Manga You Might Have Missed in 2026
Looking at upcoming and released series from January 2026 and beyond that I find interesting, and maybe you will too!
With the year almost over, it's time to look back. We have so much manga (and more!) coming our way that you will go bankrupt trying to collect it all. Without further ado, here are the manga (and not manga) I found interesting and wish to share with you arranged by publisher. Let's go!
Highlights
Alien Books
Badducks by Takeda Toryumon (4 vols, complete)
Alien Books is sadly one of those publishers that I forget exist because they don't exclusively publish manga, and by the looks of their catalog, they target comic book readers and people who are likely to enjoy Dark Horse's offerings and Viz's Signature imprint. In other words, Alien Books had nothing I wanted to read...until now. Takeda Toryumon's debut manga Badducks is a roadtrip epic about two outlaws and a baby seeking freedom.
Alien Books describes the story:
Morgan never had any luck. At 10 years old, he was abandoned by his parents, and 20 years later the mob began to demand payment of the debt they left him. Penniless, the only way to pay it off was to become a lab rat for Nguyen, master of the criminal world. Society’s rejects, and nonhumans in particular, end up under his orders as killers, prostitutes or forced laborers.
Morgan wakes up with a tube on his back and…an exceptional force! His identity is gone: He’s damned to a life of servitude. When everything seems lost, Lisa, the last of her species and a slave to the mob, proposes a plan to escape. It doesn’t go so smoothly, and the fugitives find themselves with a baby in their luggage—and they choose to bring him with them! The two protagonists have neither combat experience nor resources, but their thirst for freedom is unparalleled.
Sounds fun, and the art looks cool. The first volume will hit store shelves on September 22, 2026. Check out the manga here.
Kana Manga
Kana Manga, an imprint of Abrams ComicArts, started last year. Big titles include the legendary mangaka Tsukasa Hojo's series City Hunter and Cat's Eye. Well, Kana has swung for the fences with this next big, big release.
Billy Bat by Naoki Urasawa (20 vols, complete)
The manga gods have finally blessed us. It's finally happening. Naoki Urasawa's iconic manga is finally here. The first volume dropped on June 2, 2026. Serialized in Kodansha's Morning magazine from 2008 to 2016, Billy Bat is a historical thriller spanning 20 volumes. (Yes, Kana Manga will print all 20 volumes. No omnibus.)
Kana Manga describes the story:
It's 1949 Los Angeles, and Kevin Yamagata, a Japanese American comic book author, is drawing his bestselling character, Billy Bat: a quick-witted detective who is, unsurprisingly, a cartoon bat.
Everything is going well for Kevin until he discovers an unfortunate truth: He may have unintentionally plagiarized his beloved character from a drawing he once saw in Japan. Devastated by the news, Kevin returns to war-torn Japan to find the drawing's original artist . . . but the character's origins turn out to be far older and more perplexing than he had ever imagined.
Sounds good to me! Check it out here.
Dark Horse
The Credits Roll into the Sea by John Tarachine (8 vols, ongoing)
Like Alien Books, Dark Horse is another comic company I forget exists because they have little to offer me... until now. Besides Adabana, I now have one more manga to add to my To-Be-Read (TBR) List. Dark Horse will now be publishing the shoujo manga The Credits Roll into the Sea by John Tarachine. (Yes, shoujo.) I've seen this on many a shoujo fan's licensing wishlist, and hell yeah, I joined the choir on this one. If you're a movie fan, you need to check this one out. The same mangaka behind Witch of Thistle Castle (published in English by Titan Manga and MangaPlaza) and Alcohol Communication (published in English by Futekiya/Manga Planet) pens a twice nominated Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize manga about a 65-year-old retired widow teaming up with an androgynous young man to make movies.
Dark Horse describes the story:
Just what are you going to do with the rest of your life? It’s the question you’ll always have to answer, no matter your age. Umiko Chino is a 65 year-old retired woman in mourning for her late husband. Remembering how they used to watch films together, Umiko goes to the movie theater for the first time in years, where she meets Kai, an attractive, ambiguous young man who studies filmmaking at a nearby art school.
