The ComiQ (pronounced as "The Comic") is a short manga written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi, creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!. The first chapter premiered in the October 2018 issue of Shonen Jump, and the manga concluded in November of the same year.
In real life, as well as this story, prison inmates are made to draw manga backgrounds to acclimate into society. Up-and-coming mangaka Ryota Sakamaki is hard at work on a new series, advised by his sister Mihana and taunted by the super-popular mangaka Seiya Himekawa.
Ryota's work begins to reveal unsettling parallels to a murder that took place years earlier—and he learns Baba, the supposed murderer in the case, is drawing his backgrounds. Convinced Baba is innocent based on the drawings, Ryota sets out to prove it with the power of manga.
This work contains examples of:
- Bland-Name Product: Rival manga creator Seiya livestreams his work on ViewTube, an obvious YouTube expy.
- Clear My Name: Ryota sets out to clear Baba's name.
- Cute Mute: Baba cannot speak, and his appearance is highly childlike and innocent.
- Meaningful Background Event: Ryota realizes Baba is innocent because of the specific flowers he used in his backgrounds, which symbolize hope and consolement.
- Reality Subtext: In-universe, Ryota's work has parallels to murders that took place three years ago, specifically a symbol found at the scene of the crime.
- Skintone Sclerae: Ryota and Baba both have this, while Seiya and Mihana do not.
- Truth in Television: In real life, Japanese prison inmates can be commissioned to draw manga backgrounds.
- 20 Minutes into the Future: The story is written in 2018 and takes place in 2025.
