
What we’re about
Meet local fans, discuss titles you love, uncover new obsessions, and explore Chicago together! Our nonprofit connects newcomers and veterans 21+ older in friendly spaces to celebrate and examine Japanese media – since 2006.
Join today on Meetup & Discord
✶ 2025 PROGRAMS ✶
- Spotlights – Curated adventure plus networking – Sporadic
- Anime Showcase – Watch hidden gems and chat – Varied Tues
- Anime Discussion – Book club for selected title – 3rd Thu
- Manga Discussion – Book club for selected title – 2nd Sun
- Art Lounge – Jam on your project w/ friendly regulars – Weds
- Anime Sampler – Watch this season together! – 3rd Sat / Qtr
- Meetups – Outings to movies, cons, festivals & more!
✶ BEYOND MEETUP ✶
- Take our quiz to find something new to watch.
- Listen to our podcast Anime’s Game Changers.
- Get quarterly emails on our milestones, local events, anime hits.
- See our Calendar & Guides for more to do around our city.
- Support our 501(c)3 to help educate & connect Chicagoans!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Manga Discussion: Search and Destroy Vol. 1Goblin Market Manga & Curiosities, Chicago, IL
Please note: We are now meeting IRL for the first time in several years at Goblin Market in Chicago. Discord is still available for people who log in remotely.
"Search and and Destory Vol. 1" 「サーチアンドデストロイ」is from cult manga-ka Atsushi Kaneko (カネコアツシ) (best known for "Bambi and Her Pink Gun") is a reimagining of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga Dororo with more of a sci fi dystopic setting. Kaneko's style is one that hyper emphasizes the "comic bookiness" of his work. We'll be reading just the first volume released to sample this series. We've decided to host this event IRL at Goblin Market, but will still be running discord for those who want to come in remote.
This is a tale of rage. Rage against hypocrisy, injustice, exploitation, and the wrongs done to a child who grew into a righteous killer….Complete in three volumes, Search and Destroy transplants the vengeful action of Dororo from feudal Japan into a dystopian future where mercenary robots known as "creatures" serve the human elite and victimize the city's scrabbling, desperate masses. The violent death of one of these creatures connects an orphaned thief named Doro with a mysterious girl in a stinking animal hide that conceals deadly cybernetic implants. Who is this mysterious girl? How is she killing, one by one, the city's most twisted and powerful creatures?
We are now meeting IRL at Goblin Market in Chicago. Discord is still available for people who log in remotely.
★★★ IF LOGGING IN - SETUP DISCORD BEFORE EVENT ★★★
DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/KMtNz4P (Please show up in person if you can!)Manga Circle typically meets on second Sundays to discuss a selected work of manga and its international relevance. This event is suitable for attendees 18+ with any level of manga knowledge or experience. We recommend reading the entire selection beforehand – spoilers guaranteed!
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Getting the Comic
Please support Goblin Market if you can as they are our gracious hosts, they'll be more than happy to get you the title if its not in stock. - Manga Discussion: My Name is Shingo (vol 1-4)Goblin Market Manga & Curiosities, Chicago, IL
Please note: We are going to be reading the entire manga which is 4 volumes. Please read before coming to this event.
"My Name is Shingo" 「わたしは真悟」is a science fiction manga series from one of Japan's masters of Horror the recently departed Kazuo Umezz「楳図 かずお」 (Drifting Classroom, Orochi) We'll be reading all 4 volumes released (the whole series). We've decided to host this event IRL at Goblin Market, but will still be running discord for those who want to come in remote. Note the last volume is set to come out on Feb 25th, please let me know if it doesn't come out before then.
When an industrial robot named Monroe begins to work at his father’s factory, Satoru is fascinated. As he and his friend Marin spend more time with Monroe, they start to suspect there’s much more to the machine than anyone else realizes. But neither children nor adults are prepared for Monroe’s violent awakening into consciousness.
We are now meeting IRL at Goblin Market in Chicago. Discord is still available for people who log in remotely.
★★★ IF LOGGING IN - SETUP DISCORD BEFORE EVENT ★★★
DISCORD LINK: https://discord.gg/KMtNz4P (Please show up in person if you can!)Manga Circle typically meets on second Sundays to discuss a selected work of manga and its international relevance. This event is suitable for attendees 18+ with any level of manga knowledge or experience. We recommend reading the entire selection beforehand – spoilers guaranteed!
-----
Getting the Comic
Please support Goblin Market if you can as they are our gracious hosts, they'll be more than happy to get you the title if its not in stock.