Episode 22 - My Own Manhwa

Most episodes of Manga With Josh focus on series created by other writers and artists. I spend a lot of time talking about manga, manhwa, and web novels that I think deserve more attention. This episode is a little different.

After reading countless stories over the years, I eventually reached a point where I wanted to try creating my own. Not because I thought I could do it better, but because I had ideas I wanted to explore and stories I wanted to tell. The result was two series that draw inspiration from many of the genres and tropes I enjoy while trying to put my own spin on them.

The first is The Iron Fist Chronicles, a fantasy adventure series about a champion boxer who dies unexpectedly and is reborn in a world filled with magic, monsters, and adventurers. Unlike everyone around him, he has almost no magical ability. Instead of casting spells or relying on powerful abilities, he survives the only way he knows how: with his fists. What begins as a simple quest for survival grows into a larger journey through ranks, dungeons, dangerous enemies, and a world that constantly reminds him of his limitations.

The second series is I Died and Became the Heavenly Demon. This story takes inspiration from the cultivation and murim worlds that have become so popular in recent years. A manga reader from New York suddenly finds himself transported into the world of a story he has followed for years. Rather than becoming a legendary hero, he wakes up as an insignificant nobody within the Heavenly Demon Sect. Through a combination of bad luck, determination, and a few unexpected opportunities, he begins a journey that slowly changes his fate. While the series contains martial arts, cultivation, and action, it also leans heavily into comedy, character interactions, and the awkward situations that seem to follow the protagonist wherever he goes.

One of the reasons I wanted to create these stories was because so many modern series started to feel familiar. Reincarnation, overpowered protagonists, game systems, and cultivation worlds can be a lot of fun, but after reading enough of them, certain patterns begin to repeat. I wanted to take some of those familiar ideas and approach them from a slightly different angle while still delivering the kind of adventure and progression that made me fall in love with the genre in the first place.

If you enjoy fantasy adventures, dungeon crawling, party-based quests, and underdog protagonists, The Iron Fist Chronicles might be worth a look. If you prefer cultivation stories, murim settings, comedy, and character-driven progression, I Died and Became the Heavenly Demon may be more your style.

This episode is a little more personal than usual because it gives me a chance to talk about the creative side of being both a fan and a writer. Reading manga and manhwa inspired me to create stories of my own, and these two series are the result of that journey.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 22 - My Own Manhwa
Joshua A.Rodriguez

Episode 21 - The Smiling Boxer

There’s something refreshing about finding a boxing series that simply wants to be about boxing again. Not reincarnation. Not status windows. Not hunters, rankings, or overpowered systems. Just a story about someone trying to fight their way toward a better life. That’s what immediately stood out to me about The Smiling Boxer. Even though it’s a newer Korean manhwa with only a few dozen chapters currently out, it already carries the emotional sincerity that made older sports manga memorable in the first place.

The story follows Kang Chan, a young man raised in a rural mountain village surrounded mostly by elderly residents who helped raise him. After outside developers begin threatening the villagers and trying to force them out, Kang Chan finds himself powerless to protect the people he cares about. That moment becomes the emotional starting point for everything that follows. He begins pursuing boxing not because he wants fame or domination, but because he wants to become someone capable of helping others. That difference in motivation gives the series a very different tone from most modern action manhwa.

What surprised me most is how much this series reminded me of Hajime no Ippo. Not because the stories are identical, but because of the feeling behind them. Kang Chan trains obsessively, pushes himself constantly, and slowly grows through hard work rather than shortcuts. He sleeps inside the gym, practices endlessly, and approaches boxing with a level of sincerity that feels rare now. At the same time, the pacing is much faster than older sports manga. Fights move quickly, chapters flow smoothly in webtoon format, and the story keeps progressing without dragging things out for hundreds of chapters at a time.

The title itself also says a lot about the series. Kang Chan smiles constantly, even while getting beaten down, because he was raised to think about others before himself. That smile becomes part emotional shield and part identity. Underneath the boxing matches, the story is really about resilience, responsibility, and trying to hold onto kindness in situations that constantly test it.

What I appreciated most about The Smiling Boxer is that it feels grounded. It remembers that sports stories work best when the people matter as much as the fights. The boxing itself is exciting, but the emotional core is what gives the series weight. It’s the kind of story that reminds you why sports manga and manhwa became popular in the first place.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 21 - The Smiling Boxer
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 20 - Ranma 1/2

There are certain series that don’t just entertain you—they change your direction. For me, Ranma ½ was one of those moments. I can still remember exactly where I was when I first picked it up, back in high school, not realizing that a single volume would quietly reshape how I saw manga as a whole. It wasn’t just the comedy or the chaos. It was the feeling that this story didn’t follow rules the way I expected it to.