They would seem to have nothing in common, except for this—both of them sometimes like to look more at the way the audience reacts to a movie than the movie itself. Kai believes Umiko has the same deep desire he possesses to experience how people respond to something they made… and challenges her to stake the rest of her life discovering that thrill.
Soon Umiko surprises herself by enrolling in the same film school as Kai. But sailing into this new sea, she’s suddenly inside the currents of her fellow students’ lives, a much younger generation that she struggles to understand, driven by their own passions and their own relationships. Who’s really experienced at life, and is it old age or observation that brings wisdom? And does what you’re looking for change when you look with your eyes instead of through a camera lens…?
Fellow hunters, there are movie references galore in this manga. Additionally, you have an old protagonist, no romance, and a shoujo. The first volume dropped on March 3, 2026 and the second volume will drop on October 6, 2026. Check out The Credits Roll into the Sea here.
Kodansha
Kodansha will be re-releasing quite a few series this year. OG shoujo fans should check out the 30th anniversary edition of MARS and the 20th anniversary edition of Shugo Chara! Plus, Kodansha will be publishing Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker for the first time. Shounen fans can look forward to a new omnibus edition of BECK, a highlight reel, full-color edition of Blue Lock, a 3-in-1 omnibus of Blue Lock, and yet another hardcover edition of Attack on Titan. Osamu Tezuka fans can look forward to the deluxe edition of Black Jack. Lastly, Ghost in the Shell fans can look forward to a new manga boxset and a Shirow Masamune premium artbook.
Besides a fuck ton of re-releases, Kodansha is printing Omega of the Divine by Ayumu Nagisa, Killing Line by Satoshi Morie, Tokyo Tarareba Girls Returns by Akiko Higashimura, Tokyo Tarareba Girls Returns 2 by Akiko Higashimura, Don’t Tempt Me, VP! by Kana Natsuki, and the noh-dancing-manga-turned anime The World is Watching by Kazuto Mihara. All of these series (and more!) will be published via the new print-on-demand program the Kodansha Print Club. Finally, Kodansha is giving the girlies what they want by licensing Haruka Kawachi's Rainy Day Serenade. The proclaimed "most-requested Kodansha manga of all time" will be published as a premium paperback omnibus, and the first volume has been pushed to next year January 2027. (It was originally slated to come out in spring 2026.)
While most of that is interesting, there are five titles I'd like to highlight for this post, and they are Fruit of the Underworld by Aya Kanno, Whoever You Are, I Love You by Keiku Hagiwara, That's Not Love by Peko Watanabe, Secondhand Sisters by Battan, and My Husband is a Doomsday Weapon by Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara.
Fruit of the Underworld by Aya Kanno (2 vols, ongoing)
The same mangaka behind Otomen, Blank Slate, and Requiem of the Rose King brings you a thrilling-action adventure story about journeying into the underworld.
Kodansha describes Fruit of the Underworld:
Ever since the day Seiji climbed down a creepy dark well as a kid to retrieve a wayward ball and picked up an odd-looking pomegranate, he’s had to dodge an unending stream of near-fatal “accidents” that push everyone around him away—except for his best friend Haru. But all that changes when their high school bus crashes, killing everybody on board but Seiji. Suddenly, rumors from his childhood about that fateful well reaching into the depths of the underworld take on a whole new light, and Seiji is launched into an epic adventure to save his friend—and his own soul.
The first volume was released on March 31, 2026, and the second volume hit store shelves on July 28, 2026. Check it out here.
Whoever You Are, I Love You by Keiku Hagiwara (3 vols, ongoing)
Kodansha is giving us another Be Love manga. Not just another Be Love manga either, but a romantic crime thriller that's presently serializing in the magazine. The cherry on top? It will be available in print and digital. As a fan of the mystery, crime, and thriller genres I'm always looking forward to another series, especially if it's a josei manga. I'm here for more women's-comics-in-America agenda.
