Superman vs. Meshi Vol. 1

Superman Vs. Meshi #1

by Satoshi Miyagawa, Kai Kitago (Illustrator), Wes Abbott (Letterer)

Clark Kent visits Japan as Superman, traveling the country in pursuit of Meshi! What is Meshi? A new villain? A new ally? None of those! It's all about restaurants and exciting new food as Superman tours culinary delights!​

It’s hungry work being Superman! That’s why every day for lunch in Superman vs. Meshi , Superman makes a quick stop over in Japan to try a new chain restaurant. Whether it’s a hearty bowl of curry or conveyor-belt sushi, the Man of Steel loves to indulge in the delectable delicacies the country has to offer. He’ll even share a meal with the other members of the Justice League from time to time in the hopes of showing them an incredible culinary experience.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Food, Humor

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2023

About the author

Satoshi Miyagawa (宮川サトシ, Miyagawa Satoshi) is a japanese mangaka.

Reviews

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fun, lightheaded, 'not serious' manga series about Superman/Clark Kent using his superpower to fly to Japan to enjoy some yummy food.

Well who wouldn't want to be in his shoes?!

The artwork is nice and I really like Superman's interaction with the Justice League and his coworkers from the Daily Planet. 😀

[Josh Herrema · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Food Wars with Superman

[Peter Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how silly this book is!!!

[Robert]

This was the first Manga I’ve ever read!

It might also turn out to be the last.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why I expected there to be a plot with this. But the artwork was good, and it was at least mildly entertaining.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was about as ridiculous as I thought it would be. Superman is absolutely obsessed (and probably addicted) to authentic Japanese food, so he flies to Japan for every meal to eat the local cuisine at whatever shop he stops at. My favorite part about this book is how Superman just loves the food so much here but struggles to figure out the proper way to eat things and order things, being so far from Kansas or Metropolis. This Superman is very much a bit of a weirdo and an outcast in the Justice League, partly because he just only wants to eat Japanese food. There were definitely some funny gags in here and some recurring bits that made me chuckle. The way Batman rides Superman just seems so odd and likely uncomfortable at high speeds. The art in this one is pretty good, also. I’ll give this one a second volume just to see if things change at all. I’m not used to food manga really at all, but Thanksgiving seems like a decent time to try them out.

[amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uhm PEAK

[S.E. Martens · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Superman but he's obsessed with Japanese food. That's it, that's the story. This is incredibly silly but also super cute and made me laugh.

[asiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

obsessed with this manga art style for superman MY SHAYLAAAA !!!!!!!! i need art prints of so many panels im begging 😣😣😣😣

superman flying batman to japan for lunch and batman’s manspreading on him like he’s sitting on a chair ijbol

some tiny clois crumbs too aka jimmy telling clark about lois never seeing him around but wanting to invite him to lunch (he flew to japan mind you) and clark blushing <3 the moment of superman bringing lois food on her balcony looked so similiar to when lois interviews him in superman ‘78 …. i jumped a lil yall !

i didn’t like the writing as much tbh like the art really carried here. as much as diana is the only woman ever, i didn’t like how clark struggled to connect with the all the justice league guys because of their personality or what they thought and said ….. then it’s “every time i look at wonder woman i feel like i’m ogling her” HUH???? and “the super soft and juicy” shrimp just had to remind him more of diana ………….. wrap it up #NOTMYCLARKKENT

[J.R. R. Kruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!! By far one of my favorite Superman stories, and it's so damn funny too!!

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've discovered that this is best in very short increments.
I'd originally read one of the chapters in a preview and thought it was cute and silly. It remains so in small bites, but reading several chapters in a row where Superman is acting like a totally silly himbo that can only think about food got to be too much.
That said, it has some fun little jokes and can be enjoyable if read one story at a time with long breaks in between. You'll also end up with major Japanese food cravings that will make you understand Superman's obsession with it.

[DonutKnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Superman’s enthusiasm to try new Japanese foods! I find it inspiring to see them wholeheartedly engage in the food culture and eating experience 🥰

[Maxwell Guzman-Critch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so entertaining and pretty cute. It's nice seeing a different side of Superman.

[Izabella Warczak · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5⭐️

zawiodłam się:(

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esta muy bien la vrd es como muy d relax y la vrd lo aprecio aun k m d ambre

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://youtu.be/eO6snInLMms

[Nicholas Palmieri]

This is definitely propaganda commissioned by the Japanese ministry of tourism, right?

[Nolan Buro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's cute, it's weird, I'm hungry

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superman jako foodie ze słabością do japońskiej kuchni i kontem na instagramie? Już sama koncepcja wydaje się dziwaczna, a gdy dodać do tego jeszcze Aquamana gadającego z sushi to poziom absurdu może już być ciężki do przełknięcia dla niektórych bardziej tradycyjnych fanów klasycznych opowieści o superbohaterach.
Dwie inne mangi od DC, "Batman" i "Joker" to zasadniczo elseworldy i jako takie mogły spokojnie trafić do wielbicieli amerykańskiego komiksu. Ale "Superman" to inna bajka. Nie ma fabuły, dostajemy za to krótkie historyjki osnute wokół wypadów Supka do japońskich knajpek i konbini. Te opowiastki są niegłupie, zabawne i ślicznie narysowane. Czytelnicy mang odnajdą się tu bez problemu, a komiksiarze muszą po prostu porządnie zmrużyć choćby jedno oko.

[Tom Landaluce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not know that I needed a book about Clark Kent flying to Japan on his Daily Planet lunch breaks to satisfy his cravings for Japanese chain restaurant cuisine. I devoured this book (excuse the pun) and cannot wait for volume 2.

[London Heady · Rating 3 out of 5]

They've truly got one bit in this that they continuously roll with, but it's a bit that works. Watching Superman eat and overanalyze every part of budget Japanese cuisine is very fun. Sure it gets a bit stale by the end of it, but it's Superman being a weirdo and eating food. It's got instant classic written all over it.

[Trevor Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superman vs. Meshi solves the age-old problem that a lot of bad comics writers lament about Superman as a character: how do you make a character that can do anything interesting? As a long-time Superman super-fan, the answer is really simple: you don't make the conflict about whether or not Superman can beat up his foes; you make the conflict about Superman's ability to problem solve, to use his magnificent powers to do the impossible. You make it about Superman the man, not Superman the god--because that is who Superman is.

Miyagawa seems to get it, and that's what ends up showing up in this first volume of the manga. Instead of asking "Can Superman beat Parademons?" you make the question "Can Superman handle his crunchy noodles going soggy?" Sure, Superman can fly from Metropolis to Japan in less than three minutes, but can he wait 30 minutes for his rice to cook?

There's a lot about Superman vs. Meshi that might seem stupid to audiences more invested in Superman's major conflicts with super-villains, but there's something about the manga that seems to fit in squarely with exactly the kinds of conflicts that helped define the character through the late 1940s and into the 1950s and 1960s. It's almost a throwback to an earlier era of comic books, even if Miyagawa blends elements of Christopher Reeve's run as Superman in the 1978 film with elements taken out of DC's New 52 and the recent Justice League film(s) from either Zack Snyder or Joss Whedon. Miyagawa's playfulness is actually really funny, and there are a couple of hilarious character interactions between Superman and Aquaman in this volume. That it doesn't take itself seriously at all is my favorite thing in the volume.

My only major criticism is that the book still includes some trademark Japanese misogyny, which feels so totally out of character for Superman. It's lighter and more seemingly harmless in here, but Superman making remarks about being uncomfortable around Wonder Woman because he wants to ogle her or comparing her body to food is just unnecessary, and it absolutely detracts from what is otherwise a really fun book.

