In a world where only women can be witches, one unsuspecting boy acquires their power.
Magic is alive and well in the world, inside beings known as Majiks. By completing a Majik’s trial, a Witch can gain its power. However, only women can become Witches or use magical items. All that changes one day when a young man named Ichi turns the world on its head by defeating an infamous Majik and gaining its magical powers!
Ichi is a reclusive hunter who knows nothing of Witches and Majiks, but he does have a particular obsession for hunting anything that exudes bloodlust. When that instinct leads him to interfere in a battle between the great Witch Desscaras and the horrifying King Majik Uroro, against all odds, he acquires the destructive magic of Uroro, making him the only male Witch in the entire world! And not even Desscaras herself is prepared for the absolute headache that wild child Ichi is about to give her.
This wasn’t really on my radar until I learned (thanks Anime News Network!) that it was written by the creator of Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! and drawn by the artist behind act-age (who truly got screwed by that series’ writer). With that kind of pedigree, I felt it was worth a shot.
Well, the first chapter isn’t terribly exciting. We get a lot of backstory on Ichi and the world he inhabits, info dump at its finest, see that he’s good at hunting and then a witch shows up to hunt a majik, which are living magic that people can acquire through various means.
People meaning women, since men have no magical ability. Until one majik pulls a page out of the Peter Jackson Return of the King playbook and reveals he cannot be felled by a woman. Suddenly Ichi’s skills show themselves to work real well against magical beings and he smashes the matriarchy in one swoop. Or just kind of inhabits it.
Ichi’s okay as a character, earnest and thoughtful about not hurting for sport. He’s adept at using his skills, which allows for some clever stuff here and there, and he does have a couple good moments as a decent human being when he’s not on the hunt.
He is the epitome of the overpowered shonen protagonist, however, and that’s just the nature of his character. Still, he’s good enough to get the job done and the premise of him hunting these creatures is enough to hang a decent story on.
But, as often is the case in these sorts of scenarios, it’s the details that make a pretty okay story into a lot of fun. And the first detail is the ridiculously “high on her own supply” Desscaras - the first witch that Ichi encounters.
It’s not that Desscaras is bad at her job, no, she’s actually hyper competent. She’s just absolutely aware of it and full of herself as a consequence. This would be insufferable if she wasn’t so dang amusing and easily irritated by Ichi’s freewheeling spirit.
These two are the core for most of the story and Desscaras’ reactions are a lot of what made me come to love this. Well, the majik that Ichi kills to get his powers ends up living on him like a talking growth as well, which is a very Iruma-esque development. Especially with how useless it is once it’s been absorbed.
The last member of the team is the underpowered Kumugi, who gets assigned to record all the adventure that will undoubtedly ensue. Kumugi just wants to stay out of the spotlight, so naturally that’s not what happens, although I did really appreciate how Ichi reached out to her and made her feel better about her powers.
It’s good stuff. I am definitely way into Iruma and this is different enough to feel like it isn’t a retread, yet it also has an appealing familiarity. The art is pretty solid and hyper-detailed here and there; that one action moment with the frilly boots was well depicted.
The frisson of darkness and some genuinely cool designs, mixed with a strong sense of comedic timing and the good sense to not take this entirely too seriously, really help set this up for success. I’m hoping we get less unevenness, this dips a bit off and on, but there’s more than enough here.
3.5 stars - I’ll give it a benefit of the doubt based on its creative team and because this is a dang good time when it’s trying to be. If you like action and magic stuff I would say it’s a no-brainer.
In a world where only women have the ability to possess magic, Ichi becomes the first male witch after taking down a legendary magik that cannot be killed by women, reverse Eowyn style.
This was a fun little introduction to this manga, setting up some key characters and premise. Fun art style that I enjoyed as well.
Kumugi is just so precious and needs to be protected at all costs.
It's a nice start, and obviously, the English volumes are not out yet, so I will review these and will switch to them once they are released. The art was nice, and I have the hunch that the story will get better as the story progresses. So let's go and Keep on Reading.
I have always loved comics, and I can and I have. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more. You should also read what you love, and I hope you will always love it. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics, Mangas, Mahwas, and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.
