Tower Dungeon is a fantasy manga following farm boy Yuva who is conscripted in order to help rescue the princess - after she is kidnapped and held in the legendary Dragon Tower. He accompanies knights in fighting the eldritch beings guarding the levels of the tower, equipped with nothing but a battered old helm and wooden shield to protect him.

I really like the art style, especially the buildings/architecture of the world, and the designs of the eldritch creatures. The creatures did not feel like anything I had seen before & I would love to know more about them in future volumes. I did not know before reading other reviews that Tsutomu Nihei had previously worked in construction, but in hindsight the level of attention and detail shown in the buildings, and the general world building make this clear - the condition of the buildings & architecture with crumbling stone and areas of ruin, really add to the tone of the manga in a way I haven't seen before.

At times it felt as though the plot was a bit light and the pacing could be rushed or disjointed - little information was given as to character backgrounds or reasoning for their actions, and Yuva felt a bit separated from the other characters (such as the knights) at times, despite being present in several scenes together. Of the 3 female characters we have met so far, two of them have had scenes where they are nude/almost nude, which felt unnecessary.

I am interested to see where this series goes next, and hope that more details are given in the second volume.

Overall I enjoyed Tower Dungeon Vol. 1, and rated this volume 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Tsutomu Nihei for this ARC

I was actually really enjoying this; the art style was really cool, the characters designs were super interesting, the story was intriguing, etc. Sadly, this fell prey to a classic case of ‘women getting fully naked for no damn reason’ which is just a personal pet-peeve of mine, especially when the story is written by a man. For this reason, I just can’t see myself continuing the story—even though I’m quite curious if they’ll be able to reach the top floor, or recommending it to someone. Disappointing, as I really enjoy towers’ centric stories.

Having worked in construction, Tsutomu Nihei chose to quit to become a manga artist. That experience certainly influenced his work in manga, beginning with his first serialized work, Blame!, which ran for six years. That manga, in particular, establishes his interest in architecture with his art putting a lot of the detail into the title’s gigantic cyberpunk megastructure, often using double page spreads to sell its world-building. As Nihei would go on to write and draw subsequent sci-fi manga, his latest title Tower Dungeon marks his debut into the realm of dark fantasy.

When an evil necromancer slays the king and carries off his daughter, hiding her in the legendary Dragon Tower, her steadfast Royal Guard assails the stronghold in order to save her, only for the way to get blocked by powerful eldritch creatures. As the army faces countless casualties, they press ordinary folks from the surrounding villages into service, including Yuva, a sturdy young farm boy with a strong back but no experience in battle.

The term “dungeon crawl” refers to a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing board games and video games in which heroes navigate a labyrinthine environment, battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. It seems that Nihei is taking cues from this genre here, featuring a group of heroes, each with their own set of skills, battling numerous monsters as they travel through the levels of a tower that seems never-ending.

While this doesn’t reach the hyper-detail of Blame!, going for looser line-work especially when it comes to the character designs, Nihei’s artwork gets across the bleakness of this world, from the villages being ruled by a kingdom to the central setting that is the Dragon Tower. With the author’s stark use of black-and-white inking, there are numerous pages featuring wordless panels that showcase the eerie atmosphere of the dungeons. Throw in the freakish-designed monsters, ranging from skeletal knights, dragons and Lovecraftian creatures, and there is some disturbing imagery going on.

Sadly, despite an intriguing premise and solid artwork, the overall narrative is not interesting. First off, we don’t see what motivates Yuva, our central protagonist who seems like the Luke Skywalker archetype in terms of his farm-boy origins, nor does he develop much of a relationship with the rest of the group. Whatever dangers they go through, there is a coldness to these characters that is hard to engage with, especially when the pacing is so rushed there is never any time to get to know anyone.

An intriguing premise and solid artwork are not enough to save Tsutomu Nihei’s latest manga from its storytelling issues.

