Over the past few years, spin-off series have been abundant when it comes to manga. The series usually covers the story of a fan-loved side-character, showing their past or showing their side of the main protagonist’s story. With so many around, it’s important to know which ones you should spare your time with.
Rock Lee’s Springtime of Youth
A Naruto spin-off that nobody saw coming, Rock Lee’s Springtime of Youth is a lighthearted gag manga. It features Rock Lee and the rest of his team goofing off behind the scenes. The art is cutesy and features the characters with large eyes, huge heads and tiny bodies. The series was popular enough to get its own anime, which ran for 51 episodes.
Salaryman Exorcist: The Sorrows of Okumura Yukio
This Blue Exorcist spin-off features Yukio, the brother of the protagonist. While Yukio is typically cool and composed in Blue Exorcist, Salaryman Exorcist shows his stupid, awkward side. This manga features his daily life, constantly burdened by his half-demon brother. While it’s another humor series, the art style is relatively similar to the original series.
MAGI — Adventures of Sinbad
This Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic spin-off tells the story of the popular king, Sinbad. It shows how he got his eight generals, dozens of djinns and created his kingdom, starting when he was young. It also features the mischievous magi, Yunan, which raises all sorts of questions, especially considering what’s going on in the main series. Many fans are yearning to see the upcoming one-episode special that is supposed to be released with volume three in May.
Soul Eater Not!
The conclusion of Soul Eater left people confused and bitter, but Ookubo Atsushi has granted the fans with another series. This manga features a group of completely new faces, with minor cameos from the original characters. It shows what’s going on in the Death Meister Academy through the eyes of new student, Tsugumi Harudori, while Maka and Soul are taking on baddies in the main story. While seeming lighthearted at first, the story has developed into an action-packed one, answering many questions the readers had. Want to know what happened to the third gorgon sister? The answer lies within Soul Eater Not!! The series has been confirmed for an anime series, but a date has not been set.
A Certain Scientific Railgun
The most in-depth spin-off around, Railgun, has two complete anime seasons, books and an ongoing manga. Originally from A Certain Magical Index, the “railgun” Misaka Mikoto takes the starring role, showing how she dealt with the “sisters” incident and her impact on Academy City. Mikasa was never one to stand back while the city is in trouble so while Touma and company are dealing with problems in Index, there was never any doubt that Misaka was doing something behind the scenes. The manga also has many fanservice-filled filler arcs, such as showing Misaka and her friends trying on bathing suits and the like.
Despite the fact that spin-offs tend to get pushed away by fans, there are some gems out there! If your favorite series is out of new chapters or episodes for you to enjoy, try giving the spin-off a go!
Disagree with me? Do you think a different spin-off belongs on this list? Or maybe you’re really passionate about Railgun and want to discuss the latest plot twists? Comment below or e-mail me at dahrae@terpmail.umd.edu.
