REVIEW: ‘Rooster Fighter’ Volume 1

This review is going to be short and sweet because Rooster Fighter Volume 1 is one of the most absurd manga I have read in a long time. It’s weird, it’s violent, and some of the character and creature designs are actually weirdly unsettling. Created, written, and illustrated by mangaka Shu Sakuratani, Rooster Fighter is published and localized in English by VIZ Media via the publisher’s VIZ Signature imprint. The debut volume is translated by Jonah Mayahara-Miller and features touch-up art and lettering by Annaliesse “Ace” Christman, with design by Julian [JR] Robinson, and edited by Mike Montesa.

Giant demonic monsters wreak havoc and level Japanese cities. One part Kaiju, one part demon, and like, all atrocity, one brave rooster stands his ground. Yes. A rooster stands his ground while every human runs away. Our rooster hero helps the innocent while the giant demons try to harm them and wreak havoc. His opponents may be ten stories tall, but nothing is bigger than his stout heart and his fearsome battle cry which is honestly hilarious to see written out “cock-a-doodle-do!”

With a gritty noir internal monologue, our Rooster manages to build a mysterious atmosphere with reflections on the past and correcting his mistakes. All while fighting a giant three-headed three-boobed monster taller than a building or a giant head on top of giant fingers or any other manner of absolutely insane creature designs. Rooster Fighter is an absolute showstopper because of the detail in Sakuratani’s art.

Sakuratani has an expert knowledge of anatomy in such a way that it allows him to absolutely pull it apart and exaggerate it in creative ways. Rich in detail, each page, each character, and every single panel is absolutely packed with art that will make you keep flipping the pages. Whether that’s because the designs are bonkers or really unnerving, the balance between humor and action with a very serious rooster having very serious thought is a combination for success.

Rooster Fighter Volume 1 is nearly indescribable. It’s high action, hyperbolic, all over the place and yet, it really really works. There isn’t much sense to the way the world of Rooster Fighter works, but that’s almost a positive. Enter the manga empty-headed and let it wash over you. Even if the story doesn’t keep you entertained the absolutely bonkers art will. Humor and action collide in this bombastic manga, and to be honest? I can’t wait to pick up volume 2.

Rooster Fighter Volume 1 is available now wherever books are sold, both digitally and physically.