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Ichi the Witch

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Ichi the Witch
First tankōbon volume cover
魔男のイチ
(Madan no Ichi)
GenreFantasy[1]
Manga
Written byOsamu Nishi [ja]
Illustrated byShiro Usazaki [ja]
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original runSeptember 9, 2024 – present
Volumes3
icon Anime and manga portal

Ichi the Witch (Japanese: 魔男のイチ, Hepburn: Madan no Ichi) is a Japanese manga series written by Osamu Nishi [ja] and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki [ja]. It began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in September 2024.

Plot

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The series takes place in a world where monsters composed of magic called Majiks exist. Specialized hunters called Witches can obtain magic from them after performing a trial, but it is thought only women can become witches. A young boy called Ichi, who lives in Druid Mountain and hunts for a living, defeats a Majik, and ends up being the first male witch.

Characters

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Witches

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Majiks acquired by witches
Witch Majik Power
Ichi Uroro Ultra-amplification
Inazuri Lightning
Uruwashi Ice
Ariadne Binding
Togeice Macilvaine Mushroom
Desscaras Golconda Compels truth
Lindel Splitting
Ichi (イチ)
Ichi is a feral hunter raised on Druid Mountain after being abandoned as a child. He learns survival through hunting, first self-taught, then trained by a traveler named Minakata. During Uroro and Desscaras' battle, he intervenes, passing Uroro's trial due to a gender-based exemption, gaining Uroro's power and becoming history's first male witch. Desscaras recruits him to help collect Majiks, forming a group opposing the human-hating Majiks. Prophecy marks him as the messiah who will stop the World-Hater Majik at the cost of his life. Tricked into a binding blood oath with Desscaras, their fates become intertwined. A skilled hunter, Ichi follows a "death-for-death" code—only killing for food or protection—and instinctively senses bloodlust.
Desscaras (デスカラス, Desukarasu)
Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, is renowned as the most powerful witch. When cornered by Uroro—whose trial restricts women from harming his heart—she is saved by Ichi, who gains Uroro’s power. She recruits Ichi as her assistant to monitor Uroro and aid in hunting other Majiks. Together with Kumugi, they form Team Desscaras, opposing Majiks that harm humans. A confident, assertive prodigy, Desscaras initially works alone, earning a reputation for being difficult. Beneath her pride, she cares deeply for her peers and grows attached to Ichi, who reminds her of her late brother, Libro, killed by the World-Hater Majik. Seeking vengeance, she binds Ichi to a mentor-pupil blood oath, linking their lives. With countless Majiks at her command, she stands among the few capable of facing the World-Hater Majik equally.
Kumugi (クムギ)
Kumugi, a Witch Cadet and member of the Witches' Research Club, is assigned to observe and document Ichi’s actions for her master, Shirabedonna, later joining Team Desscaras. Lacking self-confidence due to years of belittlement and weak offensive magic, she specializes in workaday spells and prefers research over combat. Initially intimidated by Ichi’s boldness, she grows fond of him after he values her kindness—a rare gesture in her life. Though timid, her dedication to her role and gradual bond with the team highlight her quiet resilience.
Monegold (マネーゴールド, Manēgōrudo)
The Aureate Witch and one of the highest-ranking witches in the Mantinel Witches Association, making her Desscaras and Togeice's superior.
Shirabedonna (シラベドンナ)
The Analytic Witch and the club supervisor of the Witches' Research Club as well as Kumugi's master. She is one of the most intelligent witches in the association, to the point that the whole witches of the association agreed with the result of her analysis without question. She's the one who vouched for Ichi after his demonstration test, allowing him to be approved into the association as a witch.
Chikutoge Togeice (チクトゲ トゲアイス, Chikutoge Togeaisu)
Togeice, the Silver Snow Witch, specializes in ice magic and ranks among the most naturally gifted witches, having acquired 17 Majiks. At just 11 years old, she and Desscaras became the youngest in Mantinel history to achieve Full Witch status. A dedicated workaholic and perfectionist, she strictly enforces discipline to uphold the Witches Association's reputation, frequently clashing with the rule-breaking Desscaras. Though stern, she genuinely cares for her fellow witches, believing proper appearances foster dignity. This approach earns her students' respect. Despite her competence, she suffers from remarkably poor direction sense, often walking opposite her intended destination.
Jikishirone (ジキシローネ, Jikishirōne)
The Oracle Witch who is capable of seeing the future in the form of a prophecy. She is originally a girl who had been comatose for a decade until she was forced to clear the trial of the Prophecy Majik, causing her to be possessed by the Majik and her consciousness remained hidden, with the Prophecy Majik completely taking over her body and her identity. She is one of the Majiks who willingly cooperate with witches by sharing her prophecies. She was the one who prophesized's World-Hater Majik's demise at Ichi's hand at the cost of Ichi's life.

