Monsters We Make, the independently published manga project from YouTube creator CoryxKenshin, sold over 200,000 physical copies in its first week of release, according to publisher New Edyn Press. Volume 1 launched on December 16, 2024, and Monsters We Make Volume 2 is currently in development for release later this year.
Although produced in the United States, Monsters We Make follows the conventions of Japanese manga, including black-and-white artwork, right-to-left reading format, and serialized storytelling. The creator, who refers to the work as a manga, has cited classic anime like Dragon Ball Z and modern titles like Attack on Titan as key influences.
Monsters We Make centers on Jabari Booker, a gifted musician who enters New Edyn Academy expecting to refine his talents, only to be thrust into a dark conspiracy involving mutated creatures and a powerful tech corporation. Set in the year 2114, the story blends science fiction, horror, and action, with themes of identity, institutional corruption, and survival. Cory said about the work:
Monsters We Make is a playground for me to exercise all the ideas and life experiences I’ve collected from the decades of being a spectator. Creating a story that scrutinizes humanity and what makes us tick, injecting some of the Black representation I’ve been longing to see in this space, and finally adding in some sprinkles of my faith in God, were the driving forces behind this project. It meant a lot to me to see a character like The Raikage from Naruto in a space where you don’t typically see Black characters, let alone powerful ones. My hope is that my main character, Jabari, can be to people what Goku was to me growing up. This experience, while a ton of work, has been incredibly fun and fulfilling.
The project was first revealed following CoryxKenshin’s return from a year-and-a-half hiatus with an animated trailer produced by The Line. A website then introduced fans to the main cast of characters.
CoryxKenshin also expressed hopes that the series could one day evolve into an animated adaptation, citing his passion for fight choreography and long-standing appreciation for anime as the driving forces behind the project.
Source: Press Release
© 2024, Monsters We Make
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