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Manga Review: Reborn as a Vending Machine I Now Wonder The Dungeon Vol. 1 (2023) by Kunieda, Hirukuma & Hagure Yuuki

Some absurdist isekai's are just built better than others!

“How far are you willing to go to protect your interests? For one Japanese vending-machine enthusiast, the answer is “to the grave.” Crushed by his favorite contraption, his life as a fanboy of dispensed goods may be over, but his close connection to vending machines can only grow—when he's reborn as one in a fantasy world! Is a land of monsters and magic ready for this modern marvel of convenience?! INSERT COINS FOR ADVENTURE” (Yen Press)

Absurdist fantasy has long been a staple of Japanese entertainment. From being reborn as an apple to running around as a ‘mimic' kicking foes into oblivion, outlandish concepts are commonplace to the point that the scenario presented is not necessarily able to bolster a title without the success of other elements beyond the premise it poses. One such example, “” which was first released as a light novel of the same title (also from Yen Press) makes the leap to manga. Faced with both the difficulties of losing key components in adaptation and the pressure for absurdist pieces to offer value beyond their silly set-up, does “Reborn as a Vending Machine I Now Wonder The Dungeon” stack up to the popular light novel series?

Thankfully, the manga hits the mark, with the team taking the story as seriously as possible to offer a complimentary balance of genres. Moreover, the team behind the manga adaptation set the groundwork for how being a living ‘vending machine' works and crafted the story around set rules as opposed to constantly shifting the abilities of its protagonist to favor humor over the fundamentals of competent storytelling. This, notably, extends to the characters that remain grounded by traits that make them endearing/admirable.

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The serious approach to an abnormal scenario, consequently, bolsters the comedic elements and timing within the manga. Investing in character growth over goofy or cliche dialogue makes any deviation into absurdity all the more hilarious. For example, attacking a foe with an overheated can of soup is not necessarily humorous unto itself, but the build-up to moments like these makes the manga flow in a way that perfectly balances drama and comedy. Essentially, the story presents an Isekai comedy at its best, silly but showing the needed reserve to not just become a superficial gimmick.

Visually, the art of is just serviceable to the story– the draw of the manga still lies in the story over the visual presence. However, there are still positives to be gleaned from Kunieda's adaptation, particularly in imbuing the characters with defined personalities and eccentricities that help establish their characters. While the main protagonist “Boxxo” is rather limited by his vending machine body, his partner Lammis is wonderfully charismatic under the playful approach Kunieda takes to bringing the character to manga. The art style is best described as ‘fun', which is perfectly suitable for the book.

Over the past year and a bit, I have become overly obsessed with absurd Isekai, especially in the light novel format. As such, “Reborn as a Vending Machine” has been on my to-read list for some time–sitting on my Kindle waiting its turn in the queue. The adaptation not only has me excited to check out the light novel in due time but also to collect the manga due to its ability to show restraint when needed to help develop the story.

Even when not familiar with the source material, there can still be a sensation of ‘missing out' by going with the manga adaptation as certain elements just don't click or key components seem skipped to capture a cohesive narrative you should find in the format. This sentiment, thankfully, is not reflective of the manga adaptation, and the story flows like you would expect a fully realized, competent, fantasy Isekai would. Essentially, whether readers prefer light novels or manga, both versions of “Reborn as a Vending Machine I Now Wonder The Dungeon” are sure to entertain.

About the author

Adam Symchuk

Adam Symchuk is a Canadian born freelance writer and editor who has been writing for Asian Movie Pulse since 2018. He is currently focused on covering manga, manhwa and light novels having reviewed hundreds of titles in the past two years.

His love of film came from horror and exploitation films from Japan that he devoured in his teens. His love of comics came from falling in love with the works of Shuzo Oshimi, Junji Ito, Hideshi Hino, and Inio Asano but has expanded to a general love of the medium and all its genres.

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