Finished
“Naive narcotics investigator Kai's violent alter-ego emerges during drug busts, puzzling partner Haru and uncovering dark past.”
Switch
switch [ スイッチ ]
7.8
1,466 rank · 13,301 readers · 232 favorites
Shounen
Detective
Organized Crime
Action
Drama
Mystery
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
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Synopsis
Naive narcotics investigator Kai's violent alter-ego emerges during drug busts, puzzling partner Haru and uncovering dark past.
In the Bureau of Health and Welfare's Narcotics Control Department, Kai Etou and Haru Kurabayashi are new to their work as crime investigators. Kai is a weak but generous 22-year-old man who cannot hurt others, even if necessary. He becomes a "matori"—a nickname for a criminal investigator in the Narcotics Control Department—to help people break away from drugs. Haru, a hard worker self-aware of his aptitudes, avoids associating himself with Kai since he is useless and empathetic toward everyone. For their first assignment, Haru and Kai must arrest an infamous drug dealer. While at it, Kai gets into a fight with the suspect, triggering a "switch" that makes him ruthless and unstoppable. As Kai and Haru struggle to solve drug-related crimes, they edge closer to unveiling the cause of Kai's behavior and his past.Included one-shot: Volume 5: Drug Hunter (prototype)
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 5 sampled reviews
8.2
/10
What 5 readers settled on.
100%
recommend
Score distribution
median 8
mode 8
σ 1.33
Agreement
Mostly aligned
σ 1.33 · some divergence
The polarity gap
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
Score over time
↓ 0.80
Running avg · Nov 2009 → Feb 2012
Snap verdicts
· shortest highly-rated reviews
- 8 “I love the story and find it to be very well done. However, the characters often look strikingly alike, which makes it difficult to distinguish them if I have not read a chapter in a while....”
- 10 “The stunning art and high-octane action make this manga an absolute must-read that takes me on one hell of a ride. I have no criticisms to offer, as the story and character dynamics are compelling...”
- 9 “Switch is a stunning series featuring magnificent, original storytelling, memorable characters, and an emotional depth that leaves me begging for more. While the initial art style and sloppy panel...”
Verbosity
Short · 40%
Medium · 20%
Long · 40%
Read Order & Related
Explore the Switch universe
Cast
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A Manga Publication
- Format 73 × 13 ch × vol
- Total read 9h 44m approx
- Published Jan 2002 – Oct 2008
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M1227 catalog