Ichi the Witch

Ichi the Witch
First tankōbon volume cover
魔男のイチ
(Madan no Ichi)
GenreFantasy[1]
Manga
Written byOsamu Nishi
Illustrated byShiro Usazaki
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
Original runSeptember 9, 2024 – present
Volumes7

Ichi the Witch (Japanese: 魔男のイチ, Hepburn: Madan no Ichi) is a Japanese manga series written by Osamu Nishi and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki. It began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in September 2024.

Plot

The series takes place in a world where monsters composed of magic called Majiks exist. Specialized hunters called Witches can obtain magic from them after performing a trial, but it is thought only women can become witches. A young boy called Ichi, who lives in Druid Mountain and hunts for a living, defeats a Majik, and ends up being the first male witch.

Characters

Team Desscaras

Ichi (イチ)
Ichi is a feral hunter raised on Druid Mountain after being abandoned as a child. He learns survival through hunting, first self-taught, then trained by a traveler named Minakata. During Uroro and Desscaras' battle, he intervenes, passing Uroro's trial due to a gender-based exemption, gaining Uroro's power and becoming history's first male witch. Desscaras recruits him to help collect Majiks, forming a group opposing the human-hating Majiks. Prophecy marks him as the messiah who will stop the World-Hater Majik at the cost of his life. Tricked into a binding blood oath with Desscaras, their fates become intertwined. A skilled hunter, Ichi follows a "death-for-death" code—only killing for food or protection—and instinctively senses bloodlust.
Desscaras (デスカラス, Desukarasu)
Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, is renowned as the most powerful witch in the world and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association. When cornered by Uroro—whose trial restricts women from harming his heart—she is saved by Ichi, who gains Uroro’s power. She recruits Ichi as her assistant to monitor Uroro and aid in hunting other Majiks. Together with Kumugi, they form Team Desscaras, opposing Majiks that harm humans. A confident, assertive prodigy, Desscaras initially works alone, earning a reputation for being difficult. Beneath her pride, she cares deeply for her peers and grows attached to Ichi, who reminds her of her late brother, Libro, killed by the World-Hater Majik. Seeking vengeance, she binds Ichi to a mentor-pupil blood oath, linking their lives. With countless Majiks at her command, she stands among the few capable of facing the World-Hater Majik equally.
Kumugi Harvest (クムギ・ハーヴェスト, Kumugi Hāvesuto)
Kumugi, a Witch Cadet of the Mantinel Witches Association, and a member of the Witches' Research Club, is assigned to observe and document Ichi’s actions for her master, Shirabedonna, later joining Team Desscaras. When she was a child, she caused an accident during a magic training that injured the right-eye of her older sister, Spica. Her guilt led Kumugi to listen to Spica's bidding for years, resulting in her lacking self-confidence and unable to go against her sister. She specializes in workaday spells and prefers research over combat. Initially intimidated by Ichi’s boldness, she grows fond of him after he values her kindness—a rare gesture in her life. Though timid, her dedication to her role and gradual bond with the team highlight her quiet resilience. Her friendship with Ichi also encouraged her to finally stand up to Spica.
Gokuraku Kagami (ゴクラク・カガミ)
Infamously known as Gokuraku the Brutalizer, he is a young man who is on the list of the witches' association's official dangerous persons list and a notorious criminal in the land of Kagami for repeatedly attempting to kill slumbering Majik Bakugami. His true identity is the prince of Kagami country. He wishes to become a witch to acquire Bakugami, and so he challenges and beats up any Majik he encounters. True to his title, he brutally beat up the Majik he encountered repeatedly to clear their trials, but due to not having any magic power, he's unable to acquire them even though he fulfilled the conditions to clear them. He formed an alliance with Ichi to acquire Bakugami, taking the trial together with Ichi by enduring the accumulated grief in the latter's place. He succeeded in clearing the trial, allowing Ichi to acquire Bakugami. He then officially joins Ichi's group as a special adjunct of magic item crafter.

