The
Spider-Man: Kizuna manga (also known as Spider-Man: Bonds), created by Setta
Kobayashi and Hachi Mizuno, has officially come to an end. The final chapter
was published this Wednesday in the July issue of Shueisha's Saikyō Jump
magazine.
The story,
which represents a curious fusion between the Marvel universe and the style of
Japanese manga, will be compiled by Viz Media, which will release the first
compiled volume on July 8.
A Young
Japanese Man, Great Power, and an Unexpected Destiny
Set in the
fictional city of Ohakama, Japan, the manga follows Yu, a shy student with a
passion for drawing, whose life changes radically when he is attacked by the
Green Goblin. Just when he seems in danger, he is rescued by Spider-Man.
However, the villain manages to activate a device that fuses Yu with the
arachnid hero.
From that
moment on, Yu inherits the powers, agility, and proportional strength of a
spider. The young man must face his fears and decide whether to use those
abilities to protect others or fall victim to Spider-Man's most dangerous
enemies.
A short but
heartfelt story
Spider-Man:
Kizuna began as a one-shot published in September 2022 and went into regular
serialization in October 2023. Kobayashi wrote the script, while Mizuno
illustrated the manga.
The work
had a short but significant run, with its third compiled volume released on
April 4. The combination of the Marvel universe with Japanese narrative
sensibilities captured the attention of both young and old readers.
The
creators behind the work
Setta
Kobayashi is known for his work on the Black Clover comedy spinoff, Asta-kun
Mahōtei e no Michi, published between 2018 and 2021. He also collaborated with
Ayumi Nakashima on the manga Kaiki Kūkan Zo-Zo-Zo-Zone, which was published
between September 2022 and July 2024.
Hachi
Mizuno, meanwhile, was part of the collaborative project between Marvel Comics
and Shueisha in 2019, where he drew the one-shot titled Gag Reel.
The end of
Spider-Man: Kizuna represents the conclusion of a brief but endearing adventure
that managed to connect Spider-Man with a new generation of Japanese manga
readers.
