Chōgen Market Heroes: Menko Reverser Kakeru Manga Ends

The manga Chōgen Market Heroes: Menko Reverser Kakeru, by Makoto Fukami and Shūsaku Namikawa, has come to an end. According to Anime News Network, the series, based on a board game, began publication on March 28 and concluded in August 2026.

The manga was an adaptation of the board game Chōgen Market Heroes, which is built around menko, a traditional Japanese game. The "Reverser" in the title refers to the card-flipping mechanic, while "Kakeru" is the name of the protagonist. The series combined the traditional menko game with a "market wars" concept, offering a short but engaging story.

Fukami is known in the anime world for his screenwriting work on titles such as Psycho-Pass and Zetsuen no Tempest. Namikawa, recognized for his artwork on the Gunslinger Stratos manga, reunited with Fukami for this project. The duo's previous collaboration on Gunslinger Stratos was one of the factors that made this board game adaptation appealing to readers.

Board game adaptations have been used for years in the manga industry to expand the worlds of games. However, the lifespan of such works can sometimes be tied to the game's promotional cycle. The brief run of Chōgen Market Heroes: Menko Reverser Kakeru can be considered a typical example of this model.

The series' conclusion does not mean the Chōgen Market Heroes game universe is completely over. If the board game and related products gain wider distribution, we may see new manga projects in the future. As for fans of Fukami and Namikawa, they are eagerly awaiting which project the two masters will collaborate on next.