Mantinel Witches Association

Witches

Moneygold (マネーゴールド, Manēgōrudo)
The Aureate Witch and the president of the Mantinel Witches Association, making her Desscaras's superior.
Shirabedonna (シラベドンナ)
The Analytic Witch, one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association and the club supervisor of the Witches' Research Club as well as Kumugi's master. She is one of the most intelligent witches in the association, to the point that the whole witches of the association agreed with the result of her analysis without question. She's the one who vouched for Ichi after his demonstration test, allowing him to be approved into the association as a witch.
Chikutoge Togeice (チクトゲ ・トゲアイス, Chikutoge Togeaisu)
The Silver Snow Witch and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association, specializes in ice magic and ranks among the most naturally gifted witches, having acquired 17 Majiks. At just 11 years old, she and Desscaras became the youngest in Mantinel history to achieve Full Witch status. A dedicated workaholic and perfectionist, she strictly enforces discipline to uphold the Witches Association's reputation, frequently clashing with the rule-breaking Desscaras. Though stern, she genuinely cares for her fellow witches, believing proper appearances foster dignity. This approach earns her students' respect. Despite her competence, she suffers from remarkably poor direction sense, often walking opposite her intended destination.
Jikishirone (ジキシローネ, Jikishirōne)
The Oracle Witch and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association who is capable of seeing the future in the form of a prophecy. She is originally a girl who had been comatose for a decade until she was forced to clear the trial of the Prophecy Majik, causing her to be possessed by the Majik and her consciousness residing in the Magic Circle, with the Prophecy Majik completely taking over her body and her identity. She forms a close bond with the Prophecy Majik, encouraging her to try having faith in people so their shared dream of humans and Majiks coexisting peacefully will one day coming true.
Amodoro Ribboncandy (アモドーロ・リボンキャンディ, Amodōro Ribonkyandi)
The bullet witch and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association.
Otogiri Utsuné (オトギリ・ウツネ)
The cacophonous witch and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association.
Franken Dessucy (フランケン・デシューシー, Furanken Deshūshī)
The voracious witch and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association.
Tricaputo (トリカプト, Torikaputo)
The villainous witch and one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association.

Senior Witch Cadets

Love Joe (ラヴ・ジョー, Ravu Jō)
A Senior Witch Cadet captain and the head of Wands and Tools department of the association. Her department is the one responsible in handling the witches' equipment and Magic Stones.
Decora Frill (デコラ・フリル, Dekora Furiru)
A Senior Witch Cadet captain and the head of Fashion department of the association. Her section is the one responsible in designing and making the witches' uniform.
Spica Harvest (スピカ・ハーヴェスト, Supika Hāvesuto)
Kumugi's older sister, who is two years her elder; she is a Senior Witch Cadet captain and the Section 1 Chief of the Mantinel Witches' Association Department of Inspections. When Kumugi failed as a child to cast a spell which would light a lightbulb, the bulb exploded, injuring Spica's right-eye. Spica then took advantage of Kumugi's guilt to make her do anything she told her to while secretly hiding the fact that she already had a magical surgery that healed her right-eye, only continuing to wear eyepatch to make herself look cool. She became interested in Ichi and tried to replace Kumugi's position in the team, but this was thwarted by Kumugi's objection and Ichi's rejection.