Alright, I have a bit of a confession. I might have read “only women can be witches, but suddenly a boy gets to be a witch,” and thought it was going to be a story about gender and things. I was a little disappointed on that front, but this is the first volume, so maybe it will get into that later. (Also that is on me because I didn’t see the shonen tag.) That being said, this was a really fun start to a series.
I really loved the designs of the different magiks that we’ve seen so far, and I love the concept of magic being living things that you have to battle to gain power from. It’s kind of like a Pokémon! Ichi is, so far, a pretty typical shonen protag.: has a code of honor, is very kind, and good at giving pep talks to people who need it. (This is a random aside, but there is one part -not really a spoiler- where he sees these really fancy frilly shoes and just goes crazy over them, and it was really cute.)
My absolute favorite part of this whole thing is Desscaras and her “Story So Far” segments. They are hilarious. I love that she continues to call Ichi things like “Feral Idiot” rather than his name, and I like to see her doodles. She is by far the best part of this main group of characters.
The art is beautiful, the story is fun, and I can’t wait to read more! Thanks so much to Netgalley and VIZ Media for the DRC!
I’m convinced that the second this manga gets an anime adaptation it’s going to dominate the shonen genre. The official English volumes haven’t even released yet and it’s ALREADY got a lot of buzz around it—and trust me it’s deserved. The art is gorgeous and I love these characters, the setting, and the entire story concept SO much. I definitely don’t think the first volume is bad, but will acknowledge the introduction is mostly just cute. I need you to trust me rn. This goes crazy. I am dying on this hill with my beautiful son Ichi.
YES!!! welcome back shonen written by women 😫😫 saw that this was getting popular, decided to check it out and had a GREAT time. The magic hierarchy did make me giggle with all the men at the bottom (barring Ichi). Gorgeous art, engaging character dynamics, and Desscaras (I love her). More female mentor characters in action mangas PLEASE😝
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A pretty fun read, if Kagurabachi is peak edgyness then ichi the witch is peak wholesomeness of shonen jump. The premise and plot are lowkey simple but it's still have some charm to hook you in.
Le perso principal fan de chasse c'est juste pas possible sérieux. Sinon ça essaye juste d'attirer le public shonen à travers des trucs vus et revus, c'est vraiment pas terrible.
Effortlessly efficient world and character building, highly-polished art and well-done humor are the prima materia that conjure up one of the best shonen debuts of 2024.
I have often seen this going around here and there on social media, and I am curious to see where this was going. The premise is interesting as it reminds me of a certain trope that you'd see with women getting into a male-dominant world while pretending to be the opposite gender. Except that this series is the reverse and has no parlor tricks or liar reveal at the third act. I'd also learned that this series is done by Osamu Nishi, the mangaka who has also done Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun, which I enjoy the anime series and would want to get back to it when I have the time and when it's free from being held up in my "on-hold" list. Just a heads up, there will be some slight spoilers within this review. With that said, you have been warned. For the context of this series, magic is alive, and they walk among humanity. The beings who walk among humanity are known as Majiks. Majiks are often beings who would cause harm among humanity either for the fun of it or having a motif. Or they would open up a trial for a group who hunt them called Witches. The catch is that only women are ranked as Witches. Until one day, in the first chapter, a young boy who was raised in the mountains to hunt on his own with nothing but a knife named Ichi. How Ichi made the impossible was when he'd interfered with a fight between the Majik King Uroro and the great Witch named Desscaras. Ichi manages to beat Uroro and has now gained the power to use the Majik's destructive magic. The problem is Ichi has no knowledge of either Witches or Majiks. So Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, who finds this situation complicated, has been told by Moneygold, the Aureate Witch, to bring him back to the capital of Natali where the Mantinel Witches' Association is located at for both an examination and a trial for Ichi if he is capable to be a Witch to hunt down other Majiks. Of course, Uroro is not one hundred percent dead as he is now has a mini form that's like a blob that would pop up on Ichi's shoulders who would either insult Desscaras, tempt some Witches as he had done when he fought Desscaras before Ichi interfered, and tempt Ichi to ditch Majik hunting and instead go Witch hunting. Except that Ichi is not that stupid as he is often time reckless. It's because since he was a little boy, he doesn't hunt for sport as he hunts for the thrill of combat. Like, say