Sentenced to Be a Hero, Vol. 1 (manga): The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004

勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録 (Comic) #1

by Natsumi Inoue, Rocket Shokai (Original Author)

Hero: a title that carries the most severe punishment a criminal can earn. Why? Because these “heroes” are the front line in humanity’s war against the Demon Blight. Driven mad by centuries of fighting, the penal hero forces are made up of the most morally bankrupt to exist throughout history. They fight without hope of redemption, driven mad at the helplessness of their mission as the fallen are resurrected to continue struggling for all eternity. It is to this chaos that Xylo Forbartz―former captain of the Order of Holy Knights―is sentenced for his crime of deicide. But after he encounters Teoritta, an unknown Goddess of the Blade, the two will forge a pact with the power to change the course of history, and maybe save the world from annihilation...

Genres: Manga

178 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2022

Reviews

[E (manga_runner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my recent ARC reads I really enjoyed and will be continuing. I have watched the anime and not long ago saw there was a manga coming out- which I didn't realize or if I did, it was awhile ago that I saw the announcement. 
It has an interesting concept where being called a Hero is not viewed in a positive light. In this world, being a hero is a punishment with no end to the punishment- if they die, they are resurrected. Serving on the front lines to fight against the Demon Blight. 

Xylo is a member of the Penal Hero Unit, his crime is for the death of the goddess he had a contract with. But I feel like there is more we don't know about the situation. Based on the interactions so far, it seems like Xylo has been a hero longer than Dotta- another Hero in the unit.

I enjoy the variety of characters introduced so far, each have their unique quirks/personalities that bring something to the story. While we do get a bunch of information about this world and some of the characters, more will be revealed as it continues. I really want to know more about Xylo 's past and his former goddess. I have a feeling there is some type of connection between the former goddess and Teoritta. 

Quick Description: 
Dotta steals a coffin that ends up holding a goddess- few exist and they are used as weapons, each holding a unique ability. On top of having to deal with this situation and the goddess Teoritta awakening, Xylo has to make a decision that is seen as taboo in order to save the Holy Knights. 

Sentenced to be a Hero 
-fantasy, action, adventure
- opportunity to read thanks to Yen Press and Edelweiss+ ARC read

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A world fighting an endless war against demons. At the front line are heroes, convicts who have been sentenced to a fate worse than death, because the sentence never ends, as they are resurrected every time they die. They just have to make sure there’s something to resurrect.

Penal Hero Unit 9004 consists of Xylo and Dotta, a very uneven but fun pair. Xylo is a poweful warrior with a mysterious backstory. We get hints that he’s killed a god, a being created as an ultimate weapon against demons. Dotta is a thief who compulsively steals everything.

The pair is facing impossible odds trying to save holy knights. In the middle of this, Dotta steals a coffin that turns out to contain a goddes. She immediately chooses Xylo as her knight, and together they set out to defeat demons.

The first volume starts straight at the action and doesn’t really slow down. I’ve watched the anime, which took forever to get to the point, so I found the manga better and easier to follow. I prefer the art in the manga to the anime too. The volume ends at a cliffhanger. I’d read more.

I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride this series is! I got hooked on the anime when it came out and now I get to read the manga. Already I have noticed several things I missed from the anime and am stoked about it. When you get down to it this whole world is just messed up. Taking what we see a hero as and completely flipping it upon its head and making it an abomination is insane as well as original. Then to throw in goddesses with insane power and here a hero is bound to her as her knight. So good. There are moments in the art that the faces of some remind me of the art from Blue Period. Yeah I know that is from left field. But overall the art is amazing as well. After reading this I almost feel like picking up the LN.

[Isa Newbury | reading_isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to YenPress & Edelweiss for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely LOVED the anime for Sentenced to Be a Hero and was greatly looking forward to the manga adaptation! It was interesting to see what similarities there were with the light novel/anime, but I think the manga is going to do just fine! Sentenced to Be a Hero has a really interesting premise with demon lords, faeries, "heroes", goddesses, and holy knights. You'd think it'd be a lot all thrown together, but it actually works quite well. I loved all of the characters and the hints at the further plot. Will be reading volume 2!!!

[Adam Collinet · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'est cool ! J'aimais beaucoup l'anime, mais dommage que le light novel ne soit pas disponible en France

[Noemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my review on AnimeUKNews:
https://animeuknews.net/2026/06/sente...