Majiks

King Uroro (王の魔法, Kingu Uroro)
Uroro, the King Majik, is among the most dangerous Majiks due to his hatred of humanity. Found dormant in Druid Mountain by Ichi, his trial required stopping his heart—impossible for witches due to a thousand-year restriction preventing women from harming it. Ichi pierced Uroro's heart during his battle with Desscaras, becoming the first male witch to acquire him. Unlike typical Majiks that turn to magic stones, Uroro persists as a sentient blob that emerges from Ichi's body, constantly attempting to manipulate him into fatal conflicts. By forming a pact with Ichi, he is capable of temporarily taking over Ichi's body to fight in his place. Known scientifically as the Ultra-Amplification Majik, his power maximizes spell potency but renders the witch unconscious for three days after each use.
Prophecy Majik (予言の魔法, Yogen no Mahō; lit. 'Prophecy Magic')
Nicknamed Sammy (サミー, Samī) by Jikishirone, she is a Majik who possesses Jikishirone's body and willingly cooperate with the Association. As she fully possesses Jikishirone's body, she takes on her identity as one of the highest-ranking members of the Mantinel Witches Association. True to her name, she's capable of seeing the future in the form of a prophecy, earning her the title Oracle Witch. She was the one who prophesized's World-Hater Majik's demise at Ichi's hand at the cost of Ichi's life. Though cooperative with the witches and dreams of the world where humans and Majiks can coexist peacefully, she's cynical in trusting anyone be it humans or even her fellow Majiks. The only person she genuinely cares for is Jikishirone, whom she forms a close bond with.
Inazuri (雷狐)
Classified as Raiko Majik (雷狐の魔法, Raiko no Mahō; lit. 'Thunder Fox Magic'), he is a lightning Majik and the second Majik acquired by Ichi. He has the appearance of a large fox with five tails constantly surrounded by sparks of lightning around his body. His acquisition trial requires someone to steal his heart jewel that is on his neck, without being struck by any of his lightning. Ichi easily acquired him after using a trap that he usually used to neutralize a fox.
Uruwashi (氷鮫)
Classified as Hisame Majik (氷鮫の魔法, Hisame no Mahō; lit. 'Ice Shark Magic'), she is an ice Majik and the third Majik acquired by Ichi. She has the appearance of a shark wearing a diadem. She terrorized a village in Thazanwood, freezing the villagers into her personal ice sculpture. Her acquisition trial requires someone to make her look fabulous, which Ichi succeeded by cutting up her body and then decorated it like a sashimi.
Macilvaine (マシルヴェイン, Mashiruvein)
Classified as Kindake Majik (菌茸の魔法, Kindake no Mahō; lit. 'Fungus Mushroom Magic'), it is a mushroom Majik that caused havoc in the forest close to town of Hoitaka. Though it does not resent humans, it was classified as human-hater for making giant mushrooms appeared and spread spores that will overwhelm the town if it is left alone. As the result, it became the target for Team Desscaras and Team Togeice in their showdown. Its acquisition trial requires someone to cut its stem and harvest it while it is running away. Togeice acquired it after Ichi got distracted by the appearance of World-Hater Majik.
Ariadne (アリアドネ, Ariadone)
Classified as Origumo Majik (檻蜘蛛の魔法, Origumo no Mahō; lit. 'Cage Spider Magic'), this is a spider-like Majik who builds strong cages with its silk to imprison its prey until it is ready to eat them. Its trial involves destroying the cage and cutting off the horn on its head. It became Gokuraku's target and suffered torture under Gokuraku's repeated failed attempt to acquire it until Ichi fulfilled the trial instead.
Bakjam [Bakugami (バクガミ)]
Bakjam, commonly called Bakugami, is known as the Joyous Sorrow Majik. Bakjam absorbs human sadness only to later return it in overwhelming waves that drive victims to despair. Masquerading as a benevolent deity in tapir form, he gained worship after relieving Princess Richia's sadness—an act that spread through Kagami and led to the country's renaming as Bakugami. While revered as a god, he secretly admires the World-Hater as a true deity of destruction. For ten years he has stored collective sorrow, planning to unleash it to devastate the nation. His trial requires a chosen challenger to withstand this accumulated grief. Gokuraku succeeded in clearing the trial, resulting in Ichi acquiring Bakjam.
Chronoweaver Majik (時操の魔法, Jisou no Mahō; lit. 'Time Manipulation Magic')
Nicknamed Chrono (操ちゃん, Sou-chan) by Minerva, is an epic-class Majik capable of manipulating time, specifically able to freeze time within bubbles. Initially mistaken as a human-hater Majik, it's revealed that he is married to Minerva, a human woman, who is pregnant with their child. He bears no animosity towards humans, but also has no interest in them with Minerva being the sole exception. He's very protective of Minerva and the child she carries, even if he grows weaker as the child gradually absorbing his power. They met after she was sacrificed by her home village, sealed into a hollowed-out log and cast adrift as part of a ritual that repeats every fifty years.
Lindel
The Fatal Shot Majik, whose trial requires the witch to control its powerful shot well enough to hit a bullseye. Wielded by Desscaras.
Lazud
The Piercer Majik, whose trial requires the witch to sit on a needle-like spire for 100 days straight without moving. Wielded by Desscaras.
Interrogation
The Confession Majik, whose trial requires the witch to answer 1000 questions to its satisfaction. Wielded by Desscaras.

