Land of Monsters, the Dark Fantasy Manga for Inuyasha Fans
Renowned manga master, Rumiko Takahashi, recently spoke highly of Mitsutani’s Land of Monsters. The manga series also called Mamono no Kuni (魔物の国) is currently publishing under Weekly Shonen Sunday. The magazine is known for its brilliance in publishing many acclaimed hidden fantasy stories, including Takahashi’s own celebrated series, Inuyasha, and recent smash hit Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The dark fantasy manga, Land of Monsters, is written and illustrated by Mitsutani. It began serialization in February 2025, and released its first collected volume in Japan on May 16.
What is the Land of Monsters manga about?
Land of Monsters (Mamono no Kuni) is a dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Mitsutani. Set in a world where humans and monsters are in constant conflict, the story follows a young boy who embarks on a journey to uncover the key to peace between the two species.
A spirit narrated a story to the boy about how humans and monsters used to live together in peace, and now his only mission is to bring everyone together. As he navigates through a land ravaged by war and mistrust, he seeks to bridge the gap and restore harmony.
Best New Shonen Dark Fantasy Manga Every Inuyasha Fan Should Read
Rumiko Takahashi, who is not only popularly known for Inuyasha but also much-appreciated series; in fact, classic rom-coms like Urusei Yatsura and Ranma ½, applauded the efforts of Mitsutani by saying:
死と魔物のにおい、石の城の感触、それらを幻想的に包みこむしっとりとした絵、ラビの無垢な瞳、すべてが好きです。
“The smell of death and monsters, the feel of the stone castle, the moist and dreamy art that wraps it all in fantasy, Ravi’s innocent eyes—I love everything about it.”
The quote can be seeing in its entirety in the black box on the cover of the newly released first volume of Mamono no Kuni. When renowned mangaka like Rumiko Takahashi appreciated and recommended the series to the fans, Mitsutani responded on their X (formerly Twitter) account emotionally, saying that it is “the first time I experienced tears of joy.”
『#魔物の国 』の第1巻が本日、発売されました！
帯コメントをなんと、高橋留美子先生にいただきました！
嬉し泣きを初めて体験しました。
お手に取ってもらえたら嬉しいです。
よろしくお願いします！(みつたに)Amazon↓https://t.co/JY6xeBgc78 pic.twitter.com/BtWDJfUTV9
— 『魔物の国』みつたに (@mitsutani0723) May 15, 2025
Why would Inuyasha Fans like Land of Monsters?
Inuyasha fans might find Land of Monsters interesting thanks to shared themes, emotional depth, and rich fantasy setting. Both series immerse readers in supernatural worlds where monsters and humans have a tenuous relationship. Just as Inuyasha explores the relationships between humans and yokai in a feudal landscape steeped in folklore, Land of Monsters presents a haunting world dominated by monsters, where only a few humans remain. The moral complexity of these creatures, who are neither wholly evil nor good, mirrors the layered treatment of demons in Inuyasha.
The protagonist of Land of Monsters, like Inuyasha, is a loner driven by a desire to bridge the gap between two opposing worlds. The quest to rebuild a broken alliance between humans and monsters echoes the core emotional themes of Inuyasha, including isolation, identity, and reconciliation. Mitsutani’s art, while more textured and horror-tinged than Rumiko Takahashi’s style, carries a similarly dreamy atmosphere, with moody castles, eerie landscapes, and a storybook aesthetic that may resonate with Inuyasha fans.
Who is Mitsutani?
The creator of Land of Monsters, is only 20 years old, but their work has been super popular. Mitsutani’s path began at age 14, when they submitted a one-shot to the Sunday Rookie competition. Though it didn’t win, the entry received praise and guidance from manga legends like Rumiko Takahashi, who would later endorse Land of Monsters upon its release. Takahashi’s praise, which described the artwork as “moist and dreamy,” helped elevate Mitsutani’s visibility in the industry.
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Mitsutani’s rapid ascent and industry recognition reflect both raw talent and a distinctive voice in the genre. Their work is known for its dreamy yet eerie tone, wide-eyed characters, and textured visual style. Their signature illustration style draws comparisons to creators like Tatsuki Fujimoto. Prior to Land of Monsters, they published one-shots such as Shoujo Jihen (Girl’s Incident) and Mamono no Shiro (Castle of Monsters), which explored recurring themes of isolation, transformation, and the fragile relationship between humans and monsters. With Land of Monsters, Mitsutani continues these motifs, crafting a world of emotional depth and visual spectacle that has resonated with readers in both Japan and abroad.
Lastly, the newly released dark fantasy manga is a fantastic addition to the competitive universe of the genre. New-gen dark fantasy manga like Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama and Made in Abyss by Akihito Tsukushi have already gained tremendous love and support from fans. VIZ Media is also working on the English serialization of the title, at the same time as in Japan. We hope Land of Monsters will continue the trend and win the hearts of not only fans of dark fantasy but also the fans of Inuyasha.
To check out a sampling of Land of Monsters, VIZ has made a few chapters available for free. Discuss Land of Monsters on the PopGeeks Comic Book Forum.
SOURCE: Comic Natalie
