Beet the Vandel Buster

Beet the Vandel Buster (冒険王ビィト) is a Japanese manga series written by Riku Sanjo and illustrated by Koji Inada. It takes place in a fantasy world where humans have been suffering from the attacks of the demon-like Vandels. Humans can fight back by becoming a Vandel Buster, a paid monster and Vandel assassin. Beet is a young boy who becomes a Vandel Buster to be like his heroes, the Zenon Warriors.

The manga ran in Shueisha's Monthly Shōnen Jump from 2002 to 2006. After a nearly ten-year hiatus, the series resumed in Jump SQ.Crown in 2016, before entering a short-term hiatus. It is currently being serialized in Jump SQ.Rise since 2018. In North America, Viz Media licensed the manga for English release and published its first twelve volumes between 2004 and 2007.

A 52-episode anime television series adaptation by Toei Animation was broadcast on TV Tokyo, followed by a sequel, Beet the Vandel Buster: Excellion, which ran for 25 episodes. The anime series was licensed in North America by Illumitoon Entertainment, who only released one DVD in 2007 before discontinuing it.

Story
Set in the Dark Ages, a term referring to the time since Vandels (a portmanteau of "vampire and "devil") appeared and started attacking humans. Beet is a boy who dreams of joining the "Zenon Warriors", a group of "Vandel Busters" who are considered to be the strongest on the continent. When the group comes to protect his village from the Vandel, Beltorze, Beet tries to join them but is rejected. When Beltorze appears, the Zenon Warriors seem to have the upper hand until Beet cheers them on, causing the Vandel to notice his presence. Beltorze attacks Beet, and the Zenon Warriors are forced to break formation to help him. Beltorze uses that moment to attack again, which mortally wounds all of them. Hidden in the smoke, the Zenon Warriors decide to rescue Beet's life by putting their life force into their “Saiga” and giving them to Beet. When Beet complains and asks them why they are doing this, it is revealed that Zenon is Beet's brother. The now weaponless Zenon Warriors then emerge from the smoke and continue to attack Beltorze. When Beet regains consciousness, both Beltorze and the Zenon Warriors are gone. Guilt-ridden and sad, he cries and vows to destroy all the Vandels and end the Dark Ages. He then goes on a three-year training expedition. His childhood friend, Poala, later joins Beet and they form the “Beet Warriors”. As Beet continues his journey, more is learned about the fight between the Zenon Warriors and Beltorze and the fantasy world of Beet is expanded on.

Manga
Written by Riku Sanjo and illustrated by Koji Inada, Beet the Vandel Buster was first serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Jump from March 6, 2002, to July 6, 2006. After a nearly ten-year hiatus, the series resumed publication in Jump SQ.Crown on April 15, 2016; however, it went on hiatus on October 14 of that same year. Jump SQ.Crown ceased publication in January 2018 and the series resumed publication in the inaugural issue of Jump SQ.Rise on April 16, 2018. Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on October 4, 2002. As of July 4, 2023, seventeen volumes have been released.

In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Viz Media, who released its first twelve volumes from October 19, 2004, to October 2, 2007.

Anime
Beet the Vandel Buster was adapted into a 52-episode anime television series by Toei Animation, which was broadcast on TV Tokyo from September 30, 2004, to September 29, 2005. It was followed by Beet the Vandel Buster: Excellion (冒険王ビィト エクセリオン), which ran for 25 episodes from October 6, 2005, to March 30, 2006.

In North America, both series were licensed by Illumitoon Entertainment in 2006; however, they only released one DVD of the first series in 2007 and discontinued it.

Reception
By April 2018, the first 13 volumes of the manga had 4 million copies in print.