if something wants revenge, Ichi will fight. Ichi even saw through Uroro's lies at chapter five when Ichi had to go through an examination as observed by the Witches of the Association and Shirabedonna, the Analytic Witch. I have a sinking feeling that Ichi wasn't just abandoned as a child to survive in the mountains he grew up in, and we'll know a little more about why later in the series. I mean, he was given a knife to fend for himself, which made him a feared hunter. I hope there is more to Ichi as he was capable of fighting Majiks and how he is the only male to have acquired the power of Uroro and become a Witch. As speaking of, I find it clever that Uroro himself cannot be killed by females that even Desscaras, who is viewed as one of the strongest, cannot kill him. Makes sense on why this trope that I'd mentioned has been changed up a bit, and having a male get into a female-dominated world instead of a female getting into a male-dominated world. I also find it good that all of the women are just curious about how Ichi is the first male Witch to roam around. The world building itself is an interesting touch when it comes to the world of Majiks and Wicthes. Although, it seems there is more to it, as explained from Uroro later in this volume. I have the feeling that there might be more to it with what the past has to offer if either humanity or Majik were the ones who'd started this feud between one another. I won't overthink too much of it since this is just the beginning, and the next volume is coming out in April this year (ah, right on my birth month). The Wicthes having a system of their own, as explained by Desscaras, is simple for how her little seminar shows how Witches go up a rank among the Association. For the moment, this has little action while we explore the lore of it, and I am okay with it. Yes, Ichi acquiring Uroro is gonna put him into the "overpowered character" trope, yet it does have a consequence. I'm one of those folks who is tired of that trope, yet accept that Ichi is still learning and he will have to learn how to control Uroro's power as much as learning more about the world of Witches and Majiks. Accordingly, Ichi is also a teenager. So he has much to learn. The art style done by Shiro Usazaki is unique for how at the end of the volume, we see her sketches of the characters from Ichi, Desscaras, Uroro in both his true and mini form, and Kumugi, who is a Witch Cadet of the Mantinel Wicthes' Association. The detailing of the backgrounds is pretty when we're in a forest and at the capital of Natali. I'm happy that the characters have their own style, especially with the Witches and Majiks. The town and village aspects are simple. Though unique with what the world building has to offer, such as magical items and what Witches do in their daily lives, whether for themselves or for the Wicthes' Association. During the end of the volume, we're gonna explore more of the world with the now Anti Human-Hater Majik Squad: Team Desscaras with Desscaras as the lead. Ichi is an okay protagonist with the meaning of his own when he is now getting into the world with Witches and Majiks and am looking forward to seeing where he goes as he grows. Desscaras is a fan favorite, as I've been observing the love Ichi the Witch has gotten, and I see why. Desscaras does have a bit of pride in her and would often bicker with Uroro while keeping check on Ichi since he is a reckless character. If I have to be honest, Desscaras's attitude reminds me of myself, to be honest. We more or less get the job done while being concerned with our lessers. Desscaras is also pretty chill with how she is willing to teach Ichi about the world of Witches and Majiks despite his behavior. She does often scold him, and it's fair to see why she had to. Kumugi, for now being part of the team, is the kind-hearted one, which means she will back Ichi and Desscaras up no matter what. Both Desscaras and Uroro (whether on his own or when merged with Ichi) stand out as my favorite by character design while the others are good on their own. After reading the first volume, I admit that this is a pretty good start, and I am down to see where this series goes. For this, it's how Ichi got himself into the world of Witches and Majiks until he was given a trial by both the Majiks and with the Mantinel Witches' Association and passed. The next volume continues where Ichi is part of Team Desscaras. I have a feeling that the team chemistry will have to be worked on and would improve themselves as characters and as a team. I know I can always look up the chapters on the internet, but I'm kinda old school and love to collect physical forms. I'm even glad that I'd got a hold of the first volume after I'd pre-ordered it from Barnes and Nobles. I will give this first volume an 8/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Nouvelle série phénomène sur laquelle compte Ki-oon ! Lancée l’an dernier en numérique où l’on peut retrouver la prépublication sur Mangaplus, elle arrive ce mois-ci en relié avec une très belle proposition de collector ou une édition simple si vous préférez, mais si vous aimez les shonen, l’humour, la magie et l’aventure, ne passez pas à côté !