I first wanted to thank NetGalley and especially Kodansha comic for my chance to review this book. I am seriously amazed by it so far.

I’ve had a few friends who have been raving about Tower Dungeon, and several had said that from what they could read in Japanese and from badly done English translations that it was an amazing story with amazing art. I was a bit hesitant at first. But I’m always down to try a new comic so I said I would give it a shot – and I AM SO GLAD I DID. I understand all the hype now and I wish it had even more hype because this was amazing.

One of the things that made this story so fascinating to me was how quiet the story seems. There aren’t a lot of internal monologues of characters. There isn’t a lot of talking. There isn’t a lot of extraneous storytelling. And yet I know so much about these characters already by the end of volume 1. And I know enough about the plot line that I am intrigued and want the next volume. I think a lot of this is portrayed so well in just the art style alone without the need for wording and language.

Yuva as a character is also super fascinating. He almost never speaks, and we almost never hear his thoughts. We just watch him like a normal bystander would. We see how he lives life, how he interacts with others, and how he deals with a variety of dangerous situations, and we get a sense for who he is. The storytelling and the art in this story just made the whole thing phenomenal. I couldn’t put it down and read it all at once and I want to read it again and wait on the edge of my seat for volume 2! It can’t come fast enough!

Overall, I would rate this story a 5 out of 5 star rating. I really want the next one and I am super on the hype train for this manga.

Monster has slain the king and taken his successor, the princess, as a prisoner at the top of an enormous floating tower. Most of the royal guard has already perished trying to save her, so they order a conscript, one man from every village.

Yuva is sent to the tower where only a handful of guards are still able to fight. When they realise how strong Yuva is, they make him their porter and set out to conquer the tower. It doesn’t go well, although they manage to slay a bad monster with Yuva’s help. And so the parliament orders the rescue effort stopped. But there’s still Yuva left and he’s not ready to return home.

This was a fairly good, straightforward dungeon story. It’s a bit gloomy and the art amplifies the mood. Yuva stood out, and not everyone was happy about it. The volume ends before Yuva’s rescue effort starts. While I liked the story, the joyless atmosphere doesn’t entice me to continue.

Its been a while since I’ve read any manga, in my time away, I forgot how much beauty manga possesses in its artwork and the worlds brought to life.

Tower Dungeon Volume 1 reminded me just what manga is capable of. The story follows a commoner in a kingdom facing a terrible threat. The princess was captured and taken to the Tower Dungeon by an unknown and monstrously powerful entity. The kingdom is trying to get the princess back but is failing, losing scores of men in the process. So begins the process of conscripting from all the villages across the land. Then Yuva steps in and volunteers on behalf of his village.

Yuva isn’t extraordinary. He doesn’t have crazy powers with magic or the blade. He doesnt have super strength and agility. He is a normal guy, and I think that was why I liked Tower Dungeon so much. So often we get stories with busted characters that can win any battle from the get go. We dont get much (such are the lengths of manga volumes) but I do really like Yuva’s character and I’m very excited to see where he goes.

The other characters were interesting though of lesser import, aside from a couple. They all had very unique and intriguing designs and there are also dragon shifters which sounds awesome, though we have not seen any yet. Some other, nonhuman creatures get involved with the rescue force, grotesque but kind of… likable? As in theyre so outlandish you cannot help but like them, or maybe I’m just crazy.

The story isnt reinventing the wheel, but it is making a pretty good one that stands apart from the rest. I love dungeon crawls, and while a lot of the levels are glossed over and Volume 1 features as much if not more character work than fight scenes, Nihei really nailed it. The atmosphere is perfect, and like I said earlier, hints at a much bigger world I cannot wait to explore.

I think one of the most beautiful parts was about Yuva is weak, and useless, and should go home. Not much is said in return and I don’t want to spoil too much, but his response, and that of those around him… Fantastic, and really just hits home. Do I wish Yuva spoke more/we got more dialogue from him with others? Yeah, but I think Yuva is a great MC and hes one you really can’t help but root for and love. There should be more people like Yuva out there. Maybe the world would be a better place.

