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雷雷雷 [Rai Rai Rai] #1
Rai Rai Rai, Vol. 1
Implanted with an extraterrestrial entity, a former space pest exterminator battles deadly alien threats—all to pay her bills!
Humanity might’ve triumphed over the aliens, but that didn’t stop struggling space vermin exterminator Sumire Ichigaya from getting abducted by a UFO! After being implanted with a foul-mouthed extraterrestrial entity, she’s got a lot more to worry about than just paying her bills!
Sumire Ichigaya’s got it tough. She’s drowning in debt, surrounded by noisy neighbors, fighting for discount supermarket meals, and working a dead-end job exterminating space vermin left over from a failed alien invasion. It seems like things just can’t get any worse—until she’s abducted by aliens and wakes up with a monstrous new arm and a voice in her head urging her to kill all of humanity!
Humanity might’ve triumphed over the aliens, but that didn’t stop struggling space vermin exterminator Sumire Ichigaya from getting abducted by a UFO! After being implanted with a foul-mouthed extraterrestrial entity, she’s got a lot more to worry about than just paying her bills!
Sumire Ichigaya’s got it tough. She’s drowning in debt, surrounded by noisy neighbors, fighting for discount supermarket meals, and working a dead-end job exterminating space vermin left over from a failed alien invasion. It seems like things just can’t get any worse—until she’s abducted by aliens and wakes up with a monstrous new arm and a voice in her head urging her to kill all of humanity!
- GenresMangaComics MangaComics
200 pages, Paperback
Published August 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the ARC.
A broke and debt-ridden woman accidentally gets special powers in a kaiju incident, which leads to her recruitment/exploitation by a kaiju-fighting organization. All of this is played for laughs, to mixed results. It's a dark humor often at the expense of Sumire, which can get old at times. She is a relatable protagonist, though. Also, the art is pretty good, especially with the kaiju designs.
A broke and debt-ridden woman accidentally gets special powers in a kaiju incident, which leads to her recruitment/exploitation by a kaiju-fighting organization. All of this is played for laughs, to mixed results. It's a dark humor often at the expense of Sumire, which can get old at times. She is a relatable protagonist, though. Also, the art is pretty good, especially with the kaiju designs.
October 22, 2025
I feel like this is cross between Kaiju No. 8 and Dorohedoro.
August 28, 2025
Such a whacky kaiju (alien) based series.
August 29, 2025
This is a weird Manga. It feels more comedy oriented than I expected but not in a bad way.
I think I’ll give the next installment a shot when it drops.
Best guess on what Sumires powers exactly do, is that she’ll be able to transform into powerful aliens like a body horror Ben 10.
I think I’ll give the next installment a shot when it drops.
Best guess on what Sumires powers exactly do, is that she’ll be able to transform into powerful aliens like a body horror Ben 10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2025
Rai Rai Rai is essentially what you'd get if you took Kaiju No. 8, added a bit of Parasyte (minus the horror), and mixed it with one of those old-school series like Hyper Police or maybe Hayate the Combat Butler, where the main character is primarily just trying to make ends meet and pay off their debts. Maybe with a dash of Dandadan for flavor. After one volume, Rai Rai Rai is...slightly less than the sum of its parts.
Sumire has thrown her own hopes and dreams away, to devote her life to trying to pay off her family's crippling debt by working for a company that helps clean up the persistent mess that aliens left when humanity staved off their invasion 50 years ago. But the aliens aren't as gone as they seem, when they abduct Sumire and fuse her with a sentient bioweapon. Things don't quite go according to their plan, as Sumire still (sorta) has control of her body. Some fights and misunderstandings happen, and by the end of the volume, she finds herself working for another, more influential organization that wants to use her newfound powers to fight off other alien troublemakers.