World-Hater and the Seven Stars

World-Hater (反世界の魔法, Hansekai no Mahō; lit. 'Anti-World Magic')
Classified as God Majik, they are an S-tier Majik with the ability to carve out and warp chunks of the world, including even Majik. They are the Mantinel Witch's Association's greatest enemy. 15 years before the story, they appeared and warped out two towns he covered in their barrier, killing every living beings inside, including Desscaras' younger brother, Libro. They reappeared in the town of Hoitaka to warp it, but this is thwarted by Ichi, Desscaras, and Togeice. They took an immediate interest in Ichi after he fearlessly expressed his desire to hunt and injured the Majik. They have a history with Uroro, the latter is so wary of them that he spent years laying low to avoid getting detected by him. Jikishirone prophesized that World-Hater Majik will eventually destroyed the world, but this can be prevented by Ichi, who will acquire them at the cost of his life. His shakujo staff, named "Cynosura", is one of the only weapons capable of warping magic and destroying Majiks.
Hitsugi (棺, lit. 'Coffin')
Hitsugi is the Reverser Majik (背反の魔法, Haihan no Mahō; lit. 'Rebellion Magic') who is one of the Seven Stars working directly under World-Hater. He infiltrates the association by disguising himself as a waiter during Ichi's debutante party to deliver a message from World-Hater to Jikishirone. He bears resentment for humanity, believing that they are corrupting and enslaving Majiks, and so work together with World-Hater, believing his master will annihilate humanity and free all Majiks. He has the ability to reflect a magic by exposing them to the eyes on his tongue and also reanimating corpses as zombies. In his true form, he has a head of a human, a body of a lion and a tail of a fish. His trial requires a witch to kill 10,000 lives.
Kizashi (兆, lit. 'Omen')
A temperamental human-hater "Octobomb" Majik who can manipulate ocean currents and has the appearance of a giant, anthropomorphic octopus. He is responsible for sinking more than 300 ships, killing many humans who crosses the ocean he's residing. He enjoys playing with Chrono, who is the only one strong enough to withstand his attacks, one-sidedly considering him as his best friend. After he learned that Chrono bears a child with a human woman and got weaker as the result, he decides to kill the unborn child so he can continue to play with him. He is one of the Seven Stars in service to the World-Hater, and his trial requires the witch to kill him repeatedly until the number on his chest is reduced to 0. He has the ability to split off seven "brother" legs, each of which has a specialty: Speedy, Muscles, Gloomy, Stretch, Teeny, Chonk, and Puu.

Production

Author Osamu Nishi stated in an interview that in Japanese majo (魔女; lit. 'witch') is used only for woman witches, and she found it interesting that there is no equivalent word for male witches. At first, she wanted to write a manga about a boy who dreams of becoming a witch and a knight who protects witches. However, she later thought that a story set in a world where magic exists as living beings would be more interesting.[2]

To make Ichi appear as a more unusual character in the story, Nishi portrayed him as a boy who is only interested in hunting. She decided to start the story with the "final boss" and chose King Uroro to be the first magic that Ichi captures. For the first scene in which Uroro appears, she was inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle. The idea of adding a crown to Uroro came from Shiro Usazaki.[2]

In the initial design of World-Hater Majik, the character was created as a smiling and kind-looking boy. However, Usazaki decided to depict him as someone who does not smile. When creating Desskaras, Nishi only asked Usazaki to use a "sad emoji and black hair", and the character's design was completed during an initial meeting that lasted five hours. Nishi also paid special attention to ensuring that the magics in the story were portrayed as neither enemies nor allies, believing that otherwise the readers would become bored.[2]

Publication

Written by Osamu Nishi and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki, the series began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump on September 9, 2024.[3] It is Usazaki's first major work since her previous work, Act-Age, was canceled due to its writer's arrest.[4] The first tankōbon volume was released on January 4, 2025.[5] As of March 4, 2026, seven volumes have been released.[6]

Viz Media and Manga Plus are publishing the series in English simultaneously with its Japanese release.[7]

