【Zatch Bell】Over 22 million copies in circulation!! Winner of 48th Shogakukan Manga Award in Shounen category!!

2021-11-30

What is “Zatch Bell”?

Zatch Bell is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Raiku.
The manga series was serialized in Shogakukan’s weekly Shounen Sunday between 2001 to 2006. Its 323 chapters are compiled into 33 separate volumes. The manga has 22 million copies in circulation, worldwide. It also won the 48th Shogakukan Manga Award for the Shounen category.
The manga series was also adapted into an anime, by Toei Animation, which consisted of 150 episodes.
Zatch Bell! (Konjiki no Gash!!)

What's the story?

The story starts off with, Gash Bell, holding onto the talons of an eagle, soaring through the sky.
The next morning, Kiyomaro Takamine, the protagonist, is laying in his bed surrounded by books. His mother tells him to go to school, but he yell’s at her saying that he is too smart, and won’t waste his time going to school. That is when Gash breaks through the window and lands in his bedroom.
Gash gives Kiyomaro a letter from his father, Seitaro Takamine, in which his father wishes him a happy birthday and explains to him that he found Gash in a forest and he doesn’t remember his past. To repay his debt, Gash asked Seitaro’s wish, so he sent him here to help Kiyomaro make friends.
Kiyomaro gets angry and tries to punch Gash, but suddenly, lightning comes out of his mouth, shocking Kiyomaro.
Kiyomaro goes to school, but gets bored really quickly and starts to leave, when Mizuno, his former student tries to persuade him to stay but Kiyomaro starts yelling at her.
Later that day, Gash shows him a plan to make friends. The first plan is to save someone from a school bully, but Kiyomaro tricks Gash into going alone while he ditches him. As he is leaving, he finds out that the kid being bullied is Mizuno.
Kiyomaro rushes to the school roof and finds Gash all beaten up, trying to protect Mizuno. Seeing that Gash still believes that he’ll show up, Kiyomaro can’t stop himself and goes to save Gash, but gets beaten to a pulp by the bully.
While he’s getting beat up, Kiyomaro realizes that this morning, Gash didn’t use lightning on purpose, and that Kiyomaro accidentally cast a spell from the book which Gash brought with him.
Kiyomaro remembers the spell and recites it again, causing an even bigger bolt of lightning to shoot from Gash’s mouth, which creates a giant explosion. Gash, Kiyomaro and Mizuno stand there, looking at the mess they made.
What exactly is Gash? How did he lose his memories?
Zatch Bell! (Konjiki no Gash!!)

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