Je remercie pour ma part Ki-oon pour l’envoie du très beau kit press que j’ai reçu : deux tomes rangés dans une boîte format grimoire, avec une bourse remplie de pins, un carnet aux pages à l’effigie d’Uroro, un kit d’écriture à la plume et des stickers avec nos héros. C’était très joli et ça mettait en appétit !
Les deux premiers tomes, eux, m’ont permis de faire la rencontre d’Osamu Nishi au scénario et de Shiro Usazaki aux dessins, dans une histoire originale et survitaminée, qui emprunte volontiers les codes de shonen d’aventures bien connus comme Black Clovers, l’Atelier des sorciers ou l’Attaque des Titans, dans un résultat aussi pétillant qu’inattendu. Après Iruma à l’école des démons, Osamu Nishi signe un scénario tout aussi déjanté mais peut-être moins anecdotique et mieux ficelé et après le naufrage qu’elle a dû subir avec Act Age bien malgré elle, Shiro Usazaki peut revenir dans une série à succès où elle donne libre court à son imagination, et quelle imagination ! Elle s’en donne à coeur joie avec l’univers des sorcières et ses multiples tenues, lieux et artefacts, un régal !
J’ai donc fait la lecture des deux premiers tomes d’une traite vu qu’ils sortaient en même temps et ce fut une riche idée. Après un premier chapitre qui lançait l’univers de manière extrêmement riche et efficace, les chapitres suivant demandaient un peu de rodage avant de trouver leur rythme et leur style. Il était donc nécessaire d’avoir un peu de longueur pour se faire et l’éditeur l’a bien compris avec sa double proposition salvatrice. On y fait la rencontre d’Ichi, un garçon rendu sauvage par les circonstances, qui vit seul dans la montagne et survit en chassant et pêchant. Un jour, le hasard fait qu’il croise une Sorcière pourchassant un majik légendaire, une créature incarnant la magie elle-même, et à la surprise de tous, c’est lui qui le capture. C’est le début de la carrière d’Ichi comme première sorcière homme. Que j’aime cette inversion des valeurs !
Le projet de départ est assez simple et les premiers chapitres démontrent cette simplicité. On suit Ichi dans sa nouvelle vie, auprès des sorcières qui l’accompagnent dans cette découverte, dans des missions de chasse des majik, qui nous font ainsi découvrir peu à peu cet univers et son fonctionnement entre l’Ordre des sorcières, leur Académie, leur hiérarchie, leur façon de s’approprier la magie des Majiks, etc. C’est assez simple pour le moment, sans grande tension avant la fin, presque comme si l’aventure prenait le pas sur le reste. Tout le charme de ces chapitres vient en grande partie des personnages. Ichi est le prototype parfait de l’enfant sauvage fonceur qui fait un peu n’importe quoi. Il me rappelle ces héros de shonen comme Goku, Daï ou Asta, qui n’ont pas trop la tête sur les épaules. A ses côtés, il y a Desscaras, la belle sorcière en couverture du 2e tome, une praticienne extrêmement douée mais terriblement atypique, dont j’ai adoré le décalage, les bêtises et la désinvolture relâchée. C’est LE personnage original de l’histoire, pour moi, à ce stade , et leur duo fonctionne très bien et m’amuse beaucoup, rendant les situations simples, drôles et compliquées avec leurs réactions atypiques.
A cela s’ajoute un univers plein de promesses où l’on retrouve des marqueurs évidents de nombre de shonen déjà lus, voire des scènes carrément recopiées dessus, à l’image de celle de l’affrontement contre le Majik divin de la fin du tome 2 qui est directement issue de l’Attaque des Titans, la référence sautant aux yeux. Mais j’ai beaucoup aimé sa manière de développer celui des sorcières avec des jeunes femmes aux pouvoirs et noms surprenants. Graphiquement cela prend des formes que j’adore avec une grosse vibe l’Atelier des sorciers dans les tenues et artefacts, dont les explications entre les chapitres me charment. J’adore ce genre de détails qui met des étoiles dans les yeux. Il y a peut être plus irrégularités dans certaines cases jugées moins importantes où on sent la dessinatrice se relâcher, alors que les scènes de combat, elles, sont dynamiques et classes.
