Shonen Jump’s Bold New Sci-Fi Thriller Is a Perfect Mashup of WWE Meets War of the Worlds

It is at all times value giving a brand new Shonen Soar manga an opportunity, not only for the following massive sequence to take off, but additionally for brand spanking new creators with daring concepts that might change the sport. The identical goes for Akira Inui’s first serialized manga “Alien Headbutt,” which debuted in Weekly Shonen Soar on February 5, 2026.

Two chapters into Alien Headbutt and even followers of reader portal VIZ Media are noticing the manga’s thrilling mix of science fiction and professional wrestling motion, particularly New Japan Professional Wrestling with its references to Hiroshi Takanashi. Add within the weird twist of an alien crash-landing on Earth, and Alien Headbutt’s Ougashirokiba takes on the extraterrestrial menace in his personal Warfare of the Worlds model.

Shonen Soar manga flips over attributable to alien headbutt (with suplex)

Raised on Mukuro Island, often known as Corpse Island, Shirakiba is surrounded by proficient boys, hinting at a world the place his mates have extra conventional superhero/shounen anime talents, resembling teleportation and power projection. However his expertise was, and nonetheless is, the talent {of professional} wrestling. Nevertheless, as Shirakiba grows up, his father passes away and he’s compelled to the brink of giving up on his goals.

Shirakiba, who stop his job to develop into a fisherman, receives a push from his beloved household (and his treasured pet goat, Mei) to take up skilled wrestling. 5 years later, Shirokiba returns residence with the coveted championship belt, solely to find {that a} mysterious humanoid alien menace is wreaking havoc.

Shirakiba makes use of skilled wrestling however turns off all inhibitions to indicate the lethal potential of his expertise, utilizing physics to confuse the improved alien physiology. Understanding that he can use his physique weight for lethal suplexes, and that finally no muscle or joint can stand up to twisting with sufficient torque, Shirakiba crushes the menace whereas looking for his household.

Shirakiba Ouga is a superb shounen manga hero

One may argue that the group New Japan Professional Wrestling, which clearly had an enormous affect on the manga, is already loaded with shonen tropes, from rivalries to private progress to high-concept plotlines. Alien Headbutt Shirokiba embodies the bombastic spirit {of professional} wrestling from world wide, and the character is a very refreshing Shonen Soar hero.

With a penchant for violence in opposition to apparent threats like super-powered aliens who kill people with out hesitation, Shirakiba actually inhabits a hype-filled shonen world. However greater than that, like Haruya in Chapter 2, his heroism and unflinching dedication as a task mannequin for younger boys makes Shirakiba a healthful, constructive presence in Shonen Soar, paying homage to All May or Superman.

Shirakiba acknowledges Haruya’s bravery in opposition to these aliens and factors out how lonely it was to be powerless and must keep away from them. However skilled wrestler Shirakiba cannot again down from a problem, and as knowledgeable wrestler, Hellhound, he reminds followers that it is his job to excite followers like Haruya, and by extension, readers.

It’s unclear whether or not “Alien Headbutt” will surpass the ten rely or attain the tip as a brand new Shonen Soar hit. However because it stands, it is a uniquely entertaining and electrifying manga, exhibiting one of the best and most fun locations Japanese skilled wrestling can go, and conserving the hearth alive within the hearts of followers who throw an alien menace right into a lethal camel clutch.