Created by Rumiko Takahashi, Ranma ½ sits in a unique space between genres. On the surface, it’s a martial arts story about a teenage fighter cursed to change forms with water. But the deeper you get into it, the more it becomes something else entirely—part romantic comedy, part absurd character study, and part ongoing experiment in how far you can push a premise without it breaking. The arranged engagement between Ranma and Akane sets the foundation, but it’s the constant interruptions—rivals, curses, misunderstandings—that give the story its rhythm.

What stood out to me then, and still does now, is how effortlessly it balances everything. The fights are real, with weight and progression, but they never lose the sense of humor that defines the series. Characters like Ryoga, Shampoo, and even Happosai add layers of chaos that shouldn’t work together, but somehow do. It becomes less about any single plotline and more about the experience of being in that world, where every new chapter can completely shift tone without losing its identity.

Looking back, it’s easy to see why it left such a strong impression. It was one of the first series that made me want more—not just more of the story, but more manga in general. It pushed me to go online, search for fan continuations, and keep exploring beyond what I had in front of me. That kind of impact doesn’t happen often.

Even now, with modern audiences discovering it again through new adaptations, Ranma ½ still holds up. The humor lands, the characters remain memorable, and the core idea still feels as unique as it did decades ago. It’s one of those rare series that reminds you why you started reading in the first place.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 20 - Ranma 1/2
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 19 - Revenge of The Bloom Flower

Some stories don’t start with a long buildup. They begin with a single moment that breaks everything, and from there, the rest of the story is just the aftermath.

In this episode, we take a look at Revenge of the Bloom Flower, a murim manhwa that started in 2024 and is still early enough to catch up on quickly. The premise is simple on the surface. A young disciple is sent on what should have been a routine task, only for everything to collapse around him because of a single object, a legendary scripture tied to power and wealth. What follows is not a gradual descent, but an immediate shift into loss, violence, and survival.

From that point on, the story moves through a familiar structure, but with a slightly different lens. This is still a revenge story, but it doesn’t rush toward strength or spectacle. Instead, it sits in the consequences. The world around the main character begins to change the more he sees it, with the lines between allies and enemies becoming less clear the further he goes. What appears straightforward at the beginning slowly opens into something more uncertain.

The pacing reflects that. It’s quick enough to move through easily, but not so fast that it skips over the weight of what happens. The early chapters establish the tone clearly, and everything that follows builds on that foundation rather than shifting away from it. It’s less about constant escalation and more about following a path that was set the moment everything went wrong.

There’s also a sense that the story understands where it’s going. Even at this stage, it feels like it’s moving toward an endpoint rather than stretching itself out indefinitely. That gives it a different kind of momentum, one that comes from direction instead of scale.

This is one of those series that fits comfortably within the genre, but still manages to stand out in small ways. Not by changing the formula, but by staying consistent with its tone and letting the story unfold at its own pace.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 19 - Revenge of The Bloom Flower
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 18 - Sword Devouring Sword Master

Some stories don’t try to hide what they are. They don’t layer themselves in complexity or stretch into something larger than their premise. Sword Devouring Swordmaster is one of those stories, and that clarity is part of what makes it work.

In this episode, we look at a lesser-known manhwa that begins with loss and never really lets go of it. A quiet life is interrupted, a family is erased, and what remains is a single condition: walk away from the sword and live. But instead of moving on, the story turns inward. It introduces a power that feels both unnatural and strangely grounded — the ability to consume swords and inherit what they carry.

What stands out here isn’t just the concept, but how restrained it is. Power doesn’t come easily. Even with something as extreme as devouring weapons, growth still feels limited, uneven, and earned over time. The main character isn’t suddenly transformed into something unstoppable. He struggles, misjudges his limits, and continues forward anyway.

This episode explores what makes that progression feel different, why the revenge angle stays focused without drifting, and how a story like this manages to feel simple without being empty. Sometimes, a clear direction is enough. Sometimes, a single idea carried all the way through is what makes something worth paying attention to.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 18 - Sword Devouring Sword Master
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 17 - Please Go Home Akutsu-san

Some stories don’t rely on big moments to pull you in. Instead, they build slowly, almost quietly, until you realize something has changed without ever being announced.

In this episode, we take a look at Please Go Home, Miss Akutsu, a modern romcom that started in 2019 and has steadily grown into one of those series that becomes part of your routine. On the surface, the premise is simple. A quiet, introverted high school student living on his own finds his space taken over by a delinquent classmate who refuses to leave. She shows up after school, makes herself comfortable, and turns his apartment into her second home. He tells her to go home, but never quite follows through.

