The release of The Rising of the Shield Hero manga in 2014 marked the beginning of the isekai trend and sparked the growth of an entire industry in the manga and anime medium. This series, which revolves around four Japanese teenagers fighting formidable threats in a fantasy world, serves as the foundation for the isekai genre with some minor adaptations. This speaks volumes about the captivating story crafted by Aiya Kyu.
One of the series' major attractions is its extensive world-building, which continues to unfold. Additionally, the main cast, particularly Naofumi, is incredibly endearing and charming. The Rising of the Shield Hero manga and anime have garnered significant attention due to these qualities, as there is much to appreciate about this series.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for The Rising of the Shield Hero manga.
Fans can buy physical copies of The Rising of the Shield Hero manga from Amazon
Where to read
Expand Tweet
Regrettably, many individuals eager to read The Rising of the Shield Hero manga are unable to find official manga apps that offer the opportunity to download and explore the series. Presently, there is a lack of accessible platforms for reading the manga series published by Media Factory, the rightful owners of its publishing rights.
However, a variety of options exist for purchasing physical copies of the series on Amazon. Numerous English versions of the manga are available in both physical and Kindle editions, offering cheaper alternatives that allow newcomers to get a sense of the story before investing further.
What to expect
More details about The Rising of the Shield Hero manga (Image via Dr. Movie).Naofumi Iwatani, the protagonist of the series, is a Japanese teenager from the present day. Alongside three other individuals, he was selected to assume significant roles in a fantasy realm, as commonly seen in isekai series.
Within this alternate universe, these four teenagers have been designated as the Cardinal Heroes of the world. Their mission is to confront monstrous creatures known as Waves, which originate from different dimensions.
Naofumi faces a significant disadvantage compared to the other three characters in the series. Unlike them, he is burdened with the worst circumstances right from the beginning. Naofumi is assigned a shield as his sole defensive weapon and receives minimal support. Furthermore, the princess who initially aids him later betrays him, even going as far as falsely accusing him of sexual assault.
These hardships compel Naofumi to adopt a more cynical outlook on life and forces him to take on various odd jobs just to make ends meet. As a result, he embarks on numerous adventures throughout the series. However, Naofumi's luck begins to change when he starts forging meaningful friendships and confronts increasingly dangerous threats, such as the Waves mentioned earlier.