Since its debut, So I'm a Spider, So What? has garnered a considerable amount of popularity thanks to a story that intrigues its audiences by veering from isekai's classic heroic narrative. Instead, it features a monster spider that can learn a boatload of skills and evolve into stronger versions of its species. In doing so, the anime focuses more on getting stronger for the sake of survival than any grandiose objective.
Focusing on power-ups and evolutions, So I'm a Spider, So What? puts power fantasy in the spotlight, and audiences who enjoy such content are in for a treat. Here's how those unfamiliar with it can dive into the entangling isekai series.
The Plot Of So I'm A Spider, So What?
Similar to plenty of isekai anime, So I'm a Spider, So What? starts by presenting a bunch of unsuspecting high school students -- but then proceeds to kill all of them. Luckily, a few fortunate students are reincarnated into a new world of fantasy and magic, most of them having cushy identities like nobles and princes. Kumoko, however, receives the bullet of the Russian Roulette and is reincarnated as not even a human being, but a hideous monster spider.
Kumoko's earliest memories of her new life are being carried and separated from her siblings. Along with having somehow acquired a skill system similar to a role-playing game, she is immediately thrust into a world of dangers and hardships. Not only is she in a dungeon she is yet to explore, but it is also crawling with powerful monsters that can easily kill her. She must use her knowledge as a human to level up and evolve, hoping her efforts will ultimately be rewarded in the future.
Where To Read the So I'm A Spider, So What? Light Novels
Created by Okina Baba, So I'm a Spider, So What? was first published on a Japanese user-generated content site. The web novel received a warm reception and was then published as a light novel in 2015. In 2017, Yen Press announced it had acquired the rights to publish the books in English. 14 volumes of the light novel are already translated and currently available for purchase.
The light novels are available both digitally and in print, with the digital versions available through retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indigo. For those more interested in physical copies, Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and other local retailers will have them.
So I'm a Spider, So What? has also received a manga adaptation, likewise licensed and available for purchase through Yen Press. The same publisher has also announced an audiobook that is set to release on April 12.
Where To Watch the So I'm A Spider, So What? Anime
So I'm a Spider, So What?'s anime adaptation was first announced in 2018, but only began airing in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millipensee, the studio responsible for the anime adaptations of Berserk and Cop Craft, gave the monster spider life for a two-cour first season. The anime is currently available for streaming via Crunchyroll and Netflix. As of this writing, there remains no announcement regarding So I'm a Spider's second season.
