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Saved Kaiju No. 8 critical reception, June 28, 2023
Kaiju No. 8 has been well received by Anime News Network in a series of positive reviews of the first volume of the manga. Grant Jones praised the series, highlighting its premise, characters, art work and its comedy concluding with: "Honestly, this one has a lot of promise and I'm eager to see what else is in store." Christopher Farris commended the series for having an older protagonist and praised its comedy writing that "Matsumoto's art and paneling have a great sense of using timing and page-turns to block the various gags they play out." Rebecca Silverman wrote that "Kaiju No. 8 is simply a fun read. It's an entertaining take on a crowded genre and still manages to be successfully serious when it needs to be." MrAJCosplay praised Matsumoto's artstyle and the series' focus on kaiju in general, writing: "[I]t feels like the perfect recipe for a smash hit and while I can't speak to how successful this manga series is, so far it's definitely hitting all the right notes for me."

Hamatsu of Netorabo praised the series for its art, specifically its depiction of kaiju, the environments and its use of page spreads to tell its story as well as Kafka as a novel aspect of the series due to his age. Koiwai of Manga News wrote a positive review of the series' first volume describing it as entertaining with impressive art and endearing characters. Masha Zhdanova of Women Write About Comics was positive about the series' first volume writing: "What makes Kaiju No. 8 really stand out is its unusual take on the monster-fighting premise and the incredibly striking and well-drawn kaiju designs and action sequences." Danica Davidson of Otaku USA, in a review of the first volume of the manga, praised the series' unique premise within the kaiju genre and its comedic tone writing that "it's regularly very funny, and its characters are unique and likable." James Whitbrook of Gizmodo described Kaiju No. 8 as "a typical kind of shōnen series" but praised Kafka as a character writing that "[e]ven when he finds power thrust upon him in the unlikely way it is, Kafka retains that sort of goofily earnest mix of imperfection and kind-heartedness that makes him relatable and easy to root for."

In a positive review of the first five chapters, Antonio Mireles of The Fandom Post wrote that Kaiju No. 8 has an engaging premise and a "ton of engrossing aspects that it can play with." Although metamorphosis is a plot device that is seen often, he felt that the character Kafka "adds new life" to the trope. However, Mireles said it was "such a shame" that the story moved on from Monster Sweeper Inc to the Defense Force, as the former could have been a source for captivating stories. He strongly praised Matsumoto's kaiju designs and the art as "beautiful and grotesque but in a good way," but did not like how the monsters' intestines are self-censored by the author.

In a mixed review of the first volume, Dallas Marshall of Comic Book Resources praised the series' subversion of genre tropes by having an older protagonist and because of its focus on the aftermath of battles. He criticized the art writing that "the artwork of Kaiju No. 8 flip-flops between passable and outstanding" and ended his review by writing that the series "is still a little wet behind the ears, but it has the potential to become something great." In a negative review of the first volume, Katherine Dacey of Manga Bookshelf wrote that the series "follow[s] an all-too-familiar formula" and that "Matsumoto is more interested in writing a monster-fighting manga than writing a thoughtful story about a man who unwittingly becomes a monster."

Kaiju No. 8 critical reception with multiple sources
The series' first volume has been positively received by various publications with particular praise aimed at its artwork which has been described as "gorgeous and incredibly detailed." Matsumoto has received praise for his use of page spreads for storytelling purposes and for his kaiju designs. Kafka Hibino has also been singled out as an endearing character and a novel aspect of the series due to his age. The series has also been lauded for its comedy.

The series has drawn a mixed reception with some publications. Dallas Marshall of Comic Book Resources thought that "the artwork of Kaiju No. 8 flip-flops between passable and outstanding" but believed that the series could become better with subsequent volume releases. Katherine Dacey of Manga Bookshelf was more critical of the series describing the first volume as formulaic and writing that "Matsumoto is more interested in writing a monster-fighting manga than writing a thoughtful story about a man who unwittingly becomes a monster."

Side B draft
Kaiju No. 8 B-Side (怪獣8号 side B) is a Japanese action manga series written by Naoya Matsumoto and Keiji Ando and illustrated by Kentaro Hidano. Kaiju No. 8 B-Side is a spin-off series of Kaiju No. 8, its story based on a light novel titled ''Kaijū 8-gō Mitchaku! Dai-3-butai'' that was released on November 4th, 2022. The series follows characters from Kaiju No. 8 during their training in the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force.

Shueisha began serializing the series in January 2024 on Shonen Jump + and in English on its Manga Plus app. Viz Media began publishing the series on its website in January 2024 and has licensed the series in English.

Kaijus 11-14

 * Kaiju No. 11 (怪獣11号)
 * A humanoid kaiju created by Kaiju No. 9 as a way of defeating Gen Narumi in battle. It has the ability to control water which it uses to counter Gen's ability to predict enemy movements. However, Gen's ability evolves during the battle and he defeats it.


