I didn’t know there was a movie adaptation, after reading the first volume i’m very much excited to look it up and watch the movie and read the next volume. I loved the art style and the story was so wholesome.

If you’re looking for a manga that blends adventure, mystery, and a dash of the supernatural, Suzume 1 by Makoto Shinkai is your ticket to a heartwarming and exhilarating ride!

Adapted from the hit film directed by Shinkai, this manga captures the magic of his storytelling while bringing a fresh, new perspective to the story.

The journey kicks off when high school junior Suzume meets a mysterious and undeniably handsome stranger, Souta, who’s on a quest to find certain ruins and a special door. Curiosity gets the best of her, and she points him in the direction of an eerie, abandoned resort. But when

Suzume realises something isn’t quite right, she races back to stop him—only to accidentally open a door to another world! What follows is an adventure that’s as thrilling as it is touching, filled with seismic twists and turns (literally and figuratively).

What makes Suzume 1 such a fun read is how it balances the excitement of a grand adventure with the relatable, everyday struggles of a teenage girl. Suzume is a delightful FMC, brave, curious, and a little bit impulsive, which makes her journey all the more engaging.

The manga’s art beautifully captures the world beyond the door, filled with breathtaking landscapes and eerie ruins that hint at the wonders (and dangers) that lie ahead.

Whether you’re a fan of Shinkai’s previous works or new to his storytelling magic, Suzume 1 is a fantastic start to a series that promises to be just as enchanting as its film counterpart. It’s a perfect blend of cute, fun, and adventurous—a must-read for manga lovers who enjoy a mix of the mystical and the heartwarming.

Thank you to the publisher Vertical Comics, The authors Makoto Shinkai and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed the movie so I was curious to read the manga

The story starts with Suzume helping this hot stranger with an odd request of finding ruin to find a door. Then, Suzume winds up getting involved in this hunt for a supernatural worm that travels through doors. Also the hot stranger turns into a chair because of a keystone cat — CRAZY TURN OF EVENTS such a unique fantasy plot with adventure that awaits

I received an ARC of this book.
Suzume is a strange and fantastical story of a high school student who accidentally gets wrapped up in a world of curses, gods, and portals. The quirky narrative and beautiful imagery tie together nicely to create a fun and exciting read. I really enjoyed the unexpected turns in the story that were both intriguing and delightfully fantastical. I found Suzume to be an interesting character. She has a big heart and a sad backstory yet to be uncovered. The middle of the story is perhaps a bit slow as it delves deeper into the cast of characters but overall, it had me intrigued and wishing for more!

Thank you, Kodansha/ Vertical Comics, for the ARC.

I actually need more explanations and a better edited art sequencing for this manga. Hope we get to see it in the upcoming volumes.

Suzume meets a stranger one day on the road and gets asked a strange question looking for ruins. Well, it leads to a strange door for Suzume whew adventures begin with strange characters in an unknown world she never ever imagined.

Well….. let’s wait and see what comes next.

High school junior Suzume directs the beautiful stranger, Souta, to the ruins near her hometown but then remembers that they're dangerous and people aren't supposed to enter. She hurries to stop him but only manages to open a door that should never be opened and set loose a being that will lead her and Souta on an action-packed chase across Japan.

This is a straightforward manga version of the movie, pretty much nothing changes from one to the next other than the medium. It's a great story and Denki Amashima does an excellent job of portraying emotions, especially the danger unleashed on the world, but there is nothing new to surprise you if you've watched the movie. On the other hand, if you don't like animated features but enjoy reading an excellent manga, this one's for you.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Vertical Comics for the lovely read!

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I never thought I would be recommending a story where the male lead is a chair but HEAR ME OUT OKAY 😭

This story begins with the most unhinged chapter. Like I truly could not believe what I was reading at first, but the way this story just gets better and better with every page is what makes me truly love it all the same.

