Meet the literal boss from hell. Mizuchi, once a human, died, went to hell, and became an unruly demon. Though he’s not just any demon: he’s a foreman with underlings who make up a motley crew. With a magic sword and super strength, some hellish construction work should be a snap, but Mizuchi and his crew are hellbent on doing anything aside from their work.
Originally self-published in 2020, Zigoku’s Foreman is an ongoing series, that tells its hilarious underworld tale through an arrangement of manga and short prose chapters.
If I were to pick one word to describe this brand-new series, I would use “frenetic.” The style of the art–bright colors, strong lines, and sharp angles–is striking and frenzied, with short comics combined with short story chapters. Because this manga comes to life in vivid little spurts, the pace feels fast and the story, at times, a little disjointed.
Not to say that I didn’t enjoy myself. It’s just that this first volume of the series feels like a static shock–a brief, powerful burst of energy that surprises you.
I really like the depiction of the characters and the interpretation of Hell. Look at this guy, for example:
That’s an incredible character design. I…don’t remember who this is.
The manga actually has a character guide for you, because there are a lot of them in this short piece, but unfortunately things flew by so fast I couldn’t really recall who was who. But I really liked how unique everyone looks, varying from kind of goofy to genuinely creepy.
This guy is probably the most disturbing-looking character. His eyes really freak me out. Again, another great character design.
I think my favorite part about this manga is the comic stories. The art is truly unique and the story feels clearer to me. The prose sections read a bit awkwardly but do add to the overall world 9banta created. The whole comic comes across like episodes meant to introduce characters one at a time, so there’s not really a fully cohesive story yet. However, this manga seems to hint that it’s on the horizon in forthcoming volumes.
On the one hand, I’m really curious to see how the story will play out, but on the other hand, I kind of got confused at times and I am very torn on how the prose stories are written. You might have an easier time latching on to this one than I did.
I do not regret reading this and I feel very privileged to have gotten a copy of it for review (I’m just sorry I took so freaking long to get to it). I think I’d recommend this to die-hard fans of underworld/hell stories, and people who like really unique art and character designs.
As with some other Manga Maverick comics I’ve read and reviewed, this volume is short. Only 88 pages…and it’s kinda pricey. I know more story and art is on the way. I’ll keep debating with myself as to whether or not I’ll check it out.
Zigoku’s Foreman Volume One is available digitally and in print from Manga Mavericks Books. It released July 16, 2025 and volume 2 is forthcoming.
Kristina Elyse Butke 
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