 * Kaiju No. 12 (怪獣12号)
 * A humanoid kaiju created by Kaiju No. 9 as a way of defeating Soshiro Hoshina in battle. It can turn its arms into swords, is a skilled duelist and has the ability to quickly adapt and copy an enemy's techniques. It nearly bests Soshiro in battle but Soshiro succeeds in killing it with the help of Kaiju No. 10 that was turned into a Numbers weapon for Soshiro to use.


 * Kaiju No. 13 (怪獣12号)
 * A humanoid kaiju created by Kaiju No. 9 as a way of quickly defeating officers of the First Division. It has incredible speed and strength. Rin Shinonome tries to defeat it by herself but is outmached. As Rin is about to die, Kafka steps in, saves her and quickly defeats it.


 * Kaiju No. 14 (怪獣14号)
 * A kaiju in the shape of a rectangular cuboid with three human looking faces created by Kaiju No. 9 as a way of defeating Mina Ashiro. It has the ability to levitate and teleport making it difficult to hit and can shoot energy beams from its mouths. After Mina successfully incapacitates No. 14, it is revealed that it has another similar body located near Kaiju No. 9, allowing No. 9 to create a portal to Mina's location to close the distance between them so it can absorbs Mina and gain her highly destructive firepower ability.


 * Kaiju No. 15 (怪獣15号)
 * A humanoid kaiju created by Kaiju No. 9 as a way of defeating Kikoru Shinomiya in battle. In its human form it resembles Kikoru while in its kaiju form it resembles a human female consisting of numerous brains. No. 15 has a childlike demeanor and wishes to be recognized by No. 9 as it sees No. 9 as a father. No. 15's special ability is a psychic attack that renders an opponent frozen in thought. It is ultimately killed by Kikoru in battle.

Volume plot summary
Summary = Kafka Hibino is a 32 year old man working in a kaiju disposal company as a cleaner where he takes apart kaiju that have been defeated by the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, a military organization tasked with defending Japan from kaiju attacks. Kafka had dreams to become an officer in the Defense Force together with his childhood friend Mina Ashiro who is now the captain of the Third Division. Kafka meets a young part time worker in his company, Reno Ichikawa, who aspires to be in the Defense Force. After a long days work, Reno explains that the Defense Force has raised the age limit to 33 encouraging Kafka to join once again. They are soon attacked by a kaiju managing to survive long enough for Mina to arrive with the Third Division to kill it, saving them. Kafka and Reno end up in a hospital where, at the further encouragement of Reno, Kafka gives joining the Defense Force one last try. However, a small flying kaiju enters Kafka's body through his mouth and turns him into a human-kaiju hybrid. Kafka and Reno escape from the hospital with Kafka saving a mother and her daughter that are attacked by a kaiju. Kafka turns human again and becomes the first kaiju to ever escape from the Defense Force. Three months later, Kafka has been given the codename "Kaiju No. 8". He and Reno pass the first part of the exam to join the Defense Force and head to the testing grounds to join the Third Division. There they encounter other top recruits: Iharu Furuhashi, Haruichi Izumo, Aoi Kaguragi and Kikoru Shinomiya, the daugther of the Director General of the Defense Force and a kaiju slaying prodigy. For the second part of the test, which is led by the vice-captain of the Third Division, Soshiro Hoshina, and monitored by Mina, the recruits are tasked with eliminating a number of kaiju in a training area. The recruits are outfitted with Defense Force power suits, equipment that empowers officers. Kafka is attacked by a kaiju but is saved by Kikoru who proceeds to take out almost every kaiju in the test. Before she returns to the others, Kikoru is attacked by a mysterious humanoid kaiju who revives the defeated kaiju making them stronger in the process. Kikoru puts up a valiant effort against one of the revived kaiju who severly injuers her. As she is about to be killed Kafka arrives, transforms in front of her and saves her life perparing himself to kill the kaiju.

Summary = Kafka charges a powerful punch and easily kills the revived kaiju. The operators of the Defense Force pick up on Kafka's energy reading revealing a 9.8 fortitude level kaiju which is written off as an error. Reno arrives and chastises Kafka for transforming in front of the Defense Force. Kikoru passes out so Kafka and Reno carry her to safety. Mina and Soshiro survey the destroyed kaiju with Soshiro comparing the damage to the kaiju that Kafka killed three months prior. Kafka and Reno recuperate in a hospital where Mina thanks them for their help in saving Kikoru's life. Reno, Kikoru, Iharu, Haruichi and Aoi are inducted as officers while Kafka is accepted as a cadet at the recommendation of Soshiro who thinks that Kafka's knowledge as a cleaner helped during the test. Secretly, Soshiro suspects something is off about Kafka as his vitals were not picked up when the 9.8 reading appeared during the test. Kikoru promises to keep Kafka's power a secret and warns him to be careful as the Defense Force make powerful equipment from remains of numbered kaiju.