On April 1, 2024, the editorial team of Comic RIDE made an announcement via their official Twitter account confirming the conclusion of the serialization of the spin-off manga “That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime: The Ways Of The Monster Nation.”
The decision was made due to the health concerns of its illustrator, Okagiri Shou.
The cancellation of the spin-off manga was anticipated by dedicated fans of the series, given the manga’s prolonged hiatus due to Okagiri Shou’s health issues. Despite efforts by the editorial department to explore avenues for resuming serialization, the announcement revealed that “resuming with a full lineup” posed significant challenges.
‘That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime: The Ways Of The Monster Nation‘ serves as a spin-off manga to the beloved light novel series Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken, with its storyline set between the 9th and 10th volumes of the light novel series. However, updates on the spin-off had ceased since 2022. Originally serialized on Micro Magazine’s Comic Ride website from July 28, 2016, the first volume hit shelves on April 7, 2017. Yen Press acquired the license for the series on January 6, 2020, and released the first English volume on July 21, 2020.
The manga industry is often overshadowed by the stress and pressure it imposes on creators, a fact sometimes overlooked by fans. In recent times, we’ve mourned the loss of dedicated artists such as Kentaro Miura, renowned for his groundbreaking Berserk series.
Just a month ago, the sudden passing of Akira Toriyama, the influential creator of Dragon Ball, deeply impacted fans all over the globe. And a month prior to that, we bid farewell to Tomohiro Marukawa, the talented mind behind “The World of Narue.”
The life expectancy of mangakas is notably shorter compared to national averages, highlighting the immense stress inherent in the occupation. The losses are still felt keenly, like that of Daisuke Satou, the creator of High School of The Dead, whose failing health led to an indefinite hiatus in 2013, culminating in the series’ discontinuation after his passing in 2017.
Similarly, MM!, crafted by Akinari Matsuno, met a tragic end when Matsuno passed away in 2011. Despite efforts by series artist Issei Hyojou to continue the manga for nearly a year, the adaptation eventually reached its end as the manga caught up to the light novel and was shelved.
In Comic RIDE’s statement, they underscore their repeated attempts to restart the series and resume work. However, despite their efforts, Okagiri’s health did not show signs of improvement. Consequently, they made the decision to honor the work and its illustrator.
While we lament the discontinuation of this spin-off manga, we can find comfort in the ongoing continuation of the main series. However, I hold onto hope that in the future that Okagiri’s health will see improvement.
The manga industry has sadly witnessed too many premature losses recently, highlighting the need for better support and awareness of the challenges faced by creators that are seemingly worked to the bone physically and undergo tremendous mental stress.
The Tensei Shitara Slime franchise has garnered immense support since its anime debut, having aired three animated seasons already. With its latest season set to air on April 5th.
