New manga offers dark twist on Rapunzel tale

A new manga called Young Märchen Crown has been launched in Weekly Young Jump. It is written by Aka Akasaka, known for Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War. The series is illustrated by Azychika, a collective name for artists who worked on Record of Ragnarok. Aoi Kujira will also contribute as a series composer. The story reimagines the classic fairy tale of Rapunzel. It features a girl who lives alone in a tower, guarded by a witch. The witch tells Rapunzel that the outside world is dangerous. Because of this, Rapunzel has never seen anyone except the witch. Everything changes when a curious boy named Mikel finds the tower. He climbs up and meets Rapunzel. They quickly fall in love as they share stories about the world outside. Excited to explore, Rapunzel asks Mikel to take her to his village. However, the journey takes a dark turn. When Rapunzel reaches the village, she is terrified to see monsters, and Mikel refers to one of them as his uncle. This shocking discovery makes her question everything. Unlike her dreams of a charming world, the reality is much more frightening. The manga blends romance with horror elements, promising an intriguing twist to the traditional fairy tale. Young Märchen Crown has received positive feedback for its beautiful artwork and captivating story. The series started with a prologue and the first chapter, released simultaneously, with new chapters expected weekly. The next chapter will be available on March 25 for North American readers.