Dead Rock (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima. It has been serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine since July 2023, with its chapters collected in seven volumes as of May 2026.
Plot Dead Rock is an academy in the demon world where students are trained to conquer the human world as demon rulers. Yakuto, a young demon descended from a black dragon, is one of seven applicants who pass the school's deadly special entrance exam into Class 1-F. On his first day of class, Yakuto murders his homeroom teacher and reveals his true objective is to kill the school principal, a supreme evil being who claims to be God. To this end, Yakuto involves his classmates in his plans as they fight to survive Dead Rock's brutal curriculum, murderous teachers, and ambitious rival students.
Characters
A demon boy who seeks revenge against God for exterminating his people, the Dragon Roots. He has the power to transform his arm or entire body into that of his "root" ancestor, a black dragon, the latter of which reduces his lifespan. His dragon form resembles Fairy Tail character Acnologia.
A battle enthusiast who manipulates fire with the power of her root, an ifrit. She enrolls in Dead Rock to surpass her older sister, who failed to graduate from the school.
A swordsman whose Orochi root allows him to split his weapon into eight copies. He seeks to rescue his kingdom's princess, whose soul is sealed within his broadsword.
A wolf-eared demon with the root of Fenrir, capable of creating ice with his . He hails from a feudal clan rumored to have caused their homeland's eternal winter.
A necromancer whose lich root allows her to reanimate the dead as flesh-eating zombies. She is later revealed to be an agent of Ghost, the demon world's secret service.
A living and descendant of Thor who wields a lightning-infused hammer. He is intelligent and analytical, desiring to study humans rather than conquer them.
A cat-eared girl with a black wizard root who often takes the form of a talking crow descended from Yatagarasu. She shares Yakuto's goal of killing God.
A supreme deity who serves as principal of Dead Rock. He is suspected by Yakuto to be a fake who replaced a previous God.
Publication Written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima, Dead Rock started in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine on July 6, 2023. Mashima has stated that he had not intended for the manga to be a long series, but extended it due to positive reader reception. The series went on hiatus in May 2026, and is scheduled to resume publication in Q4 of the same year. Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual volumes, with the first released on November 16, 2023. As of May 8, 2026, seven volumes have been released.
In July 2024, Kodansha USA announced that it had licensed the manga for English release in North America, with the first volume released on March 4, 2025. Five English volumes have been released as of September 15, 2026.
Volumes
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
Reception Reviewing the first English volume for Anime News Network, Rebecca Silverman rated it three stars out of five, criticizing the large number of characters introduced in the first chapter, but expressing interest in its setting; MrAJCosplay wrote more positively, giving it four stars while praising the "air of mystery" surrounding the characters.
References
External links