Individual

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Gokuraku Kagami (ゴクラク・カガミ)
Infamously known as Gokuraku the Brutalizer, he is a young man who is on the list of the witches' association's official dangerous persons list and a notorious criminal in the land of Bakugami for repeatedly attempting to kill slumbering Majik Bakugami. He wishes to become a witch to acquire Bakugami, and so he challenges and beats up any Majik he encounters. True to his title, he brutally beat up the Majik he encountered repeatedly to clear their trials, but due to not having any magic power, he's unable to acquire them even though he fulfilled the conditions to clear them. When he met Ichi, Gokuraku enlist Ichi's help in acquiring the slumbering Majik. He is the younger brother of Princess Richia, making him the prince of Bakugami country.

Majiks

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King Uroro (王の魔法, Kingu Uroro)
Uroro, the King Majik, is among the most dangerous Majiks due to his hatred of humanity. Found dormant in Druid Mountain by Ichi, his trial required stopping his heart - impossible for witches due to a thousand-year restriction preventing women from harming it. Ichi pierced Uroro's heart during his battle with Desscaras, becoming the first male witch to acquire him. Unlike typical Majiks that turn to magic stones, Uroro persists as a sentient blob that emerges from Ichi's body, constantly attempting to manipulate him into fatal conflicts. Known scientifically as the Ultra-Amplification Majik, his power maximizes spell potency but renders the witch unconscious for three days after each use.
Inazuri (雷狐)
Classified as Raiko Majik (雷狐の魔法, Raiko no Mahō), he is a lightning Majik and the second Majik acquired by Ichi. He has the appearance of a large fox with five tails constantly surrounded by sparks of lightning around his body. His acquisition trial requires someone to steal his heart jewel that is on his neck, without being struck by any of his lightning. Ichi easily acquired him after using a trap that he usually used to neutralize a fox.
Uruwashi (氷鮫)
Classified as Hisame Majik (氷鮫の魔法, Hisame no Mahō), she is an ice Majik and the third Majik acquired by Ichi. She has the appearance of a shark wearing a diadem. She terrorized a village in Thazanwood, freezing the villagers into her personal ice sculpture. Her acquisition trial requires someone to make her look fabulous, which Ichi succeeded by cutting up her body and then decorated it like a sashimi.
Macilvaine (マシルヴェイン, Mashiruvein)
Classified as Kindake Majik (菌茸の魔法, Kindake no Mahō), it is a mushroom Majik that caused havoc in the forest close to town of Hoitaka. Though it does not resent humans, it was classified as human-hater for making giant mushrooms appeared and spread spores that will overwhelm the town if it is left alone. As the result, it became the target for Team Desscaras and Team Togeice in their showdown. Its acquisition trial requires someone to cut its stem and harvest it while it is running away. Togeice acquired it after Ichi got distracted by the appearance of World-Hater Majik.
World-Hater (反世界の魔法, Hansekai no Mahō)
Also known as God Majik, they are an S-tier Majik with the ability to carve out and wrap chunks of the world, including even Majik. They are the Mantinel Witch's Association's greatest enemy. 15 years before the story, they appeared and warped out two towns he covered in their barrier, killing every living beings inside, including Desscaras' younger brother, Libro. They reappeared in the town of Hoitaka to warp it, but this is thwarted by Ichi, Desscaras, and Togeice. They took an immediate interest in Ichi after he fearlessly expressed his desire to hunt and injured the Majik. They have a history with Uroro, the latter is so wary of them that he spent years laying low to avoid getting detected by him. Jikishirone prophesized that World-Hater Majik will eventually destroyed the world, but this can be prevented by Ichi, who will acquire them at the cost of his life.
Ariadne (アリアドネ, Ariadone)
Classified as Origumo Majik (檻蜘蛛の魔法, Origumo no Mahō), this is a spider-like Majik who builds strong cages with its silk to imprison its prey until it is ready to eat them. Its trial involves destroying the cage and cutting off the horn on its head. It became Gokuraku's target and suffered torture under Gokuraku's repeated failed attempt to acquire it until Ichi fulfilled the trial instead.
Bakugami (バクガミ)
Bakugami, known as the Joyous Sorrow Majik, absorbs human sadness only to later return it in overwhelming waves that drive victims to despair. Masquerading as a benevolent deity in tapir form, he gained worship after relieving Princess Richia's sadness - an act that spread through Kagami and led to the country's renaming as Bakugami. While revered as a god, he secretly admires the World-Hater as a true deity of destruction. For ten years he has stored collective sorrow, planning to unleash it to devastate the nation. His trial requires a chosen challenger to withstand this accumulated grief. Those who attempt to harm him face execution.