What follows isn’t a fast-moving romance or a story built on dramatic turning points. Instead, it leans into repetition. The same room, the same interactions, the same rhythm day after day. And within that repetition, something starts to shift. The comedy carries most of the weight, with teasing, awkward reactions, and situations that feel just slightly out of control, but underneath that there’s a steady build of tension that never fully resolves itself.

Over time, that constant proximity begins to matter more than anything else. They’re not together, at least not in the way you’d expect, but they’re also never really apart. Feelings develop without being directly acknowledged, and the story lets those moments sit instead of forcing them forward. It’s less about progression in the traditional sense and more about accumulation. Small changes, repeated often enough, eventually becoming something neither of them can ignore.

With over two hundred chapters and still ongoing, this is the kind of series that doesn’t overwhelm you, but stays with you. It’s light enough to pick up at any time, but consistent enough that you keep coming back to it. Not because it demands attention, but because it quietly earns it.

And maybe that’s what makes it work. It doesn’t try to be bigger than it is. It understands its space, its characters, and its tone, and it stays there long enough for something real to form.

This is one of those series that might not seem like much at first glance, but the longer you sit with it, the more you start to see why it sticks.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 17 - Please Go Home Akutsu-san
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 16 - City Hunter

City Hunter is one of those series that feels almost impossible to explain in a single sentence, and maybe that’s part of why it still works decades later. What starts as a story about a “sweeper” named Ryo Saeba—a man who operates somewhere between detective, bodyguard, and hitman—quickly reveals itself as something more layered. It’s action, it’s comedy, it’s romance, and at times it feels like all three are competing for control of the same moment.

In this episode, we explore how a manga that ran from 1985 to 1991, spanning 35 volumes and 191 chapters, managed to quietly build a legacy that extends far beyond its original run. With over 50 million copies sold, City Hunter wasn’t just successful—it helped define a type of character that still shows up in modern storytelling. The fixer. The cleaner. The guy who handles problems no one else can.

But what really makes City Hunter stand out isn’t just Ryo. It’s the balance around him. Kaori grounding the chaos, Umibozu bringing that larger-than-life presence, and Saeko constantly pulling the story back into the world of law and consequence. Together, they create a rhythm that shifts between grounded crime drama and exaggerated comedy without ever fully committing to just one.

We also take a look at how the series refused to fade away after its original run. From Angel Heart’s alternate timeline to newer reinterpretations, to an anime that stretched across 140 episodes, and even a live-action adaptation starring Jackie Chan, City Hunter continues to reappear in different forms. Not always the same, not always connected, but always recognizable.

And maybe that’s the most interesting part. City Hunter isn’t just remembered because it was big—it’s remembered because it created a tone that’s hard to replicate. That mix of sincerity and absurdity. Of danger and humor. Of a character who can go from deadly serious to completely ridiculous in the span of a page.

This is one of those series you may not hear about as often today, but once you look into it, you start to see its influence everywhere.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 16 – City Hunter
Joshua A Rodriguez

Episode 15 - Lupin the Third

In this episode of Manga With Josh, we take a look at Lupin the Third, the legendary gentleman thief created by Monkey Punch in 1967. While the original manga had a relatively short run, the character went on to become one of the most enduring figures in anime history.

Lupin III, the grandson of the famous thief Arsène Lupin, travels the world pulling off elaborate heists while constantly being pursued by Inspector Zenigata. Alongside his crew—sharpshooter Daisuke Jigen, samurai Goemon Ishikawa XIII, and the unpredictable Fujiko Mine—Lupin’s adventures blend comedy, crime, and espionage in a way that helped define the caper genre in anime.

We explore the origins of the manga, the different anime eras defined by Lupin’s iconic jacket colors, and how the franchise expanded into films, television specials, and modern crossovers like Lupin the 3rd vs Cat’s Eye. We also talk about Lupin’s cultural impact and how the series helped influence creators and anime fans for generations.

More than fifty years after its debut, Lupin the Third continues to prove that a clever thief with the right crew can keep audiences entertained for decades.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 15 - Lupin the Third
Joshua A Rodriguez

Episode 14 - Detective Conan

In this episode of Manga With Josh, I revisit Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed), a mystery series that has quietly endured for more than three decades. First published in 1994, the manga has grown into one of the longest-running and best-selling series of all time, with over a thousand chapters, more than one hundred collected volumes, and hundreds of millions of copies in circulation. Rather than feeling dated, its longevity has become part of its identity.

