Furumachi’s Dr. Muscle Beetle manga, a collaboration with Uoto, is ending its run in Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine on May 8, 2025. The manga launched earlier this year on January 23 and will conclude after a short but intense burst of action and drama.
A Macho Man’s Buggy Journey Comes to a Close
The combined 21st and 22nd issue of Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine revealed the ending of Dr. Muscle Beetle. The manga, which boasts an original concept by Uoto, known for Chi: On the Movements of the Earth, debuted in the magazine on January 23, 2025. Akita Shoten released the first compiled book volume on April 8.
Dr. Muscle Beetle centers around Mamoru Genki, a muscular young man driven by a desire to protect others. However, he’s burdened by debt and forced to participate in robberies with a loosely organized crime gang. In a twist of fate, Mamoru and his accomplices rob an insect museum belonging to an old professor whom he had just met and attempted to “protect.” This pushes Mamoru to his limits, causing him to unleash the true power of his well-trained body as he strives to uphold his ideals.
Hyper Pop Insect Apocalypse
The manga is described as a “hyper pop insect apocalypse,” blending action, drama, and a unique premise. Furumachi, known for works like Lemon Ero and Hisokani Asare (The Poachers), collaborated with Uoto to bring this unusual story to life. The narrative explores the challenges faced by a macho young man and a retired insect expert as they confront their shortcomings.
Uoto’s Vision
Uoto’s involvement in Dr. Muscle Beetle initially sparked excitement, especially given his acclaimed work on Chi: On the Movements of the Earth. Chi, which ran from September 2020 to April 2022, garnered significant praise, winning the Grand Prize for the 26th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in April 2022. Uoto was the youngest ever to win the Grand Prize at 24 years old. The manga was also nominated for the 68th Shogakukan Manga Awards in 2022 and ranked at #22 in Da Vinci’s “Book of the Year” manga list. An anime adaptation of Chi premiered on October 5, 2024, with episodes streaming on Netflix and ABEMA.
However, Uoto’s role in Dr. Muscle Beetle seems to have been limited to the initial concept and storyboard for the first volume. Some fans have speculated about potential “inter-mangaka drama” or dissatisfaction with the series as possible reasons for Uoto’s reduced involvement.
Furumachi’s Past Works
Furumachi’s previous collaboration with Taemyung Kim, Hisokani Asare (The Poachers), ran from May 2022 to February 2024 on Shogakukan’s Manga ONE and Ura Sunday services. Shogakukan published five volumes of the manga.
What’s Next for Uoto?
Despite the ending of Dr. Muscle Beetle, Uoto has other projects in the works. His manga 100 Meters (Hyakuemu) is inspiring an upcoming anime film set to premiere in Japan on September 19, 2025. GKIDS will screen the film in North American theaters in October 2025. Uoto also launched Yōkoso! FACT (Tōkyō S-ku 2-Shibu) on Shogakukan’s Manga ONE website in August 2023.
Weekly Shōnen Champion
Dr. Muscle Beetle was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion, a manga magazine first published on July 15, 1969. The magazine has featured numerous popular series by renowned manga artists. As of now, there are 25 manga titles being serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion.
A Swift Conclusion
The ending of Dr. Muscle Beetle after a relatively short run has surprised some fans. The manga’s unique premise and the involvement of Uoto initially generated considerable interest. However, the series will conclude on May 8, 2025, leaving readers to ponder the “hyper pop insect apocalypse” that could have been.
