Publishing by One Peace Books, The Revenge of My Youth: Re Life with an Angelic Girl releases this month on January 23rd (though Amazon says January 21st!). This heartfelt, second chance manga follows Niihama as he’s thrown back in time to high school to try and right the wrongs of his past and others.
I went into this first volume with an open mind and finished it craving the second. As a new manga reader who usually focuses more on fantasy and action, this drama-comedy surprised me with its emotional depth and laughs. I found myself heavily relating to Niihama, especially as a high school substitute who is essentially “thrown” back into high school with an adult view of life.
Check out the release information below:
This hard-hitting dramedy poses the timeless question that so many struggle and suffer with: If we had the chance to do our lives over again, what would we do differently? How would we save ourselves, and the people we love?
Based on a hit light novel [by Yuzi Keino], this manga stars the corporate slave Niihama, who works himself to death at a black company. The beautiful and kind girl he grew up in love with, Shijoin, faces a similarly dark path, wracked by bullying, self-loathing, depression, and eventual suicide. But just when the world fades to black, a new light appears at the end of the dark tunnel. Niihama awakens as a high school student all over again. And this time he’s determined to make things right with his mother, with the girl of his dreams, and most importantly, with his own life.
Illustrated by Boiru Iseebi and translated by Jamie Taber, The Revenge of My Youth is a tearjerker, hilarious school life parody, and motivational tour de force all at once.
For more convincing, please continue reading to hear my spoiler-free review comments about The Revenge of My Youth.
This manga is weirdly perfect for a young adult who either works in a high school or still clearly remembers their high school years. It’s comical to see the activities and lives of teenagers through the lens of a 30-year-old’s memories in a teenager’s body (it’s not as weird as it seems, I swear). Old bullies suddenly look like kids trying too hard to be mature and scary while classroom discussions mirror work negotiations.
I particularly loved seeing the parallels between high school and corporate scenarios. How much different is it to take notes for a test versus a meeting? Or mediate a conversation between two students versus two workers? This manga creates a clear connection between the two, highlighting how, whether students realize it or not, high school prepares them for real life. It isn’t just tangible skills learned, but social and navigation, too.
The characterization is also on point. Niihama’s determination, kindness, and wisdom create a lovely protagonist to root for. Then we have Shijoin, who on the surface is merely a sweet innocent girl with everything put together, but she struggles against bullies and with school work. Even the minor and background characters exude personality, from Niihama’s confused best friend to his energetic (and sort of helpful) little sister.
The art was very polished and clean too, with a simplistic yet expressive style that helped me focus on the storyline without getting distracted by cluttered backgrounds. The character’s faces always drew me into the story and their feelings, while some of the artistic choices caught my attention. Occasionally, characters were even outlined in a white border to have them stand out more. I was also always pleased to see when a character in the forefront with their back turned had lines or dots in their silhouette. It reminded me of the pointillism art style.
Yet, my absolute favorite part of The Revenge of My Youth was Niihama’s thoughts. I loved how deeply some of his quotes resonated with me. The short sentences are descriptive, and scattered throughout the humor to give a serious pull to the narrative.
I know I have to keep reading this series too, because of the cliffhanger it ended on. It’s interesting how it felt so simple, nothing like life or death, but also so important. It’s the edge of Niihama’s character development and the start of another pivotal moment to help Shijoin’s life. I can’t help but want to know whether the event will pan out okay!
The Revenge of My Youth: Re Life with An Angelic Girl can be pre-ordered on Amazon.
Volume 2 is also available for pre-order, releasing June 10, 2025.
Thank you to One Peace Books for the advanced copy of “The Revenge of My Youth” in exchange for a review!