Enfin, l’humour tient une place certaine ici et il faut accepter qu’il vienne régulièrement briser le rythme de l’histoire, apportant son propre charme inattendu, mais également qualifiant définitivement ce titre comme shonen, car malgré des dangers récurrents, on est sur quelque chose d’assez léger et fun. On n’a pas encore de thèmes profonds, juste une bande de joyeux loustics à la recherche de nouveaux pouvoirs à capturer et d’humains à sauver. C’est sympathique mais un peu léger.
Nouveauté shonen phénomène de l’éditeur, elle a tous les ingrédients d’un succès, reprenant les codes de ses aînés pour nous concocter un sortilège des plus attirants avec des personnages décalés amusants, dans un univers magique richement dessiné par Shiro Usazaki qui tient ainsi sa revanche. J’en ai aimé la légèreté, l’aventure, la loufoquerie et les promesses de nouvelles quêtes peut-être plus intenses et dangereuses. Un début réussi et prometteur.
i mean i dislike the concept but the character design and artstyle isn't bad so far. i really wonder what the fascination is about men involving themselves in women's spaces. i mean i know it's so you can have a bunch of marketable women (if not some sort of harem) but. weird. just weird.
J'ai adoré ma lecture des deux premiers tomes d'Ichi the Witch. C'est vraiment addictif, et rapidement, on nous présente le monde et les personnages-clés. Les péripéties s'enchaînent, sans temps mort; les défis sont relevés et gagnés (trop facilement?), mais on n'oublie pas d'y mettre des conséquences (3 jours!)
J'aime les dessins qui m'ont fait penser à ceux de Koyoharu Gotōge (Demon Slayer), avec des noirs profonds, des yeux et des cheveux aux angles brusques, de nombreuses lignes de vitesse et des costumes flamboyants (ça serait superbe en animé!). D'ailleurs les cartes All-Stars offertes dans les deux tomes sont parfaites.
Ichi n'est pas Tanjirô, malgré quelques points communs dans les traits. Ichi a vécu davantage à l'écart du monde, grandissant seul dans la montagne depuis qu'il y a été abandonné enfant. À travers les deux tomes, certains de ses talents de chasseur sont expliqués par des flash-backs qui donnent des détails sur la manière dont il a pu survivre, des clés essentielles pour comprendre ses compétences déjà hors normes.
Car en plus d'être un chasseur très habile avec un instinct incroyable pour sentir les menaces à la vie, et être capable d'y répliquer, Ichi deviendra le premier "homme-sorcière". C'est intéressant de voir que la scénariste Nishi explique que son idée vient qu'en japonais, il n'y a pas d'équivalent masculin au mot "sorcière". En français, il y en a un, et pourtant le traducteur français a choisi "homme-sorcière". Il faut dire qu'en français le mot "sorcier" porte un statut différent (plus élevé, plus respecté) que son pendant féminin de "sorcière" (inquiétante, femme à l'écart, danger d'être tuée). À ce que je sache, les Japonais n'ont pas eu de période historique comme l'Inquisition où on a tué celles qui portaient cette étiquette honnie...
Donc en choisissant "homme-sorcière", on garde Ichi lié avec le mot féminin, ce qui est très bien, car les sorcières de son monde dominent: les femmes sont les seules à pouvoir contrôler la magie et obtenir les pouvoirs des magiks maléfiques. Ichi ne devient pas un "sorcier", il devient un homme étrange, bizarre, qui menace l'ordre établi, un peu comme nos "sorcières" d'antan.
D'ailleurs, il n'est pas bien reçu par la première sorcière qui fait sa rencontre. L'hostilité de Desscaras m'a semblé un peu exaspérante, surtout qu'on ne peut pas vouloir que Ichi soit conciliant avec les règles et usages d'un Ordre de sorcières ou d'une grande ville avec son passé d'enfant sauvage...