Kodansha describes the story:
Despite being unmarried at 32, Yuki Sato is happy—she enjoys temping as a greeter, and more importantly, she's engaged to a handsome, successful man she met on a dating app...until Shun Majima walks into her life and blows it up.
Does her fiancé seem too good to be true because he is? And was he really involved in the death of Shun's brother? As Yuki's life slowly starts to unravel, she finds herself drawn into the seedy underbelly of Tokyo, caught in a web of lies and manipulation. She and Shun join forces to uncover the truth, but will they be able to do so before it's too late...?
The first volume was released June 23, 2026. The second volume is slated for September 29, 2026. Check it out here.
That's Not Love by Peko Watanabe (6 vols, complete)
By the same creator of 1122 For a Happy Marriage comes a moving drama about friendship and womanhood.
Kodansha describes That's Not Love:
Forty-year-old Akane attends the opening of a new art exhibit by her former cram school teacher, Mr. Imai, who has now become a sculptor. Akane notices that Mr. Imai's new sculpture bears a striking resemblance to her middle school best friend, Yukari, who she remembers suddenly transferred out of the school. It even has a distinct scar that Yukari shared with Akane privately. Wondering what this could mean, Akane reaches out to her old friend, and learns that there was something else going on when they were children that she only partly understood. Was Yukari just a muse? Or something with more upsetting implications?
As a fan of 1122: For a Happy Marriage, I'm really looking forward to reading more of Peko Watanabe's works. If you still need more convincing on why you should add this one to your list, may I remind you that this manga was on the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list in 2023? Also, this manga has 40+ year-old protagonists, and it's a short series, clocking in at 6 volumes. The first volume was released on May 26, 2026, and the second volume hit store shelves on July 28, 2026. Check it out here.
Secondhand Sisters by Battan (5 vols, complete)
By the same mangaka of Run Away With Me, Girl, comes a messy family drama.
Kodansha describes the story:
Ever since they were little, Jun’s charismatic younger sister Ran has had a habit of “borrowing” her favorite things and making them her own. It always annoyed Jun to lose her toys, clothes, and other belongings, but she saw it as just part of having a younger sibling—until the day Ran claimed her boyfriend, too.
The two haven’t spoken in eight years when they’re reunited at their mother’s funeral. Ran and her husband—Jun’s ex—want to move into the house their mother left behind, but Jun will be damned if she lets Ran take one more thing away from her. With neither side willing to budge, the three find themselves living under the same roof, and it’s not long before old resentments, secrets, and passions threaten to unravel their lives.
If you're looking for another josei manga to read, add Secondhand Sisters. It's a big departure from Run Away With Me, Girl, which was heartfelt and serious. So...this one will probably be more of my speed. 🙈 Definitely add both to the list. Secondhand Sisters is being printed through Kodansha's Print Club, and as of right now, volume 1 and 2 are out. Learn more here.
My Husband is a Doomsday Weapon by Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara (1 vol, ongoing)
Last but not least, some levity. Kodansha has graced us with another josei manga. My Husband is a Doomsday Weapon is currently serializing in Comic Zero-Sum.
Kodansha describes the story:
The first ever post-apocalyptic hard sci-fi human/android romance?!
A young scientist working to restore a civilization destroyed centuries ago by cataclysmic war unearths a devastatingly powerful doomsday weapon—which saves her from a marauding robot, then promptly transforms into human guise, identifying her as its new master. Thanks to the input from a romance novel, this handsome anthropomorphic weapon dedicates itself body and soul to our heroine, who in turn realizes that this may be the answer to her total inability to interact with human men...
Packed with humor and sterling artwork, this series fuses the visual storytelling techniques of shojo manga with effortlessly natural and precise science fiction worldbuilding to create something totally unique—and genuinely romantic!
Sounds good to me! Mark your calendars for December 22, 2026. Check it out here.
Seven Seas
The problem with Seven Seas is that they license a lot of short series, like 5 volumes or fewer, making them easy to miss and overwhelming if you're trying to stay on top of releases. Also, I feel Seven Seas just lets books go out-of-stock and out-of-print quickly compared to their competitors, which makes it all the more vexing to read and collect. (Case in point. I have been sitting on this article since February 2026, and Alpha Wolfgirl x Omega Wolfboy vol. 1 is still out on Amazon, Crunchyroll, and a host of other places. The volume was first released...in 2024. WTF, Seven Seas.)
