The New Manga By The Author Of One Punch Man Takes Life Hacks to A New Level

As a manga enthusiast with over two decades of reading under my belt, I’ve come across a plethora of stories that have left me amazed, intrigued, and sometimes utterly confused. But none has managed to combine these emotions quite like “Bug Ego.” This manga is a wild ride that takes you on a journey through the absurd, the surreal, and the downright banal – all in one breathless tale.

One is renowned as one of the most productive writers in the realm of anime and manga. Famous for creating “One Punch Man” and “Mob Psycho 100,” two unique takes on the overpowered protagonist motif, both highly appreciated by fans across various mediums. With “Mob Psycho 100” now concluded, ONE has embarked on a new serialization with illustrator and mangaka Kiyoto Shitara, published by Shueisha, and this new work is distinct from the one that garnered him widespread praise.

One intriguing way to rephrase your statement could be: “Bug Ego” delves into the lives of two high school students who uncover and manipulate peculiarities in everyday life, often referred to as “glitches”. What sets this manga apart, besides being written by ONE (the creator of “One Punch Man”), is its promising potential for the coming years.

Bug Ego
Author(s)	ONE, Kiyoto Shitara
Demographic	Shōnen
Genre	Comedy, Paranormal/Supernatural
Chapter Count	4

Background and Plot

Talk About “Life Hacks”

The New Manga By The Author Of One Punch Man Takes Life Hacks to A New Level

Title Character “Bug Ego” revolves around Mikoto Hitsujiya, a high school student who shifts to a new school and encounters an unusual classmate named Takehiro Kokudo. Kokudo enlightens Hitsujiya about “bugs,” not the programming errors, but the unexplained occurrences or flaws in reality. He shows Hitsujiya methods to manipulate various enigmatic events, similar to cheat codes in video games, that can be triggered by performing specific actions. As their bond strengthens, they explore and uncover bizarre yet occasionally useful glitches in the world. Hitsujiya becomes increasingly captivated by experimenting with these novel tricks. However, when a particular trick is rumored to have the power to drastically alter the future, Hitsujiya becomes aware that tampering with these mysterious occurrences might lead to severe and dangerous repercussions.

“Life hacks” take on a whole new meaning when two students exploit glitches that distort reality!

Title “Bug Ego” is an innovative story authored by ONE and illustrated by Kiyoto Shitara, known for his 2022 supernatural yakuza action manga, “Katagimodoshi“. This series appears in Shueisha’s “Young Jump Dai Ichiwa” magazine, a platform that allows manga artists to submit the inaugural chapter of a new narrative, and readers vote on which stories should proceed with serialization within Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump seinen magazine. Although it is periodically published in the “Dai Ichiwa” magazine, “Bug Ego” was not initially a concept being tested when its first chapter debuted in April 2023. As of now, only four chapters of the manga are available to read online, with VIZ Media translating and publishing it on their website. Additionally, you can find “Bug Ego” on Shueisha’s Manga Plus platform. Due to its unique portrayal of the hack concept and its rapid devolution, this manga is often labeled as a comedy-horror, with its chilling aspects reinforced by ONE’s proven knack for humor.

The Art of Rapid Escalation

Bug Ego’s Core Concept Very Quickly Becomes Scary

In the opening chapter, we meet our primary characters and gain insights into their backgrounds. Hitsujiya, a new student, expresses concern when he’s warned about senior bullies frequenting the school bathrooms. He shares that he used to be a target for bullying but found ways to better himself using what he calls “life hacks.” Inspired by this concept of finding solutions to make life easier, Kokudo guides Hitsujiya to an unusual vending machine where he demonstrates some of his own hacks. For instance, inputting coins and pressing buttons in a certain order on the vending machine can cause bird droppings to appear on a streetlight. Upon considering that these shortcuts might be authentic, Hitsujiya listens attentively as Kokudo shares various hacks, and they test many of them out. Eventually, Kokudo reveals a hack for obtaining a perfect score in every test, which piques Hitsujiya’s interest.

In simpler terms, Kokudo shares with Hitsujiya a mortifying custom that allows time travel, but requires running naked in front of the entire school. When Hitsujiya tries this, he messes up the ritual, becomes an outcast, and his only friend feigns ignorance to keep the secrets private. The story then jumps forward many years, with both men now elderly. Hitsujiya is homeless and scavenging through trash, still infatuated with the idea of time travel. Eventually, Rokudo finds him, endures Hitsujiya’s wrath, and clarifies that he kept secrets because time travel hacks aren’t meant to be shared, so he had to destroy the evidence. If Hitsujiya were to try the embarrassing ritual again at school, he could correct his mistake and go back to a much earlier period.

So Why Read Bug Ego?

The Sincere, the Surreal and the Downright Banal All in One