If it sounds like a story you've heard before, that's because you probably have. Rai Rai Rai hasn't done anything really unique yet, which means it falls on the art and the characters to do the heavy lifting, and those are also decidedly mixed. Facial expressions are pretty well done, but there are more than a few panels that feel a bit...spartan. However, the alien designs are...also mixed, but when they're good, they're really good. By that I mean, Sumire's transformed body is pretty much just a gorilla suit from one of those old black & white horror movies, with a ram's skull for a head. But the alien varmint (the book's terminology, not mine) she ends up fighting? That thing is freaking awesome, like the Gaping Dragon from Dark Souls, crossed with a monkey, and an Angel from Evangelion. No lie, the creativity of this design kept me reading past the first chapter.
Which brings us to the characters. Sumire, herself, is automatically at least somewhat sympathetic, as a down-on-her-luck wage slave who's just trying to get by with the hand life's dealt her. Then there's Hazuki, the cold professional who really just wants a day off. The glimpses we get beneath her stoic exterior (lamenting the coupon that's supposed to expire, for example), are endearing, but she gets introduced late enough that I don't have a solid feel for her yet. The same goes for the other major characters: Raiden Corp's CEO, the doctor in charge of figuring out Sumire's condition, etc. I guess we have a good feel for Duskin, the alien bonded to Sumire, in that he's essentially Bowser: all loud bravado and slightly bumbling execution, but that doesn't necessarily make him compelling. And Sumire's old boss and coworkers, I don't expect to see again, so I'm not sure they count.
All in all, after one volume, I'm not really sure what to think about Rai Rai Rai yet. It started out lackluster, saved itself with a great alien design, then provided just enough charisma and humor to keep me reading to the end. It has some potential, but hasn't really done anything noteworthy yet. At the same time though, it's not bad either; it just sort of...is. I might pick up volume 2 when it comes out, but ideally I'd like to flip through it first, to see if goes anywhere new.
Sumire has thrown her own hopes and dreams away, to devote her life to trying to pay off her family's crippling debt by working for a company that helps clean up the persistent mess that aliens left when humanity staved off their invasion 50 years ago. But the aliens aren't as gone as they seem, when they abduct Sumire and fuse her with a sentient bioweapon. Things don't quite go according to their plan, as Sumire still (sorta) has control of her body. Some fights and misunderstandings happen, and by the end of the volume, she finds herself working for another, more influential organization that wants to use her newfound powers to fight off other alien troublemakers.
If it sounds like a story you've heard before, that's because you probably have. Rai Rai Rai hasn't done anything really unique yet, which means it falls on the art and the characters to do the heavy lifting, and those are also decidedly mixed. Facial expressions are pretty well done, but there are more than a few panels that feel a bit...spartan. However, the alien designs are...also mixed, but when they're good, they're really good. By that I mean, Sumire's transformed body is pretty much just a gorilla suit from one of those old black & white horror movies, with a ram's skull for a head. But the alien varmint (the book's terminology, not mine) she ends up fighting? That thing is freaking awesome, like the Gaping Dragon from Dark Souls, crossed with a monkey, and an Angel from Evangelion. No lie, the creativity of this design kept me reading past the first chapter.
Which brings us to the characters. Sumire, herself, is automatically at least somewhat sympathetic, as a down-on-her-luck wage slave who's just trying to get by with the hand life's dealt her. Then there's Hazuki, the cold professional who really just wants a day off. The glimpses we get beneath her stoic exterior (lamenting the coupon that's supposed to expire, for example), are endearing, but she gets introduced late enough that I don't have a solid feel for her yet. The same goes for the other major characters: Raiden Corp's CEO, the doctor in charge of figuring out Sumire's condition, etc. I guess we have a good feel for Duskin, the alien bonded to Sumire, in that he's essentially Bowser: all loud bravado and slightly bumbling execution, but that doesn't necessarily make him compelling. And Sumire's old boss and coworkers, I don't expect to see again, so I'm not sure they count.
All in all, after one volume, I'm not really sure what to think about Rai Rai Rai yet. It started out lackluster, saved itself with a great alien design, then provided just enough charisma and humor to keep me reading to the end. It has some potential, but hasn't really done anything noteworthy yet. At the same time though, it's not bad either; it just sort of...is. I might pick up volume 2 when it comes out, but ideally I'd like to flip through it first, to see if goes anywhere new.