More on that front, the enthusiasm Seven Seas has in releasing Steamship titles is...something. Since 2022, Seven Seas has put out more series in the Steamship imprint than Viz's Shojo Beat imprint. Since 2022, Seven Seas has published more shoujo overall than Shojo Beat. What I'm trying to say is Seven Seas needs to pump the breaks on these Steamship licenses. For real. There are 40 titles and counting in the imprint! (Again, the imprint started in 2022.) Flirting with My Bear-Like Boyfriend, The Obsessed Mage and His Statue Bride: She Cannot Resist His Seductive Voice (manga version), The Scheming Crown Prince’s Wicked Consort, and The Tea Ceremony Master’s Rich and Steamy Service: Spoiled by His Skillful Hands all join the imprint this year. Did I mention this imprint started in 2022?!
Steamship aside, other new and interesting manga Seven Seas will be publishing this year include a story about battling cancer based on the author's experience (Good Morning, Good Night, and See You Tomorrow.), a supernatural crime drama (Phenomenon X: Paranormal Crime Files), a "bawdry" yuri reincarnation comedy (The Death Defying Princess Creates a Yuri Harem to Survive), and a heartwarming romance story (The Oblivious Girl and the Maidenly Man).
Seven Seas will keep the BL train going with their webtoons, manga, light novels, audiobooks, and danmei. Notable danmei licenses include Golden Terrace and Little Mushroom (both were previously published by the now defunct Peach Flower House). Also, Seven Seas will continue to re-release the record-breaking MXTX novels as deluxe hardcovers.
On a final note, Seven Seas is no longer an independent publisher. The company has been acquired by Media Do International, whose motto is "more content for more people." True to their word, you can find many a Media Do title clogging up the Kindle e-stores and padding out many a manga-based digital subscription service. The last thing Seven Seas needs is more content for more people at a breakneck pace with lackluster translations or worse--machine translations. This news from March 1 has cast a shadow over every announcement since. The influence of Media Do's ownership remains to be seen, but I hope it is minimal.
For now, Seven Seas has stated that it is committed to human translations and high editorial standards. I hope it stays that way.
On that note, I'd like to highlight two manga from Seven Seas, and they are Everything for the Demon King Evelogia and Remnant: The Beastman Omegaverse Saga.
Everything for the Demon King Evelogia by Io Kajiwara (7 vols, ongoing)
The mature isekai BL manga Everything for the Demon King Evelogia is finally coming to print. As of right now, you can read the manga digitally via Bookwalker, Coolmic, Renta, and INKR Comics. Additionally this manga has been adapted to anime and licensed for streaming and blu-ray release by the award-winning dubbing studio Ascendent Animation. (I have the blu-ray. 🙈)
So, Everything for the Demon King Evelogia is super accessible accessible now, and I cannot wait to read it in the format I prefer for smut stories, print. (The smut keeps getting dislited from "normie" platforms like Amazon/Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Google Play Books. I wish BookWalker was 100% DRM-free, but the new storefront and Lightweight Content Protection (LCP) policy is a step in the right direction. I'm tempted to try BookWalker now.)
Seven Seas describes the story:
Toshiaki Ushito—better known as Gozu—is a social outcast. One day, he’s shot and killed… only to wake up inside the world of his favorite game! And right in front of him stands the very character he’s always had a massive crush on: Demon King Evelogia, the final boss. But Evelogia hasn’t come into his power yet—still in a younger form, quietly shaken by loneliness. Unable to hold back, Gozu blurts out: “I’ve fallen for you!” And just like that, his passionate pursuit of the Demon King begins?!
The first volume was released on April 21, 2026. The second volume was released on August 4, 2026, and the third volume will be released on November 17, 2026. Check it out here.
