Manga Monday: Cells at Work! Neo Bacteria! Vol. 1

Series: Cells at Work!, Cells at Work! Neo Bacteria!
Author/Artist: Haruyuki Yoshida
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Released: November 2, 2021
Received: NetGalley

Cells at Work! Neo Bacteria! Vol. 1 is part of a larger series, Cells at Work! However, it is the first that I have read. It’s such a unique take on the environment around us. And I respect what is being done by Haruyuki Yoshida and the others that have worked on the larger series.

Everyone has bacteria within their bodies, even if they’d rather not think about it. It is important to remember that there are both good and bad bacteria. This is a lesson that teenage Ayumu is learning the hard way.

I have officially read two Cells at Work! series, and so far, I have to say that I like the other one (White Brigade Vol. 1) more. The whole concept is pretty cute, and I like how they approach the subject matter. Hopefully, this series is helping people learn more about their bodies!

In this instance, the material is focused on, you guessed it, bacteria! More accurately, gut bacteria and different types can affect our bodies. There’s a lot of focus on eating healthy here, which is great.

There are also some arguably triggering points, such as Ayumu’s desperation to lose weight and the rhetoric surrounding this plot device. I understand that this was an attempt at starting a conversation, but some unhealthy elements were not discussed, which is rather ironic, given the situation.

Overall, I would say that this is a fun series worth checking out, especially for those who like odd and charming things.

Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.