Popular YouTuber-turned-mangaka CoryxKenshin has been receiving a lot of praise for his famous new manga, “Monsters We Make,” which was released in its first volume on December 24, 2024. Monsters We Make was a massive success with the first volume selling over 200,000 physical copies of Volume 1 in its first week of launch. The excellent manga seamlessly blends Eastern and Western cultures to create an incredible story with a diverse cast, and its first volume definitely highlights those features.
CoryxKenshin’s Monsters We Make Brings a Compelling Setting and Cast of Characters
The story of Monsters We Make takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, focusing on a city called New Edyn, where an event known as the Eternal Night occurred. People born during the Eternal Night end up with one power or the other. However, some people succumb to their negative emotions, turning them into monsters with no consideration for human life.
The story follows the main character, Jabari Booker, a boy also born during the Eternal Night, as he moves into New Edyn with his family. Jabari’s life has been anything but easy as he and his family have been on the move constantly and finally end up in New Edyn, a place with breathable air. Jabari, known as a prodigy since childhood, attends New Edyn Academy, where he hopes to elevate his artistic talents to the next level. Upon arriving, we are introduced to two other students, Liam and September.
Despite Liam and Jabari’s rocky first meeting, the latter gets along swimmingly with September. September takes him around the school, and he can’t hide his amazement at how beautiful the place is. However, their excursion is interrupted by a robot who informs Jabari of his supplementary test. Before leaving, September warns him not to stand out but to do enough to earn his place.
Jabari’s first meeting with the Dean is anything but rosy, as she undermines him, telling him they have to ensure he is absolutely one of the best. He recounts his life as someone who has always been told he didn’t deserve one thing or another. He strengthens his resolve and faces his test. The story offers a further glimpse into his past, revealing that he has extremely sensitive hearing and can detect even the slightest of sounds. Jabari then arrives at the testing grounds. Despite being shocked it’s a physical test, he aces it with ease.
Meanwhile, the Dean receives a call from an investigator looking into the disappearance of some kids. The Dean then assigns Liam and his squad to investigate the situation. After passing his test, Jabari is summoned to the Dean’s office to receive his class placement. Upon arrival, the Dean gives him a seat and shows him some disturbing scenes of monsters killing and torturing people.
Jabari is appalled by the grueling scenes but is even more stunned at the fact that it is teenagers like him battling the monsters. It is then revealed that the academy isn’t a sanctuary but a training ground for people to fight monsters. Jabari decides to leave. However, the Dean stops him and even goes so far as to threaten his family’s new peaceful life. He accepts the principal’s proposal and is assigned to Liam’s team, which includes September, Han, and Alicent.
Jabari initially struggled with being part of the group, even leading to a slight altercation with Alicent. However, upon learning they were all in a similar situation to him, he calms down, and together, they look for the leaker. Despite being the first time they worked together, the team successfully completes their mission.
Volume 1 Has an Incredible Art Style and Aura
Unsurprisingly, the art style of the manga is phenomenal, as CoryxKenshin has always been well known for his amazing drawings. For fans debating whether the Monsters We Make Volume 1 physical copy is worth it, trust me when I say the illustrations and overall feel gives you a more immersive experience.
However, one of the best aspects of this manga is the main character, who is relatable to the average person. Jabari had always been told how undeserving he was of the things he had, despite people not knowing how hard he had worked for them. Cory does a great job of making these characters sound like actual teenagers with issues not your typical hero story.
Another great thing about the story thus far is the power system, or tuning, and how it relates to each person in Monsters We Make. The first volume is simply a great deal of fun to read. There are many elements that will be familiar to shonen fans, but the combination Cory has gone for puts an original spin on the whole thing. That said, there’s potential for a stronger story if the series continues down its current path and doesn’t try to forcibly blend typical shonen tropes into it.
According to New Edyn Press, Cory x Kenshin’s Monsters We Make returned with Chapter 9, which is the first chapter of the second volume. Fans can read it for free on the official website. The volume will be available for online readers from June 2, 2025 till August 11, 2025. However, fans waiting for the physical copy can purchase it from August 11, 2025.
Disclaimer: New Edyn Press provided a physical copy of Monsters We Make for review purposes.
