Black Torch

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Japanese: BLACK TORCH

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Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 5

Chapters: 19

Status: Finished

Published: Dec 31, 2016 to Jul 11, 2018

Genres: Action, Supernatural

Demographic: Shounen

Serialization: Jump SQ.

Authors: Takaki, Tsuyoshi (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.10¹ (scored by 12,967 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #8086²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #566

Members: 37,229

Favorites: 385

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7.10

Ranked #8086Popularity #566Members 37,229

MangaJump SQ.Takaki, Tsuyoshi (Story & Art)

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Volumes: /5

Chapters: /19

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Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Jirou Azuma lives a quiet life with his grandfather, utilizing his supernatural ability to speak with animals to befriend and protect them. Both Jirou and his grandfather are descendants of a long-standing shinobi clan, training in combat to keep the art of battle alive within their family. Jirou's life is thrown into upheaval after rescuing a seemingly normal black cat, Ragou, only to discover that the cat is actually a mononoke—a demonic spirit that has long been at war with mankind. When a hostile mononoke comes looking for Ragou, Jirou uses his shinobi training to jump to the cat's defense, but immediately suffers a mortal wound.

Faced with the decision of whether or not to devour Jirou's fading energy and restore himself to full power, Ragou instead chooses to give his remaining energy to Jirou. Reviving the boy, the transfer also grants him great supernatural powers that complement his own shinobi fighting style. This act is witnessed by Ryousuke Shiba, an officer in the Bureau of Espionage whose job revolves around dispatching aggressive mononoke. Shiba extends Jirou and his grandfather an offer: to join the Bureau's new squad, Black Torch, and help them battle powerful mononoke who seek to devour innocent people.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Black Torch was published in English by VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump imprint from August 7, 2018, to August 6, 2019. It was also released in Spanish by Norma Editorial from April 5, 2019, to August 23, 2019.

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Characters

Azuma, Jirou

Main

Ragou

Main

Kishimojin, Ichika

Supporting

Kouga

Supporting

Usami, Hana

Supporting

Amagi

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Shiba, Ryousuke

Supporting

Naruko

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Kusumi, Touko

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Kirihara, Shinji

Supporting

Reviews

Oct 24, 2019

xyzsterx

Recommended

Funny

sometimes black torch is like pow! and other times it's like bang! so yeah it's pretty epic. The art is by far some of the best on offer and the action scenes really jump out at you. The story is short with only 5 volumes which is a bit sad as the world could really have been expanded but also fair as the story wasn't stretched out but condensed, if a little too much. Our main character Jiro is your typical bottomless stomached dumb protag with his run of the mill popular smart guy, hot chick and cool old dude team. Rago the cat he ...

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Jun 8, 2025

analysis1909

Mixed Feelings

Black Torch is one of those mangas that draws you in almost instantly, only to leave you with a mixed bag of emotions by the time you finish it. With just 19 chapters, it’s a short, digestible read that doesn’t demand a huge time investment—which, in some ways, is both a blessing and a curse. For readers looking for something quick with cool action and flashy designs, it certainly delivers. But for those hoping to witness a rich narrative unfold, the series can feel like an unfinished sketch of what could have been a masterpiece.

The Hook: Concept and Art
From the very first chapter, Black Torch ... gives off the vibe of something promising. The concept itself isn’t revolutionary, but it’s presented with a certain energy that catches your attention. It blends traditional elements of ninja lore with supernatural creatures known as “mononoke,” which are spiritual beings or demons that exist in a shadowy parallel layer of the world. The protagonist, Jiro Azuma, can communicate with animals and ends up fusing with a mononoke named Rago, setting off a journey of action, betrayal, and uncovering hidden truths.
The art style is one of the manga’s strongest points. Tsuyoshi Takaki’s clean lines, dynamic paneling, and well-executed action sequences give the story an adrenaline-fueled edge. Character designs are stylish and memorable—each main cast member has a distinct look and visual personality. It’s the kind of manga where you can imagine the characters moving in full animated glory, which is perhaps one reason why an anime adaptation has been announced.

