Akame ga Kill!
A manga about assassins fighting a corrupt empire.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Akame ga Kill! is a Japanese manga series written by Takahiro and illustrated by Tetsuya Tashiro. It was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Gangan Joker from March 2010 to December 2016 and collected in 15 tankōbon volumes. The story follows Tatsumi, a young villager who travels to the Capital to raise money for his home, only to discover widespread corruption and join the assassin group Night Raid in their fight against the corrupt Empire. The series gained significant popularity, leading to a 24-episode anime adaptation by White Fox in 2014 and multiple spin-off manga series.
- field
- Manga and anime series
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- Dark fantasy action story about assassins fighting a corrupt empire
- creator
- Takahiro (writer), Tetsuya Tashiro (illustrator)
- serialization
- March 2010 – December 2016
- volumes
- 15 tankōbon volumes
Lore & Background
The story centers on Tatsumi, a young warrior who travels to the Capital with his childhood friends Ieyasu and Sayo to seek funds for his impoverished village. After bandits attack, he is separated from his companions. In the Capital, he is deceived and later taken in by a noble family, only to discover they had tortured and murdered his friends. Night Raid, an assassin group serving the revolutionary army, recruits him. The group wields Teigu (Imperial Arms), legendary weapons forged from rare materials and mythical creatures. Night Raid members include Akame, Leone, Mine, Sheele, Lubbock, Bulat, and leader Najenda, a former imperial general. They aim to overthrow Prime Minister Honest, who exploits the young emperor's authority while the nation suffers under corruption.
Reader's Guide
Akame ga Kill! is significant for its dark, action-oriented narrative and its exploration of themes such as corruption, sacrifice, and the cost of revolution. The series achieved commercial success, with over 4.1 million copies in circulation by September 2020. Its anime adaptation, broadcast on Adult Swim's Toonami in 2015, drew over 1.8 million viewers for its premiere, one of the highest in the block's history. The franchise expanded with a prequel manga, Akame ga Kill! Zero, and a spin-off, Hinowa ga Crush!, both licensed by Yen Press in North America. The series' legacy includes its influence on the dark fantasy genre in manga and anime, as well as its memorable characters and brutal, high-stakes battles.
Did You Know?
- The manga was serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Gangan Joker from March 20, 2010 to December 22, 2016.
- The anime adaptation was animated by White Fox and broadcast from July to December 2014.
- A prequel manga, Akame ga Kill! Zero, focused on Akame's past as an imperial assassin.
- By September 2020, the overall manga series had over 4.1 million copies in circulation.
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