My only complaint is in the beginning some of the panels feel disjointed. As in other panels should have come in between or there should have been a transition. I say this because at times I was thinking “did I miss something? Where are we? How did we get here?” I think it happened maybe three times, but it also just might be a me issue.

I also wish it was longer. Thats the sign of a story you loved, right? I did not want to part with it at all. The good thing is that (I think) the rest will be translated soon. Though I might just not wait and read the japanese versions. Who can say.

Because I haven’t been reading much manga, I don’t have many manga recommendations pr comparisons. It's also not what people expect from me or maybe sffinsiders, but let me say this. If you loved Berserk, you will love Tower Dungeon too. Its a wonderful story of growth and intrigue that features a lot of adventure and fantastic artwork. Cannot wait to read Volume 2.

I'd seen the Blame! movie at the time, and all I could remember was that I didn't understand much of it, and that the landscapes were impressive.

With this first volume, Nihei Tsutomu returns to a totally different register. He's more used to SF, but here he offers us a short introduction to a heroic/dark fantasy universe. Tower Dungeon has a role-playing game/ RPG vibe, with dungeon exploration, levels, “bosses” and characters looking to reap the rewards with loot and information, if not to adapt their combat tactics with equipment.

The mangaka's drawings are fairly crude and minimalist, and the author has a talent for landscapes and entanglements in colossal architecture. There's the same sense of vertigo as in his previous works, even in a more ‘medieval’ setting.

I appreciated the tragicomic aspect of some of the scenes.

But here's the thing: I was really into the part where Lilisen the magician finds herself naked for no reason, and then it's Minsabelle's turn... There are only three female characters and 2/3 of them have a nude scene (surprisingly this never happens with the men). This dampens enthusiasm, and it's all the more of a shame because the universe is so promising.

Also, only two chapters for one tome was a bit too short and made for an abrupt ending. However, it does make you want to continue reading the manga.

I really enjoyed the artwork of the story, but I wished some of the plot points had been explored a bit more. Overall, I did enjoy it,

The first volume of Tower Dungeon by Tsutomu Nihei is unapologetically "different", and in a market dominated by cookie-cutter isekai fantasy clones, "different" is a welcome breath of fresh air. Having long worked in sci-fi and cyberpunk genres, Tsutomu Nihei now applies his signature "architectural monolith" design to the fantasy genre, with the titular Tower Dungeon and its myriad horrors.

Tower Dungeon has been crafted with a reverence to the hack-and-slash fantasies of yesteryear, its story stripped to the raw, beating heart of the tropes that once dominated the genre. The Dragon Tower has descended from the heavens, and "When the dragon tower descends, doom follows." An evil necromancer has killed the King and kidnapped the crown princess, Ignelia.

The concept is reductive but refined. Similar to the dark fantasy series Goblin Slayer, the world-building serves merely as a backdrop to the atmospheric storytelling, which takes center stage in Tower Dungeon. Classic Dungeons and Dragons-style monsters lurk around every corner, from giant rats to undead dragons.

Nihei's art style is rough, but expertly crafted. The rapid, shaky artwork—comparable to Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man—makes every encounter feel threatening in a "blink and you'll miss it" way.

The Dragon Tower's colossal size is revealed to readers over three full pages; the tower is almost biblical, a labyrinth that pierces the heavens. Nihei uses complex, overhead shots and puzzling angles that twist and warp the reader's perception. Narrow staircases and sheer drops are transformed into dizzying panels that impart a constant sense of claustrophobia.

Tower Dungeon's story mostly follows Yuva, a young farm boy with prodigious strength, who volunteers for the mandatory Royal Guard muster. None from his village expect he'll survive the mission to the Tower; it's an obligation to pointlessly throw lives away to rescue the princess.

