Tuesdays With Ambrea: Manga Humor!

Reviewed by Ambrea

Recently, I’ve been on a kick of reading (and, in some cases, re-reading) Japanese graphic novels – better known as manga.  For some reason, I’ve been devouring all kinds of manga:  action-adventure, historical, romance, intrigue, science-fiction, humor.  If it’s come across my radar, I’ve tried to give it a chance, even if it’s not usually my cup of tea.  Here are some of the funnier misadventures I’ve come across:

 

In One-Punch Man by ONE and Yusuke Murata, Saitama is a hero—for fun!

Saitama seems like an unlikely hero.  From his bald head to his lifeless expression, he’s the most average-looking guy you can imagine.  He’s just got a not-so-average problem:  he can beat every monster or villain he faces with just a single punch—and he’s bored beyond belief.  Turns out, being a hero isn’t all that fun.

There’s something about One-Punch Man that I love.  It’s humorous, it’s silly, and it’s completely over-the-top in the best way possible.  Saitama is so much fun, because he never quite realizes his strength and, more importantly, he never quite realizes he’s in dangerous situations.  It’s hilarious to see him stumble into the middle of a monster battle and walk away unscathed.

I’m always excited to see what kind of trouble Saitama can wander into…and what other quirky Hero Association groupies he can meet.

 

In Mashle:  Magic and Muscles, Mash is just an average guy.  The only problem?  He lives in a world full of mages and wizards, who don’t look kindly on non-magical people.  To keep him safe, his father trains him to become the strongest person in the world.  But can muscles really beat magic—and will he be able to survive magic school with only his brawn to save him?

Mash, like Saitama, is an unlikely hero:  he has a bland expression, a ridiculous haircut, and a poor sense of self-preservation.  He’s a bit of a dope and a weirdo—and, well, that gets him into more than his fair share of trouble.  It’s hilarious to watch Mash fight his way out of situations that anyone else would use magic.

Although I don’t like Mashle nearly as much as One-Punch Man, it’s still enjoyable to watch Mash use brawn to outmaneuver brains.

In Way of the Househusband, Tatsu was once the legendary yakuza, the “Immortal Dragon.”  These days, though, he’s content to be a stay-at-home husband.  He cooks, he cleans, he shops for bargains at the supermarket—and accidentally menaces everyone in the neighborhood.  He can’t help he has resting gangster face.

 Way of the Househusband is manga with a single gag at the center of it:  Tatsu using his experiences as a former yakuza to survive his day.  If that so happens to mean he’s racing down the street with a suspiciously large suitcase to deliver “the goods”—his wife’s lunch—then so be it.

I love the fact Tatsu is completely and entirely oblivious to how frightening he can be.  Despite his happy Shiba Inu apron, he always looks so menacing that most people mistake his intentions—well, that is, until the realize he really is just your average househusband going about his daily routine.  He’s more than happy to teach anyone to cook, or help the neighbor kid complete his latest project, but it’s going to be on his terms, capisce?

Overall, it’s silly and wholesome and downright funny, and it’s definitely worth reading.  It’s also the 2020 Eisner Award Winner for the Best Humor Publication.  I think it definitely deserves the accolades.