Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 13

怪獣8号 [Kaijū 8-gō] #13

by Naoya Matsumoto

With the highest kaiju-emergence rates in the world, Japan is no stranger to attack by deadly monsters. Enter the Japan Defense Force, a military organization tasked with the neutralization of kaiju. Kafka Hibino, a kaiju-corpse cleanup man, has always dreamed of joining the force. But when he gets another shot at achieving his childhood dream, he undergoes an unexpected transformation. How can he fight kaiju now that he’s become one himself?!

Mina Ashiro falls into the clutches of Kaiju No. 9 after its emergence in Tachikawa. Kafka goes to rescue her, but daikaiju start emerging in several places across the city, impeding his progress. As Kafka deals with this issue, he picks up on a new kaiju presence and a never-before-seen entity reveals itself!

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Comics, Action, Fiction, Graphic Novels

204 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2024

About the author

Name (in native Japanese): 松本直也

Reviews

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEEDED THE THIRD DIVISION REUNITED. MY BABIES, I LOVE THEM SOOOOOO MUCH 😭

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

legendary. 1000/10. obsessed. Ichikawa 🔥🔥🔥

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But that day for the first time in my life I met a hero."

HOW DOES THIS SERIES KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER?!

I am once again blown away by how engaged I am with this series! Though this volume, SO many amazing characters showed up, especially my boy Ichikawa!! THE WAY HE SHINED! I loved getting his backstory and seeing his motivations! He is amazing and only continues to be more so with every new volume!

I also LOVED seeing more into Mina's "mind" so to speak! Though that last chapter with her felt something like straight out of a horror manga…

I deeply deeply enjoyed reading this volume as it brought me a lot of personal joy because I love the third division so much and seeing everyone come back and absolutely slay these kaiju was EPIC! Everyone really had a grand entrance and hope they will continue to be on these pages throughout this upcoming battle!

Speaking of, I truly can't wait to see what happens next because I think Kaiju No. 9 is about to experience his downfall, and I am more than ready to see it!

Still one of my favorite ongoing shonen series right now!

"So get out there. Be nervous…screw up… and take a plunge with peace of mind. You'll prove to be more than good enough that way."

[fatherofdragons113 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ugh these endings got me fiendin

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATE - September 16, 2025

I grabbed this off my shelf of books checked out from the library as I set out for my dog's daily walk. A few pages in I realized I had already read this volume and had gotten it again accidentally.

I had a back-up book available, but this one pays off so well in the end that I just went ahead and read it again. And I still got choked up at all the same parts.

Soooo goooood!!!


ORIGINAL REVIEW - June 26, 2025

Kafka Hibino has an impossible decision to make: save hundreds of innocents or save the one he loves most.

This volume really hammers home the themes of teamwork and trust as Hibino realizes it may not be his decision alone to make.

Good stuff!

[Izzy⁷♡•°]

This volume was so intense and overwhelming wholesome. The respect and adoration these characters have for each other makes me so emotional.

Ichikawa's entrance was everything I always get so emotional about his and Kafka's relationship. I love the parallel that someone was now looking up to Kafka just how he always was looking up to Mina.

The ending with Kafka finally saving Mina also got to me, I'm I just going to be emotional for the rest of the volumes? Probably

[m.・゜゜・・゜゜・． · Rating 4 out of 5]

the way mina views kafka omg

[Youssra (semi ia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I audibly screamed when Reno and Division 3 showed up😭

[⋆ ࣪˖ ִֶָ sel ་༘࿐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEXY, AND GAY AS HELL.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

CR: Ch. 109

My favorites are definitely Hoshina and Reno. I love all of the different dynamics and how everyone is working as one team now. My favorite part has definitely been all of the relationship developments between the characters. So much is happening and it’s crazy.

[Alo ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

VAMOO KAFKA

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

چه چیز دیوانه و خفنییییی باو

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non ho mai creduto negli eroi...

Il volume 13 non delude: finalmente vediamo Leno in azione con il numero 6, una svolta attesissima (poi Leno è il mio cuore di panna, io mamma proud). Mina affronta il momento più difficile e il suo passato riaffiora, aggiungendo spessore al personaggio. Bellissimi i momenti con Kafka – il loro rapporto è sempre più tenero e coinvolgente. Come sempre, i combattimenti sono spettacolari e le tavole ricchissime di energia. Un volume che scorre via in un attimo, purtroppo.

[John William Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing as the previous volumes! By the way, Reno Ichikawa’s backstory was very tragic. I hope he turns his tragedy into triumph.

[Nadina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear I barely started reading this volume and it was already over.
Even though the battle is being drawn out a bit through these volumes, it feels appropriate given the Kaiju that are being faced.
The graphics are great and I love how much action is evident in the action scenes while still keeping lines crisp and making the scene not look messy.
Absolutely would recommend this series.

[Sophia Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

man the other people in the other divisions are DAWGS. NONE OF THEM NARUMI BUT... i guess they cool or whatever. i love them all so much and all of their dynamics and seeing just how strong they have become. LIKE RENO. YOU ARE THE SHIT. and the ending?? kafka GO AT IT. GOOOO KING

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so worried for Mina in that first chapter. Reno finally has turned up in his No. 6 suit, I was wondering where he was all this time since his strength is pretty important. He's so cool now (pun intended!) I absolutely loved how all of the third division turned up again to help Kafka reach Mina in time, it was really touching and just the reunion I was hoping for! Seeing a snippet of Reno's backstory and the root of why he admires Kafka so much felt bittersweet. Furuhashi shows off his flash adapter skills, I like that he's still got that competitive streak, but it's not as toxic as before. Bakko's entire existence is finally revealed, I've been eagerly waiting to find out why the hell Mina has a tiger as a pet. Speaking of, we see inside Mina's mind as she fights off No. 9 and struggles to hold on until Kaiju No. 8 arrives. Inside No.9 we see thousands of Kaiju he must've consumed, I wonder if that samurai looking dude was the same one we saw back when Hoshina started training Kafka at the temple...?

[aamna · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️MATSUMOTO U BETTER DELIVER

[Hope (nico robin's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the whole series in a day. What a blast. I'm on a manga reading streak lately

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellissimo. Ipnotico. D'azione. Per ragazzi.

[Literatura sin límites · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otro crush que tengo en este manga: Reno

En serio amo a este personaje también. Siente tanta admiración y respeto por Kafka. Y desea poder salvarlo.

Además también los otros ya muestran también avances. Hicieron bien en separarlos para poder entrenarlos y alcanzarán un nuevo nivel.

Lo que si siento, es que todo está sucediendo muy rápido.

[Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

once again just such a banger perfect pacing and brought back so many characters into the spotlight, curious to how it all will end in the next couple volumes.

[Rin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐ rounded up because I loved it

[DonutKnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yess!! The cavalry arrives!! 🥰🥰

[Matthew Manchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s no way I get all the answers I want by the end of this series lol

[Tianna ^ྀི · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love them all so much

[Mike Reiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steady, increasingly introspective, looking forward to a finale sometime soon.

[Nazira Reyes Sabag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escuadrón 3 lo más grande !!!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why won't he DIE!!!!

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the best volume yet!!!! I loved how the story focused on Mina and how we got to see a different side to her. Anyone else hoping that Mina and Kafka get together? I can’t wait to see what happens in the next volume 😭