At the Tower, Yuva joins up with the rough but well-meaning Lieutenant Rudeum, Eriquo the archer, and later, the hot-headed fire mage Lilicen. Although later moments in the first volume see Yuva gain a clearer direction, the lack of clearly defined character storylines will undoubtedly turn away some readers. Hopefully, it's something the series is able to build upon with future volumes, as the party members learn to overcome the Tower's threats.

The Royal family's draconic power leads to political turmoil by the end of the first volume, and it's unclear how much that'll influence events at the Dragon Tower itself—more substantial world-building beyond the homage to classic fantasy would be extremely welcome.

Tower Dungeon lovingly takes the "kidnapped princess" trope and creates an atmospheric experience with malformed creatures, overwhelming scale, and a decrepit world that feels more post-apocalyptic feudalism than distant medieval fantasy.

Tsutomu Nihei's numerous awards for Blame! and Knights of Sidonia are well-earned, and Tower Dungeon—while experimental—has the potential to become a cult classic. The unique artistic vision, combined with excellent perspective work, helps compensate for the early lack of characterization that may otherwise dissuade genre fans.

If you've grown tired of worn-out modern tropes, Tower Dungeon is a loving tribute to classic fantasy, with an unrelentingly gloomy atmosphere and back-to-basics approach that brings welcome change to an otherwise stagnant genre.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this story.

This was just not for me. The art could have used a little more detail. I'm not saying super high quality art this is a medieval manga after all but certain panels felt like it was a rough draft that should have been updated before publishing. i also thought the nudity scenes were weird. at least I'm guessing they were supposed to be naked again the art seemed rough. They were completely unnecessary and the women in the scenes are supposed to be important in this army so it just feels like a way devalue these women. I thought the story itself was ok but I couldn't really tell you much about the main character because he has no personality and seems boring

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy. I loved the illustrations in this manga, it’s was by far the hero of the story. I’m not sure if it’s a translation aspect or not but the dialogue/story felt very simplistic and lacking. Scenes that could have been explored much further were condensed into a few frames and lines and it left me a little disappointed. I’ll probably check out the sequel to see if this improves, especially considering that the illustrations are so good.

Tower Dungeon is a promise for an animation the likes has not been seen in half a century. Our protagonist is conscripted to take on the dungeon where the princess is held by an eldritch horror that has slain/taken over the king. If you have ever seen The Black Cauldron, it has the dark vibes from the undead, and though the critic in me wishes for a little more detail and shadows this first installment is quite the accent into adventure horror and I cannot wait for the next book.

I am not one for long reviews. Those with pages usually have nothing of value. So I keep this short and valuable.

If you like the cover, I can tell you this book delivers on its promise.

Manga and anime fans likely know Tsutomi Nihei best as the creator of titles like BLAME! and Knights of Sidonia. In his new series Tower Dungeon, he’s taking the action back in time. Volume 1 of this new Kodansha release introduces a dark fantasy world full of dragons, monsters, and princesses. But this is anything but a fairy tale. Read on and find out what awaits in this new release!



Braving the Tower

Tower Dungeon has a massive cast of royalty, monsters, and magic users. But at its core is Yuva: a farmer enlisted to help with a massive mission. Every village in the kingdom must send one person to assist with this deadly dungeon crawl, and Yuva is representing his village. He may not be adept with magic or heavy weapons, but he throws a mean bag of salt.

Venturing into this tower uncovers a lot of surprising secrets, though. The undead beings that lurk within aren’t all mindless. Some even know how to parlay with humans. And as the princess gets taken to the top floor of the tower, Yuva and his new fellows realize they’ll have to do a lot more preparation if they want to bring her home.



A Whole New World

Tower Guard is a major departure for Tsutomu Nihei. The creator tends to work in futuristic sci-fi settings, as we see in the aforementioned BLAME! and Knights of Sidonia. His contribution to the Marvel universe, Wolverine: Snikt!, has a similar vibe. This series marks his first foray into fantasy. And while it’s very different from what we usually see from Nihei, it’s also got a lot of what we’ve come to love about him.

