Whoa, a new year and some great manga are on the way with our April 2026 Manga Minis! We have four stellar reviews on the docket, with two highly anticipated works up for review! Check out our early reviews of Titan Manga’s Unemployed Killers Support Group and Kana’s Billy Bat and more below!
From Memen to Mori (Yen Press)
I was unaware that Yen Press has an imprint of books catered specifically for children with its JY line, and I was surprised at the quality of the works there! I checked out From Memen to Mori on a whim and was pleasantly surprised with the overall package. If you have a young one that wants to get into the world of manga, this is a nice place to start.
It’s a cute little tale consisting of three stories with Memen and Mori, two inquisitive children wandering about and wondering about life. From wasting time to finding things to like and dislike, the pair find joy in the positive and negative. The stories are easily digestible and highlight some basic philosophical questions about our life and how we live. Honestly, it’s such an honest take on what it means to be human that sometimes I forget I’m reading a children’s book.
The art style is simplistic and casual, which works well for a story like this. I was able to get a physical version of this title, which highlights how vibrant the drawings are in relation to the story, and there are some great techniques with utilizing the space that helps kids follow along to the dialogue and story. Honestly, I just wish there was another story to wrap up the book, but sometimes all we need is something small for which to yearn.
Rating: 4 out of 5 UwUs
Unemployed Killers Support Group (Titan Manga) – April 2026 Manga Minis Advanced Review!
Sometimes it’s the random picks that impress you the most. That’s what I felt finishing Unemployed Killers Support Group, which is a delightful darkly comedic look at the perspective of assassins in between jobs. (By jobs I mean killing people.) The unique premise mixed with some great noir-inspired art makes for a standalone volume that’s perfect for those looking for a unique graphic novel.
This story follows the unfortunate tale of Locker Loyed, a sniper who ends up going blind due to a job gone wrong. After being let go from his employer, he is recommended to attend a support group with killers who have left the business due to hapless means. The supporting cast includes loveable slacker Jordi (a man who fakes everything on his resume, which doesn’t pan out in the world of assassination), scorned lover Maze (whose cheating husband causes a conflict of interest in her career), and group coordinator Cole (a lawyer-turned-vigilante who gruesomely disposes of his opposition on the side).
This motley crew assists Locker as he learns to depend on others. With his sight failing him, Locker will need more than his own abilities to get him through the day. Also, is revenge the best option?
Unemployed Killers Support Group has a fun camaraderie with its characters, one that signifies a bond only brought together by the mutual act of killing. No matter the circumstance, these former assassins are plagued by their failures but also learn to overcome their weaknesses throughout the story. I was just impressed at how quickly their arcs are resolved without feeling rushed. The narrative continues at a brisk pace while giving the reader enough time to reflect on the situations at hand.
While there are some aspects I wished could have been expanded (such as Locker continuing to adapt to his vision impairment), the book does a great job balancing plot advancement with some character building moments. Things like Jordi having a tenuous relationship with his mother and uncle while juggling unemployment or Cole explaining his line of work to Locker while trying to clean up a dead body of his own doing are moments that humanize the cast. It’s grounded in its emotional beats but also manages to be lighthearted in order to dive into the interpersonal interactions between characters.
All in all, Unemployed Killers Support Group was a surprisingly amazing read that balances the morbid pasts of the characters with a darkly humorous future for them. Mixed with some dazzling noir art, this is a title that shouldn’t be missed if you’re a fan of gritty (and slightly silly) stories.
Rating: 5 out of 5 UwUs
Billy Bat Volume 1 (Kana) – April 2026 Manga Minis Advanced Review!
In the land of “never gonna happen” manga licenses, Billy Bat is up there. Which is why Kana’s announcement of bringing it to the west was so shocking, and we’re getting the English release here very soon! We were able to receive an early copy from Kana, and I’m excited to see the western world finally getting an official release of this manga!
In a post-World War II society, Kevin Yamagata is a Japanese-American artist who draws the popular comic Billy Bat. A chance encounter with police plants the idea that Kevin’s crafty creation may be plagiarized, so he goes to Tokyo to find out about his character’s inspirations. The truth is stranger than fiction as Kevin gets thrown into a world of political intrigue and cultlike obsession. Which bat will lead him in this perilous journey?
Naoki Urasawa’s works are such a cerebral experience, and I really love how the political background of the 1950s is interweaved in the narrative. Critiques on race and technology are just a couple of things that make this an endearing narrative, and the story balances a twisted narrative into its beautiful artwork. (I did appreciate how the introductory Billy Bat comic is in full color in contrast to the black and white manga of the rest of the volume.)
What’s notable is how a multitude of different historical figures play into the story. A Jiro Shirasu cameo was not on my bingo card, but I’m waiting for who else will show up in this historical fiction piece.
All in all, Billy Bat is a mature story that utilizes its political and historical setting perfectly, and I can’t wait for the whole series to be released in the west!
Rating: 5 out 5 UwUs
Sun-Ken Rock Perfect Edition Volume 1 (Kodama)
Speaking of long-awaited license releases, Kodama recently announced that it’s brought Boichi’s Sun-Ken Rock here in the west! This physical English release packages the first two volumes of the manga (in the vein of the company’s current Baki Perfect Edition), and includes color pages and bonus material.
Japanese high schooler Ken Kitano tries to follow his crush Yumin as she follows her dreams to become a police officer in Korea. Unfortunately, he’s unable to reach the same heights as her and is relegated to lazing about until his money runs out. Trying to get his bearings, Ken accidentally crosses paths with gangster Tae-Soo Park and his henchmen. After Ken impresses Tae-Soo Park, he becomes the boss of the Sun-Ken Rock Group. Their first mission: Get a nice suit for their leader. Their second?
Maybe a car would be nice. How about an actual office?
Thus begins Ken’s journey as a mob boss in South Korea, filled to the brim with melodrama and misadventures throughout. The narrative structure reminds me of something like Yakuza/Like a Dragon, where gang violence and turf wars are a very serious subject in the streets… but then it’s sandwiched with some hilarious gags and dialogue.
The funny stylings encompass much of the first half of this release, so much so that I was thinking it was going to be a mostly funny story. In fact, I was going to write it off as another silly delinquent manga and just go from there (and some of the first chapters’ comedic elements can ruin the pacing of the early story).
Imagine my shock after finishing up the sixth chapter with a surprisingly mature conversation about sex trafficking (and an equally surprising explicit scene that isn’t played for comedy). This strange balance between crime and comedy excels in the second half (or volume) and I had a great time with the Sun-Ken Rock Group trying to scrounge up enough dough to exist another day.
It helps that Ken is such a likeable character that holds unwavering beliefs (even if he still can stoop down to some funny places for money). Boichi’s art shines with this series, and those coming from his art in Dr. Stone will be impressed with the character designs and action scenes. That said, keep in mind this is a mature rated seinen manga, which means the action can get a bit intense (with some more titillating scenes being displayed mostly in a very chilling context).
This Perfect Edition of Sun-Ken Rock is the definitive English release and Kodama hits a home-run with its release. I can’t wait to see what the next volumes will bring for this chummy group of criminals!
Rating: 4 out of 5 UwUs
That’s it for our April 2026 Manga Minis! Stay tuned for more manga reviews here on Miso!
