, he is drawn into escalating confrontations with Demon Lords, rival Heroes, and criminal organizations, placing him at the center of increasingly dangerous and chaotic conflicts within Tokyo's underworld.
Characters
- "Shinigami" Yashiro (《死神》ヤシロ)
- Aki Jōgamine (城ヶ峰 亜希)
- Yukine Indō (印堂 雪音)
- Sara Kashiwagi Pendragon (セーラ・カシワギ・ペンドラゴン)
- "Salt" Joe (《ソルト》ジョー)
- "Ongakuya" Ishinō (《音楽屋》イシノオ)
- "Moguri" no Maruta (《もぐり》のマルタ)
- Lord "Amber Thorn" (《琥珀の茨》卿)
- Kiyoto Takamiya (鷹宮清人)
- Lord "Wedge of Both Hands" (《諸手の楔》卿)
- Arthur Pendragon (アーサー・ペンドラゴン)
Media
Light novel
Written by Rocket Shokai, Scum of the Brave was initially serialized on Kadokawa Corporation's Kakuyomu website from February 12 to March 22, 2016.[7] A single volume with illustrations by Yūya Kusaka was released under Fujimi Shobo's Kadokawa Books light novel imprint on December 24, 2016.
A new edition illustrated by toi8 began publication under Shueisha's Dash X Bunko light novel imprint on January 23, 2026.[8] Two volumes have been released as of February 20, 2026.
Original edition
New edition
Original edition
New edition
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Nakashima723 initially began serialization as an independent comic on June 22, 2018.[12] It later began serialization on Leed Publishing's Comic Border manga website on February 18, 2022.[13] The manga's chapters have been collected into eight volumes as of December 2025. The manga is published in English by Manga Planet.[14]
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 15, 2025.[26] It is produced by OLM and directed by Shinji Ushiro, with series composition and screenplays handled by Yōichi Katō, characters designed by Rika Murakami, and music composed by Kenichiro Suehiro. The series premiered on January 11, 2026, on Nippon TV and its affiliates, and will run for two consecutive cours.[27] For the first cours, the opening theme song is "Gun Powder", performed by Tooboe, and the ending theme song is "Mental Rental" (メンタルレンタル), performed by Murasaki Ima.[28] For the second cour, the opening theme song is "Revive", performed by ClariS, while the ending theme song is "Non-Fiction.", performed by w.o.d.[29] Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[30] Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.[31][32]
Episodes
Episodes
Reception
The novel won the Grand Prize in the Modern Action category at the 1st Kakuyomu Web Novel Contest in 2016.[38]
See also
- Sentenced to Be a Hero, another light novel series written by Rocket Shokai
External links
References
- Adriana Hazra. Scum of the Brave TV Anime Casts Ryōta Suzuki as Lead Anime News Network, October 11, 2025, retrieved October 11, 2025^
- Liam Dempsey. Scum of the Brave Anime Casts Akari Kito as Aki Jogamine Crunchyroll News, October 25, 2025, retrieved October 25, 2025^
- Egan Loo. Scum of the Brave TV Anime Casts Momo Harumi Anime News Network, November 8, 2025, retrieved November 8, 2025^
- Egan Loo. Scum of the Brave TV Anime Casts Yumiri Hanamori Anime News Network, November 22, 2025, retrieved November 22, 2025^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Scum of the Brave TV Anime Casts Kenjirō Tsuda, Shinichirō Miki Anime News Network, January 16, 2026, retrieved January 16, 2026^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Scum of the Brave TV Anime Casts Yūichirō Umehara, Katsuyuki Konishi Anime News Network, January 23, 2026, retrieved January 23, 2026^
- https://kakuyomu.jp/works/4852201425154963487 Kakuyomu, Kadokawa Corporation, 15 June 2021, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://yushanokuzu.com/news/post-200 yushanokuzu.com, October 25, 2025, retrieved November 3, 2025^
- https://kadokawabooks.jp/product/s47/321609000485.html Fujimi Shobo, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://dash.shueisha.co.jp/bookDetail/index/978-4-08-631634-7 Shueisha, retrieved January 11, 2026^
- https://dash.shueisha.co.jp/bookDetail/index/978-4-08-631639-2 Shueisha, retrieved February 27, 2026^
- https://ln-news.com/articles/75646 ln-news.com, June 22, 2018, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://newscast.jp/news/3132555 newscast.jp, February 18, 2022, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- Scum of the Brave Manga Planet, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- —^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/474740 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, April 22, 2022, retrieved February 15, 2025^
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- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/478137 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, May 20, 2022, retrieved February 15, 2025^
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- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/482637 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, June 24, 2022, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/510231 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, January 27, 2023, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/540148 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, September 22, 2023, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/571536 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, May 31, 2024, retrieved February 15, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/614015 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, March 21, 2025, retrieved March 20, 2025^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/650540 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc, December 18, 2025, retrieved December 18, 2025^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Rocket Shokai, Nakashima723's Scum of the Brave Manga Gets TV Anime Anime News Network, March 15, 2025, retrieved March 15, 2025^
- Liam Dempsey. Scum of the Brave Anime Reveals January 2026 Broadcast, Main Staff in Teaser Trailer Crunchyroll News, September 13, 2025, retrieved September 13, 2025^
- Egan Loo. Scum of the Brave TV Anime's 1st Video Unveils More Cast, Theme Song Artists, 6-Month Run, January 10 Debut Anime News Network, December 6, 2025, retrieved December 6, 2025^
- Adriana Hazra. Scum of the Brave Anime's New Video Unveils More Cast, New Theme Songs Anime News Network, April 4, 2026, retrieved April 18, 2026^
- Alex Mateo. Crunchyroll Adds Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers, The Case Book of Arne, Fureru., More Anime Anime News Network, January 6, 2026, retrieved January 6, 2026^
- 【Distribution Announcement】Muse is pleased to announce the distribution of 《Scum of the Brave》 Muse Asia, December 19, 2025, retrieved December 19, 2025^
- [DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCEMENT] Muse is pleased to announce that we have acquired the distribution rights of [Scum of the Brave]! 🎉 Muse India, December 19, 2025, retrieved December 19, 2025^
- Episodes yushanokuzu.com, retrieved January 10, 2026^
- Watch Scum of the Brave Crunchyroll, retrieved January 10, 2026^
- On Air yushanokuzu.com, retrieved January 10, 2026^
- https://www.ntv.co.jp/program/detail/?programid=20260947 Nippon TV, retrieved January 24, 2026^
- https://www.ntv.co.jp/program/detail/?programid=20260ADB Nippon TV, retrieved February 14, 2026^
- https://ln-news.com/articles/38811 LN-News.com, June 23, 2016, retrieved February 15, 2025^