Issak

Read Manga

Add to My List

Add to Favorites

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Isack, Isaac

Japanese: イサック

More titles

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 19

Chapters: 100

Status: Finished

Published: Jan 25, 2017 to Apr 24, 2025

Genre: Action

Theme: Historical

Demographic: Seinen

Serialization: Afternoon

Authors: Song, Ji-Hyung (Art), Makari, Shinji (Story)

Statistics

Score: 7.45¹ (scored by 1,224 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #3525²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #3166

Members: 7,744

Favorites: 29

Available At

Kodansha USA

Official Site

Resources

Wikipedia

7.45

Ranked #3525Popularity #3166Members 7,744

MangaAfternoonSong, Ji-Hyung (Art), Makari, Shinji (Story)

Add to My List

Volumes: /19

Chapters: /100

Issak

Volume 1
$10.99

Edit
Synopsis

During the 17th century, Europe is being devastated by the Thirty Years' War. Although the Netherlands send reinforcements to The Holy Roman Empire, almost all of them end up deserting, with the exception of a single Japanese man.

Travelling all the way from East Asia, Issak is searching for the man who murdered his master and stole something precious to him. Suspecting the killer has joined one of the opposing armies, Issak participates in the war as a mercenary, hoping to find and end his nemesis once and for all.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit
Background

Issak has been published digitally in English by Kodansha USA since August 15, 2023, and in print as 2-in-1 omnibus volumes since June 10, 2025.

More characters
Characters

Issak

Main

Lorenzo

Supporting

Shibakusa, Shihori

Supporting

Shibakusa, Sahei

Supporting

Zetta

Supporting

von Wittelsbach, Heinrich

Supporting

Reviews

Jan 8, 2021

PowerUpOrDie

Recommended

Preliminary (21/100 eps)

I always appreciate a good historical fiction series, and OH BOY is "Issak" good! This series is still ongoing, so my review is only preliminary. It's certainly possible the whole thing could fall apart down the line- but from what I've seen that's unlikely

STORY

"Issak" is a grand adventure tale set across 17th Century Germany, following our hero as he fights bloody battles and matches wits with mercenaries, princes, and madmen. The story hasn't yet delved into unusually deep and complex themes the same way something like "Vinland Saga" does, but some of my favorite pieces of media such as "Sword of the Stranger" and "Star ... Wars" are built around very simple ideas- there is a distinct difference between "simple" and "stupid".

ART

Simply magnificent. The level of detail on display in things like scenery and clothing here is top-tier, but what truly steals the show are the manga's action set pieces. The fights are frenzied and kinetic, but also clear to follow. And to push it all to an entirely new level, the framing of some moments in the story is incredibly striking. Without going into heavy spoiler territory, in an early chapter we are given the point of view of the enemy commander hiding from Issak in his tent: first he hears gunfire and screams in the distance, then he sees the shadows of me being shot down near his tent, then he curls up in horror and screams as his personal guards at start falling through the door of his tent- each thrown off his feet and through the canvas by the impact of the bullet that took his life- all while the steady rhythm of Issak's deadly rifle keeps cracking away. I've seen plenty of art which can rightly be described as beautiful, but few artists can make their images thrilling.

CHARACTERS

Samurai snipers. Let me say that again: SAMURAI SNIPERS. Even if this cast had nothing else going for it, it would be pretty darn cool! The characters do tend to fit fairly neatly into archetypes so far, but they play their parts well. Issak is a highly skilled warrior who can snatch victory from jaws of death with a degree of cleverness and daring I haven't seen since "Lone Wolf and Cub". His trait of being a rifleman first and swordsman second is also unique to me- Japanese media can be a bit katana-crazy at times. His adversary Lorenzo is a madman, but not some kind of obvious barking lunatic, oh no, he can be utterly calm and cool until some particular little thing sends him screaming off the deep end- and then in a short time compose himself again. His motivation is certainly a stock villain objective but the way he goes about it is entertaining. And the female lead Zetta is what I wish Sarka from "Divci Valka" could have been- both characters come from almost identical backstories and go through character arcs that are similar on paper, but Zetta has been a perfectly serviceable if slightly vanilla heroine while Sarka... well see my "Divci Valka" review for a description of that whole mess.

ENJOYMENT

There are manga where you decide to read the next chapter, manga where you desire to read the next chapter, and manga where you have to stop yourself from reading the next chapter because want to savor reading it and stretch out your enjoyment as long as possible. So far, "Issak" has been the third type of manga.

OVERALL

If you like historical fiction or adventure stories you need to check this series out. I noticed that this manga is published in Kodansha's "Afternoon" monthly magazine, a magazine which also runs "Vinland Saga" and "Historie"- whoever picks the historical fiction series for that publication deserves a raise.

Open

Gift

Sep 6, 2020

AspR2rafa

Recommended

Preliminary (26/100 eps)

Issak brings together two distinct battlefields, the Japanese and the European, bringing a clash between two Japanese snipers, who venture out as mercenaries while one of them seeks his revenge, with everything going on in the ancient Holy Roman Empire in the 17th century. The way in which the author approaches the battles shows that he had a lot of study of him, to bring about such realistic clashes. Issak is a perfect work for history fans, in which they will be impressed with the correct traces of European armor.

Now the downside, Issak fails to try to bring in interesting characters, with the group around ...

Open

Gift

Jul 18, 2022

SenseiMedo

Not Recommended

Funny

Preliminary (35/100 eps)

Spoiler

What started as a masterpiece quickly started to go to ruin after chapter 6 like the calm before the storm.

The first 6 chapters were a new ray of light that had you not knowing what was coming next, nothing could be predicted and gave a strong ray of excitement chapter after chapter, unfortunately, it all tumbles downhill from chapter 7 onwards...

Initially, I wanted to rate this 10 then 6 then 3 and now 2 every chapter I read it gets ridiculous full-on nonsense.

Story: The first 6 chapters are clearly written by someone else aside from the rest of the story, it's like ...

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Manga with Blood/Weapon on Cover

by SherlyCat25

50 Entries · 18 Restacks

NICHE MANGAS

by FenexXuX

36 Entries · 56 Restacks

Travel through history

by HenX

37 Entries · 85 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for December. Week 1: December 2 - 8 Anime Releases Azumanga Daiou The Animation (Azumanga Daioh: ...read more

Dec 1, 9:50 AM by Aiimee | Discuss (2 comments)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for October

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for September. Week 1: October 6 - 13 Anime Releases Odd Taxi Blu-ray Ookami to Koushinryou: Merch...read more

Oct 2, 12:39 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (2 comments)

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Issak Chapter 5 Discussion otakuweek - Oct 26	0 replies	by otakuweek »» Oct 26, 12:52 PM
Poll: Issak Chapter 4 Discussion otakuweek - Oct 26	0 replies	by otakuweek »» Oct 26, 7:51 AM
Poll: Issak Chapter 3 Discussion SurgeonOfDeath7 - May 22, 2018	1 replies	by otakuweek »» Sep 14, 3:12 AM
Poll: Issak Chapter 2 Discussion otakuweek - Sep 14	0 replies	by otakuweek »» Sep 14, 3:08 AM
Poll: Issak Chapter 1 Discussion Stark700 - Mar 8, 2018	2 replies	by otakuweek »» Jul 31, 2:55 AM

Issak
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Issak Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

EditSynopsis

EditBackground

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More charactersCharacters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Issak
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

More characters
Characters

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion