“Siblings Minato and Akira Lee have moved to a new town, and they're expecting things to be different— but not this different! Ghostly figures tower over and pass through buildings, drawing no reaction from the locals, some of whom appear far from normal themselves. When Akira spots a strange creature outside her window, she and her new friends organize a search. If no one else can explain the uncanny appearances, the investigation club will get to the bottom of it!” (Yen Press)
Blending coming-of-age drama with the supernatural, “Glitch” instantly grabs the reader's attention with slight tweaks to a familiar formula. The idea of a family moving to a new town and adapting is a rather tired cliche in the world of manga that demands a gripping hook to avoid redundancy. Thankfully, the unique visions that Shinya crafts blend nature and the surreal and bleed into the manga in fascinating ways.
Notably, there is a general sense of mystery around the town and the source of the ethereal creatures that glitch in and out of reality. It comes across as natural, almost tied to the idea of the imagination of youth, yet presenting itself as a potential threat to those who can see the anomalies. Moreover, siblings Minato and Akira Lee are the perfect guides to exploring the town lore by making friends with those who have grown up their whole lives experiencing the odd phenomenon. This mix of self-discovery in a new town with an uncertain environment is an ideal way to establish the lore and instantly endear you to the characters.
Check also this video
Initially published in 2021 and ending in 2023, the series is complete, and four volumes will be released through Yen Press. This is noteworthy, as often, a short-run series that starts off alluding to a much broader story can create doubt as to whether the manga can reach an agreeable conclusion in such few volumes. While this is still to be seen, “Glitch” is one of the few cases where the reader can feasibly see a rather grand idea play out positively across its brief run.
Considering the easy accessibility of the release, the short run, and the competent writing that feels grounded in traditional storytelling–with Shinya's giving it a needed unique twist to stay prevalent–one might think the series is a ‘homerun.' However, the approach has a general feeling of safety, and a family-friendly vibe keeps the supernatural elements subdued and more geared to a young audience. This comes before even addressing the artistic approach of Shima Shinya.
The visual styling of Shima Shinya is not always complimentary to the story, as was the case in his series “Lost Lad London,” whose clean style did not favor a gritty detective story. Here it is still hard to embrace the commercialized style, which has a softness that feels inspired by the modern Disney aesthetic. Yet, in the cast of “Glitch,” the art is more complimentary and benefits from moments of surrealism. The creatures that appear, or ‘glitches,' make quite the impact, whether small in stature or large looming creatures that overtake the horizon.
Comparatively, the characters can feel rather crude when focusing on specific points, such as their hands, but this is less limiting to a series tied to the follies of youth as Shinya's art seems tailored to capturing that exuberance. The opening panels, in color, are striking in comparison. To get a release in full color from Shima Shinya would undoubtedly be worthy of further exploration and praise, with the incredible shading work and rich color pallet, which feels somewhat dulled when switching to monochrome.
After checking both published outings from Shinya Shiima through Yen Press, I can confidently say that the mangaka is not to my tastes, primarily due to the visual style but also in content, regardless of how well the story is told in the inaugural volume. However, “Glitch” showcases the talent of Shinya in a more complementary light, making the work palatable. There is undoubtedly an audience for the unique tales that Shima Shinya crafts, and if the art vibes with your aesthetic, don't hesitate to give it a go.
