While Kaiju No. 8’s anime adaptation by Production I.G is being knocked out of the park, its manga sadly concluded in July this year. While the manga is generally adored, its ending was arguably far too rushed to be satisfying, leaving multiple plot threads frustratingly unexplored. But for those craving more, there’s a new solution.
While Kaiju No. 8 Relax debuted as a spinoff on June 4, 2024, its print release just dropped on December 2, 2025, courtesy of VIZ Media. The manga is a slice-of-life depiction of events between combat missions for the JAKDF, with clusters of bite-sized stories grouped up as chapters focusing on different heroes, as a jovial yet authentic manga.
Kaiju No. 8 Relax Is a Delightful Spinoff
Featuring the Top Brass as DDR Legends
With Kaiju No. 8’s Shonen Jump+ manga selling 19 million copies in the fall, it’s clear that fans are eager to gobble up the print release upon the manga’s conclusion. Kaiju No. 8 Relax not only fits alongside the rest of the series and B-Side on the bookshelf, but it capitalizes on the uniquely lovable adventures of its main characters.
Kafka Hibino and his fellow Defense Force soldiers need to enjoy some time off, and if the special “Hoshina’s Day Off” episode is any indicator, audiences crave more than tense battles to protect humanity. It explores each character believably, from Kafka’s careless nonchalance, to Reno’s fastidious, rigid perfectionism, to Kikoru’s textbook tsundere behavior.
Seeing Kikoru turn into a tsundere take on a scene resembling a Ralph Furley moment from Three’s Company is a surprising treat.
But Kaiju No. 8 Relax isn’t just an exploration of the mundane aspects of each character; it turns even simple things like Kafka’s kaiju concealment into a classically comedic affair. Seeing Kikoru turn into a tsundere take on a scene resembling a Ralph Furley moment from Three’s Company is a surprising treat.
The rest of the series fleshes out each character and their surprising quirks. Reno, trying to keep a brave face at all times, is amusingly terrified of ghosts, even on the small screen. Director General Shinomiya and Deputy Director Itami are Dance Dance Revolution masters, and Mina Ashiro brings her love for cats and hate for kaiju to the arcade.
Generally speaking, while Kaiju No. 8 Relax is certainly a fun manga, it can’t be overlooked how much of a palate cleanser it truly is. The series won’t bring the overarching plot anywhere meaningfully with its episodic structure and comedic focus, but in a way, it adapts that same spirit from the original.
Fans Appreciate This Series After the Abrupt Original Ending
Perhaps the Anime Can Flesh It Out?
Warning: Spoilers Ahead for the Kaiju No. 8 Manga!
The abrupt ending of Kaiju No. 8 prompted surprise from audiences just checking it out or getting more familiar after its strong anime success. But with chapter #129, longtime readers witness a generic, rushed happy ending for Kafka Hibino after he reunites with his Defense Force teammates. His dream is achieved, but plenty of stories remained unresolved.
Kafka’s secret was cheekily kept from the public, despite him revealing himself to two kids he protects in the final pages. Reno’s usage of Kaiju No. 6 never got the exposure it truly deserved. Fan-shippers were left disappointed, as usual. With a world bearing stakes like Kaiju No. 8 had, it’s shocking how well everything turned out in the end.
While Kaiju No. 8 Relax is no epilogue, it does serve to flesh out these interactions outside of battle. Kafka and Mina’s bond is adorable as they play at the arcade. Seeing Isao Shinomiya break-dancing after hours is fantastic, and strongly reminiscent of the silliness from earlier in the series, even incorporating Kafka’s bizarre kaiju nipple physiology.
Kaiju No. 8 might not bring fans the closure they wanted, but it helps get the bad taste out of their mouths. It focuses on its adorable characters and their bonds, fleshing out the prominent themes of human connection the original manga developed, and a better way to enjoy the series than letting it die with the original manga.