Remnant: The Beastmen Omegaverse Saga by Hana Hasumi (7 vols, complete)
Serialized in Daria magazine from 2016 to 2022, Remnant: The Beastmen Omegaverse Saga is a fantasy drama series following an omega who would do anything to keep his little sister safe.
Seven Seas describes the story:
After losing his parents, Daath and his little sister Bella—both omegas—grow up under the Church’s care. As his first heat draws near, Daath secretly sells his body to save enough money for them to escape. But when he discovers that the orphanage has been trafficking omegas in the black market, his fragile world shatters.
Desperate to protect his sister, Daath takes on a dangerous job—only for his first heat to strike at the worst possible time. Just as his body gives in to instinct, a dark-furred beastman appears before him: Juda, a wolf alpha who wants nothing to do with humans or omegas. Yet their encounter ignites a bond neither can resist, one that will change both their destinies forever.
The omegaverse train continues! I'm hyped. The first volume was released on June 30, 2026, and the second volume will be released on October 27, 2026. Check it out here.
VIZ
I'll be honest. The announcements didn't get good till Summer, and even then, my memory banks forgot that a few of these were coming out. So, let me remind you too. If you're a fan of Ai Yazawa, brace yourselves. VIZ has officially licensed the last of Ai Yazawa's big hit titles with I'm No Angel. Per the announcement on Shojo Beat's Tumblr, I'm No Angel will receive a deluxe paperback edition, complete with gatefold flaps and a two-page color insert. There will be four volumes in all, and the first volume dropped on June 2, 2026. The second volume was released on September 1, 2026. Besides I'm No Angel, Shojo Beat fans can look forward to more Io Sakisaka (Daydream Darling) in August 2026, a special edition v. 18 to celebrate the end of The King's Beast by Rei Toma (released in July 2026), and the print debut of Kaeru Mizuho's Magical Girl Dandelion on March 3, 2026. If you're thinking, "Hmmm, that sounds like a light calendar release for the imprint." Yeah, you're right.
Credit to: @thehorsecharles for the graphic
The imprint's printing schedule is on par with SuBLime. SuBLime's entire calendar is up right now, and the imprint just poked their head out for their annual 801 Day announcements on August 1. You may recall the Valentine's Day announcements when the imprint managed to piss off fans with some choice now-deleted comments, namely calling BL a "niche" and that printing anything over 10 volumes is "risky." These comments sparked a heated discussion on Twitter. Whether BL is a niche or not is a rant/discussion for another post. 😔
On another note, 2026 marks 40 years of Viz. Viz is celebrating 40 years as publisher. Where is the fanfare? At least they blogged about it.
Shojo Beat, SuBLime, and the anniversary aside, I want to highlight two titles from VIZ, and they are Half is More and Cocoon.
Half is More by Yoiko Fujimi (1 vol, ongoing)
Serializing in Torch, Half Is More is a slice-of-life drama about being mixed-race in Japan penned by a half-Japanese mangaka. Half is More also topped the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list for 2026. Do you really need more reasons to check out this manga?
VIZ describes the manga:
In a country as homogeneous as Japan, Kazumi and others like her must continue to put one foot in front of the other and contend with feelings of otherness every day. As they navigate this road rife with trials and pitfalls—microaggressions, misunderstandings, social transgressions, and racism—it becomes clear that self-acceptance isn’t simple.
This is a story of hope and the search for coexistence, dedicated to all those struggling with their identity.
Given the state of the world, especially the shenanigans going on in The United States, this manga is needed now. Half is More vol. 1 was released on August 18, 2026. Check it out here.
Cocoon by Machiko Kyo (1 vol, complete)
Serialized in Elegance Eve from 2009 to 2010, Cocoon is a historical drama based on a true story. Two things instantly stand out to me about this manga. One, I am 99% certain that this is the first manga we have ever gotten from the women's magazine Elegance Eve. Two, this manga received an anime film adaptation in 2025. So, of course, VIZ finally licensed it. 🙄
VIZ describes the story:
San and her best friend Mayu attend a boarding school for girls on Japan’s Southern Island, but their studies are interrupted when they and the other students are recruited to help the war effort as assistant nurses. Sent to the front lines, the girls must deal with more than just the threat of enemy bombs overhead. Stuck working in the horrifying caves of a field hospital, San wishes she could wrap herself and her friends in a cocoon of protection. But invisible threads of affection are no match for the carnage that surrounds them, and more students perish day by day. Worn down by starvation and loss, what will San and her remaining friends do when they are told to find their way home through the fields of war?
