Category: Manga

Mad Cave announces a new manga imprint, Nakama Press

The first titles are expected to arrive next summer.

Mad Cave Studios is adding a manga imprint to their already impressive list of imprints. Nakama Press will publish original manga and licensed titles, along with manhwa from Korea, manhua from China and manfra, which are the French equivalent of OEL manga.

The release says they plan to partner with studios like Japanese animation company Tatsunoko Pro and The Rainbow Group, among others, to “deliver a compelling reading experience that appeals to manga enthusiasts and newcomers alike.”

“Our mission with Nakama Press is to connect readers with stories that resonate universally, transcending cultural boundaries,” said Mark Irwin, President of Mad Cave Studios, “We believe in the power of storytelling to bring people together, and Nakama Press is our way of celebrating that through the incredible world of manga and graphic novels.”

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Smash Pages Q&A | Samuel Sattin on ‘Unico: Awakening’

The writer of the new manga based on the work of Osamu Tezuka talks about the project, what Tezuka means to him and more.

Osamu Tezuka, who is sometimes referred to as the “God of Manga” or the “Father of Manga,” left a legacy that endures well beyond his death in 1989. The prolific creator gave us such beloved manga as Astro Boy, Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, Phoenix and Unico, among many others.

Two years ago Samuel Sattin, writer of recent Eisner nominee Buzzing, and the artist team known as Gurihiru had the opportunity to reimagine one of Tezuka’s creations for modern audiences — Unico, the story of a tiny unicorn who enraged the jealous goddess Venus, so the gods erase his memory and banish him across space and time. Unico is constantly jumping from era to era, where he must escape the gods and have his memory erased over and over again. His only ally is the West Wind, who feels sorry for him and tries to help him along his journey.

Sattin and Gurihiru teamed up for Unico: Awakening, which reintroduces the magical unicorn and draws from the original manga, while creating something new and inviting. After a successful Kickstarter, the first volume is getting a wide release courtesy of Scholastic this week.

I spoke with Sattin about the manga, the legacy of Tezuka and more. My thanks for his time.

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SDCC | As the Avengers team with Ultraman in the U.S., Spider-Man will team with him in Japan

Manga publisher Shogakukan will publish ‘Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man’ in Japan, while Viz will bring it to America via their Viz Manga app.

The first crossover between Ultraman and the Marvel Universe is getting bigger. While Marvel will publish Ultraman X Avengers by Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom and Francesco Manna next month, Japanese publisher Shogakukan will publish Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man, a manga that will be released the same week.

In addition, Viz Media confirmed during their panel in San Diego this week that they will publish Ultraman: Along Came a Spider-Man digitally in the U.S. via their Viz Manga app as it is released in Japan, with plans to release a print collection next year. The manga is written by Shigenobu Matsumoto and drawn by Tomo Hirokawa. Marvel Comics Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and Tsuburaya Fields Media & Pictures Entertainment’s Transmedia Producer Jeff Gomez served as creative consultants for the series.

“We’re thrilled to bring together Marvel comics and manga in such an exciting way, uniting our biggest heroes directly with Ultraman against ultimate villains like never before,” said C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s editor-in-chief. “This manga will be an epic showdown at a cosmic level, but it’ll have plenty insightful themes and touching moments as well. We’re excited for fans to experience this story around the globe.”

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That time Doctor Octopus was a Japanese schoolgirl is coming to America

Marvel and Viz announce three new manga projects that will arrive in stores later this year.

One of the most famous (and maybe infamous, depending on who you talk to) Spider-Man stories saw his arch enemy Doctor Octopus cleverly switch minds with Peter Parker and take over his life. But what if, instead of trying to prove he was the “Superior” Spider-Man, he actually ended up in the body of a middle schooler in Japan?

That’s kind of the premise of Spider-Man: Octo-Girl, Vol. 1, announced last week by Marvel and Viz Media. Created by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes fame, it will join a remastered version of the 1990s X-Men Manga on store shelves this fall.

Here are more details on both, along with a Deadpool: Samurai coloring book:

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DC will bring Superman, Batman and Joker manga to English audiences

‘Superman vs. Meshi,’ ‘Batman: Justice Buster,’ and ‘Joker: One Operation Joker’ will arrive on DC Universe Infinite before coming to print in the U.S.

Another announcement from DC coming out of the ComicsPro meeting currently happening in Pittsburgh: they plan to translate and publish three manga published in Japan by Kodansha for English-speaking audiences.

The three manga — Superman vs. Meshi, Batman: Justice Buster, and Joker: One Operation Joker — will be released as digital comics for DC Universe Infinite subscribers before being collected in print later this year.

Here’s a look at the covers and descriptions for each of them:

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Ablaze will release four manga classics by Osamu Tezuka

‘One Hundred Tales,’ ‘Tomorrow the Birds’ and more will arrive in the U.S. starting in August.