At the center of the story is Shinichi Kudo, a brilliant high school detective whose life is upended after an encounter with a shadowy organization leaves him transformed into a child. Forced to live under the alias Conan Edogawa, he continues solving cases from the sidelines while hiding his true identity from those closest to him. The series balances murder mysteries with humor and routine, using familiar structures to create a sense of comfort even when the subject matter turns dark.

What makes Detective Conan stand out isn’t just its puzzles, but its patience. The world expands slowly, relationships evolve over years rather than arcs, and recurring characters like Ran Mouri, her father Kogoro, and rival detective Heiji Hattori become fixtures rather than plot devices. Even the anime, which began in 1996 and has surpassed a thousand episodes, reflects this steady, unhurried approach.

This episode also touches on the series’ cultural impact, including its crossover with Lupin the Third, and why Detective Conan remains approachable for both longtime fans and newcomers. If you enjoy mysteries, long-form storytelling, or series that grow alongside their audience, this is one worth revisiting — or finally discovering.

Episode 14 - Detective Conan
Joshua A Rodriguez

Episode 13 - Did Someone Force You To Become The Heavenly Demon?

In this episode of Manga With Josh, I take a look at Did Someone Force You To Become The Heavenly Demon?, a Korean manhwa that blends Murim martial arts, comedy, and cultivation with an unusually grounded perspective. The story follows a man who never sought power, status, or dominance, but is forced into becoming a disciple of the Heavenly Demon simply to survive.

Set within a classic Murim world divided between orthodox and unorthodox factions, the series explores what happens when immense martial power comes with real psychological and emotional consequences. Each discipline taught by the Heavenly Demon carries a flaw — anger, emotional detachment, obsession, anxiety — and instead of ignoring these costs, the story centers on managing them. Through structure, routine, and even therapy, the protagonist tries to create stability in a world built on chaos.

With sharp humor, strong art, and a refreshing refusal to turn its lead into a traditional power-hungry hero, Did Someone Force You To Become The Heavenly Demon? stands out as a newer manhwa with room to grow. If you’re looking for something different in the Murim space, give it a read — and if you enjoy discovering series you might’ve otherwise missed, stick around for more episodes of Manga With Josh

Episode 13 - Did Someone Force You To Become The Heavenly Demon?
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 12 - Hajime No Ippo

In Episode 12 of Manga With Josh, I step into the ring with one of the longest-running and most respected sports manga of all time: Hajime no Ippo. Serialized just months before I was born, this boxing classic by George Morikawa has grown into a cultural heavyweight, with over 1,500 chapters, 145 volumes, and more than 100 million copies sold worldwide. I break down what the series is about, why Makunouchi Ippo’s journey from bullied high schooler to professional boxer still hits so hard decades later, and how its grounded, realistic approach to boxing sets it apart from other sports manga.

We dig into the anime adaptations across three distinct eras, the awards and legacy that cement Hajime no Ippo as a genre-defining work, and why its slow, methodical pacing actually strengthens the story rather than holding it back. From unforgettable rivals and character growth to training arcs, recovery time, and the emotional weight of each fight, this episode is a love letter to a series that respects both the sport and its characters. If you like boxing, character-driven storytelling, or manga that earns every punch, this is one you can’t skip.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 12 - Hajime No Ippo
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 11 - The Absolute Scholar

In this episode of Manga With Josh, I talk about a lesser-known series called The Absolute Scholar.

At the time of recording, it’s a short read with around twenty chapters, which makes it easy to overlook — but that’s exactly why it stood out to me. The story centers on a scholar who isn’t defined by weakness or passivity, but by strength, discipline, and intelligence. It flips expectations in a quiet way, blending intellect and power without turning into noise or spectacle.

This episode is less about hype and more about discovery — the kind of manga you stumble across when you’re digging beyond the usual recommendations. If you enjoy finding hidden gems, short series with strong concepts, or stories that take a different approach to familiar tropes, this one might be worth your time.

As always, this is Manga With Josh — where we explore manga you may not have heard of, but probably should have.

Episode 11 - The Absolute Scholar
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 10 - Even The Almighty’s New To Fatherhood

   In this episode of Manga With Josh, I wanted to bring you something you probably haven’t heard of yet. After covering more well-known series lately, this one felt like a good reminder of why I enjoy digging into newer, under-the-radar manga that quietly do something different.

   Even Though I’m an Almighty, I’m a New Father is a Korean manhwa that blends absurd power fantasy with surprisingly wholesome comedy. The story follows an all-powerful being who ruled another world for centuries, only to return to modern Korea and discover he has a young daughter he never knew about. What follows isn’t just dungeon raids and gate incidents, but the awkward, often hilarious reality of learning how to be a parent when you’re used to being feared as a god.