Publication

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Written by Osamu Nishi [ja] and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki [ja], the series began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump on September 9, 2024.[2] It is Usazaki's first major work since her previous work, Act-Age, was canceled due to its writer getting arrested.[3] The first tankōbon volume was released on January 4, 2025.[4] As of June 4, 2025, three volumes have been released.[5]

Viz Media and Manga Plus are publishing the series in English simultaneously with its Japanese release.[6]

Volumes

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No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 January 4, 2025[4]978-4-08-884402-2
  1. "Ichi" (イチ)
  2. "Uroro Majik" (ウロロの魔法, Uroro no Mahō)
  3. "Raiko Majik" (雷狐の魔法, Raiko no Mahō)
  4. "Natali, The Capital" (首都ナタリー, Shuto Natalī)
  1. "Sherabedonna, The Analytic Witch" (分析の魔女シラベドンナ, Bunseki no Majo Shirabedonna)
  2. "Team Desscaras" (デスカラス班, Desukarasu Han)
  3. "The Hisame Majik, Part 1" (氷鮫の魔法①, Hisame no Mahō①)
Ichi is a feral boy and self-taught survivalist who has lived on Druid Mountain since he was six and abides by a "death for death" code, hunting only animals that kill humans. When Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, comes to pass the trial of and capture Uroro, the powerful amplification Majik, Ichi instead succeeds, becoming the first male witch. Uroro's ultra-amplification power comes at a price: each time Ichi casts a spell, he sleeps for three days to recover. On the way back to the Mantinel Witches Association in the capital city of Natali, Ichi and Desscaras capture Inazuri, a lightning (Raiko) Majik, and help Witch Cadet Kumugi with her deliveries. After passing a test administered by Shirabedonna, the Analytic Witch, Kumugi is assigned to watch Ichi and record his actions; the trio form an anti-human-hater Majik squad and head to Jauz Village in Thazanwood to capture Uruwashi, an ice (Hisame) Majik.
2 March 4, 2025[7]978-4-08-884417-6
  1. "The Hisame Majik, Part 2" (氷鮫の魔法②, Hisame no Mahō②)
  2. "The Hisame Majik, Part 3" (氷鮫の魔法③, Hisame no Mahō③)
  3. "The Hisame Majik, Part 4" (氷鮫の魔法④, Hisame no Mahō④)
  4. "Witches' Conference" (魔女会議, Majo Kaigi)
  1. "The Kindake Majik" ((菌茸の魔法, Kindake no Mahō)
  2. "The Silver Snow Witch" (銀雪の魔女, Ginsetsu no Majo)
  3. "???"
  4. "S-Tier Majik Warning" (最大級魔法警報, Saidaikyō Mahō Keihō)
  5. "The World-Hater Majik" (反世界の魔法, Han Sekai no Mahō)
Ichi calls out the vain Uruwashi, who issues an unusual challenge to give her a fabulous fashion. After Desscaras and Kumugi fail, Ichi leaps inside Uruwashi and starts filleting, using techniques he learned from Minakata to display the shark-like Uruwashi as exquisite sashimi. He succeeds and frees the villagers. Monigold, the Aureate Witch, convenes a conference to discuss Ichi; Shirabedonna proposes to announce him to the world, but Chikutoge Togeice, the Silver Snow Witch, opposes, saying he needs years of more education. To resolve the dispute, Togeice proposes a competition with Ichi in Hoitaka to see who first can acquire Macilvaine, a mushroom (Kindake) Majik; its trial requires the contestants to cut its stem and harvest it. Togeice goes first, using her signature dignified, disciplined, beautiful style to freeze all the mushrooms; Ichi tracks Macilvaine relentlessly. As Kumugi lures Macilvaine, Ichi is about to complete the trial, but switches targets abruptly to the World-Hater Majik, giving Togeice the win. The Witches Council declares an emergency over the S-tier World-Hater; instead of being intimidated, Ichi is exhilarated.
3 June 4, 2025[5]978-4-08-884580-7
  1. "Out of Your Depth" (身の程知らず, Mi no Hodo Shirazu)
  2. "Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch" (深淵の魔女 デスカラス, Shin'en no Majo Desukarasu)
  3. "Magic Circle" (魔法心円, Mahō Kokoro en)
  4. "The Oracle" (予言の魔女, Yogen no Majo)
  5. "How We Live" (生き方, Ikikata)
  1. "Mentor-Pupil Blood Contract" (師弟血判状, Shitei Keppan-jō)
  2. "Gokuraku the Brutalizer" (苛虐のゴクラク, Kagyaku no Gokuraku)
  3. "Gokuraku and Male Witches" (魔男とゴクラク, Ma Otoko to Gokuraku)
  4. "The Joyous Country" (幸福の国, Kōfuku no Kuni)
After Ichi halts the World-Hater's advance with an amplified ice attack, Desscaras and Togeice battle the World-Hater, which withdraws without revealing its trial. Jikishirone, the Oracle Witch, prophesizes Ichi will defeat the World-Hater Majik by sacrificing his own life. Monigold commands the prophecy be kept secret; Desscaras is reminded of her younger brother Libro, a victim of the World-Hater, and she enters a mentor-pupil blood contract with Ichi to make him family, which she jokes makes him her slave. Ichi is moved by joining a family, but the other witches realize Desscaras is also doomed if Ichi dies; she vows to train Ichi to survive the World-Hater. The anti-human-hater Majik team travel to Bakugami to challenge Origumo, but Gokuraku the Brutalizer is already tormenting the spider-like Majik. When Ichi completes Origumo's challenge, Gokuraku kidnaps him and asks how he also can be a male witch. Ichi introduces him to Uroro, who tells Gokuraku to kill the slumbering Ichi, but the transparent attempt at betrayal fails. Desscaras and Kumugi arrive in Bakugami, where they meet the eponymous, beloved "blessed slumber" Majik; Gokuraku tells Ichi that Bakugami is a parasite and they prepare to capture it.-->

