This review is spoiler free.

The 2010s were certainly an interesting decade for anime and manga. I find myself reflecting on the titles that were huge when they released, but failed to stick in the long run. I also reflect on those that were acclaimed at their release and held on. One of those would be “Mob Psycho 100”. Now, in this example I can speak to the atmosphere of what it was like when the anime first came out. Fresh off the success of “One Punch Man” with fans clamoring for more of ONE’s writing we were blessed with a beautiful adaptation of his other work courtesy of Studio Bones. If I had to describe it I would say MP100 was poised to be a cult hit, one that had a loyal following but wasn’t quite as successful to a wider audience due to its more offbeat elements. However, as time has marched on I can confidently say it’s risen in the ranks and is now considered one of the best anime of the last decade. But what of the manga that started it all?

His name is Kageyama Shigeo, an emotionally withdrawn middle school student just trying to make it through each new day. However, within him lies an immense psychic power beyond anyone’s comprehension. As his emotions intensify his powers grow increasingly out of control. So with the guidance of the deceptive, yet helpful, conman Reigen Arataka he puts his abilities to use while trying to improve upon himself. “Mob Psycho 100” first and foremost is the story of Shigeo, otherwise known as Mob due to his nondescript nature. More than anything he wants to be average, he wants to be like everybody else. His struggle comes in the form of closing himself off from the irrational aspects of himself, his emotions and powers. It makes for a very compelling story where ultimately our hero’s greatest feat comes in the form of conquering himself. I’ve seen fans perceive MP100 to be an anti-shonen series. I wouldn’t exactly use those words myself as it suggests ONE designed the manga to counter what other mangaka were making. However, it is a shonen manga that provides an acute awareness of what the demographic tends to lean towards while offering its own approach. Arcs that would normally conclude with the protagonist defeating a huge threat end with Mob reaching a point of mutual understanding with them, or Reigen asserting himself as the adult in the situation and attempting to resolve matters himself. ONE has said he wanted MP100 to be a kind manga and it certainly achieves this goal of comforting the audience by offering wisdom about how to appreciate others and our own unique quirks.

When it comes to the manga perhaps the thing everybody inevitably discusses is the art. I have seen an endless amount of people weigh in on it, many of which lean towards calling it unprofessional and even bad. Some have admitted to passing over the manga in favor of the anime due to Bones’ polished animation. I’ve even seen professional critics dub it a manga they wouldn’t recommend to any demographic and I can only assume it’s because the manga appears crude to them. Where I stand on this is ONE’s art started off rough, but he definitely progressed in huge ways over the manga’s run. His simplistic style loans itself perfectly to the story he created because it reinforces that Mob is an ordinary boy, I suspect that is why Bones chose to work with it rather than redesign everyone for the anime. Some moments in the manga are actually very beautiful. And as far as the overall layout and construction of the manga is concerned, it is anything but amateur. Something not a lot of people will talk about is there is more to manga than who has the most “beautiful” art or even who is the best writer. Neither of those elements really get the chance to properly soar in this medium without an understanding of how to frame it all. This is why paneling is so important in my manga reviews, the way someone lays their images out to the reader is necessary for furthering the pace and emotional impact of the story. If you can’t achieve that then it leaves me wondering why this specific format was chosen instead of making it a book. Different art forms require different skillsets and not every mangaka seems as aware of how their paneling presents their story. However ONE displays a very sophisticated understanding of this, even more than some mangaka with arguably prettier art at their disposal. You look at his manga and can follow them clearly and the pages never feel cluttered with too many things happening at once. It never feels boring, nor does it feel unfocused. I think it’s a real shame when people overlook the manga because they expect it to be a poorer version of the story. I would make the argument it is deceptively simple.

“Mob Psycho 100” is a manga that definitely knew what it wanted to be and was able to achieve that with near perfection. ONE’s vision of a gentle story that helps the reader appreciate people on a better level really shines through. Even with the almost jarring shift towards darker elements in the Mogami arc, he never lost sight of the original messages and themes. The anime is excellent in its own right, but none of that would have been possible if not for the manga. I am also very grateful for the fact that ONE was able to finish it on his own terms. It doesn’t feel padded out or rushed, I think he was able to accomplish exactly what this manga needed in order to reach that conclusion. And now that time has passed and the third season of the anime is upon us I am confident in calling it a modern masterpiece. An emotionally resonant, creative, funny, poignant, and relatable tale that people will continue to reflect upon. If you’re apprehensive about the manga due to the things you’ve seen or heard about the art, don’t let that hold you back from experiencing it. Both are equally worth your time. Having read it twice now I can say it’s one of my favorite manga I’ve ever read and I look forward to exploring again in the future.