In the spirit of putting people onto new series before it becomes unfashionable to claim you were on the ground floor before they blow up in popularity, we’ve decided to put a manga series we previously recommended under the microscope and highlight MAD, a manga that’s well, mad—and honestly one of the best sci-fi series out right now.

MAD, the first serialized manga by creator Yusuke Otori, is essentially what Alien: Earth would be like as a manga with Jujutsu Kaisen‘s action prowess and _Chainsaw Man’_s pensive serenity, and if society stood absolutely no chance of preserving hope unless it submitted or adapted to its invaders. And how folks go about doing so is more complicated than clicking on a Xenomorph and hoping it plays nice.

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The story primarily follows John, a normal dude who keeps getting flung into increasingly dire situations bound to drive him insane. The first of these sees him finally arrive at a bunker called Jericho. Said bunker houses a bunch of yoked-up military types who offer him safe harbor from the ever-present danger of aliens. Unfortunately, Jericho is a lot like the military holdout where Cillian Murphy found himself in 28 Days Later.

You see, everyone they take into their bunker is immediately imprisoned, with their only chance at survival being to eat the remains of aliens and pray that they survive or die a slow, agonizing death. That’s not to mention the messed-up baby factory nonsense Jericho has going among its jarheads. All of this is orchestrated by Jericho’s square-jawed, certifiably insane leader, Leon. He’s a real piece of neurotic work that the series plays up, both his menace and how much of a loser he is without the powers to back him up. 

Manga Plus

Manga Plus

Manga Plus