But I'm still a fan of what this little series is doing, and I cackled with delight at its various ideas. I really wish there were more of these kinds of superhero stories in the world, it's just such a fun thing to read.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is Restaurant to Another World but with Superman (and friends) instead of fantasy isekai. It's more or less exactly the same plot, too: non-Japanese characters do some thing in their homeland before going to the Japanese restaurant (or, in one story, convenience store) for food, then enjoy the food in great detail.

It's cute, but at the same time it feels like, is Japan really trying to sell its own food to its own citizens? Because a lot of these manga don't seem like they would necessarily sell outside of Japan, certainly not as well as... I don't know... Naruto or One Piece. It's like if an American comic series focused mostly on barbecue and burger joints... maybe a Diners, Drive-ins and Dives graphic novel?

I mean, people would buy that, I'm sure, but it'd be a little weird to most Americans. (Some of that might be that graphic novels are a little weird to most Americans, STILL.)

Recommended if you like low-stakes stories, particularly about food. Warning about a weird story with Aquaman talking to sushi, though.

[Yoshiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

POPKulturowy Kociołek:
Każdy ma jakieś swoje słabości i nie inaczej jest w przypadku kultowego Supermana. Nie chodzi tutaj jednak o kryptonit, który pozbawia go mocy a dobre japońskie jedzenie, któremu heros nie potrafi się oprzeć. Wszystko zaczęło się w momencie, kiedy po pewnej akcji ratunkowej spróbował on ramenu. Moment ten naprawdę wiele zmienił w jego życiu. Jego zamiłowanie do japońskiego jedzenia staje się więc siłą napędową mangi, prowadząc Supermana do licznych podróży po Japonii w poszukiwaniu nowych kulinarnych doznań. Podczas tych wypraw nie zapomina on również o swoich superbohaterskich obowiązkach, ratując ludzi z przeróżnych opresji.

Zarys scenariusza brzmi dość absurdalnie i dokładnie właśnie taki jest. Wielbiciele mang przyzwyczaili się jednak do tego, że autorzy z tamtego regionu świata mają naprawdę mocno wybujałą wyobraźnię. Znacznie mniej entuzjastycznie do tytułu mogą zaś podchodzić fani klasycznych amerykańskich komiksów. Manga bowiem pomimo powiązania z DC i skupieniu się na znanym bohaterze ma naprawdę mało wspólnego z klasycznym superbohaterskim dziełem.

Tomik nie ma jednej zwięzłej fabuły i składa się on z krótkich historyjek z opisami jedzenia (oraz zachwytem Supermana nad nim). Drobnym dodatkiem do tego jest pomaganie innym, co stanowi tu ułamek procenta treści. Nie dzieje się tu więc nic ekscytującego i o wartkiej akcji można zapomnieć. Manga nie jest jednak przez to nudna (o ile ktoś nie jest ortodoksyjnym fanem). Krótkie humorystyczne historyjki z Człowiekiem ze Stali (oraz kilkoma innymi bohaterami DC) mają w sobie pewien urok i potrafią zapewnić chwilę prostej niezobowiązującej rozrywki....

https://popkulturowykociolek.pl/super...

[~Cyanide Latte~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's be up front about one thing from "go": this is a very lighthearted, extremely campy manga. If it has piqued your interest in any capacity, you need to know this going in. It follows Superman becoming absolutely smitten with different Japanese dishes during his lunch breaks at the Daily Planet and waxing poetic about his experiences with each one, often cracking the kind of hammy jokes and lingo you might expect from a kids' adventure cartoon with the character. Like I said, it's very, very campy and doesn't make itself out to be anything but. Sure, there are a few more serious moments, such as brief panels of fighting bad guys, rescuing people from danger, or a very, very brief glimpse of Supes struggling with Lois Lane not knowing his secret yet and how that impacts his desire to share his passion for Japanese cuisine with her. But these moments aside, the manga doesn't set itself up for having any major plot (at least not in this volume) and it doesn't aim to be anything other than pure, silly fun.