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December 3, 2025Sono passati cinquant’anni dalla vittoria dell’umanità sugli alieni, ma la Terra continua a essere infestata da parassiti e mostri spaziali. Sumire, una ragazza povera, piena di debiti ereditati dal padre e responsabile del fratellino, lavora come disinfestatrice per sopravvivere.
Durante un attacco alieno, Sumire viene rapita e infettata da un parassita extraterrestre che si insedia nel suo corpo. Questa creatura può prendere il controllo del suo fisico, trasformandola in un essere dotato di una potenza spaventosa.
Il parassita si manifesta per la prima volta in città, facendo perdere a Sumire il controllo e distruggendo la sua casa. Nella trasformazione combatte e uccide un gigantesco alieno-scimmia. Sumire, stanca della sua vita difficile, sembra pronta a cedere totalmente il corpo all’alieno… finché Hazuki, una guerriera, interviene e decapita la creatura.
Portata in laboratorio, si scopre che il parassita – ora chiamato Duskin – è in grado di rigenerarsi e riprendersi la testa, causando un nuovo caos. Hazuki viene messa fuori combattimento, ma Sumire riesce a controllare la trasformazione e fermarlo di nuovo.
Intanto fa la sua comparsa Densuke, il superficiale presidente della famosa azienda anti-alieni Raiden: più interessato al golf che al crescente pericolo alieno. Dopo aver messo Duskin in contenimento, propone a Sumire di unirsi ai Raiden per poterla monitorare.
Quando vede lo stipendio, Sumire accetta al volo, dando così inizio alla sua nuova vita da ibrida umano-aliena sotto gli occhi del mondo.
Durante un attacco alieno, Sumire viene rapita e infettata da un parassita extraterrestre che si insedia nel suo corpo. Questa creatura può prendere il controllo del suo fisico, trasformandola in un essere dotato di una potenza spaventosa.
Il parassita si manifesta per la prima volta in città, facendo perdere a Sumire il controllo e distruggendo la sua casa. Nella trasformazione combatte e uccide un gigantesco alieno-scimmia. Sumire, stanca della sua vita difficile, sembra pronta a cedere totalmente il corpo all’alieno… finché Hazuki, una guerriera, interviene e decapita la creatura.
Portata in laboratorio, si scopre che il parassita – ora chiamato Duskin – è in grado di rigenerarsi e riprendersi la testa, causando un nuovo caos. Hazuki viene messa fuori combattimento, ma Sumire riesce a controllare la trasformazione e fermarlo di nuovo.
Intanto fa la sua comparsa Densuke, il superficiale presidente della famosa azienda anti-alieni Raiden: più interessato al golf che al crescente pericolo alieno. Dopo aver messo Duskin in contenimento, propone a Sumire di unirsi ai Raiden per poterla monitorare.
Quando vede lo stipendio, Sumire accetta al volo, dando così inizio alla sua nuova vita da ibrida umano-aliena sotto gli occhi del mondo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
Others have already mentioned it, but so far this is basically just Kaiju No. 8 with a dash of Parasyte, and more comedy. Not enough has happened to really get a grasp on what the manga will actually be about. Right now, it's enough of a "gag" series that I can't exactly see it shifting into full-on battles. I can assume next volume will have like "monster of the week" kaiju clashes, though. Probably with more transformations for Sumire's kaiju mode. The last chapter teases another girl who was experimented on by aliens, so maybe we'll be getting a rival also. Or else Hazuki will be a rival. Hard to say, since, again, I don't think this will turn into a true blue action series.
****
Sumire's body in the Gantz-style plugsuit on the cover, and her legs on the omake page after Chapter 1... This manga could easily have some good ecchi if the author felt like it...! Also, Hazuki's butt under her shirt when she runs back at the kaiju, as well as the full-body illustration a couple pages later, with visible ass-fang...! And the full-body illustration on the next page, with thigh-gap...! And her ass when she's slammed to the floor...! And her ass when she's doubled over after the barrage of attacks...! And Sumire's naked body when she transforms back...!
