Crunchyroll’s new shonen pick Black Torch is starting to look like one of Summer 2026’s easiest weekly watches, especially if your anime taste still lives somewhere between cursed powers, squad chemistry, and boys arguing before becoming bros.
After three episodes, the series has already shown a lot of familiar shonen DNA. The big one is obvious: protagonist Jiro Azuma carries a dangerous inner power he did not exactly plan for, giving him that classic “hero with a monster inside” setup. It is the kind of trope fans have seen across major battle anime, and yes, the Jujutsu Kaisen comparison is hard to ignore.
But the more interesting part right now is not just the dark-power angle. Black Torch is beginning to click because of its character dynamics, especially the newly formed duo of Jiro Azuma and Reiji Kirihara.
The previous episode introduced the core members of the unit also called Black Torch, setting up a familiar but effective team shape: two male characters and one female character. From there, the show quickly leans into one of shonen’s most reliable engines — two guys who clearly do not respect each other yet, forced into the same orbit until the sparks start flying.
Jiro and Reiji’s first major interaction comes with proper tension. They clash verbally, they do not give each other much credit, and then they have to fight to prove they deserve their spots in the new unit. Simple setup, but kalau executed well, this stuff always works.
Their fight makes the contrast clear. Jiro is the direct one, built around raw force and instinct. Reiji, meanwhile, fights with a more calculated head, relying on logic and reading the situation instead of just rushing in. Jiro wins the bout, but the episode still makes a strong case that Reiji is not just there to be the “other guy” in the party. He brings a different kind of value.
That brute-force-and-brains pairing is exactly why the duo feels promising. Shonen history is full of these relationships: rivals, reluctant partners, loud idiot plus composed strategist, two fighters who bicker nonstop but slowly become sharper together. Black Torch is clearly playing in that lane, and so far, it is doing enough to make the formula fun rather than stale.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, this is the kind of show that could become a weekly group-chat anime if it keeps the momentum. Not every season needs a massive franchise comeback to be fun. Sometimes you just want a new battle anime with clean hooks, easy character banter, and enough mystery around the power system to keep everyone arguing after each episode drops.
The latest episode also ends with Jiro and Reiji facing a stronger enemy together, which means the next episode should be the real test. Their fight against each other showed their contrast. Their first serious battle as partners should show whether that contrast can turn into proper chemistry.
One extra wrinkle makes Black Torch even more interesting: the original manga was cancelled. That makes the anime’s reception feel slightly bittersweet, but also exciting. If the adaptation keeps winning over viewers on Crunchyroll, it could push more fans to discover the source material and maybe reframe how people talk about the series.
For now, Black Torch is not just surviving on Jujutsu Kaisen comparisons. It is building its own appeal through very classic shonen ingredients: a dangerous inner power, a new unit, a hot-headed lead, a sharper partner, and just enough friction to make the duo worth watching.
Reporting source: ComicBook Anime