Volumes

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1January 4, 2025[5]978-4-08-884402-2February 3, 2026[8]978-1-9747-5775-6
  1. "Ichi" (イチ)
  2. "Uroro Majik" (ウロロの魔法, Uroro no Mahō)
  3. "Raiko Majik" (雷狐の魔法, Raiko no Mahō)
  4. "Natali, The Capital" (首都ナタリー, Shuto Natalī)
  1. "Sherabedonna, The Analytic Witch" (分析の魔女シラベドンナ, Bunseki no Majo Shirabedonna)
  2. "Team Desscaras" (デスカラス班, Desukarasu Han)
  3. "The Hisame Majik, Part 1" (氷鮫の魔法①, Hisame no Mahō①)
Ichi is a feral boy and self-taught survivalist who has lived on Druid Mountain since he was six and abides by a "death for death" code, hunting only animals that kill humans. When Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, comes to pass the trial of and capture Uroro, the powerful amplification Majik, Ichi instead succeeds, becoming the first male witch. Uroro's ultra-amplification power comes at a price: each time Ichi casts a spell, he sleeps for three days to recover. On the way back to the Mantinel Witches Association in the capital city of Natali, Ichi and Desscaras capture Inazuri, a lightning (Raiko) Majik, and help Witch Cadet Kumugi with her deliveries. After passing a test administered by Shirabedonna, the Analytic Witch, Kumugi is assigned to watch Ichi and record his actions; the trio form an anti-human-hater Majik squad and head to Jauz Village in Thazanwood to capture Uruwashi, an ice (Hisame) Majik.
2March 4, 2025[9]978-4-08-884417-6April 7, 2026[10]978-1-9747-6263-7
  1. "The Hisame Majik, Part 2" (氷鮫の魔法②, Hisame no Mahō②)
  2. "The Hisame Majik, Part 3" (氷鮫の魔法③, Hisame no Mahō③)
  3. "The Hisame Majik, Part 4" (氷鮫の魔法④, Hisame no Mahō④)
  4. "Witches' Conference" (魔女会議, Majo Kaigi)
  1. "The Kindake Majik" ((菌茸の魔法, Kindake no Mahō)
  2. "The Silver Snow Witch" (銀雪の魔女, Ginsetsu no Majo)
  3. "???"
  4. "S-Tier Majik Warning" (最大級魔法警報, Saidaikyō Mahō Keihō)
  5. "The World-Hater Majik" (反世界の魔法, Han Sekai no Mahō)
Ichi calls out the vain Uruwashi, who issues an unusual challenge to give her a fabulous fashion. After Desscaras and Kumugi fail, Ichi leaps inside Uruwashi and starts filleting, using techniques he learned from Minakata to display the shark-like Uruwashi as exquisite sashimi. He succeeds and frees the villagers. Moneygold, the Aureate Witch, convenes a conference to discuss Ichi; Shirabedonna proposes to announce him to the world, but Chikutoge Togeice, the Silver Snow Witch, opposes, saying he needs years of more education. To resolve the dispute, Togeice proposes a competition with Ichi in Hoitaka to see who first can acquire Macilvaine, a mushroom (Kindake) Majik; its trial requires the contestants to cut its stem and harvest it. Togeice goes first, using her signature dignified, disciplined, beautiful style to freeze all the mushrooms; Ichi tracks Macilvaine relentlessly. As Kumugi lures Macilvaine, Ichi is about to complete the trial, but switches targets abruptly to the World-Hater Majik, giving Togeice the win. The Witches Council declares an emergency over the S-tier World-Hater; instead of being intimidated, Ichi is exhilarated.
3June 4, 2025[11]978-4-08-884580-7June 2, 2026[12]978-1-9747-6573-7
  1. "Out of Your Depth" (身の程知らず, Mi no Hodo Shirazu)
  2. "Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch" (深淵の魔女 デスカラス, Shin'en no Majo Desukarasu)
  3. "Magic Circle" (魔法心円, Mahō Kokoro en)
  4. "The Oracle" (予言の魔女, Yogen no Majo)
  5. "How We Live" (生き方, Ikikata)
  1. "Mentor-Pupil Blood Contract" (師弟血判状, Shitei Keppan-jō)
  2. "Gokuraku the Brutalizer" (苛虐のゴクラク, Kagyaku no Gokuraku)
  3. "Gokuraku and Male Witches" (魔男とゴクラク, Madan to Gokuraku)
  4. "The Joyous Country" (幸福の国, Kōfuku no Kuni)
