Viz Manga – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Viz Manga

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2012

81%

WISE Score

4.8

App Store

The ultimate manga buffet where your kid can jump from 'The Legend of Zelda' to 'nightmare-inducing body horror' in about two taps.

Viz Manga

app

Teen, 2012

81%

WISE Score

4.8

App Store

The ultimate manga buffet where your kid can jump from 'The Legend of Zelda' to 'nightmare-inducing body horror' in about two taps.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Viz Manga is basically the gold standard for legal digital comics. For $1.99 a month, it’s arguably the best 'bang for your buck' in the entire digital entertainment landscape. It’s a literacy powerhouse that keeps kids reading when they’d otherwise be scrolling TikTok.

However, don't just hand this over to a 7-year-old and walk away. It’s a 'big kid' library. You wouldn't leave your second grader alone in the adult fiction section of a public library, and you shouldn't do it here either. For middle schoolers and up, it’s a total win.

Age Fit

Best for 12 and up. While there is content for younger kids (like Pokémon), the app is designed as a broad library for fans of all ages, and the 'scary stuff' is just too easy to stumble upon for the under-10 crowd.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a mixed bag. You've got sweet, high-school awkwardness in 'Komi Can't Communicate' sitting right next to the soul-crushing drama of 'Nana.' It's not a 'clean' app; it's a library of human experience, which isn't always tidy.

Imaginative

Manga is the gold standard for 'what if?' thinking. Whether it's the high-concept fantasy of 'Frieren' or the bizarre visual metaphors of Junji Ito, this app is a direct line to some of the most creative minds on the planet.

Safe

This is the 'everything' bucket. While there's a kids' mode toggle, the main library is a minefield for younger children. You can go from Pokémon to graphic body horror or mature romance themes with very little friction. It's safe for teens, but risky for the elementary crowd to browse solo.

Enriching

It’s a literacy engine. Kids who won't touch a chapter book will devour 300 pages of manga in a sitting. It offers deep dives into Japanese culture, complex ethics, and world-class visual art for the price of a candy bar.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Unbeatable value for the sheer volume of high-quality reading material.
Simultaneous releases mean your kid isn't hunting down sketchy, virus-laden 'scanlation' sites to stay current.
Diverse genres ensure there is a hook for every type of reader, from fantasy nerds to sports fans.
Excellent technical reader that handles two-page spreads and offline reading without a hitch.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'Uzumaki' factor: Junji Ito’s horror is legendary but can be genuinely traumatizing for younger or sensitive kids.
Mature themes in 'Josei' or 'Seinen' titles that include complex relationship dynamics, trauma, or stylized violence.
The subscription is a steal, but it can lead to 'binge-reading' marathons that eat into sleep schedules.

Conversation Starters

"Which artist's style do you find the most interesting? Why do they draw eyes or backgrounds that way?"
"How is the Japanese high school experience in these books different from your school?"
"If you could have any one 'quirk' or power from your favorite series, what would the downside be?"
"Why do you think some of these characters make such impulsive choices in their relationships?"

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