Casshan Vol. 1

by Mario B. Long, Kusanagi (Illustrator)

180 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Kristina Butke]

I requested this digital ARC from NetGalley because I thought it would be somehow related to an old anime I watched years ago but never finished (I think I watched three episodes) called Casshern Sins (2008). I just did a Wikipedia check and it turns out this was inspired by a Casshan anime series but completely discarded its continuity. That’s probably why Casshern and Casshan are named differently, but similarly.

Anyway…

We’re in a postapocalyptic setting that looks like the Old West that takes place after what’s been referred to as The Great War. Robots had been created and advanced substantially in their development, and now robots and humans are enemies, and a new robotic species comprising man and machine together enter the fray.

We meet Casshan in an empty barn, and we see that he looks remarkably human (dressed like a superhero) but is also robotic.

Casshan reactivates and but his memories are missing…at the beginning they are only 1% reconstructed. He doesn’t know how he came to be. He doesn’t know what happened before the 50 years he was shut down in the barn.

He is “rescued” by an old man and his son who tell Casshan that he is a hero and must save two girls (one is a daughter) from the robots in the old mines. The robots guarding the mines kill on the spot, and the last group of people who tried to infiltrate died.

Casshan takes the mission seriously, and he learns as he fights just exactly how powerful he is. But he also recognizes his humanity when he realizes the emotion he feels in the mines is fear. Nonetheless, he continues on with his mission, fighting killer robots and robotic monsters like a spider and a water monster that looks kind of like a centipede.

I’m not going to share or spoil any more of the plot, but if I had a word for this first volume, it would be badass: “If violence is all you understand…then I’ll speak your language.” What a cool line!

The art is incredible with very frenzied action, detailed characters, and a variety of robot designs. It blends a nostalgic look with bits of futuristic detail to create a unique environment that was torn up by war.

Casshan’s “birth” in the barn is a huge mystery. We get a flash that someone he knew died, and that he felt pain and loneliness in the barn and wanted it all “to end.” His background is compelling and it’s interesting to see how he is easily programmed to protect human life. How much of that is programming, by the way, and how much of that is the bit of humanity inside of him?

I really enjoyed the ride this manga gave me and I desperately want to know what happens next. The art is gorgeous, the pacing is fast and not boggled down by exposition, and it’s just a really fun entry into what looks to be a captivating series.

[Tyler H]

Mario B. Long and illustrator Kusanagi deliver an impressive, revitalized take on Tatsunoko’s classic cybernetic icon. Right from the opening chapters, the premise hooks you: after sleeping for fifty years, an amnesiac Casshan awakens to a harsh wasteland where humanity, rogue machines, and the mysterious Neoroiders clash. 

The strongest aspect of Volume 1 is its moody atmosphere balanced with kinetic action. Kusanagi’s artwork gives the mechanical designs weight and punch, while Long effectively threads the classic question of machine versus soul through Casshan's struggle to recall his humanity. Because this introductory volume has so much worldbuilding to establish—between the hostage rescue, the lore, and the warring factions—a few emotional beats feel a bit quick, but it leaves plenty of tantalizing mysteries for future volumes to unpack.

A sharp, stylish revival that honors retro sci-fi roots while carving out an energetic identity for modern manga readers.

Thank you to Nakama Press, Mad Cave Studios, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review

[Kent Wrightwell]

A classic series reimagined, in which the themes of A.I. and robots being integrated into our lives, as well as how we as a society choose to reconcile them, are increasingly more relevant to us now than when the series came out in the 1970's.

Casshan, to me, is reminiscent thematically of Casshern Sins (a reboot of the original series from the late 2000's); however, Mario B. Long and Kusanagi have done a wonderful job reimagining and reinterpreting Casshan while nailing the themes of life and death, identity, xenophobia, the importance of empathy, and others present in both the original and reboot through both the art and narrative.

Due to being the first volume of the series, the main beats and Casshan's characterization do feel a bit quick at certain points, but future volumes have plenty of room to expand.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic cyberpunk stories that make you reflect, Casshan nails it and I fully plan on reading this story as additional volumes become available.

I am grateful to NetGalley, Mad Cave Studios, and Nakama Press for an ARC in exchange for my review.

[Elia RS]

At first, I was surprised by the western setting. It is not simply part of the scenery because the language, the architecture, and the way conflicts are handled give the story its identity. Rust Town feels like a classic retrofuturistic and post-apocalyptic frontier town. Cowboy hats, rifles, scarves, miners, and workers all reinforce that atmosphere.

The main conflict is between humans and robots. Humans respond to their fear with a level of violence that slowly turns them into the very thing they believe they are fighting. The language dehumanizes the enemy by calling them cans, tin cans, or rusted cans. Those words reinforce the conflict and the hostility between both sides.

The story questions what it really means to be human. Machines begin to show family bonds, fear, the desire to live, and the ability to suffer. Casshan is not just another hero. What makes him different is the way he adapts to the language people use with him. He reacts according to how he is treated and spoken to. Communication becomes one of the most interesting parts of his character.

[bailey elizabeth smith]

4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Casshan is a forgotten cybernetic hero who awakens with no memories and is thrust into a brutal conflict between humans, robots, and a rising new species—forcing him to confront the truth of his own creation as he fights to save two kidnapped children trapped deep below a dying wasteland. We are in a post-war timeline between humans and robots.

I thought this had a very intriguing start. It poses the question of who and what is a hero, and a greater philosophical question about the conflict at hand in a world divided by technology and the way it has advanced. I hope to continue following this story as volumes come out!

[Katey]

3.5 rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Nakama Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Casshan character, big fan of most iterations, and specifically Casshern Sins. This is perfect for people who are new to Casshan; I feel like it gives a rehash of who/what he is and the landscape of the universe he exists in in an organic way. There is some super cool art in this and I liked the power level meter. My only issue was I didn't find the fighting oriented panels to be super clear and they were very short. However rounding up because of the appropriate Casshan ending.

[Polis Stavrou]

A great read, a post apocalyptic enviroment with elemets of western, cyberpunk and lots of robots and artificial intelligence. The art is realy good, the plot it gets better as you read,there are great battle scenes and keeps the interest of the reader alive. For those who love cybernetic manga and dystopian world with the element of mystery andaction, definitely is worth reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an Unbiased review.

[Ron Baumer]

An intriguing graphic novel. The story weaves around an individual and his purpose. The individual finds himself in the middle of a conflict between humans and robots following an upheaval in society. The confusion is why was he created? He has no memory and must determine who is right in the conflict. The graphics are well-done and follow the story nicely. A good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[GONZA]

I'm not quite sure where this story fits into the timeline of Kyashan—the cartoon series I used to watch when I was little—but it's definitely a great story that revolves around xenophobia. Casshan's origins are also explained, and there's a larger narrative arc that encompasses the smaller one within the story. Beautiful illustrations.

Non so bene dove si inserisce questa storia nella cronologia del Kyashan i cui cartoni animati guardavo io quando ero piccola, ma sicuramente é una bella storia, che ruota intorno alla xenofobia. Le orgini di Cassshan vengono anche spiegate e abbiamo una arc piú grande che copre quella piú piccola della storia. Bei disegni.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.