Highlights
- Non-Japanese main characters in isekai manga add a fresh spin to the narrative with unique cultural elements and perspectives.
- The Ordeals of Regional Knight Hans & Captain Corinth feature Western protagonists in traditional Japanese-dominant genre.
- Suicide Squad Isekai blends DC Comics with anime, featuring popular characters like Harley Quinn in a fantastical setting.
As a media format originating in Japan, it’s only natural for most anime and manga to feature protagonists of Japanese origin at the forefront, a fact that holds true for the isekai genre as well. However, a few mangaka have taken a slightly unconventional approach by putting non-Japanese main characters at the helm, resulting in a somewhat novel yet intriguing premise.
Since manga are primarily set in Japan, these narratives usually feature protagonists based in the archipelago. However, isekai anime and manga are set in all manner of fantasy settings, giving these storylines a bit more leeway in terms of incorporating foreign elements. With unique cultural norms and mannerisms, non-Japanese protagonists can add a fresh spin to the narrative, an element that these isekai anime and manga certainly embody.
1 The Ordeals Of Regional Knight Hans
Hans Belongs To A Fantasy World Resembling Medieval Europe
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Release Date |
Mar 25, 2015 |
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No. Of Chapters |
54 |
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Author |
Amara |
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Japanese Title |
Chihou Kishi Hans no Junan |
The Ordeals of Regional Knight Hans is an isekai manga that flips the script with its parodical take on the isekai theme’s many formulaic tropes. For starters, the manga is set in a peaceful medieval world, one where a group of Japanese people show up from another world with superhuman abilities. In a way, a character that would normally be an NPC is the protagonist, presenting the narrative from the other world’s perspective.
The manga follows Hans’ adventures as he teams up with otherworldly Japanese visitors to protect his countryside station from encroaching monsters. The Ordeals of Regional Knight Hans presents a largely comedic narrative, with a bit of action, adventure, and fantasy dotted throughout the manga.
2 Captain Corinth: The Galactic Navy Officer Becomes An Adventurer
Alan Corinth Hails From An Unspecified Western Nation
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Release Date |
Dec 28, 2018 |
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No. Of Chapters |
48+ |
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Author |
Atsuhiko Ito |
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Japanese Title |
Kouchuugun Shikan, Boukensha ni Naru |
With a mix of isekai and sci-fi themes, Captain Corinth: The Galactic Navy Officer Becomes an Adventurer encapsulates the genre’s tropes, albeit with an unconventional method of isekai travel. Instead of being summoned or reincarnated, Alan Corinth finds himself on an unknown planet after his spaceship is attacked by an alien race.
While such a premise would normally be categorized as sci-fi, the manga sheds its initial science-fiction theme and leaves Alan in a fantasy world with swords and magic, almost identical to any other isekai. Manga rarely blend these two themes so effortlessly, yet Captain Corinth: The Galactic Navy Officer Becomes an Adventurer presents a refreshing premise where technology and magic work hand-in-hand. While Alan’s nationality is never exactly specified, his European name hints toward a Western ethnicity.
3 Ya Boy Kongming!
Kongming Is Originally From Ancient China
Ya Boy Kongming! isn’t marketed as an isekai anime, since it primarily features a tactician from ancient China time-traveling to modern-day Japan. However, the setting of China’s Warring States Period in the third century and today’s Tokyo are worlds apart, meaning it isn’t much of a stretch to deem this anime an isekai.
Kongming’s adventures in modern-day Tokyo become even more bizarre as he comes across an EDM idol, a chance encounter that marks the beginning of their music career in the modern world. While the anime never exactly took off in terms of popularity, Ya Boy Kongming! offers a truly unique premise within the isekai landscape.
4 Ride-On King
Alexander Purchinov Is the President Of Prusia (Based On Russia)
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Release Date |
May 26, 2018 |
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No. Of Chapters |
67+ |
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Author |
Yasushi Baba |
The Ride-On King is a satirical manga based on the current Russian president, with an absurd yet oddly engaging premise. Purchinov, the President of a fictional nation called Prusia, is known for his innate desire to ride and conquer all manner of things, be it machines, wild animals, or even humans.
With nothing left to ride and conquer in this world, Purchinov luckily ends up in a fantasy world, allowing him to ride mythical creatures such as orcs and wyverns. While the premise is as bizarre as it can get, Ride-On King’s narrative is laced with comedy, meaning the manga doesn’t take itself too seriously. Purchinov might be a dictator, yet he comes off as a likable character, and the manga does an excellent job of presenting a fleshed-out protagonist.
5 Suicide Squad Isekai
Harley Quinn And Her Squad Hail From America
Summer 2024’s most anticipated isekai entry, Suicide Squad Isekai bridges the gap between DC Comics and anime with an otherworldly spin on the superhero comic scene. This rendition of Suicide Squad features Harley Quinn at the helm, coupled with a roster of recurring members such as Deadshot, Peacemaker, and King Shark. When a portal connecting Earth to a fantasy world pops up, A.R.G.U.S. forms a task force to investigate the new world, although with a few juvenile members leading the charge.
Since Suicide Squad Isekai is currently airing, it’s too soon to determine the anime’s success. However, fans of Suicide Squad should still check out this anime to witness the anime version of their favorite DC characters in action. Regardless of how well the series performs, the premise is certainly an unconventional one within the isekai landscape, making the series well worth the watch.
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