The new supernatural action series Black Torch has arrived on Crunchyroll, bringing with it a premise that might feel familiar to fans of modern shonen manga and anime. The story follows Jiro Azuma, a teenage punk who, after a fatal encounter with a demon, is saved when his demon pet, Rago, fuses with him. This transformation turns him into a powerful hybrid, making him a target for demons and a potential recruit for a clandestine government agency. This core concept, involving a protagonist merging with a monster to fight other supernatural threats, draws clear parallels to popular series like Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Kaiju No. 8.
Despite these similarities, Black Torch is not a derivative work. The manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki actually predates these other hit series, having begun serialization in Jump Square in December 2016. While it was canceled after five volumes due to lackluster sales, its unique ideas would later become hallmarks of the supernatural shonen genre. The visual of Rago, an evil spirit, filling Jiro's chest mirrors the iconic imagery of Pochita and Denji from Chainsaw Man, but Rago distinguishes himself significantly from his canine counterpart.
Unlike the largely silent Pochita, Rago is a "lovey sassy black cat who never shuts up." This foul-mouthed spirit acts as a grumpy, powerful partner and antihero to Jiro, offering a dynamic that sets Black Torch apart. Fans of beloved feline characters from other anime might find Rago particularly endearing, despite his abrasive personality.
Adding another layer to the narrative, almost every character in Black Torch, including Jiro, comes from a long line of ninjas trained in ninjutsu. Jiro's unique ability to communicate with animals is how he initially bonds with Rago. This connection to the animal world, stemming from his childhood where he was bullied for talking to animals but developed empathy, shapes his unyielding altruism.
The anime adaptation, which premiered on July 4 with new episodes releasing weekly on Crunchyroll, covers the first roughly five chapters of the manga in its initial three episodes. The 12-episode season is expected to adapt all 19 chapters of the original manga. Tsuyoshi Takaki has been closely involved in the anime adaptation, supervising its setting and storyboards, and has described the project as an opportunity to create something even better while respecting his original vision. This involvement offers hope that the anime may expand upon the prematurely canceled manga source material.
Even if the anime strictly adheres to the existing manga, Black Torch stands as a compelling watch, offering a blend of supernatural action, ninja arts, and a memorable feline spirit that fans of Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Kaiju No. 8 might appreciate while awaiting new installments of those series. New episodes of Black Torch are available Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET on Crunchyroll.