For one thing, the monster designs are absolutely intense. Some of the creatures are bony and zombie-like. But others are twisted humanoids — just check out the beast in the image above! Within the Drago Tower’s rigid stone walls are disturbingly organic beasts. And this is just what the group encountered on the first few floors. With more chapters to go, it’s likely we’re going to see even more bizarre creatures.



What’s Next

A first volume is primarily setup, and Tower Dungeon is no different. We meet our main cast of characters: people from all walks of life with different goals. Some want to marry the princess; others are simply here as it’s their duty. Magicians, fighters, and humble farmers all join forces for one cause. Even if their reasons for pursuing that cause differ. And underneath the main action are hints of political and magical machinations: dragon blood and heirs to the throne.

You don’t need to be a fan of Tsutomu Nihei to get absorbed into this new series. And if you are, you’ll be delighted by his range. While it’s still early days for Tower Dungeon, there’s reason to believe it could become a strong, enduring fantasy title.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a fan of lit-rpg and dungeon crawling, this manga might be for you. Andwhile I do enjoy those things, this was not for me. The world feels full yet empty at the same time. I was not able to connect with any characters and I feel like the main character, Yuva, has so little substance to him. Between pages and even some panels, it felt like a lot was missing. Right off the bat you're introduced to a dead (dying?) king and his daughter, the Princess, being kidnapped. Having had no introduction to these characters, I was thrown by the first panel having thrust me into what felt like the middle of a story.

I also found an issue with a lot of the characters looking very similar and therefore I was unable to easily follow who everyone was other than Yuva. Also, some of the characters who looked like they should have been enemies were not and since everyone else in this world appeared human other than the monsters, I was quite confused.

The premise is interesting. I just wish the world and the characters were more fleshed out so I could like and understand them. Unfortunately there was not enough world building or hook to allow me to enjoy my read or make me want to continue the series.

⭐️⭐️ 2 / 5 - Meh, this one didn’t convince me to keep reading the next volumes

Tower Dungeon feels like a nostalgic throwback to the dungeon-crawling games of my childhood—fight your way up a mysterious tower, floor by floor. What makes it stand out a little is its bleak, gritty art style and cryptic, abstract narrative. You're tossed into a grim fantasy world with little to no context, which can be intriguing… or just confusing.

Unfortunately, this volume didn’t quite click for me. Maybe I wasn’t in the mood any manga, or maybe it’s just that Tower Dungeon doesn’t offer much emotional hook. The main character, Yuva, seems overpowered from the start, but we don’t really get to know him beyond the basic "farm boy" label. His motivations, thoughts, or even personality don’t really come through—making it hard to care about his journey.

While the premise itself has potential, the worldbuilding left me underwhelmed. We don’t know why the tower matters, what kind of world this is, or why we should care if it descends into chaos. Perhaps some answers will come in later volumes, but as a first book, this one didn’t convince me to keep reading. It’s a fast read, but ultimately, just a “meh” experience for me.

Tower Dungeon drops you into a setting familiar to manga fans—a multi-level dungeon crawling with hostile monsters. What sets it apart is its dark art style and abstract storytelling. You’re thrown into a grim fantasy world with minimal context, just enough to hint at a deeper, more complex tale.

This first volume hooked me, though I’m wary. The author’s past works have leaned too hard on ambiguity, dragging things out and eventually dulling the suspense. Still, between a dragon-shifting royal family, unhinged necromancers, and that striking art style, I’ll be pre-ordering the next few volumes.

The King has been killed and his body taken over by a Necromancer who has also kidnapped the Princess. Soldiers are conscripted from throughout the kingdom including Yuva a young man who is more than he seems. After saving several and defeating a monster on the 50th floor of the Tower in which the Necromancer resides Yuva becomes the newest member who is left at The Tower to rescue the princess, but with undead monster lurking around every corner will the three remaining members be able to rescue her in time?

