It is a tough time for fans of Demon Slayer and One-Punch Man but luckily the manga Ayashimon manages to deftly combine elements of both manga into one tale. With the last issue of the Demon Slayer manga dropping way back in May 2020, and One-Punch Man currently on indefinite hiatus, fans have been hard-pressed to find alternative manga that speaks to the stories, styles, and connections that they have grown used to in those other two series. Fortunately, the manga universe is loaded with a range of interesting stories and alternative manga like Ayashimon that can fill the vacuum.

Combining elements of both Demons Slayer and One-Punch Man, Ayashimon is a thoroughly enjoyable manga that will soon have fans of those other series forgetting why they have been missing them. Ayashimon tells the story of Maruo Kaido, a teenager expelled from school for his fighting tendencies. Since he was a toddler, Maruo has been an avid fan of manga, his favorite heroes being Goku, Kinniku-Man, and Jotaro. Wanting to one day follow in the footsteps of his manga heroes, Maruo begins practicing the training techniques he read about in the manga. Initially, his effort end in complete failure and injury. However, his persistent attempts finally lead to success. Indeed, by the age of seven, Maruo is able to split a boulder with a single chop, bend steel bars without breaking a sweat, and defeat anyone who steps in his way. In other words, Maruo is another version of One-Punch Man’s Saitama.

Related: Shonen Jump's Ayashimon Is Ripping Off One Punch Man (With a Twist)

Unable to find a job that makes use of his skillset, Maruo decides to become a protector or bodyguard, but his over-the-top display of his powers scares off most potential employers. However, one day he runs into Urara, a seemingly defenseless girl being chased by a bunch of bad-looking thugs. After Maruo rescues Urara from the gang chasing her, she reveals that in reality, she is an ayashimon—or demon—who is the leader of a demon crime gang. Urara tells Maruo that the men chasing her were also ayashimon seeking to eliminate her and take over her gang.

Ayashimon-marou

Impressed with Maruo’s abilitie,s she invites him to join her gang as an enforcer. After some hesitation, and another fight with the ayashimon chasing Urara, Maruo figures that working for Urara is probably the best job he could get that allows him to use his abilities to the fullest. He then accepts Urara’s offer. This aspect of the manga mirrors that of Demon Slayer’s Tanjiro and his desire to help his sister. Both manga depict the story of a supernaturally powered human who dedicates himself to protecting the life and fortune of a demon, who is the target of other demons.

Naturally, Ayashimon has presented its own unique story and characters and will continue to do so. However, it also provides a tale that calls up enough aspects of Demon Slayer and One-Punch Man to satisfy fans of both manga. Indeed, while diving into the story, fans will also find themselves comparing it to the other manga and plumbing their manga knowledge to identify the similarities and contrasts. It not only provides a wholly unique manga experience, but also allows fans to let their full manga geek/comic nerd mindset loose. Indeed, it might be the worst of times for fans of Demon Slayer and One-Punch Man, but Ayashimon will make it the best of times.

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