This manga was released on June 16, 2026. Check it out here.
Yen Press
Like Kodansha and VIZ, Yen Press is also giving us more series by mangaka whose works have been published in English before. We're getting another series by Scarlet Beriko (Redeem: Only One Forever - the art is by Next Level Studio), Shima Shinya (Void: No. Nine), and Chitose Kaido (Thank You for Taking Care of Our Boy Banri). Additionally, Yen Press will be re-releasing a few series as omnibus editions, and they include Girl's Last Tour by Tsukumizu, Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san by *Honda, and Battle Royale by Masayuki Taguchi and Koushun Takami. (In case you missed it, Yen Press also brought back D.N. Angel. Volume 1 was released in November 2025.) Additionally, more BL manga is coming our way. In addition to Redeem: Only One Forever, BL fans have the two-volume series Meiji-Era Master and Servant Tungsten by Mio Tatsumoto to look forward to in October 2026. Lastly, Yuri fans have the print debut of the popular manwha What Does the Fox Say? by Team Gaji to look forward to. It's out now. Book 1 dropped on August 25, 2026.
As far as highlights go, I want to draw your attention to three series Hand in Hand with Mu-chan: Lessons from My Autistic Daughter by Rin Minato, Studio Cabana by Umi Agri, and He Was My Brother by Minoru Matsuda.
Hand in Hand with Mu-chan: Lessons from My Autistic Daughter by Rin Minato (8 vols, ongoing)
Another Elegance Eve title is coming our way this year. Plus, it's from an author whose works have never been licensed before. Talk about a two-fer.
Yen Press describes the story:
First-time mother Aya can’t help noticing her daughter, Mu-chan, won’t say “Mama” or “Dada” like other kids—in fact, she shows little interest in communicating with her parents at all or in sitting still. When Aya finds out Mu-chan might be autistic, the idea of her child having a developmental delay shatters her vision of motherhood and leaves her spiraling in uncertainty. As the gap between Mu-chan and her peers widens, Aya and her husband must rally to support their daughter on her journey forward, hand in hand!
If you're looking for a josei slice-of-life drama, a manga about family and parenting, or a manga featuring autism, then Hand in Hand with Mu-chan: Lessons from My Autistic Daughter should be on your to-be-read list. Volume 1 was released on August 25, 2026. Check it out here.
Studio Cabana by Umi Agri (8 vols, ongoing)
Slated for an anime adaptation in 2027, Studio Cabana is an ongoing series about highschool, growing up, falling in love, and music.
Yen Press describes the story:
Yukari Maki is a high-school girl who prides herself on honesty—and she’s starting to get the feeling that she and her delinquent classmate, Yusuke Kusaka, don't have a single thing in common! But her straitlaced unwillingness to let him skate by in school earns her an almost chaperone-like reputation, much to Yusuke’s apparent disdain. Yet, despite his disdain for her hovering, Yukari is unwilling to let a new rumor about Yusuke spread. After following him home to discuss it, she watches him stop at a music studio. And in there, Yukari sees—and hears—a side of Yusuke she had never imagined...
I saw this manga on many a shoujo fan's wishlist, and come December 15, 2026, I'll know why. Check it out here.
He Was My Brother by Minoru Matsuda (10 vols, complete)
Another day, another manga freed from digital jail! Part mystery, part horror, and all drama, He Was My Brother is a story about a girl, her brother's boyfriend, and her dead brother.