Pourtant, au tome 2, c'est quand même elle qui l'a mieux saisi: "Ce type n'est pas le genre d'animal qui reste assis bien sagement à suivre des cours... Si on lui donne un livre, il s'en servira pour allumer un feu et griller des poissons", tout en reconnaissant ses forces: "C'est bien parce qu'il ne pense pas comme nous qu'il est le seul à pouvoir accomplir certaines choses!"
Ichi attaque avec la philosophie "La mort pour la mort": donc un être qui souhaite la mort mérite la mort. C'est une idée qui peut être dangereuse, mais pour l'instant, elle est bien exploitée pour faire attaquer uniquement les êtres dangereux.
Ichi est un personnage sympathique, les sorcières sont plus variables, je ne peux pas dire qu'elles sont aussi intéressantes. Le monde représenté est parsemé de touches d'humour, avec différents magiks drôles et/ou menaçants. Je conseille de lire les premiers deux tomes pour se faire une idée, c'est un excellent départ!
Magic exists in the world through beings called Majiks, and by clearing a Majik’s trial, a Witch can obtain its power. There’s just one rule everyone believes in: only women can become Witches.
That belief completely collapses when Ichi, a young man, defeats a powerful Majik and gains its magic—becoming the first and only male Witch. And honestly? That’s what makes this manga so intriguing.
Ichi’s existence alone challenges the entire system. He’s not just “special”—he’s a walking contradiction. You can feel the tension building as the world reacts to him: curiosity, fear, rejection, and pressure from traditions that were never meant to include someone like him. Being the only male Witch makes his journey feel lonely, heavy, and unpredictable.
The art is absolutely gorgeous. I really love how the manga sticks mostly to square and rectangular panels, giving the story a clean, structured flow that matches the rigid rules of the magical world. The Witches themselves are also quite different from what I expected—less whimsical, more sharp and intimidating.
My only hope? Please don’t turn this into a typical shounen harem 😭 Since Ichi is the only male Witch, he’s inevitably going to be surrounded by Witches all the time—and that setup alone already screams potential harem tropes. But honestly, I really hope the story doesn’t go that route.
What makes Ichi the Witch compelling isn’t romance, but Ichi’s existence as an anomaly—a boy who should never have been allowed to wield magic in a world built to exclude him. Being constantly among Witches should highlight his isolation, the tension, the prejudice, and the pressure placed on him, not reduce it to fanservice.
I’d much rather see the manga stay focused on world-building, conflict, and the consequences of breaking an absolute rule, with Ichi navigating a system that was never meant to accept him. If it leans into that? This series could become something really special. 🪄🔥
Overall, Ichi the Witch feels fresh, bold, and full of potential. Definitely one to read 👀🪄
Happy to report that this is SO worth the hype! What a GREAT first volume!
In it, we’re introduced to Ichi—a “feral” young boy who’s an exceptional hunter. He regularly protects the local town from threats of all kinds. On one such hunt, Ichi accidentally completes a powerful Majik’s trial, discovering—to everyone’s shock—that he’s a witch! The only male witch! (This is what all those weird dude bro, anti-magical girl manga fans want—more men, right? Here you go! He’s even got a fun outfit transformation!)
Ichi isn’t much interested in this development—until he learns that he now has the opportunity to travel the world, hunting down other Majiks. Under the tutelage and supervision of the Great Witch Desscaras, Ichi could become a hunter like the world has never known.
This is a FANTASTIC and PROPULSIVE first volume! I had so much fun reading this and getting to explore this world alongside Ichi and company.
Not only is the world-building immersive and magical, the characters are just so engaging and entertaining.
Ichi with his reclusive nature but combative attitude is captivating on its own—but, then you add in Desscaras who is fabulous on every level and KNOWS it. She’s so OBSESSED with herself—and so am I??? I love her whole style and personality. The dynamic this pair has is both funny and endearing.
I’m so looking forward to going on adventures with them.
Also, Desscaras clearly has some melanin. She’s a main female character of color in a shonen manga series—how COOL is that???
From some of the cameos of other characters we see in this first volume, it also looks like we may have a more inclusive world than typical in these types of stories? Something else to look forward to if true!
So, yeah—this is great!
