In this episode, I talk about The Absolute Scholar, a lesser-known manga that caught my attention because of how quietly confident it is. At the time of recording, it’s a short series with roughly twenty chapters, which makes it easy to miss — but also easy to explore without a huge time commitment.

Rather than relying on spectacle, the story focuses on a scholar who embodies both intelligence and strength. It’s a refreshing take that blends discipline, knowledge, and capability in a way that feels grounded instead of exaggerated.

What We Talk About

• Discovering The Absolute Scholar and why it stood out

• First impressions and overall tone of the series

• The portrayal of a strong, capable scholar

• How the manga balances intellect and power

• Why short, lesser-known series can be worth exploring

• The appeal of finding manga outside the usual recommendations

Why This Manga Stood Out

The Absolute Scholar doesn’t rush to prove itself. It takes a measured approach, allowing the character’s intelligence and discipline to speak for themselves. The result is a story that feels focused and intentional, even in its early chapters.

Final Thoughts

This episode isn’t about declaring a must-read or overhyping a series. It’s about noticing something small, interesting, and different — the kind of manga you come across when you’re willing to dig a little deeper.

If you enjoy discovering hidden gems and exploring stories that approach familiar ideas from a quieter angle, this one is worth checking out.

About the Show

Manga With Josh is a podcast where I explore manga — well-known and obscure — through first impressions, reflections, and honest discussion.

In this episode, I talk about a lesser-known Korean manhwa that blends extreme power fantasy with slice-of-life comedy centered on fatherhood. After covering more mainstream series lately, this episode is a return to discovering something new and under the radar.

What This Episode Covers

Why this manhwa stood out despite familiar tropes

The core premise: an all-powerful being returning to modern Korea

Time dilation between worlds and its consequences

The reveal of an unexpected daughter

How fatherhood reframes overwhelming power

Gates, hunters, necromancers, and hidden dungeons

Comedy through everyday moments rather than battles

The balance between action, humor, and heart

Why It’s Worth Reading

While the series uses common genre elements, its strength comes from contrast. The humor isn’t driven by power scaling, but by watching an unstoppable character struggle with very human responsibilities. The father–daughter relationship is what gives the story its charm and keeps it engaging.

Spoiler Notice

This episode contains spoiler discussion and specific story moments.

Recommended For

Readers who enjoy overpowered main characters

Fans of comedy-driven fantasy

Anyone looking for fast, easy-to-read manhwa with heart

Listen & Subscribe

If you enjoy discovering manga you might not otherwise find, subscribe to Manga With Josh for more under-the-radar recommendations.

You can also find my other shows, The Books By Josh Audio Immersion and Tek With Josh, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Before Fairy Tail became a global phenomenon, creator Hiro Mashima had already completed a full shonen epic that most fans have never read.

In this episode of Manga With Josh, I break down Rave Master, Mashima’s first major series—and why its legacy was quietly buried despite strong sales and a complete manga run.

📚 What This Episode Covers

What Rave Master is and why it matters

Hiro Mashima’s career before Fairy Tail

Manga publication details:

Ran from 1999–2005

35 volumes / 296 chapters

23.5 million copies sold worldwide

Anime adaptation breakdown:

Aired 2001–2002

51 episodes

Only adapts up to around volume 12

Why running the anime while the manga was still ongoing hurt the series

The Dark Bring vs. Rave Stone premise

Haru Glory as a classic early shonen protagonist

Why Plue is one of Mashima’s most important characters

How Rave Master laid the foundation for ideas later seen in Fairy Tail

Why the manga still holds up—even if the anime doesn’t

🎌 Why Rave Master Was Forgotten

The anime ended too early

Later, stronger arcs were never adapted

It aired before anime had major Western momentum

Mashima’s later success overshadowed his first work

📖 Final Thoughts

Rave Master is a complete, classic early-2000s shonen battle manga that deserves more readers. If you’ve only experienced Mashima through Fairy Tail or Edens Zero, this is where it all truly began.

🎧 More From Josh

Books By Josh Audio Immersion

Tek With Josh

Manga With Josh – spotlighting manga you’ve probably never read

Subscribe for more deep dives into overlooked and underrated manga.