Summary
Isekai manga areloaded with all sorts of action, adventure, and drama, yet these narratives also happen to span several long chapters and volumes. While traditional, long-hauled manga present a fleshed-out narrative, they can also be rather tedious to finish. This is where one-shot isekai manga come in, offering the same adventure-laden experience, but in one concise and continuous chapter.
Sincemost isekai narrativestend to revolve around long fantasy-like adventures, one-shot manga are usually overlooked for this specific genre. However, several mangaka have come up with enticing one-shot manga that present an equally exciting isekai experience, without compromising on the storyline or characters. While one-shots are usually created for manga serialization contests or promotions, they still serve as perfect standalone stories for a quick read.
2021
Publisher
Weekly Shounen Sunday
Staying true to thestandard isekai antics,Isekai de Yuusha Tuber Yattemitapresents a novel yet absurd narrative. Eisuke Watari finds himself reincarnated in an RPG-like world, expecting to be granted some sort of overpowered cheat ability. To his dismay, the only skill he gains is being a “MeTuber,” an ability that is entirely useless for defeating the end-game Demon Lord.
2022
Comic Walker
Waga Homura ni Hirefuse Sekaifollows the story of a girl harboring arsonist tendencies, though she luckily gets reincarnated to a world where she possesses the power to incinerate anything she wishes with her overwhelming fire. The purpose of her summoning is to use her special power todefeat the Demon Kingand other villains running rampant in this world.
Despite bearing tendencies towards arson, Homura only burns those who are evil, making this new world the perfect setting for her fiery antics.Waga Homura ni Hirefuse Sekaiis a one-shot isekai manga created solely as a promotional feature for the light novel of the same title. Since the one-shot manga only serves as promotional content, readers will eventually have to switch to the original light novel for the complete story.
2012
Dragon Age
Deadline Summonerfollows the standard isekai premise of being reincarnated ina fantasy-like RPG world. However, unlike other isekai manga, the protagonist has no interest in going on dangerous adventures. Instead, Onodera Mamoru wishes to find a safe, well-paying job in this mystical world, which is scarce and impossible to find.
To make matters even more amusing, Onodera finds a few monster girl companions along the way, though every single one of them wants to be more than just companions.Deadline Summonerserved as a one-shot pilot for12 Beast, a manga based on the very same premise. The plot and characters of this one-shot might also feel similar to the hit manga and animeMonster Musume, though this is largely due to both works belonging to the same author, Okayado.
Comic Growl
Amefuru Aruhi no Isekai deis a short yet wholesome story about a high school girl being teleported to a parallel world through a rain puddle. The puddle leads to a world similar to Feudal Japan, albeit with the slight alteration of the world’s inhabitants being fox-humans. Izumi becomes embroiled in the conflicts of this world, later becoming key to quelling the discord in this parallel universe.
Being a one-shot isekai manga,Amefuru Aruhi no Isekai de’s narrative feels a bit rushed, though this fact certainly doesn’t take away from the well-written story. Instead, the adorable characters and intriguing storyline leave readers wanting asequel to the one-shot.
MyAnimeList Rating: 6.93/10
Alt Title
Transferred to Another World, But I’m Saving the World of an Otome Game!?
2019
Shounen Gangan
Isekai Tensou, Ore ga Otome Game de Kyuuseishu?!is a two-part one-shot isekai manga that takes onthe otome subgenre. However, there’s a twist to the otome aspect of the manga, as a guy accidentally gets transmigrated into the dating sim game, finding himself to be the center of affection of every single male love interest in the game.
The ending of the game is rather simple, though it relies entirely on completing one of the love interest routes. Being a guy, the protagonist is forced to find a way other than ending up with one of the male love interests, turning this otome narrative into a novel and amusing read. The one-shot was eventually serialized as an entire manga with the same title, though readers can still indulge in this one-shot isekai manga for a quick read.
2020
Comic Polaris
Tensei Oji-san, Heroine ni Narupresents an amusing narrative where a 37-year-old salaryman finds himself transmigrated into the body of a high school girl in a shoujo manga. Unlikeother isekai protagonists, Wakigata Ittetsu wants nothing to do with this new world, leading to attempts to find a way back.
Tensei Oji-san, Heroine ni Naru’snarrative is quite novel and amusing, though some might have a few reservations about the age difference between the characters and the protagonist. However, the manga keeps the storyline rather wholesome and comedic, without trudging into any of the controversial tropes often found in such a premise.
