Destroy All Humans They Can’t Be Regenerated – Vol 1
Overview: It’s the nineties at Tokiwagi Middle School. And for gamers like Hajime Kano , after the release of Magic: The Gathering, nothing will ever be the same again.
In everything he does, it seems like geeky Tokiwagi Middle School student Hajime Kano comes in second place behind popular honor student Emi Sawatari. But when Hajime takes a trip to a new game store he’s been hearing about, their rivalry takes an unexpected turn. Welcome to the early years of Magic: the Gathering, when a trading card game shaped a generation forever!
Pages: 204 Pages
Writers: Katsura Ise
Illustrated by: Takuma Yokota
Touch-Up Art & Lettering: Joanna Estep
Recommendations:
Review By: Jason Schulte
Rating: 
As someone who played Magic: The Gathering briefly in the 1990s, Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. Vol. 1 hit me with a fun mix of nostalgia and curiosity. Back then, Magic never fully caught on with my friend group, so I eventually drifted away from the game. Decades later, I now own a game store, and Magic has become an essential part of that experience. Wanting to better understand the culture, history, and appeal of the game beyond just the cards themselves, I decided to pick this manga up.
A manga about Magic: The Gathering sounded like a great idea, and for the most part, this first volume delivers.
The story focuses on two students at Tokiwagi Middle School. They are rivals in just about every way, with one constantly trying to outdo the other. That rivalry takes a new turn when they both end up at a local game store and discover Magic: The Gathering. What starts as another way to compete slowly becomes something more interesting. The real question is whether the game will deepen their rivalry, change it in unexpected ways, or maybe even create a friendship stronger than the competition between them.
One of the things I enjoyed most about Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. Vol. 1 is how it develops the two main characters while also weaving in the history of Magic: The Gathering. The manga includes plenty of side notes explaining cards, gameplay concepts, and the strategies being used during matches. For newer players, those notes help make the story easier to follow. For longtime or returning Magic fans, they add a fun layer of recognition and nostalgia.
The book also does a nice job capturing the feeling of discovering a game store, learning a new game, and realizing that a card game can be about more than just winning. There is competition, yes, but there is also community, excitement, and the possibility of connection. That is something the manga understands well.
Overall, Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. Vol. 1 is a fun read for fans of Magic: The Gathering, manga readers curious about trading card games, or anyone who remembers the early days of Magic in the 1990s. It brought back memories from the brief time I played back then, while also giving me a better appreciation for why the game has remained such a major part of the hobby world.
Final Thoughts:
Destroy All Humans. They Can’t Be Regenerated. Vol. 1 is an enjoyable blend of school rivalry, game store culture, Magic: The Gathering history, and nostalgic card game fun. It is a strong start to the series and a great pick for Magic fans who want to experience the game from a different angle.