"In life, Majeh was a gifted swordsman. In Death, he acts as a whimsical reaper for the King of Hell”

It’s been ten years since the release of this epic series, and it’s still in the top favourites of its genre. Although, unlike most of the top action/fantasy Manga, King of Hell comes straight out of South Korea. Written by Ra In-Soo, this series would be the only which he’s written to date and is still going strong with 37 released volumes so far.

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From the beginning, this series does have a comedic aspect to it, which is common in a lot of Manga. However, it’s mostly violent and dark; perfect for any hardcore action fan. Marjeh’s brutal and unforgiving nature makes him a dangerous enemy and difficult to control. Therefore, a seal was placed upon him to revert him back to his teenage form to suppress a large portion of his powers.

Our story begins as we see the protagonist, Majeh, enter into a dark temple to greet the King of Hell. Marjeh is seen as a servant to the King, charged with the task of envoy for souls passing from the realm of the living into hell during middle-age Korea. His unrivalled martial art and swordsman skills prove him to be the perfect tool to overcome any difficulties which may occur in the dark days ahead.

Reading on, you see him sat at an old man’s death bed, taunting him and awaiting his passing so that he may take him into the next world. His wife, upset, then encounters a passing Buddhist monk who agrees to aid her in praying for her dying husband. Kind in nature, he then hands her a special medicine which he reveals can save the old man no matter how ill he may be. Shocked at the sudden change of events, Marjeh becomes furious at the monks interference and pursues him with murderous intent.

From here on out, things take a turn for the worst as Marjeh finds himself torn between newfound friends and his duty to the King as he attempts to save the world from demons which have escaped Hell; and as he reminisces of his former life, Marjeh’s about to find out that he’s in for more than he bargained for.

I’m not going to pretend like this story hasn’t been told a thousand times before, because we all know it has. The world’s ending; a hero comes to save the day. It’s nothing new! These days, it’s all about how you tell the story and King of Hell does it in a pleasantly unique way.

King of Hell can be found in most stores which sell Manga books, and the 2008 release of Volumes 1-3 can be bought for roughly £7.99. I recommend you purchase this edition first, as it can be difficult to find each volume separately. Over the past couple of years, Manga has been getting more and more popular in the United Kingdom. This series is sure to be a hit, alongside the work of such creators as Masashi Kishimoto and Tite Kubo. Remember, you heard it here first!