Anyone with a superhero craving should definitely check out Zetman. Masakazu Katsura’s ongoing seinen manga series, published by Shueisha, first released in 2002 and recently hit 18 volumes. It birthed a short 13-episode anime in 2012 courtesy of TMS Entertainment.

The opening pages of the manga show two heroes at a critical moment, with one – Alphasz – about to kill the other – ZET. We then flash back to the childhood of the latter, aka Jin Kanzaki. Living on the streets and raised by a homeless man, this street urchin uses his great strength and acrobatics to fight crime. For a price. Meanwhile bizarre murders are shocking Japan. They are soon revealed to be the work of a monstrous life form known as a Player. Tragedy strikes and things go from bad to worse. It oozes atmosphere and is clearly inspired by the likes of Batman. Especially when the non-powered vigilante Kouga Amagi, later known as Alphasz, starts showing off his spectacular gadgets.

The magic of Zetman lies in its nature as a two-sided tribute to the superhero genre. On the one hand we have ZET, representing the Japanese ideology, harking back to the likes of Guyver. And then there’s the brash Alphasz who follows blindly in his own sense of justice. Reminiscent of Batman in particular, it seems to be a harsh comment on American attitudes.

Despite an explosive exterior and the inevitable indulgences into action cliche, this is a manga bubbling with intelligence and emotion. Katsura frequently demonstrates a flair for the dark and brutal. And whilst it doesn’t reach the extreme heights of Gantz it should nevertheless only be approached by those of an open mind. Violence and nudity ahoy.

So whilst Zetman may not be everyone, adult fans of the superhero genre should really give this series a try. The characters are engaging, the story interesting, and the atmosphere thick. In the space of just a few chapters you’re sure to be hooked.

Zetman is out now and can be found at your local manga shop.