Full Japanese title: 極楽街 - Gokurakugai
Italian/English title: Gokurakugai
Author: Yuto Sano
Genre/Target: Shonen, Action
Japanese publisher: Shueisha
Italian publisher: Panini Comics
Price per volume: €5,20 for the first volume, then €5,50
Current Japanese volumes: 5
I currently own: 4 volumes (caught up with the Italian translation)
Anime adaptation? No (BUT I WISH!!! DAMN IF I WISH IT!!!)
Alma and Tao are two troubleshooters who work on hire in their "troubleshooting agency" in the Gokurakugai district. Here, lately, there's been an increase in the number of people who went missing and the discovery of dead animal corpses, so the two of them decide to investigate further. While working, however, they get attacked by monsters called Magas, beasts who were once human.
The further the duo gets with their cases to solve, the more we discover about the darker side of Gokurakugai's district, full of mysteries.
Gokurakugai officially started my manga collection! I never really considered buying physical copies until i found out about this series. I don't remember exactly how i found out about it, but i think it was through Tiktok and, if i have to be completely honest, it's Alma's design who lured me in... lmao. I'm kind of a sucker for red haired guys my bad chat!!!
However, as much as i love our cutie protagonist, i gotta say that what kept me in was the gorgeous artstyle and the plot that keeps thickening. I'm only at volume 3 right now, but i gotta say i'm getting so curious! The story has little arcs and everything's shown through the cases Alma and Tao need to solve; however, in the meanwhile, we get to know more about characters, and we find more stuff about the lore!! I mean, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU YOMI???? BRO!!!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S YOUR DEAL!!!!! AND WHY ARE YOU SO GODDAMN FINE OH MY GOD YOMI CAN WE FUCKING GET MARRIED please please PLEASE
The pace is fairly good, plus the volumes aren't really that small. And since i like to take my time reading the volumes in tiny bits, i think i can make one last for a while!! :3
Also, i think it's impossible to not have at least one favorite character: they're all so unique and they all have different styles and personalities... how can u NOT fall in love with any of them??
For example, so far, my favs are Alma, Nei, Yomi and Yoru! Heavy on Yomi and Yoru because i want to know what's their deal... I also liked the red haired girl with the eye patch that appeared at the beginning of volume 3 (sitting with the others), i forgot her name mb!! AND Isato and Kanata. HEAVY ON KANATA.
About Isato and Kanata... another good aspect of this manga is that even what you'd call "NPCs" (generally side characters that you probably won't see for more than two/three chapters) are actually so well done! They all have their story and their design is also lovely! I've put Kanata as my WhatsApp pfp, for example, because she's a cutie ^^
I think it's still early for me to form a proper opinion, i said it's a spoiler free zone so i cannot drop theories or stuff but i'm still trying to figure out the whole deal with Magas and i think i'm getting the hang of it!
Overall, very reccomended if you're into the genre :D
UPDATE as of 21 june 2025 - reading volume 4: Tao's backstory simply killed me. Also, i didn't finish volume 4, but you can easily add Memeko (?) and Utsuro in the "characters" i love list lmao they're ALL amazing stop. I love both of these girls' hair :3 especially Utsuro. I WANT IT