****
Sumire's body in the Gantz-style plugsuit on the cover, and her legs on the omake page after Chapter 1... This manga could easily have some good ecchi if the author felt like it...! Also, Hazuki's butt under her shirt when she runs back at the kaiju, as well as the full-body illustration a couple pages later, with visible ass-fang...! And the full-body illustration on the next page, with thigh-gap...! And her ass when she's slammed to the floor...! And her ass when she's doubled over after the barrage of attacks...! And Sumire's naked body when she transforms back...!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
21%
Oof… welp. I had my hopes decently high for this one - based off of the description and such, I was hoping this was going to be something similar to Dorohedoro or Kaiju No. 8, the former of which I’m a big fan of. Sadly though, it didn’t even get as good as the latter (despite how mediocre I find Kaiju No. 8 to be, especially later on).
The main issue I had with this was that the humour didn’t do anything for me. Every ‘joke’ just seemed to be different people being mean to the main character, constantly. I think the only person in this volume who even seemed to act even half-decent to her was her coworker, and he was kind of an asshole anyway. On top of all the shit the main character went through as a child, she can’t even try and talk to almost any character without being called annoying or being told to shut up.
Another issue I had - the story is way too derivative. It felt like the author took the personality of Kobeni from Chainsaw Man and put her in a bar-for-bar recreation of Kaiju No. 8 mixed with Parasyte (since the alien is intelligent and can talk in this).
The art was alright, I guess. Felt very similar to Q Hayashida’s art style, but I didn’t mind that too much.
All in all, I tried. But it didn’t work for me.
Oof… welp. I had my hopes decently high for this one - based off of the description and such, I was hoping this was going to be something similar to Dorohedoro or Kaiju No. 8, the former of which I’m a big fan of. Sadly though, it didn’t even get as good as the latter (despite how mediocre I find Kaiju No. 8 to be, especially later on).
The main issue I had with this was that the humour didn’t do anything for me. Every ‘joke’ just seemed to be different people being mean to the main character, constantly. I think the only person in this volume who even seemed to act even half-decent to her was her coworker, and he was kind of an asshole anyway. On top of all the shit the main character went through as a child, she can’t even try and talk to almost any character without being called annoying or being told to shut up.
Another issue I had - the story is way too derivative. It felt like the author took the personality of Kobeni from Chainsaw Man and put her in a bar-for-bar recreation of Kaiju No. 8 mixed with Parasyte (since the alien is intelligent and can talk in this).
The art was alright, I guess. Felt very similar to Q Hayashida’s art style, but I didn’t mind that too much.
All in all, I tried. But it didn’t work for me.
August 5, 2025
In an alternate world where humanity has defeated alien invaders, Sumire Ichigaya is working an awful job as a space pest exterminator trying to get her family out of debt. After a few events have Sumire feeling like life couldn't get any worse, she is abducted by a UFO and implanted with a grumpy extraterrestrial being that is focused on destroying humanity.
This was a pretty good introduction to a newly translated manga series. I feel like we are given enough background to understand what this world is like and information regarding the aliens to understand what is happening to Sumire. It ends on just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to continue to the next volume. I feel like the artwork was engaging and well done also.
Thank you to NetGalley, VIZ Media, and Yoskiaki for providing an advanced reading copy!
This was a pretty good introduction to a newly translated manga series. I feel like we are given enough background to understand what this world is like and information regarding the aliens to understand what is happening to Sumire. It ends on just enough of a cliffhanger to make you want to continue to the next volume. I feel like the artwork was engaging and well done also.
Thank you to NetGalley, VIZ Media, and Yoskiaki for providing an advanced reading copy!
November 10, 2025
I didn’t expect to love this manga so much — but I absolutely did! The balance between comedy, action, and tragedy is nothing short of magical, and the mangaka pulled off something very few can do: they hooked me from the very first page.
It’s impossible not to root for the protagonist and feel sorry for her — the ending is satisfying and doesn’t feel like a greedy twist, as it might have with other characters in her place.
Maybe the fact that it reminds me a bit of Ranma plays a part in my fondness for it, but it’s still a well-written story on its own.
I just hope the protagonist stops wallowing in self-pity soon — it’s understandable given her situation, but her arc has only just begun, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
It’s impossible not to root for the protagonist and feel sorry for her — the ending is satisfying and doesn’t feel like a greedy twist, as it might have with other characters in her place.