Yen Press describes the story simply:
In the high heat of summer, Kanoko visits her brother’s grave. By her side is Hijiri, her brother’s lover—and the man she has fallen in love with. But memories aren’t the only things that can haunt the living. This is the story of the twisted love between a girl, her brother’s partner, and the thing that was once her brother…
You can get a sneak preview via the mobile-only manga subscription service Mangamo. The print version makes its debut on November 24, 2026. Check it out here.
If these titles are not enough for you, then don't worry. There is more. Honorable mentions and my top picks are below.
Honorable Mentions: New Publishers, Indies, and All the Rest
Honestly, it's getting overwhelming keeping up with publishers. There are so many out there, and there are quite a few new ones to keep an eye on. If you're looking for more shoujo, josei, yuri, BL, teen's love, and gay comics then keep your eyes on BluPetal. BluPetal has 3 debut titles, and they are Last Heaven by Masashi Kumamoto (BL manga to be released in 2027), The Black World is Dyed in White Chalk by Suzumi Raika (GL manga slated to be released at the end of 2026), and Let Me Fix You by Sakura Kurihara (GL manga slated to be released at the end of 2026). Looks like the special edition pre-orders includes signed bookplates. More manga, more merch, and a new digital subscription service and platform is coming soon. Check them out via their website here.
This year, Crossed Hearts burst onto the scene. Crossed Hearts is a new publisher bringing manga, manwha, manhua, and light novels to us. Highlights include the novel series turned manwha turned anime Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion?. Crossed Hearts offers limited editions and extra goodies when you place an order with them. It's cool that they'll be giving Raeliana sprayed edges and exclusive slipcovers and boxsets. Check it out here. Other brand new and relatively new publishers include Red String Manga (home to BL manga Funny Bone and I'll See You at Ebisu Studios), Manga Mavericks (home to Horon of the Closed Country and the legendary shoujo manga The Sword of Paros), and Kodama (home to Baki the Grappler and Magica).
If you're into horror, then definitely check out comic publisher Living the Line's manga imprint Smudge, home to The Girl Who Raised the Dead and much more. If you're into alt manga, literary manga, and manga that won't just appeal to the "average manga fan," then you'll want to look at Drawn & Quarterly, New York Comic Review, Fantagraphics (home to Wandering Cat's Cage by Akane Torikai and Wandering Son by Shimura Takako; Yes, Wandering Son is back in print, and it will be 100% translated and complete now.), Last Gasp, and Glacier Bay Books. (Star Clock Liddell is finally out now!)
If you're looking for kid and teen friendly manga, then you'll want to look at Random House's latest imprint Ink Pop. Ink Pop just penned a deal with Omoi (formerly Azuki) to bring some of its digital catalog to print, starting with Our Aimless Nights. For adult manga, webcomics, and more, look no further than Random House's other imprint Inklore. If you're looking for more webcomic/digital to print publishers, then Webtoons Unscrolled should be on your radar. (Accidental Assassin by Molly Ni Chéileachair and Vi sounds right up my alley.)
That Manga Hunter's Top Picks
Overall, Kodansha has won the year for me, at least as far as big publishers go. The titles I highlighted (Fruit of the Underworld by Aya Kanno, Whoever You Are, I Love You by Keiku Hagiwara, That's Not Love by Peko Watanabe, Secondhand Sisters by Battan, and My Husband is a Doomsday Weapon by Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara) are all on my TBR. Whoever You Are, I Love You claims the top spot followed by That's Not Love in second place and Secondhand Sisters in third place. Whoever You Are, I Love You is on my list because I'm ravenous for more mystery and thrillers whereas That's Not Love and Secondhand Sisters are on the list because of the author's previously licensed and published works, which I highly recommend. Outside of Kodana's offerings, I'm looking forward to reading Chitose Kaido's new work Thank You for Taking Care of Our Boy Banri and as always I'm looking forward to exploring the new Steamship titles from Seven Seas.
Conclusion
And there you have it. Over a dozen manga (and not manga) to read for the rest of the year and beyond. What are you looking forward to reading? What are you reading now? Let me know!
And, if you need more recs, you can click here.
Happy Reading!
(NOTE: release dates are subject to change. As of this post, the release dates are accurate.)
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