For what my review is worth, I had an inkling of this manga's nature going in, and I was able to enjoy it as an ode to camp and a lighthearted answer to the question it posed of "what would happen if Superman got Japanese food on his lunch breaks?" The art style is playful and lends itself well to the manga's intended nature, and while some of the hammy dialogue made me groan here and there, this is just very much also in the spirit of playful 60s superhero camp. I found it an enjoyable little departure from the norm and I'm very curious to see how many more volumes there are (I know there's already a page for volume 2) and what all is going to happen.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a silly bit of fluff, which is not criticism. This version of Superman feels a little young and slightly immature, not in a bad way. He's become obsessed with Japanese food, and that's it. That's the plot. Basically, it's just Superman getting lunch and enthusing about the food. I like food manga in general, and there were definitely things I liked about this one. Superman's enthusiasm is endearing, and the food is beautifully rendered. I like that he focuses on midscale at best food. In one chapter, he eats at a convenience store! This version of Superman is just a little too naïve for me, and the running gag that sometimes he likes food so much he loses control of his heat vision just did not work. On the publication end, this is a book that's absolutely begging for translator notes at the end. Are these real chain restaurants he's going to, or clear references, or fictional versions that combine several real restaurants? What are some of these dishes? Stuff like that, which I generally expect to see in manga that's really culturally grounded. It's what I'd most like to see in future volumes.

[Savani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable and cute are the perfect words to sum up this unexpected and utterly charming Superman manga. Superman vs. Meshi takes the Man of Steel and drops him into a delightful new kind of battle, against his bottomless appetite for Japanese cuisine.

In this first volume, Superman uses his lunch breaks to zip over to Japan and sample different regional dishes, all while narrating his experiences with the same seriousness he'd apply to saving the world. The contrast between his heroic persona and the pure joy he finds in every bowl of ramen or bite of curry is hilarious and heartwarming.

The manga is beautifully illustrated by Kai Kitago, with expressive character designs that balance action and comedy with a light touch. The food looks genuinely mouthwatering, drawn with loving detail that might make readers crave Japanese food alongside Superman. Satoshi Miyagawa’s storytelling leans heavily into slice-of-life humor, and it works brilliantly, there’s no supervillain here, just Superman vs. hunger.

Whether you're a DC fan, a foodie, or just in the mood for something light and feel-good, this volume delivers. It’s weird in the best way, and you'll never look at Superman—or miso soup—the same again. More, please!

[Gold223 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, Kids and adults looking for a fun read would love it but I think one book about Superman's Japanese food habits is enough for me. It's goofy, it's a funny and relaxing time, it's what it advertised but I can't see myself returning to read this or the follow ups but I will probably share some of the panels, Clark's heat vision going off because how good the Yakatori is and him moaning "AHHHH" while thinking "That's a Super-pairing!" will stay with me forever. Read it in a corporate bookstore but don't buy it. Or go to the library, they need support.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superman flies over to Japan on his lunch breaks and has food from chain restaurants and conveyor-belt sushi.

This was fun for what it was. In most food manga, like Food Wars, people have the equivalent of a food orgasm when they dig in. Here, Superman loses control of his heat vision. This is also the only time I've seen Superman say ""I'll start with a beer" is what I want to say" though of course he can't because he doesn't drink and fly. I don't feel the need to read more in the series but this was a cute one-time read.

[The Leppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this randomly at the library with no prior knowledge and had to get it. I've been in a stress induced reading slump and this was perfect. It's literally just Superman flying to Japan for lunch and hijinks follow. My highlights: Lois catching Clark learning Kanji after a order mixup was so cute. Batman riding on Superman's back to Japan (like he's a horse!) so they can talk about justice was priceless. I will never stop telling people who bring up Superman or Batman about this moment that made me happy for no reason.