Maybe the fact that it reminds me a bit of Ranma plays a part in my fondness for it, but it’s still a well-written story on its own.
I just hope the protagonist stops wallowing in self-pity soon — it’s understandable given her situation, but her arc has only just begun, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
August 30, 2025
Rai Rai Rai is perfect for fans of Parasyte or Chainsaw Man who want a little more fun.
It doesn't take itself too seriously, and the dialogue from the vermin is perfect. It's an easy Kaiju series to pick up and eat through.
It doesn't take itself too seriously, and the dialogue from the vermin is perfect. It's an easy Kaiju series to pick up and eat through.
October 7, 2025
I feel like this just took parts of kaiju no 8 and dandadan but stripped them of the humour and whimsy that makes them so unique. there are so many other Good Alien series out there rn that this just doesn’t measure up
December 15, 2025
Very fun read, reminds me a lot of Kaiju no. 8 except Rai Rai Rai leans more heavily on comedy, though it has some serious moments. Book 1 establishes the story and characters solidly and I'm looking forward to book 2.
August 15, 2025
Yeah this was awesome
August 16, 2025
I think it’s really funny..but very weird this story!
Already i got win giveaway so glad i had enjoy reading it
Already i got win giveaway so glad i had enjoy reading it
August 20, 2025
It’s fun but it feels pretty derivative of a lot of different series (chainsaw man, Dai dark, dead dead demons) without a whole lot in terms of unique voice.
August 23, 2025
ok it's been a bit since I laughed out loud while reading. this is such a cool little story and I can't wait to read more.
September 15, 2025
Not a bad first volume. Took a little to get rolling but an interesting concept.
November 2, 2025
I honestly thought it was very entertaining. kind of like if Kaiju #8 was a bit more comical.
December 13, 2025
Fun. I like monsters.
September 19, 2025
Kind of feels like a more comedy driven Kaiju Number 8 with some sort of tame scenes of naked women thrown in, given publishing loves trends. The setting is on earth after it's managed to fight off the alien invasion, but there's creatures and technology left behind that are hazardous. Companies exist to offer extermination services to deal with things like terraforming alien insect pests or giant monsters.
The heroine works for one of the extermination groups and seems dissatisfied with how extortionist things feel, but she needs the money as her family has a ton of debt from her runaway father's poor investing. She's abducted by aliens and finds herself suddenly sharing her body with an alien presence that was supposed to take her over, but instead they vie for control. She's taken into custody by one of the extermination companies that want to study her and eventually see if she can be a asset against other companies and exterminating the alien threats.
The heroine works for one of the extermination groups and seems dissatisfied with how extortionist things feel, but she needs the money as her family has a ton of debt from her runaway father's poor investing. She's abducted by aliens and finds herself suddenly sharing her body with an alien presence that was supposed to take her over, but instead they vie for control. She's taken into custody by one of the extermination companies that want to study her and eventually see if she can be a asset against other companies and exterminating the alien threats.
November 28, 2025
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
Sumire is an eighteen-year-old just trying to make her way, pay her bills, and work at her kinda lame job as an exterminator of space vermin. One of her work days turns absolutely bonkers when a space varmit inhabits her body and gives her incredible powers, but makes her the target of agencies who either want to kill her or harness her powers for the ongoing power struggle against extraterrestrials. But if there's decent money in it, Sumire might be persuaded! There's many laughs and lots of action in this title, perfect for readers who have enjoyed Kaiju No. 8.
Full review in Booklist Magazine.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
Sumire is an eighteen-year-old just trying to make her way, pay her bills, and work at her kinda lame job as an exterminator of space vermin. One of her work days turns absolutely bonkers when a space varmit inhabits her body and gives her incredible powers, but makes her the target of agencies who either want to kill her or harness her powers for the ongoing power struggle against extraterrestrials. But if there's decent money in it, Sumire might be persuaded! There's many laughs and lots of action in this title, perfect for readers who have enjoyed Kaiju No. 8.
Full review in Booklist Magazine.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
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