The Problem: Rushed Storytelling
While Black Torch starts off strong, it quickly becomes apparent that the pacing is off. By the time you’re halfway through, major plot developments feel like they’re being crammed into too few pages. Events that should take time to build are resolved too quickly. Character arcs feel clipped, as if they’re being pushed forward on a deadline rather than allowed to evolve organically.
This fast pacing severely affects the impact of emotional scenes and makes many of the battles and revelations feel unearned. It's as though the manga was initially planned for a longer run but had to be wrapped up prematurely. Whether that decision came from the editorial side or the creator himself is unclear, but the result is a story that feels rushed and underdeveloped.

The Letdown: Lack of Heart
What left me truly disappointed was the emotional void I felt at the end. Despite liking the characters and being intrigued by the world, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the author didn’t fully put his heart into the story. Or perhaps, more fairly, he was never given the time or space to do so. Either way, the depth and passion one usually hopes to find in a manga—especially one that begins with so much promise—was missing by the final chapter.
It’s not that Black Torch is a bad manga. It’s competently made, visually engaging, and easy to read. But it ends up being forgettable precisely because it seems to rush past all the moments that would’ve made it memorable. There are sparks of good ideas and engaging character interactions, but none of them are given room to grow. Everything is on fast-forward.

A Surprising Anime Adaptation
The announcement of an anime adaptation came as a surprise. Given the manga’s short run and lukewarm conclusion, it wasn’t exactly the most obvious candidate for a full-fledged anime. However, the adaptation might have a shot at winning over a broader audience—especially those who prioritize animation, character design, and action over deep storytelling. With the right studio and some thoughtful script revisions, the anime could flesh out areas the manga left underdeveloped. It might even give Black Torch the second chance it deserves.
Character design will no doubt be a major selling point for the anime. Even in the manga, the characters look stylish and cool enough to carry promotional posters and merchandise. If the animation team leans into that, adds fluid action sequences, and paces the story better, then Black Torch could do well on the screen in a way it never quite managed on the page.

Final Thoughts
Black Torch is a classic example of "potential not fully realized." It had all the ingredients to be a standout shonen series—an intriguing concept, solid art, likable characters—but it lacked the storytelling time and emotional investment needed to become great. For a short read, it's enjoyable enough and might serve as a gateway to other, more fleshed-out series. But if you're someone who reads manga for deep character arcs, well-paced plot progression, and emotional payoff, Black Torch might leave you wanting more.
In the end, what stings is not just what Black Torch is, but what it could have been. And that’s the kind of disappointment that lingers.

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Jul 3, 2025

Historical

Not Recommended

A story cut short, but for obvious reasons once you take the time to notice, Black Torch is an action fantasy about a boy named Jiro and his encounter with the mononoke that secretly roam this world. The modern setting helps the story out a bit since the premise isn't all too unique, but what really sells the story is the art. Unfortunately, the overall look of the manga from page to page is rather lifeless with the bare backgrounds and sparse scenery. The backgrounds are generally sparse and most times barren to really highlight the character art, which is quite good, but not unique ...

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Poll: Black Torch Chapter 10 Discussion Stark700 - Dec 11, 2017	10 replies	by otakuweek »» Aug 6, 11:17 AM
Poll: Black Torch Chapter 6 Discussion FireFistYK - Jun 12, 2017	10 replies	by otakuweek »» Jul 13, 2:23 PM
Poll: Black Torch Chapter 4 Discussion WitchJacqueline - Apr 28, 2017	9 replies	by otakuweek »» Jul 4, 12:07 PM
Poll: Black Torch Chapter 3 Discussion Stark700 - Mar 17, 2017	15 replies	by otakuweek »» Jun 26, 8:35 PM
Poll: Black Torch Chapter 2 Discussion Stark700 - Feb 15, 2017	10 replies	by otakuweek »» Jun 26, 8:34 PM

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