After Ichi halts the World-Hater's advance with an amplified ice attack, Desscaras and Togeice battle the World-Hater, which withdraws without revealing its trial. Jikishirone, the Oracle Witch, prophesizes Ichi will defeat the World-Hater Majik by sacrificing his own life. Moneygold commands the prophecy be kept secret; Desscaras is reminded of her younger brother Libro, a victim of the World-Hater, and she enters a mentor-pupil blood contract with Ichi to make him family, which she jokes makes him her slave. Ichi is moved by joining a family, but the other witches realize Desscaras is also doomed if Ichi dies; she vows to train Ichi to survive the World-Hater. The anti-human-hater Majik team travel to Bakugami to challenge Origumo, but Gokuraku the Brutalizer is already tormenting the spider-like Majik. When Ichi completes Origumo's challenge, Gokuraku kidnaps him and asks how he also can be a male witch. Ichi introduces him to Uroro, who tells Gokuraku to kill the slumbering Ichi, but the transparent attempt at betrayal fails. Desscaras and Kumugi arrive in Bakugami, where they meet the eponymous, beloved "blessed slumber" Majik; Gokuraku tells Ichi that Bakugami is a parasite and they prepare to capture it.
4August 4, 2025[13]978-4-08-884611-8——
  1. "Lord Bakugami" (バクガミ様, Bakugami-sama)
  2. "Most Wanted" (指名手配犯, Shimei Tehaihan)
  3. "Unknown Emotions" (知らない感情, Shiranai Kanjō)
  4. "Begin the Operation" (作戦開始, Sakusen Kaishi)
  5. "Future Foretold" (告げる未来, Tsugeru Mirai)
  1. "Challenger" (挑戦者, Chōsen-sha)
  2. "Sacrifice" (イケニエ, Ikenie)
  3. "Fates Entwined" (一蓮托生, Ichiren Takushō)
  4. "Invisible Cage" (見えない檻, Mienai ori)
Ten years ago, Princess Richia of Kagami, Gokuraku's older sister, discovered Bakugami took away her sadness, and the country was renamed to honor it, but this "joyous sorrow" Majik actually concentrates sorrow and returns it, driving victims to suicidal depression. Gokuraku was exiled for defying the Majik, but vows to restore his sister's emotions. In the present, Gokuraku and Ichi attack the Majik, and the outraged nation engages Desscaras to capture them. Richia is overjoyed that Gokuraku has made friends with Ichi and invites them to the Bakugami anniversary party, forgetting the more significant anniversary of their mother's death. Ichi distracts the citizens and Desscaras extracts and interrogates Bakugami: he plans to honor the World-Hater by returning the decade of extracted sadness; his trial is for one person to bear all the concentrated sorrows. After Gokuraku volunteers, Bakugami drives him insane with rage by planting a vision of Richia accepting the returned sorrow as punishment for welcoming Bakugami. The trial also requires Ichi be chained to the murderous Gokuraku, who grants Ichi permission to attack but warns him to avoid striking critical points. Bakugami believes Ichi's light attacks are torturing Gokuraku, but he was using Ariadne to imprison Gokuraku with thick web threads, restraining him physically as he continues to struggle with overwhelming sorrow.
5October 3, 2025[14]978-4-08-884695-8——
  1. "Atone" (贖罪, Shokuzai)
  2. "Stake" (杭, Kui)
  3. "Because I Had You" (キミがいたから, Kimi ga Itakara)
  4. "Give Me a Hug" (わたしを抱き締めて, Watashi o Dakishimete)
  1. "Feelings Returned" (取り戻した感情, Torimodoshita Kanjō)
  2. "Succession" (継承, Keishō)
  3. "For You" (キミのために, Kimi no Tame ni)
  4. "Awareness" (自覚せよ, Jikaku Seyo)
  5. "Plenty" (豊作, Hōsaku)
Gokuraku is tortured by a vision of Richia dying by suicide to atone for forgetting their mother, but manage to endure by recalling Ichi's question about the meaning of a family that Gokuraku likens as his unbreakable support. As Gokuraku is close to clearing the trial, Bakugami attempts to gain more sorrow from Richia, but she rejects them. This allows Gokuraku to complete the trial and Ichi acquires the Majik, resulting with the citizens' long-suppressed emotions return to them. A delayed funeral is held for the queen, where the king abdicates and Richia ascends to the throne. Gokuraku initially turns down Ichi's request to join him, but after Richia shows him the entire country wants to apologize for misunderstanding how he protected them, Gokuraku promises to fight with Ichi. Returning to the Association, Gokuraku admits his crime to Moneygold and ready to accept any punishment, so she declares his punishment is to serve Team Desscaras and accompany Ichi as magic item crafter. The Association plan a witch debut party for Ichi, giving Kumugi pause when she sees Spica Harvest, her elder sister, is on the list of invitees.
