History Manga / KaijuNumber8

[[https://mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp/titles/100110 An official English translation]] is available for free on Manga Plus.

* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Kafka, Ichikawa, and Kikoru are the only ones aware of Kafka being Kaiju No. 8 and are thus the series' three protagonists.

* SuperPoweredEvilSide: When fighting Chief Shinomiya, the fight gets so intense Kafka loses control in his Kaiju state to his inner kaiju.

* WhamEpisode: Chapter 31 ends with [[spoiler:Kafka revealing himself as Kaiju No. 8 to save everyone from an afterbeast bomb. In the next chapter, Ashiro comes to take Kafka into custody, who was injured in the effort and can't even try to run.]]

* TemptingFate: Early Kafka utterly destroys a recently resurrected Kaiju with one punch. The force rips away most it's muscles before shattering it's skeleton. He then says [[DoNotTauntCthulhu "Let's see you try and come back after that, pal."]] before it attempts just that. [[spoiler:Fortunately it runs out of steam before it could make any meaningful progress.]]

* VillainForgotToLevelGrind: Played with. [[spoiler:When Kaiju No. 9 returns for a rematch against Kafka he has apparently made himself stronger, including growing thicker skin, literally, and has a second core. However Kafka recently gained a better understanding of his powers and by extension better control. He was effortlessly able to defeat No. 9 and most of the fight was taken up by Kafka struggling to activate his powers.]]

* RealityEnsues: Kafka barely manages to pass the physical exam to join the Corps due to his fellow recruits being young teens, along with coming from military families or top of their classes when they signed up. In fact, he actually ''fails'' the entrance exam due to factors including the above and only managed to join as a cadet because Hoshina thought he was funny, besides noticing discrepancies in Kafka's vitals when he secretly transformed to save Kikoru and wanting to look into it. While he gets accepted into the Corps proper later on, [[SupportPartyMember it's only after proving how he can be an asset.]]
** Kafka is not an instant expert with his new kaiju form, [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength having difficulty controlling his power]] and [[PowerIncontinence maintaining his old human form initially]]. This also means that [[spoiler:when he gets cornered by Hoshina while transformed, he can't risk attacking him for fear of seriously injuring him since he can't control his power enough.]]
** Happens again later on when Kafka [[spoiler:is forced to transform out in the open to protect the Defense Force base from a Yonju bomb. While everyone is initially shocked (save for those who knew the secret), this doesn't magically erase the fact that he's been fighting on their side the whole time. Meaning they believe he's still human and plan to gather evidence to prove so.]]

''Kaiju No. 8'' (a.k.a. ''Monster No. 8'') is a manga by Naoya Matsumoto, set in a near-future Japan. {{Kaiju}} attacks are ravaging the world and Japan is the hardest hit country by this new phenomenon. In order to keep the people safe, Japan now has an elite force of Kaiju Fighters who wear PoweredArmor that are deployed every time a Kaiju attacks. Hibino Kafka once dreamed of joining the Corps, but he's passed the age limit. Now he works in a Kaiju Cleanup Crew.

* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Kafka, Ichikawa, and Kikoru are the only ones aware of Kafka being Kaiju No. 8 and are thus the series' PowerTrio.

*** This ends up stopping Kafka from doing the same and revealing his Kaiju form. [[spoiler:he's forced to do it anyway when the Wyvern Kaiju Leader makes the Yonju form an organic bomb to wipe out the base and even goes giant size to do so.]]

* OrganicTechnology: The PoweredArmor and some of the [[TrickBullet ammunitions]] of weapons that the Japanese Defense Corps uses come from the biomaterials of the kaiju.

* RedBaron: As noted in the background information, any Kaiju that proves tough to neutralize because of power or durability or some other factor is given a numerical designation. So far, the only ones seen in the manga are Kaiju No. 8 (Kafka) and Kaiju No. 9.

* TheyWouldCutYouUp: Kikoru is eventually let in on Kafka's secret, and she confirms that the best he can hope for if he tells everyone he's a Kaiju hybrid is being left alive while being experimented on daily.

** Played straight [[spoiler:with the mysterious kaiju that can disguise itself as a human, contorting and stretching out his neck when other people have their backs turned to him. It even involves this trope in its usual attack.]]

* ADayInTheLimelight: Chapter 7 focuses on Kikoru and her background.

* HopeSpot: [[spoiler:Kaiju No. 10]] is down, thanks to Mina intervening, making it look like the chapter is all wrapped up... until [[spoiler:the Wyvern Kaiju clump together to make a giant living bomb, forcing Kafka to transform out in the open to keep it from killing everyone in the base.]]

* ThePromise: As children, Kafka and Ashiro swore to be side-by-side when they join the Kaiju Corps. Years later, Kafka has seemingly failed to keep his end of the bargain while Ashiro rose through the ranks without him. He later manages to join, making his fulfillment of the promise more and more imminent. [[spoiler:Even after revealing himself as Kaiju No. 8, Ashiro warmly welcomes him to continuing striving to be beside her.]]

** Happens again later on when Kafka [[spoiler:is forced to transform out in the open to protect the Defense Force base from a Yonju bomb. While everyone is initially shocked (save for those who knew the secret), this doesn't magically erase the fact that he's been fighting on their side, meaning they believe he's still human and gathered up evidence to prove so.]]

* WhamEpisode: Chapter 31 ends with [[spoiler:Kafka forgoing needing to keep his secret and revealing himself as Kaiju No. 8 to save everyone from an afterbeast bomb. Come the next chapter, Ashiro comes to take Kafka into custody, who was injured in the effort and can't even try to run.]]

* WhamEpisode: Chapter 31 ends with [[spoiler:Kafka forgoing needing to keep his secret and revealing himself as Kaiju No. 8 to save everyone from an afterbeast bomb. Come the next chapter, Ashiro comes to take the Kafka into custody, who was injured in the effort and can't even try to run.]]

* RunningGag: Kafka always has some kind of {{Determinator}} declaration, badass moment, or OneLiner that ''[[FailedAttemptAtDrama immediately]]'' loses all impact due to him instantly walking back on it and/or the reality of the situation setting in causing him to eat his own words.

* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler:Kafka reveals himself to be Kaiju No. 8 to save everyone from a massive afterbeast bomb. Afterwards, Ashiro comes to take him into custody. Averted when it's revealed that everyone, including Mina, still sees him as human and vows to free him.]]

* WhamEpisode: Chapter 31 ends with [[spoiler:Kafka forgoing needing to keep his secret and revealing himself as Kaiju No. 8 to save everyone from an afterbeast bomb. Come the next chapter, Ashiro comes to take him into custody.]]

* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler:Kafka reveals himself to be Kaiju No. 8 to save everyone from a massive afterbeast bomb. Afterwards, Ashiro comes to take him into custody.]]

* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler:Kafka reveals himself to be Kaiju No. 9 to save everyone from a massive afterbeast bomb. Afterwards, Ashiro comes to take him into custody.]]