Honestly, this was kind of so so for me, and it could be because I just wasn't really in the mood for another violent manga with grotesque images but I don't know it just wasnt doing anything for me. Yuva the MC is clearly OP, as well as the magic user who also clearly hates Yuva for reasons.

Its a pretty quick read and the designs of the monsters are super unique so there is that but this is one of those that ended up being a meh for me.

As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the eArc!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
2.5/5, rounded up to 3
The big trope here, of a multi-level dungeon that the heroes must trek through to achieve some goal or another, is one that I’m a huge fan of. Delicious in Dungeon is a manga that I think does that trope very well. I have to say though, Tower Dungeon didn’t immediately thrill me. I like the premise, and some of the characters seemed somewhat interesting from what little you see them, but I was disappointed by the worldbuilding. We have no idea of the world that this is set in so far. Why is the tower there? What is the country like? Why do we care if it falls into anarchy? I can’t answer any of those questions.
We also don't really get an idea of who the characters are. Yuva doesn't have a chance to have a personality yet. We know he's a farm boy, but who is he? What are his wants? His opinions? I don't feel like this volume lets us as readers get to know him at all, which is a problem when he's the main character of the manga.
I’m sad because I was so intrigued by the description, I just feel like something is missing in the execution. In addition, I swear sometimes it feels like there’s a panel or two missing. Something will be on the edge of happening, and then one panel later, it has already happened. It’s like some things got cut for space reasons and the dots were never connected. It’s not a constant problem, but it did make the narrative feel jerky.
This is by no means a bad manga, I just had very high hopes for it and I don’t feel that it met them at all.

a fascinating world and visuals with a story that makes little sense

Thank you to Netgalley, Kodansha Comics Vertical Comics, and Tsutomu Nihei for an eARC of this comic!

While this comic has something to offer with fascinating concepts framed by a traditional setup that's easy to get invested in, there is little to offer in terms of an actual narrative. I loved the bones and the ideas, just couldn't get on board with the execution. The gist of the plot comes across with dialogue about Yuva joining the ranks of a group that must enter the tower to help retrieve the princess, but nothing else is established in a way builds tension and drama.

But that's not to say that it was without redeemable qualities. The art of the tower particularly in terms of the scale and the way each level unfolds is really unique and well-done. Every scene that takes place in the tower has potential and gives a sense of mystery, suspense, and intrigue that the story needs, but unfortunately any time there is dialogue, it all falls apart. Yuva has no arc, there is little to no connection to the characters, and these unique scenes are really only loosely connected via the thinnest threads. I spent almost all of my time trying to gauge how it went from the last thing to the current thing and then the next scene came along and confused me even further.

This is clearly a beginning entry but nothing at all wraps up besides ending and teasing the next part. I wanted to invest in Yuva, but he doesn't really do anything and the side characters aren't fleshed out in any way either so basically the only thing one can get interested in is the next action sequence (which is handled well!). Unfortunately, the fun ideas and concepts attempted can't hold this together. While I'd love to read further entries just to see the mystery or explanation of the world increase, I don't think I can afford to spend time with little to no narrative taking place.

This is the first volume of Tower Dungeon, by Tsutomu Nihei, published by Kodansha. I feel like Kodansha always does a great job in picking a beautiful, gritty, dark low fantasy series that's going to grip people by the literal throat and chokehold us until it's completed.
Yuva is just a peasant working to keep his family alive, as most young men his age do.. He's also shown to be freakishly strong. When the princess of the kingdom is captured by a demon/monster, the Royal Guard is dispatched to help recover her from the dragon tower. Yuva volunteers himself as a tribute to help the Guard, and begins helping them in their efforts. By the end of the first book, he is granted title of Royal Guard to help the efforts when it's announced that most of the Guard is being brought back to the home base, and is able to stay to rescue the Princess.
The art is gorgeous and the style of storytelling reminds me of Witch Hat Atelier or The Witch and the Knight Will Survive.