Review: Kaiju No. 8: B-Side, Vol. 1

"You're bound to get killed using blades alone."

These are the words that have haunted the promising young soldier, Soshiro Hoshina, for most of his life. The vice-captain of the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force is renowned on the battlefield for his mastery of bladed weapons, but that hasn't always been the case—in fact, Hoshina has struggled to prove his worth to the military for a long time, risking his life and his reputation in the process.

Kaiju No. 8: B-Side, illustrated by Kentaro Hidano, is the manga adaptation of Keiji Ando's light novel Kaiju No. 8: Exclusive on the Third Division, itself a spin-off from the popular monster-slaying series, Kaiju No. 8 by Naoya Matsumoto.

Volume 1 of Kaiju No. 8: B-Side opens just after the Sagamihara Neutralization Operation, with Hoshina fielding questions from reporters about the recent crop of recruits. When quizzed about the unusual choice of recruiting Kafka Hibino, Hoshina cheerfully declares that Kafka is only there for "comic relief." The reality, however, is that Hoshina sees the burning drive in Kafka—a passion to stand beside his childhood friend and captain of the Third Division, Mina Ashiro.

Through a flashback, we meet a younger Hoshina and see how the defense force admired his sword skills, but only valued him as a potential instructor. With kaiju increasingly leaning towards "giant-class," it's assumed that Hoshina's bladed techniques will become impractical, despite his clan's lineage of kaiju-slaying. Hoshina's headstrong confidence has almost broken entirely when he's given an unexpected proposition by Third Division Captain Ashiro: join her division to deal with miniature-sized threats.

During an operation to neturalize some smaller kaiju, Hoshina demonstrates his value by tackling the smaller "yoju," but is outclassed by dangerous, acid-spewing monsters. He recklessly charges into the fray to save a child, and after a close brush with the inside of a kaiju's digestive tract, succeeds in rescuing the young boy, and earns the respect of his fellow troops in the process.

Back in the present day, Kaiju No. 8 B-Side follows Kikoru Shinomiya as she acquires her very own custom weapon, forged from a slain kaiju. Surprisingly, this weapon isn't her iconic ax, but rather a single-edged cleaver which, while devastatingly effective, leaves Shinomiya less than impressed. The volume ends in the middle of Shinomiya's weapon trial, with her about to face a mid-sized kaiju alone.

Kaiju No. 8: B-Side struggles a little in its artistic direction, managing to look similar enough to Kaiju No. 8, but unable to carve out a truly separate identity. Without Matsumoto's signature style of bold lines and dramatic shots, B-Side feels, for lack of a better word, generic. It's a minor complaint, nonetheless, and the sheer charm of Kaiju No. 8's characters is enough to merit the price of admission.

Final Thoughts

In summary, Kaiju No. 8: B-Side, Volume 1, is an entertaining, if not strictly necessary, addition to the world of Kaiju No. 8 and its colorful cast of characters. What the spin-off lacks in the main series' artistic direction, it makes up for in familiar comedy and action pieces. If you're a dedicated fan of Kaiju No. 8 and want to see more sides of your favorite characters, Kaiju No. 8: B-Side, Volume 1 is definitely worth keeping an eye out for.

Kaiju No. 8: B-Side, Volume 1 releases on April 8, 2025, via VIZ Media.

Anime Atelier was provided a copy for review via NetGalley.
© 2023 by Naoya Matsumoto, Keiji Ando, Kentaro Hidano/SHUEISHA Inc.