Put down whatever bad manga you’re slogging through and read this instead~
On découvre un univers où la magie ne s'apprend pas… elle se mérite. Ici, les sorts sont des créatures vivantes appelées majiks, chacune avec sa personnalité et son propre test à surmonter. Seules les femmes peuvent normalement les dompter et devenir sorcières, figures respectées et protectrices de l'humanité. Rien que ce postulat, avec des sorcières en position de leadership, apporte une vraie originalité.
Et puis il y a Ichi.
Abandonné à six ans en pleine montagne, il a grandi seul et a développé un instinct de survie hors norme. Chasseur rusé, débrouillard, profondément respectueux du vivant, il ne tue que par nécessité. Quand un majik royal menace un village, il fonce. Et contre toute attente… il gagne. Il devient ainsi le premier sorcier de l'Histoire.
J'ai adoré ce renversement des codes. Ichi est une anomalie dans un monde structuré autour des femmes et de leur mana. Sa présence bouscule l'ordre établi, et on sent que ça ne va pas être de tout repos. Va-t-il être rejeté ? Utilisé ? Accepté ? Ce questionnement donne immédiatement envie de poursuivre.
Le tome pose les bases avec beaucoup de clarté sans jamais être lourd. le rythme est dynamique, les interactions sont souvent pêchues et parfois très drôles — notamment avec Uroro, le majik arrogant devenu “familier” malgré lui. Desscaras, puissante sorcière charismatique, est également un personnage fort que j'ai beaucoup aimé.
Graphiquement, c'est superbe. Les designs sont expressifs, les scènes de d'action dynamiques, les créatures charismatiques. L'ensemble a une vraie personnalité visuelle qui renforce l'immersion. Un premier tome d'installation solide, original et déjà très attachant. Clairement une série à suivre de près.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in return for an honest review.
4/5 stars
This was really cute! I liked the premise- Majiks being sentient and creating their own “trials” for them to be captured by humans was definitely cool and interesting. I think it leaves a lot of room for unique characters and battles in the future. It feels a bit like it borrows things from various manga, but still manages to be a very enjoyable read. It still has its own voice and its own story.
Ichi was a pretty stereotypical shounen protagonist- instantly powerful, not necessarily “smart,” ready to fight literally anything that feels hostile. Ichi has Luffy’s earnestness, Naruto’s raw power, and Inosuke’s lack of polish and hunter’s instinct. He was interesting to watch because he defies the toxic masculinity that can come about in shounen stories. He has a desire to fight, but not to be violent for its own sake. I didn’t feel like we really got to know any of the secondary characters yet. Desscaras was pretty one-note in this volume, but I do think that she has potential to become more interesting.
I see a ton of potential for this manga series. I will look forward to the next volume!
Excellent premier tome qui nous présente le monde et les personnages sans que ce soit trop à assimiler d'un coup. Les personnages sont tous intriguants et déjà attachants, on a hâte d'en découvrir plus sur Ichi et le reste de l'équipe. Les dynamiques entre eux sont tout aussi fun à lire et ça me tarde de lire la suite pour voir comment leurs relations évolueront. Le design des persos et des costumes est tout simplement incroyable et très élégant, on ressent bien la personnalité de chacun à travers le dessin, ce serait trop chouette d'avoir accès aux croquis de réalisation pour tous le monde, même les persos qui apparaissent ici une fois dans le background. Le reste du dessin est tout aussi agréable à regarder, et l'histoire à l'air intéressante même si avec un premier tome c'est toujours difficile de voir où l'intrigue va mener. Je ne suis pas fan de chasse mais c'est fun de lier ça aux sorcières et à la magie, j'ai hâte de voir où ça va mener et j'espère qu'on aura plus d'explications sur comment fonctionne la magie et pourquoi les hommes n'y sont pas aptes, hors Ichi, et s'il y a d'autres exceptions. Desscaras est excellente, j'ai hâte de la revoir dans le tome 2.
If you’re looking for a manga with humor, heart, and a fast paced plot, then pick this up!
Ichi, has lived alone in the wild and has learned how to survive on his own. He comes across a powerful majik, and unknowingly possesses his power after defeating it. Only witches are able to defeat majiks, and all witches are women. That is, until Ichi. He now becomes the only male witch and sets out to hunt other majiks.
