It’s not surprising to see manga about action-packed adventures, heartfelt romances, and expansive fantasy worlds, brought to life through striking, detailed artwork. However, these stories are often set in distant lands, be it imagined realms or Japan, where manga originated.
But what if there were a story that felt a little closer to home? A manga with a setting and premise that’s far more relatable than you might expect?
Enter ‘Single X 35’, “a manga about Singapore”, created by a Singapore-based artist who goes by the moniker Nezumiro.
Taking to Reddit to share their work, Nezumiro introduced ‘Single X 35’, which follows Shun Li, a 35-year-old office worker in Singapore.
The first chapter follows the main character as he navigates the harsh realities of everyday life, from grappling with feelings of falling behind at work to competing for a highly sought-after apartment along “Jalan Road, Bukit Hill”. It also teases the inclusion of a main female character, Shun Li’s high-achieving colleague, who appears to be his rival for the same ideal flat.
At press time, the post has since garnered plenty of traction, with Singaporeans stopping by the comment section to share their two cents on the manga.
Many have praised Nezumiro for the engaging read, with some saying they were already engrossed after the first chapter, and are now eager to see how the story develops.
“I’m hooked now. You’ve captured the dilemma of single workers in their 30s well (housing and job progression etc), but more importantly touches on wider themes of SG society. These works are important, keep at it,” wrote one netizen.
The manga also drew interest from what appeared to be more seasoned manga readers, many of whom expressed enthusiasm for future chapters. A number left messages of encouragement, commending the artist and urging them to continue the series.
A fellow artist also wrote: “Seeing your manga made me really happy. As someone who is working towards my dream of becoming a better manga-style artist, I’ve always wondered whether there were others in Singapore who shared the same desire, and now I know it’s a yes.”
Some commenters did point out a few “unrealistic” elements in the story, such as Shun Li smoking on his balcony — ‘cos, well, that’s something that could actually get you fined in Singapore — and the protagonist being “too handsome”, which some also mentioned in a tongue-in-cheek way.
Then there was also someone who asked: “Reservist arc when?”
Well, no one said fiction has to be 100 percent accurate, right? And isn’t it refreshing to see a manga storyline that feels a little more relatable to us as Singaporeans?
You can read the first chapter of the manga here.
Photos: Nezumiro