From one of the most anticipated names, Masaoki Shindou's first manga series, Ruri Dragon, became Shonen Jump's newest big hit! Its first volume debuted with 74,874 copies sold in 6 days. Making it the second biggest debut in the magazine! The rookie mangaka debuted in Jump Cross at the age of 17 and went on to win Jump's Treasure Newcomer Manga Award in July 2016 with 'Twin Peach'. After a few more one-shots Shindou started their first series Ruri Dragon. The manga follows Ruri Aoki, who one day woke up with two horns growing out of her head. Her mother reveals that the reason might be because her father is a dragon. Although confused and shocked, Ruri decides to go to school unbeknownst to the chaotic life which lies ahead of her.

This story was an unexpectedly relaxing and entertaining read. Even though Ruri is from a different race, many people around her are understanding and supportive. In real life, that won't always be the case but in contrast, there is an abundance of such stories discussing discrimination. As a result, this title can be a bit refreshing. Although I always try to act mature and responsible around youngsters, there certainly are times when, on the inside, I'm completely confused or panicking like crazy. Of course, I can't show that in front of them cause it will make things a lot worse. So either I have to stay calm and fix it myself or get the help of other adults and try to sort it out together. Which was exactly what Ruri's mother did and I found that quite relatable. And in addition, the dialogues flow neatly and realistically. Similar to titles like Dandadan, they don't feel like tongue-in-cheek clichés or overly smart adults in the skin of children. They talk like regular people, which is surprisingly rare in the medium. Since it's only the first volume, the story has yet to develop into something complex or delve deep into its characters.

The art is not anything mind-blowing yet it is a delight to read. Character designs are well-illustrated and meaningful. Some notable ones would be Yuka with her soft curvy and bouncy shapes that match her bright and cheery personality and the homeroom teacher with his rigid lines that gives the feeling of firmness and maturity however his not straight but wavy hair hints at his laid-back nature. And finally, we can't forget our protagonist Ruri, she has a plain design that works well with her introverted personality. As a result, those sharp horns stand out a lot more, showing that there might also be an aggressive side to her. Of course, being a good illustrator is only half of the job for a mangaka. But Shindou doesn't fall short on the other technicalities either. The eyes are neatly guided through pages of well-placed speech bubbles, great framing and thoughtful layouts. These pages give time and space for the smaller interactions to build up into more impactful moments contained within larger panels with plenty of room. One of the best examples of that is the final page of chapter 4.

Finally, would I recommend Ruri Dragon to general manga readers? Aye, it's an easy recommendation for those who love slice-of-life series. The first volume felt like an iyashikei but whether it'll stay that way or develop into something more complicated is something only time can tell. Sadly, Ruri Dragon is currently on hiatus due to the author's poor health. I sincerely pray for the author's health and hope, once fully recovered, they'll continue the series. Furthermore, this essay will be rewritten with the release of new volumes as well.