The interactions between Ichi, Desscaras, and Kumugi are so funny. You can’t help but be charmed by all of them. The dynamic between the characters is the highlight for me. Although I enjoyed the art style, I did feel there were some parts that were harder to make out and made me pause to figure out what was being shown. Other than that, this was a fast and fun read. It was a great introduction to the characters and the world. I’m definitely looking forward to going on more hunts with Ichi.
Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the advanced copy.
Ichi is a orphaned boy who grew up in the wood as a hunter. Anything that is willing to kill, he is willing to kill it. In Ichi's world magic is alive and personified as living creatures labeled "majiks." If a person can complete the majik's trial, that person gains its power. And women have the greatest ability in this and those who complete a trial are called witches. But one Majik is different, it cannot be taken by a woman, but when Ichi encounters a witch trying to take King Majik Uroro's trial and failing, Ichi steps in and finishes Uroro off and becomes the first male witch. Now he just needs to prove to Desscaras and the rest of the witches that he can be a good witch. An interesting setup with nicely drawn artwork to enhance the storyline. It will be interesting to follow Ichi and his cohorts on their adventures!
Thanks Netgalley and Viz Media for the chance to read this tale.
I get emails from Viz but somehow I missed it when “Ichi The Witch” debuted. I saw it again after a few chapters were out and I was immediately taken by the picture of Ichi in his witch hat. It was so cute. I read the first three chapters for free on Viz and waited for the first volume.
I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed this book. I missed in the online chapters that the author and artist are both women. It really does make a difference how this story is told and how the characters are designed. Everyone looks good but no one is sexualized. Thank you!!
The story is pretty straightforward so far. Ichi, a hunter who grew up alone in the woods becomes a witch in a world where only girls and women are witches. He enters a new community and a new world (witch world hq is in the big city). I love Ichi’s Magic Boy outfit, I loved the design of the pretty boots he took for a spin and his regular witch student outfit.
Desscaras!!! Love her look and I’m always, always down for the Black witches. I love that she knows she’s a powerful baddie and there’s no shrinking or apologizing for it. Looking forward to more of her. I also like Uroro. He’s a Black character too, fight me.
I like that Ichi is open to this new world of women. He knows who he is but he also knows he doesn’t know things and is open to learning and growing.
Thank you to VIZ Media LLC for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Ichi the Witch, Vol. 1 introduces us to Ichi, a self-taught survivalist and skilled hunter who has been independent since childhood. Loved by his village, Ichi’s life takes a dramatic turn during a journey into the mountains when he encounters Desscares, one of the most powerful witches, locked in conflict with a majik.
In this world, majiks are physical manifestations of living magic, hunted by witches to obtain their power. Traditionally, only women can become witches by acquiring majik, but there’s an extremely rare 0.001% chance for a man to become a witch if he defeats a specific majik,Uroro. Against all odds, Ichi does just that, becoming a male witch.
To avoid being treated like a test subject, Ichi teams up with Desscares. They strike a deal: he’ll help hunt majiks, and in return, she’ll keep others off his back. From there, the story opens up into a fast-paced, magical adventure filled with spellcasting, eccentric witches, and plenty of high-energy, comedic moments.
I especially like Desscares’ character design and her dynamic with Ichi, their boss and reluctant partner relationship is entertaining. With its lively tone, inventive magic system, and strong character chemistry, Ichi the Witch, Vol. 1 sets up an exciting series that I look forward to continue especially to learn more about Desscares. As of right now I'm glad this manga isn't a harem and unlikely to become one despite the heavily dominated additional female cast. Also the story seems wholesome.
I both love and hate this manga. I really like Ichi as a character. He is very clear in his wants. He loves to hunt and all he longs to do is to hunt animals if they are going to bring any harm to those he cares about. I also love the witches. His integration into their world is very interesting. So over all I really love the plot, what I didn’t love was the execution. Sometimes the pictures were confusing and didn’t allow me to follow with what was happening in the story. This happened a couple of times. I don’t know if it was because I was reading this book on my tablet and if the pictures will be clearer once it is in print, but I struggled a couple of times. That being said I would love to read more of Ichi’s adventures, because this is only the beginning for him. Thank you to Viz Media and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.