   In this episode, I talk through the premise, the humor, and why the father–daughter dynamic is what really makes the series stand out. From necromancers and demon lords to convenience store playsets and bedtime stories, the contrast is what gives the story its charm.

   This episode includes spoiler discussion and personal reactions. If you’re looking for a fast, funny read that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still being oddly heartfelt, give this one a shot — then come back and let me know what you thought. And if you enjoy discovering manga you wouldn’t normally stumble across, consider subscribing so you don’t miss the next recommendation.

Episode 26 - The iPhone Foldable Rumors: Apple’s Next Big Bet?
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 9 - Rave Master, The Shonen Hit Time Forgot

Before Fairy Tail became a global hit, its creator Hiro Mashima had already written a full shonen epic that most fans never talk about.

In this episode of Manga With Josh, we dive into Rave Master, Mashima’s first major series—and the shonen hit time forgot.

Originally serialized from 1999 to 2005, Rave Master ran for 35 volumes and 296 chapters, selling over 23.5 million copies worldwide. Yet its anime adaptation only lasted 51 episodes and stopped around volume 12, never reaching the story’s strongest arcs or true ending.

I break down:

  • Why the anime ended early

  • How running alongside the manga hurt its legacy

  • The Dark Bring vs. Rave Stone premise

  • Why characters like Haru Glory and Plue laid the foundation for Mashima’s later works

  • And why Rave Master is still worth reading today—even if the anime hasn’t aged perfectly

If you’re a fan of early 2000s shonen, forgotten manga gems, or want to see where Fairy Tail really started, this episode is for you.

Manga With Josh is all about spotlighting series you’ve probably never read—but should.

Episode 9 - Rave Master, The Shonen Hit Time Forgot
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 8 - What Makes GTO a Timeless Classic?

In this episode of Manga with Josh, I dive into Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO), the legendary delinquent-turned-teacher series created by Tohru Fujisawa. Running from 1997 to 2002 with 25 volumes and selling over 50 million copies, GTO blends outrageous comedy, heartfelt character moments, unexpected darkness, and pure ’90s chaos in a way that still hits hard decades later.

I break down the premise—from Eikichi Onizuka’s wild past as the toughest kid in Shonan, to his unlikely path into teaching, to the unconventional (and often insane) methods he uses to reach a class of students who’ve burned through every educator before him. We get into the serious themes too: bullying, depression, redemption, and the lengths Onizuka is willing to go to protect his kids, even if it means breaking bones or breaking school rules.

We also explore the massive GTO universe: the prequels like Shonan Junai Gumi and Bad Company, the sequels including 14 Days in Shonan and Paradise Lost, the 43-episode anime, and the long list of live-action adaptations and reboots that prove just how far this franchise has reached over the last 30+ years.

If you’re into classic shonen, character-driven stories, delinquent manga, or just want a series that mixes heart, humor, and absolute insanity, this episode will show you exactly why GTO remains a timeless classic.

Stick around at the end for where to find me—whether it’s The Books By Josh Audio Immersion, Tech With Josh, or my fiction, poetry, and finance books available wherever books are sold by searching Joshua A. Rodriguez.

Episode 8 - What Makes GTO a Timeless Classic?
Joshua A. Rodriguez

Episode 7 - Sun-Ken Rock

In this episode of Manga with Josh, I shine a spotlight on Sun-Ken Rock, an underrated and gritty seinen series created by Boichi—the same artist behind Dr. Stone. Running from 2006 to 2016 with 25 volumes, Sun-Ken Rock blends intense action, crime, comedy, and raw emotion in a way few modern manga do.

I break down the premise, from Ken’s wild journey from Japanese delinquent to South Korean gang leader, to the surprising twists involving the Yakuza, romance, betrayal, and the rise of his mafia-style crew. We also dive into Boichi’s signature art style, the over-the-top battles, the dark humor, and why this series stands out in a manga landscape filled with isekai clones and system-based power fantasies.

If you’re into seinen manga, battle series, mafia stories, or you just love discovering hidden gems that deserve an anime adaptation, this episode is a must-listen. I also share why Sun-Ken Rock became one of my favorite reads during the late 2000s and why it still holds up today.

Stick around at the end for where to find me—whether it’s The Books By Josh Audio Immersion, Tech With Josh, or my fiction, poetry, and finance books available wherever books are sold by searching Joshua A. Rodriguez.

Episode 7 - Sun-Ken Rock
Joshua Rodriguez