Kara Dennison
November 22, 2024 
Nowadays, what we call “life hacks” aren’t really hacks at all… just daily tips to make life a little easier. But what if life hacks were actual hacks—moves that could change the way the world works? That’s the concept behind Bug Ego, the manga from One-Punch Man creator ONE and artist Kiyoto Shitara. VIZ now runs the manga on its Shonen Jump app, and its first four chapters are an absolute must-read.
If you’re a fan of weird paranormal manga like DAN DA DAN and Chainsaw Man, this new title is for you. Read on to find out what makes it so addictive!
The Story
The heroes (so to speak) of Bug Ego are Hisujiya and Kokudo. At first, Hisujiya tries to strike up a friendship with his pint-sized desk neighbor by sharing “life hacks.” But Kokudo counters with literal “hacks.” Punch in a certain drink order at a vending machine, for example, and a bird will poop in a certain spot. That’s just one of a huge number of real-world hacks in Kokudo’s notebook. And before long, Hisujiya becomes addicted to exploiting them.
But the bigger the hack, the bigger the consequence if you get the conditions wrong. Hisujiya learns this when trying to rewind time to improve his exam grades. But even after the colossal consequences of this mistake, he’s still addicted. And before long, the two boys are in deep as they explore the reality-bending bugs around them.
The Horrors
To match ONE’s absolutely buckwild writing style, Bug Ego needed similarly wild art. And Kiyoto Shitara delivers, with art that jumps back and forth over the line of hyperrealism. Moments of high comedy and high terror are equally carefully penned, leading to a visceral blend of horror and absurdist humor.
Given his unabating willingness to exploit the hacks in the world around him, Hisujiya is often from and center for the horrors. For example, in one of the first four chapters, there’s a Black Mirror-esque trap in a museum of curiosities. (Think White Christmas or USS Callister.) These two chapters have some seriously peak artwork, including the two-page spread above. It’s the perfect match for ONE’s terrifying and unhinged writing.
The People
While the bugs may be at the center of Bug Ego, there’s more to the story. For example, where do the hacks come from? Who wrote them down (especially considering you’re not supposed to write them down)? And what about that weird sticker on the cover of Kokudo’s notebook that seems to evolve as they use more hacks?
The worldbuilding isn’t all there is to explore, either. The relationship between Hisujiya and Kokudo is tense, given their personal goals. Kokudo really, truly, wants a friend. But it sure seems like Hisujiya only keeps Kokudo around as a way to access those sweet, sweet hacks. Will they ever become true friends? Will Hisujiya ever wise up? What makes Kokudo so lonely in the first place? Underneath the action and terror of the hacks, a truly human story is spinning out in front of us. And we can’t wait to see more.
Read Bug Ego on the Viz website or the Shonen Jump app.
