There are two things Maruo Kaido likes: manga and fighting. In fact, his lifelong wish is to be a manga protagonist. However, the problem is he just can't find anyone strong enough to give him a good fight, with even the person he thought would be the Final Boss of his story turning out to be a total pushover.
Enter Urara, a yakuza girl who introduces Maruo to the secret world of ayashimon, supernatural beings possessing incredible power. Maruo is excited to finally have a real fight.
Ayashimon (アヤシモン) is written and illustrated by Yūji Kaku (who previously worked on Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku), and was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from November 2021 to May 2022.
Tropes:
- 20 Minutes into the Past: A recent issue
of Shonen Jump Maruo reads sets the series in 1992. - And I Must Scream: Doppo is fully aware that Ayashimon will simply reincarnate into another body after being destroyed, so punishment by death is useless. Instead he has his enemies dismembered and put on display as art.
- Abusive Parents: Maruo's father used to viciously beat him. The reason Maruo loves manga so much because he relates to the typical Determinator traits of Protagonists to his desire to beat his father. Although Maruo was disappointed when he finally beat his dad in a fight, he admits that the abuse still has an effect on him.
- Ascended Fanboy: Maruo wants to be a manga protagonist. And, well…
- Badass Boast: Maruo's opinion on Darwinism.Maruo: Hey, Elder Sister? That whole "strong eat the weak" stuff isn't hype at all. For me, its way cooler for the strong to eat the stronger!
- Blood Knight: Maruo loves fighting for the sheer thrill of it. When he hears that ayashimon settle all beefs with duels, he's overjoyed.
- Calling Your Attacks: Parodied. Maruo makes up long-winded names in the middle of a fight, but they're all just really hard punches.
- Charles Atlas Superpower: Maruo excels in physical power. Apparently just from training.
- Cute Monster Girl: Urara, who “looks” like a young Oni girl.
- Cut Short: The manga was cancelled only six months after it began. After the Kori Hotel arc, it timeskips to before the final fight between Maruo and Doppo Akari and ends on that note.
- Cybernetic Mythical Beast: Kotton is a humanoid ittan momen (a living cloth youkai) that somehow integrated a motorcycle engine into his body, presumably to make himself faster.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Maruo was abused by his father, who he later took revenge on. However, he didn't find any satisfaction in beating him.
- Death Is Cheap: Ayashimon generally construct their physical bodies using money, meaning they can’t actually die by regular means. That said, it can take a hundred years from them to form to new body.
- Dumb Muscle: Too much info at once makes Mario’s head visually explode. He even seems to acknowledge as much and lets Urara do the thinking.Urara: (After Maruo uses a steel door to block a fire attack) If there's anything he has going for him, it's strength. (When Maruo feels the heat conducting the steel door) Strength... and not much else.
- The Dreaded: Before he met Urara, Maruo was known and feared by every thug as a vicious fighter who beat an entire school by himself and could throw cars barehanded. He’s only recognized by his bandages however.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Hashihime holds off Doppo long enough for Urara to escape with Maruo and Ten.
- Hidden Depths: Doppo is a power hungry bastard with a vicious love of torture but the final chapter hints he feels the same camaraderie with his loyal clan members as Urara does.
- Loving a Shadow: Urara had set off on a quest for revenge against the men who killed her father, Chairman Kioh. However, throughout most of Urara's childhood she had patiently waiting for his arrival but had never even seen his face personally. Doppo's comments on Kioh abandoning her made her realize that she was trying to avenge someone she never knew well and that her desire for vengeance was really venting grief.
- Mad Artist: Doppo is introduced making a painting of two people stitched together as one body and bleeding, with a head emerging from the stomach. Then we get to his "sculptures" of live Ayashimon who've crossed him.
- Mafia Princess: Urara is the daughter of Chairman Kioh, the late Oyaban of Shinjuku.
- Nerves of Steel: Maruo tests Urara’s claim of Yakuza status by punching a nearby wall hard enough to make a crater. He realizes she’s serious when she doesn’t flinch.
- No-Sell: Punches from normal humans and regular Ayashimon don’t even make Maruo flinch.
- I Wish It Were Real: Maruo always fantasized about being a shonen protagonist, like Kenshiro or Kinnikuman.
- Playing with Fire: Maruo fights three in a row early on; Hashihime, Inokuma Nyudo and Doppo. Ironically, Doppo freezes his enemies instead of burning them.
- Person of Mass Destruction: Maruo wrecked every gym he attended to, and his fight with Hashihime destroyed the flower house they were in.
- Scary Teeth: A rather common trait amongst Ayashimon, and Maruo himself.
- Super-Strength: Maruo's schtick. He's strong enough to throw cars and fight dozens of Ayashimon with a grin on his face.
- Shout-Out: Chapter 9 presents Shonen jump covers of Dragon Ball, Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders, Fist of the North Star, and Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.
- Revenge: Urara’s goal is to enact vengeance on those who killed her father.
- Urban Fantasy: The series takes place in a 1990s setting, where supernatural ayashimon exist in secret.
- Walking Disaster Area: Maruo's introduction shows him destroying a gym, a dohyo, and a bakery.
- We Have Reserves: Urara thinks of Maruo, in addition to every else under her as disposable pawns in her goal to take over the Enma Syndicate. Eventually subverted, with the keyword "thinks" being emphasized. Her and Maruo's encounter with Doppo Araki made her realize she does care for Maruo and Hashihime as more than assets.
- Weather Manipulation: In addition to his freezing flames, Doppo can call down a small blizzard from the sky at will.
- When All You Have Is a Hammer…: Subverted. Since Urura employed him, Maruo had curb-stomped every opponent in his way with nothing but his Super-Strength. Then he meets Doppo, can turn into his body into freezing fire and make himself immune to Maruo's punches.
