Ahoy there, all you manga maniacs and fellow oceanic explorers! You know, if you’re anything like my quirky self, you’ve probably wished your favorite comics could do more than just take you on outrageous escapades—maybe help you whip up a trivia party that would put Jeopardy to shame? Well, grab your life jackets ‘cause we’re about to dive into the new treasure trove washing up on Western shores: Deep-Sea Fish Tank Magmell! Crafted by the illustrious mangaka Kiyomi Sugishita, it’s a dazzling mix of intellect and whimsy that promises to drown you in delight. Let’s slip on our flippers and find out if this underwater adventure tickles more than just your fancy!
Our saga begins with none other than Magmell—the world’s first deep-sea fish tank, chilling two hundred meters beneath Tokyo like an elitist villain plotting world domination. Meet Kotaro, our lovably starry-eyed hero whose obsession with the ocean is courtesy of his dad (who may be less “dad” and more “figment of imagination,” but who’s checking?). At the grand opening, he gets hit with a glimpse of a giant squid that’s basically the majestic overlord of the deep! Zoom five years into the future—Kotaro’s landed himself a job at Magmell! But wait, instead of fawning over mystical fishy wonder, he’s… the janitor? Talk about taking a plunge, am I right? But hey, at least he gets to be near the aquatic oddities!
Every day is a new opportunity for Kotaro to gawk at bizarre sea creatures and bombard any poor soul with marine knowledge like it’s free candy! One fateful day, he overhears visitors drooling over massive isopods while he’s delivering an impassioned monologue about them. This catches the attention of Director Minato Osezaki, who realizes that this janitor may actually have more brains than scrubbing power! Soon enough, Kotaro’s life swirls into delicious chaos as Minato ropes him into a series of fish tank shenanigans. Oh, and spoiler alert—Minato sees a striking resemblance between Kotaro and someone who’s way more famous than a cleaning person. Hello, plot twist!
Each chapter of Deep-Sea Fish Tank Magmell serves up a buffet of aquatic amazement, showcasing everything from gigantic squids evoking existential dread to the elusive sperm whales, frilled sharks, and the ever-mysterious Venus’s Flower Basket. Between chapters, you’ll discover scientifically juicy nuggets of knowledge about these underwater oddballs, with a nod to marine biology whiz Koji Ishigaki for the tidbits! Thanks to this genius, Sugishita keeps Kotaro’s chatter flowing effortlessly instead of cramming info down your throat like a fish at feeding time!
And here’s where the magic hits like a rogue wave! It’s like being wrapped in a warm undersea blanket, schooling you in marine lore while you follow Kotaro’s rollercoaster of a work life. Spoiler alert: our boy isn’t just a bashful fish enthusiast; he’s got layers, like an onion—and I mean the really weird ones, like a jellyfish that moonlights as a disco ball! (Seriously, why do they resemble vegetables so much?) There’s an enigma surrounding his dad, who seems to have deep ties with Magmell—did he play a part in its creation? Hold onto your snorkels, my fellow ocean sleuths, because the intrigue is thickening faster than a pot of clam chowder!
This delightful romp marks Sugishita’s first serialized work (though they’ve got another long-running series brewing in Japan), and I’m beyond hyped! The character designs? Plushy and perfect. The underwater beasts? They come to life like they’re auditioning for Shark Week—just the right amount of terrifying without making you soil yourself. Each page is peppered with details that’ll have readers jotting down notes like they’re studying for their Ph.D. in oceanic trivia—or just slack-jawed with wonder on their third re-read.
Now, let’s talk shop! Deep-Sea Aquarium Magmell Volume 1 glides its way to the West, thanks to our homies over at Yen Press. Credit goes to the smooth translation by Kevin Steinbach and the snappy text by Lys Blakeslee, making this gem a breezy read. But alas! No vibrant color pages or flashy bonuses—which is a shame because judging by the cover, Sugishita’s art would splash color across the page like an overzealous painter on caffeine!
Since its inception in Japan in 2017, this nautical delight has gathered a solid following with 10 volumes (and more mysterious waves ahead!). Volume 2 is splashing onto English shores this January! So gear up for the agonizing waits between volumes, but hey, good things come to those who swim patiently, right?
To sum it all up, Deep-Sea Aquarium Magmell is a delightful dive into a world of marine wisdom mixed with an engaging peek at Kotaro’s work-a-day life. With its unique setting and perfect balance of entertainment and education, this treasure deserves a spot on your shelf! Gear up, and you might just find yourself mesmerized by the secrets lurking in the deep!
Be sure to snag a free sneak peek over at the Yen Press website!
Our review copy was generously provided by the incredible team at Yen Press.
© Kiyomi Sugishita/ SHINCHOSHA Publishing Co., Ltd.
Happy reading, you sea-dog adventurers! Dive in and don’t forget to bring a snorkel and sense of humor! 🌊🐙
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