6December 4, 2025[15]978-4-08-884865-5——
  1. "Presents" (おくりもの, Okuri Mono)
  2. "Appearances Deceiving" (見かけによらず, Mikake ni Yorazu)
  3. "Important Memories" (大事な思い出, Daijina Omoide)
  4. "Kumugi Harvest" (クムギ・ハーヴェスト, Kumugi Hāvesuto)
  5. "A New Prophecy" (新たな予言, Aratana Yogen)
  1. "A Glass of Water" (お水を一杯, O Mizu o Ippai)
  2. "Those Who Defy" (反く者, Somoku Mono)
  3. "To a New Time!" (新たな時へ!, Aratana-ji e!)
  4. "Freeze" (フリーズ, Furīzu)
Togeice gives Ichi an assignment to spend some of his rewards, and he gifts a jar of star candy to Desscaras, thanking her for welcoming him to her family. Spica dismisses Ichi as a romantic prospect, only to be stunned by how attractive he is. Kumugi flashes back to her childhood, when Spica bullied her for years, so when Spica suggests that she replace her younger sister on Team Desscaras, Kumugi objects and Ichi rejects Spica. Jikishirone reports no new prophecies to the Witches' Conference; that night, she dreams the World-Hater kills her, waking to find Hitsugi, a head-hunter who tells her to join the World-Hater and accept no more prophecies that speak of him. Its escape is interrupted by Desscaras, but it manages to flee, leaving a promise that its master will end the era of human witches enslaving Majiks. Reporting back, Hitsugi says it has sown doubt in Desscaras and Jikishirone. Team Desscaras finishes their outfitting and Jikishirone reveals a false prophecy to join them on the next hunt, for "Chronoweaver", the epic-class Time Majik, at the ghost ship Chronostasis, floating on the Pendulum Seas. They want to capture him as a useful tool against the World-Hater, but little is known about him. After their initial encounter, they are shocked to meet his human wife, who is pregnant with a hybrid child.
7March 4, 2026[6]978-4-08-884874-7——
  1. "A Heavy Blow" (重い一撃, Omoi Ichigeki)
  2. "Interloper" (踏み入る者, Fumiiru Mono)
  3. "Kneel" (跪け, Hizamazuke)
  4. "Extra" (エクストラ, Ekusutora)
  5. "Love and Hate" (大好きと大嫌い, Daisuki to Daikirai)
  1. "Nurture the Future" (紡いでいく, Tsumuide Iku)
  2. "Shifting Futures" (うごく未来, Ugoku Mirai)
  3. "In Between" (間, Ma)
  4. "Vitals" (急所, Kyūsho)
Ichi stops the hunt after learning Chronoweaver never hurt humans; his wife Minerva slaps Jikishirone for suggesting the unborn child should die. Kizashi, an octopus-like Majik who manipulates currents, is responsible for countless sunken ships and sailor deaths; his trial requires a witch to kill him repeatedly. He loves Chrono for withstanding rough "play" attacks and offers to kill the baby so they can continue playing. Ichi tries unsuccessfully to boil him using a Uroro-amplified lightning attack. Team Desscaras retreats; Ichi revives after making a pact with Uroro and the Majik takes over his body for five minutes. Uroro atomizes Kizashi with an ultra-amplified Inazuri discharge as his time expires. Jikishirone reprimands Sammy; when she wakes, Minerva apologies and explains she will have the baby for Chrono's happiness. Jikishirone has a bloody vision of Kizashi's return, so the witches dispatch a squad led by Gokuraku with Minerva and the still-unconscious Ichi. Kizashi reassembles and attacks alongside Hitsugi, who reanimates the corpses of the sailors drowned by Kizashi to demonstrate the fragility of human life; Chrono decays the zombies into dust and says that Minnie taught him the power of love, calling Hitsugi "a lonely creature". After Chrono decays Hitsugi, he uses corpse dust to reanimate and raises 10,000 corpses to give Desscaras the people she will need to kill for his trial, including her brother Libro. Hitsugi also commands Kizashi to seek out and kill Minerva, the unborn child, and Ichi with the power of World-Hater's staff; Chrono restrains Kizashi in a bubble but he breaks free with the staff.
8May 1, 2026[16]978-4-08-885043-6——

