New Manga Series Kurozakuro Reflects Anti-Bullying Trend with a Cannibal Twist

Debi Moore |

Nov 12, 2010

With teen bullying being a hot topic in headlines these days, VIZ Media couldn’t have picked a better time than this week to release award-winning artist Yoshinori Natsume’s manga series Kurozakuro.

The graphic novel is offered under the Shonen Sunday imprint and rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens. Its synopsis follows:

Mikito Sakurai is tired of being a punching bag for all the delinquents on campus. But what can he do? By nature he’s a gentle and easygoing high school student. That all changes the night he swallows a mysterious orb and meets Zakuro, a strange kid who promises to grant his most heartfelt desire. “When you wake up,” says the pint-sized apparition, “you’ll be stronger and better than a human.”

“The kids who bully Mikito are in for a rude awakening when he starts displaying new, violent instincts after he swallows the orb,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief, Shonen Sunday. “Anyone who has ever been bullied will be able to relate to Mikito and will enjoy the wild and unpredictable adventure in Kurozakuro. But beware, because becoming the new strongest boy on campus isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you might be turning into an ogre with a taste for human flesh!“

Manga artist Yoshinori Natsume is also the creator of Togari (another VIZ Media publication, rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) and Batman Death Mask from DC Comics.

For more information on Kurozakuro and other Shonen Sunday titles, visit ShonenSunday.com.