Comics publisher Ablaze will bring four of manga master Osamu Tezuka’s titles to the English-speaking world via a publishing agreement with DI Books.

The titles include One Hundred Tales, which will arrive in August, as well as Shakespeare Manga Theater, Tomorrow the Birds and Neo Faust.

Sometimes referred to as ‘The Father of Manga” or “The God of Manga,” Tezuka was the creator of numerous manga and anime over the course of his career, including Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Princess Knight, Phoenix and Buddha, just to name a few. Although he passed away in 1989, his works still continued to receive awards, especially in the U.S. where they’ve been translated and reprinted over the years. He was a judge’s choice to enter the Eisner Hall of Fame in 2002.

“Osamu Tezuka is perhaps the most renowned manga creator of all time and his works have been loved by multiple generations of fans for more than 70 years,” said Rich Young, co-founder of Ablaze, in a press release. “We are honored to expand the Ablaze manga catalog with four of his esteemed works
and look forward to comics and manga fans adding to their collections with these new releases.”

Here’s a bit more on each title:

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NYCC: Marvel, Viz announce three new manga titles for next year

‘Wolverine: Snikt!’ will return to print, plus a new Yusuke Osawa Spider-Man story and a tribute anthology were announced.

Marvel and Viz Media have announced three manga titles featuring Wolverine, Spider-Man and more for next year, as part of their ongoing collaboration.

Wolverine: Snikt! reprints the 2003 miniseries by Tsutomu Nihei, which was part of their Tsunami imprint. Spider-Man: Fake Red by Yusuke Osawa features an awkward teenager finding one of Spider-Man’s suits, while the Marvel Comics: A Manga Tribute hardcover will feature stories by more than 20 artists, including Yoshitaka Amano, Ken Niimura, Kia Asamiya, Mizuki Sakakibara, Peach Momoko, Q Hayashida, Sana Takeda and more.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect:

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‘Attack on Titan’ nears its finale

The popular manga will see its final chapter published in Japan in April and will arrive in the U.S. in October.

Kodansha has announced that the popular manga Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama, the basis for the popular anime of the same name, will end in 2021.

“I’ve been saying for the past eight years that it would be over in three years, and it looks like I’m finally going to be able to finish it,” Isayama said on Twitter. “It’s been a very long time coming, but I hope you can stay with me until the end.” “

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comiXology Originals, Kodansha to release ‘Shaman King’ digitally

The entire saga — including three volumes never released in English — will hit comiXology on July 28.

Kodansha and comiXology originals announced this week that Hiroyuki Takei’s shonen manga Shaman Kings will arrive on the platform in its entirety on July 28.

“It’s been over 10 years since I’ve completed Shaman King. But finally –– at last –– I can deliver the true ending to the story to the fans in America,” said Shaman King creator Hiroyuki Takei in the press release. “It’s a message from my heart, and I think it’s a particularly important one in this day and age. I hope that it’ll reach the hearts of many comrades.”

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‘Sailor Moon’ arrives on comiXology

The popular manga series is available digitally in English for the first time.

Naoko Takeuchi’s beloved manga series Sailor Moon is now available on comiXology in four 300-page volumes, with future volumes planned to be released as the series hits print from publisher Kodansha Comics.

“Fans who enjoyed Sailor Moon as children have now grown into full-fledged adults – I am extremely grateful that their love for Sailor Moon continues to this day,” said Fumio Osano, editor of Sailor Moon. “Many people have told me they see the series in a different light now that they’ve re-read it as adults. Takeuchi-sensei started the series in her 20s and drew it into her 30s, so now that the fans who enjoyed it as children and teens are the same age she was, I think they’re making new discoveries.”

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2018 Cyber Monday Comic Sales

It is not too late to score some last minute deals!

As the day winds down, it is not too late to score some last minute Cyber Monday sales. It is a good idea to check your own local comic store for deals closest to home. Here are some comic and comic related deals online

Fantagraphics 2018 Cyber Monday banner

Fantagraphics is offering 40% off almost everything!

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‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ sequel is coming… to a comic shop near you

Tokyopop will release the sequel as single issue comics, full-colour tpbs and black & white “manga”

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey’ (Tokyopop)

In a surprising announcement, Tokyopop has secured a deal with Disney to publish a sequel to the 1993 Tim Burton stop-motion animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas in sequential art form. The beloved film has never had any official continuation until now.

Announced as a Hollywood Reporter exclusive,  The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey will be written by D.J. Milky aka Stu Levy (Princess Ai) with art from Studio DICE (Beauty and the Beast). The story will follow Jack Skellington’s loyal dog, Zero, as he gets lost in Christmas Town.

Slated for spring 2018, the comics will be available for the 25th anniversary year of The Nightmare Before Christmas. The series will be released first as standard, serialized comic issues, then will be republished as a full colour tpb as well as black and white manga “pocket book” format graphic novels.