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were originally serialized in Japanese in issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump.

  1. "Hearts Ripped Asunder" (引き裂かれた心, Hikisaka reta Kokoro)
  2. "Threat" (脅威, Kyōi)
  3. "Promise" (約束, Yakusoku)
  4. "Libro" (リブロ, Riburo)
  5. "Five Seconds of Connection" (繋げる5秒, Tsunageru Go-byō)
  6. "That One Second" (その一秒が, Sono Ichi-byō ga)
  7. "The Ebb and Flow of the Waves" (寄せては返す, Yosete wa Kaesu)
  8. "Star of Light" (光星, Kōsei)
  9. "One Last Dream" (最後の夢, Saigo no Yume)
  10. "These Few Final Seconds" (あと数秒, Ato Sūbyō)
  11. "Even One Moment Longer" (一瞬でも長く, Isshun Demo Nagaku)
  12. "A Star Falls" (星堕ちる, Hoshi Ochiru)
  13. "Let's Go Home" (戻ろう, Modorou)

Reception

Nick Valdez of ComicBook.com described the first chapter of Ichi the Witch as the "strongest the magazine has seen since the likes of Kagurabachi", and said "it could be the next big thing".[17] Joshua Fox of Screen Rant praised the worldbuilding, artwork, and protagonist of the story.[1]

The series has been recommended by manga authors Kōhei Horikoshi and Katsura Hoshino.[18][19]

The series won the 11th Next Manga Award in the print category in 2025.[20][21] It ranked 11th on the 2025 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine.[22] It, alongside Mii-chan and Yamada-san, was ranked fourth in the 2026 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook's list of the best manga for male readers.[23] It has been nominated for the 19th Manga Taishō in 2026.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Fox, Joshua (September 10, 2024). "Shonen Jump's New Groundbreaking Fantasy Manga Surpasses Expectactions: Here Is What You Need to Know About It". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c 「なぜ魔男という言葉がないんだろう？」西修さん×宇佐崎しろさんが語る「魔男のイチ」誕生秘話. Yomiuri (in Japanese). March 7, 2026. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  3. ^ Davidson, Danica (September 3, 2024). "act-age Artist Gets New Series with Madan no Ichi". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Pineda, Rafael (September 6, 2024). "act-age Artist Shiro Usazaki, Iruma-kun's Osamu Nishi Launch New Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  5. ^ a b 魔男のイチ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b 魔男のイチ 7 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  7. ^ Lada, Jenni (September 9, 2024). "Ichi the Witch Manga Debuts in Shonen Jump". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "Ichi the Witch, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  9. ^ 魔男のイチ 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "Ichi the Witch, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  11. ^ 魔男のイチ 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  12. ^ "Ichi the Witch, Vol. 3". Viz Media. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  13. ^ 魔男のイチ 4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  14. ^ 魔男のイチ 5 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  15. ^ 魔男のイチ 6 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
  16. ^ 魔男のイチ 8 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  17. ^ Valdez, Nick (September 8, 2024). "Act-Age Artist Releases Ichi the Witch, Shonen Jump's Best New Series". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  18. ^ 西修×宇佐崎しろが描く「魔男のイチ」1巻、堀越耕平が絶賛「少年漫画の理想です」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 2, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  19. ^ 「魔男のイチ」星野桂から推薦コメント到着、応募者全員サービスにアクキー＆缶バッジ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Next Manga Award 2025 Reveals 100 Nominees: Full List Including War of the Adults". Oricon. Oricon. June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  21. ^ 次にくるマンガ大賞2025発表 コミックス部門『魔男のイチ』、Web部門『サンキューピッチ』. Oricon (in Japanese). September 18, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  22. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 9, 2025). "Ao Kojima's Hon Nara Uru Hodo Tops 2025 Da Vinci Manga Ranking". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  23. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 22, 2025). "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Editors Unveil Full List of Top 2026 Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  24. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 20, 2026). "19th Manga Taisho Awards Nominate 12 Titles". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
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