Okay so the plot... 😅

"Suzume" by Makoto Shinkai follows high school junior, Suzume, who lives with her aunt and dreams of becoming a nurse, and Souta, a self-proclaimed professional "closer" (of doors that lead to another world) who Suzume meets on the street and watches as he gets cursed by a kitten and turned into a chair. After successfully closing a door together, Suzume and Souta The Chair are led on an adventure all over Japan as they follow and catch the magical kitten through sitings found on social media via #hangingwithdaijin. Through their travels, they must close any other doors that happen to open and hope that the kitten it within reach to close and lock these doors for good. Doing so will stop a worm from another world from releasing its energy out through these doors and causing powerful earthquakes to damage Japan. It's truly a matter of life or death.

But wait, there's more!

There are emotional moments and beautiful dialogue between Suzume and Souta The Chair that I found to be so heartfelt and impactful. Although this story isn't a romance (Suzume is underage and Souta's age is unknown), the way they are able to spot positive qualities about each other so easily and communicate them even while they go on this stressful adventure is what makes me love them as individual characters.

With Suzume in particular, she gets the most development as a character and she really shines. Sure, you can say shes a bit reckless and naive for some of her actions. Travelling with a man-chair across Japan while skipping school isnt the best idea, I'll admit 😅. It wasn't until we get a better picture of her relationship with her aunt Tamaki that I realized the kind of person she is: someone who is incredibly good-natured and wants to do her best to help and care for others even when it might lead her into trouble. Her ability to build good relationships with new people and earn their kindness as well as maintain her relationship with her aunt despite her absence is what carries them so far. She is a character worth rooting for and whatever the plot will bring her in the future will only make her a stronger character. I, as the reader, believe that, and I know Souta The Chair believes that too.

I would highly recommend anyone reading this to give Suzume a shot. You'll find an excellent story waiting for you. ❤

[Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!]

Suzume, a high schooler, runs into a mysterious man who is seeking the directions to local ruins; a part of town that was previously destroyed in an earthquake. While in class, she sees a dark cloud from the area of the ruins, and runs to help. She accidently moves a key, allowing the dark cloud/worm to be able to travel into her world. This sets her and the mysterious man, Souta, on a journey around Japan to find the key.

The art is beautiful and I cannot wait for volume 2.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The captivating first volume of Makoto Shinkai's manga adaptation of the critically acclaimed movie is titled Suzume 1. Follow Suzume, a junior in high school, as her everyday life takes an amazing turn when she meets a mystery visitor who is looking for a certain door. Suzume unintentionally unlocks this ancient portal, setting off a seismic journey that defies gravity and time. The ethereal imagery and poignant storytelling of Shinkai, who is best known for songs like Your Name and Weathering With You, are brought to life in this manga adaptation. Suzume 1 is a must-read for both fans and beginners alike since it captures the beauty and grandeur of the original movie with its fully detailed plot and breathtaking artwork.

I have read a number of the Makoto Shinkai manga adaptions of the films (the movies in these cases come first), and this like this rest is a perfect addition to the collection. I can't wait for the following volumes and to enjoy Suzume again in a different form.

It was as magical than the movie. Suzume and Souta were interesting and likeable characters and I am still amazed by how the author managed to make a simple chair an endearing character. I enjoyed the manga and I am looking forward to the next volume.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this manga. If you are looking for a beat for beat adaptation of the first part of the movie plus internal dialogue, this is for you. The art is pretty, and the internal dialogue was included seamlessly. Because of these points, I have to give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

omggggg i saw this movie and i was absolutely obsessed with it and then seeign there was a manga?!?!?! this was so beautifully illustrated and the story is timeless

I both liked Suzume as a main character and the journey she's now embarking on after meeting Souta-- a young man who asked for directions to an abandoned resort. While Suzume did give him the directions, she goes to check on him and discovers that he's a gatekeeper, needing to close the door to protect the world. An ancient supernatural forced called a worm lives underneath the Japanese archipelago and releases energy (which causes earthquakes) so Souta needs to protect others and Suzume is not a part of this protection.

The action is paced well for a first in the series and there's an element of discovering her purpose on this journey.

Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 5/5
-Story: 5/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: fantasy
-Fantasy: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes

Hated|Disliked|Meh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

Wow wow wow. I loved this manga so much! The story line, the chair, and everything else that comes with it. It has a bit of mystery to it that has me on the edge of my seat and I'd like to see where it goes. Though the ending left on such a cliffhanger! And for it to have come out in 2022 and the second volume in 2024? Crazy! Def going to watch the movie now!

So I really enjoyed the film and when I saw that there was a manga adaptation of it, I knew I had to read it!

Suzume is a film by Makoto Shinkai (who also brought us the masterpiece Your Name). This story follows Suzume, a high school junior, who one day runs into a mysterious stranger asking for directions to the local ruins. The ruins are all that’s left of a community that was once full of life before it was wracked by a devastating earthquake. As Suzume sits in class, she suddenly feels another shake, and she sees a dark cloud rising from the ruins in the distance. Suzume runs there and tries to help…but accidentally loosens the key and opens up a hole in space and time (oops). And thus starts her little road trip across Japan with the mysterious stranger (who has now turned into a chair — yes, you read that right), trying to stop tragedy from striking again by getting the key back.

It’s going to be hard to separate the manga from the anime I’ve already seen, but I’m going to try.

The story is still extremely captivating, and while we’re only halfway through it, I think Suzume really is a perfect road trip story. There’s the clear overarching goal, but even more so there are the interesting characters she meets along the way. It’s all tied together by the very strong themes of collective trauma and generational loss.

In fact, the world-building is the best part. Shinkai’s stories have always been great at combining real world and fantasy, and Suzume might be the peak of that. The community element makes the story very touching, and I’m sure that Suzume’s personal story will be intertwined with it well.

Suzume is a likable and spunky character who is fun to follow, and the story is offering small but present hints of a backstory that I’m excited to get to. Shouta, the mysterious stranger is a nice companion, but I do find the characterization a bit thin. His chair-ness is good comic relief though, and it sort of gives the story a little bit of charismatic quirkiness.

On the art and pacing, I don’t have much to say about it. The art is great and the pacing is pretty good. It was a really quick read — as most manga is — and I’ll be reading Volume 2 for sure.

I picked up this graphic novel because of I found the movie trailer interesting. I haven't had the chance to watch the movie. But, reading this novel made me want it even more. It was a great start to another graphic novel series.

4.5/5 ⭐️

For a first book, this provides a good introduction on what to expect. The art is beautiful and the story itself is compelling, offering a slight "slice-of-life" concept to it. We are not given too much information of Suzume yet but arguably enough information is given to peak one's interest to want to continue the series. Weirdly enough, a comparison I'd offer for this is Pokemon, with Suzume coming across and meeting kind individuals willing to help her on her "grand mission".

Perhaps I am one of the few people who have yet to actually watch the Suzume anime yet but I have been convinced with this novel. Also... there is a really cute cat that is important to the plot. What more could I ask form? Cute cat wins my heart anyways.

If you want an easy read in between heavier reads, don't be afraid to pick up this fantasy coming-to-age manga!

Thank you to NetGallery for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who loved the movie, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the manga. This gives those who have watched the movie a different perspective into Suzume's experience, especially regarding her fuzzy memories of the past. There were some parts that felt like they skipped background information, but that could just be because the film is still fresh in my memory. Still, it was easy to follow along with, so I think those who haven't seen the film will enjoy it just as much. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next volume!

Suzume is a beautiful film that illustrates the devastation that can be caused by earthquakes and the heartbreak of the victims left behind--all with a fantastical twist of course. When I first watched it, I found it more light-hearted than I originally thought it would be (with an absolutely AMAZING score!) but overall enjoyed it a lot. So of course I had to jump on the chance of reading the manga version.

The first volume of this manga has quite the promising start. The art style is a little different from the film which I found interesting, and quite a bit of content was cut out, which I'm sure was to make the manga more concise, so I do have to say if you pick up the manga and like it, I recommend watching the film as well.

I think my only complaint would be some parts are a little too concise. I found myself going back to make sure I missed anything several times. But other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this volume and revisiting the story.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.