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

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These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were originally serialized in Japanese in issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump.

  1. "Out of Your Depth" (身の程知らず, Mi no Hodo Shirazu)
  2. "Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch" (深淵の魔女 デスカラス, Shin'en no Majo Desukarasu)
  3. "Magic Circle" (魔法心円, Mahō Kokoro en)
  4. "The Oracle" (予言の魔女, Yogen no Majo)
  5. "How We Live" (生き方, Ikikata)
  6. "Mentor-Pupil Blood Contract" (師弟血判状, Shitei Keppan-jō)
  7. "Gokuraku the Brutalizer" (苛虐のゴクラク, Kagyaku no Gokuraku)
  8. "Gokuraku and Male Witches" (魔男とゴクラク, Madan to Gokuraku)
  9. "The Joyous Country" (幸福の国, Kōfuku no Kuni)
  10. "Lord Bakugami" (バクガミ様, Bakugami-sama)
  11. "Most Wanted" (指名手配犯, Shimei Tehaihan)
  12. "Unknown Emotions" (知らない感情, Shiranai Kanjō)
  13. "Begin the Operation" (作戦開始, Sakusen Kaishi)
  14. "Future Foretold" (告げる未来, Tsugeru Mirai)
  15. "Challenger" (挑戦者, Chōsen-sha)
  16. "Sacrifice" (イケニエ, Ikenie)
  17. "Fates Entwined" (一蓮托生, Ichiren Takushō)
  18. "Invisible Cage" (見えない檻, Mienai ori)
  19. "Atone" (贖罪, Shokuzai)
  20. "Stake" (杭, Kui)

Reception

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Nick Valdez of ComicBook.com described the first chapter of Ichi the Witch as the "strongest the magazine has seen since the likes of Kagurabachi", and said "it could be the next big thing".[8] Joshua Fox of Screen Rant praised the worldbuilding, artwork, and protagonist of the story.[1]

The series has been recommended by manga authors Kōhei Horikoshi and Katsura Hoshino.[9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Fox, Joshua (September 10, 2024). "Shonen Jump's New Groundbreaking Fantasy Manga Surpasses Expectactions: Here Is What You Need to Know About It". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Davidson, Danica (September 3, 2024). "act-age Artist Gets New Series with Madan no Ichi". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Pineda, Rafael (September 6, 2024). "act-age Artist Shiro Usazaki, Iruma-kun's Osamu Nishi Launch New Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  4. ^ a b 魔男のイチ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b 魔男のイチ 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Lada, Jenni (September 9, 2024). "Ichi the Witch Manga Debuts in Shonen Jump". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  7. ^ 魔男のイチ 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Valdez, Nick (September 8, 2024). "Act-Age Artist Releases Ichi the Witch, Shonen Jump's Best New Series". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  9. ^ 西修×宇佐崎しろが描く「魔男のイチ」1巻、堀越耕平が絶賛「少年漫画の理想です」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 2, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  10. ^ 「魔男のイチ」星野桂から推薦コメント到着、応募者全員サービスにアクキー＆缶バッジ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
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