Welcome back, manga fans! Since Previews has a section of the catalog dedicated to manga, we’ll be highlighting that section’s most notable upcoming releases every month. Read on to see what stuck out to us!
10. Obligatory romantic fantasy.
I think I’ve made it clear through these columns that I have no personal interest in romantic fantasy books, but I always welcome them as they tend to bring in younger female readers. So if that’s you, check this out!
Fiancee of the Wizard, volume 1
Written by Syuri Nakamura and Keiko Sakano
Illustrated by Masaki Kazuka
Published by Yen Press
When a woman is reborn into a world of swords and sorcery as a young girl, her new life takes a turn for the fantastic as she meets an impossibly handsome yet surly son of a wizard. A future of magic, adventure, and romance awaits!
9. The complexity intensifies.
Last time I featured this series, I mentioned how it’s been a fascinating tale of human connection, showing how an adult female and a young boy can complete each other in ways they didn’t realize they needed, while keeping things completely non-sexual. The book always threatens to go there, but it always turns out to be mind games the woman plays with herself because she’s been taught her platonic love is unnatural.
The last volume changed things a little, now that there’s been a time skip and the boy is a little older. As always, I’m on the edge of disapproving of the direction, but I have faith that Takano will use this to say something deeper about human connection.
My Boy, volume 6
Written and Illustrated by Hitomi Takano
Published by Vertical Comics
An award-winner and top-seller in Japan, this provocative new manga handles its controversial subject with insight and sensitivity.
Two lonely souls-a 30-year-old office lady and a sixth-grade boy-form an unusual bond. Does this relationship come from Satoko’s maternal instincts for a child in need of a family, or is it something more?
8. Mine-who?
Minecraft: The manga. I think anyone looking at this cover will know whether it’s for them.
Cube Arts, volume 1
Written and Illustrated by Tomomi Usui
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
An intense explorers’ adventure in a block-based VR frontier, for fans of the world’s most popular video game! One spring break, a high school freshman is selected as a beta tester for a totally immersive VR experience: the open-world sandbox game Cube Arts. In a world made up of blocks where your imagination is the only limit on what you can build and explore, high school students from all over the country gather together to tame a digital frontier! But this world may be more dangerous than they realized!
7. Adult protagonist!
Far too many manga series feature younger protagonists, so I always welcome an older one. This book uses that idea as its concept: What would it be like for a nobody approaching 40 to suddenly become a viral sensation?
Ossan Idol: Even 36 is Never Too Late, volume 1
Written and Illustrated by Mochiko Mochida
Published by Tokyopop
Miroku Osaki is 36 years old, unemployed, and unhappy. Having been bullied in his childhood and even into his adult life, he became a shut-in after being unfairly laid off. For a long time, the only thing that brought him joy was online gaming. Then, he tried the popular idol game called “Let’s Try Dancing!” It was addicting… and transformative! Inspired by the game, Miroku decides to turn his life around. He begins singing karaoke and going to the gym, where he meets Yoichi, the director of an entertainment company who encourages Miroku to pursue his dreams. Miroku only wanted to be good at the game he loves, but when he accidentally uploads a clip of himself singing and dancing, it goes completely viral! Can he really become an idol, even at his age?! Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so impossible!
6. More Ito!
I’m not sure how much of Junji Ito’s bibliography Viz has put out by now, but it must be a ton, as this looks like a “best of” and b-side collection. Looks like a great collection for fans both new and old.
Continued belowVenus in the Blind Spot
Written and Illustrated by Junji Ito
Published by Viz Media
This ultimate collection presents the most remarkable short works of Junji Ito’s career, featuring an adaptation of Rampo Edogawa’s classic horror story “Human Chair” and fan favorite “The Enigma of Amigara Fault.” In a deluxe presentation with special color pages and color illustrations from his most recent long-form manga No Longer Human, every page invites readers to revel in a world of terror.
5. Healing manga.
I’m so glad Tokyopop has been rereleasing this gem. It’s firmly in never-before-translated territory now, and every chapter is a joy all its own. Some chapters are about relaxing and enjoying the world, some are about the expansive and colorful cast, and they’re all beautiful in their own right. There’s only one more volume after this, so savor every moment.
Aria: The Masterpiece, volume 6
Written and Illustrated by Kozue Amano
Published by Tokyopop
On the planet Aqua, a world once known as Mars, Akari Mizunashi has just made her home in the town of Neo-Venezia, a futuristic imitation of the ancient city of Venice. In pursuit of her dream to become an Undine – a gondolier who leads high-end tours around the city – Akari joins as a trainee with the Aria Company, one of the three most prestigious water-guide companies in Neo-Venezia. There, she explores the beauty of the city and the world along with other trainees from Aria and rival companies, working hard for her dreams and making new friends along the way. Experience the world of Aqua like never before with Kozue Amano’s gorgeously detailed illustrations and full-color spreads in this deluxe collector’s edition! This is Volume 6 of this Masterpiece edition of the series.
4. A well-deserved omnibus!
Puella Magi Madoka Magica was a HUGE deal about a decade ago, and after I finally got around to watching the 12-episode anime, I felt it completely lived up to the hype. This is a manga adaptation of the anime, so I’d easily recommend the original anime (streaming on Netflix!) over this, but if you want to own the story, this is by far the most cost-effective way to do it. (Why are anime DVDs so expensive sometimes??)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Complete Omnibus Edition
Written by Magica Quartet
Illustrated by Hanokage
Published by Yen Press
Madoka fans, rejoice! The original Puella Magi story that grabbed hearts is re-releasing in a new Omnibus edition. Return to the tale of Madoka Kaname and her mysterious new classmate… What would you give to have magical power beyond your very dreams?
3. Madcap wonder.
“City” was one of my Covid binges. The series takes the madcap absurdity of Arawi’s “Nichijou” and gives it just a tiny bit more structure in the way the stories intersect. I love these dumb characters so much and I recommend this to anyone who wants to experience some absurdist Japanese humor.
City, volume 8
Written and Illustrated by Keiichi Arawi
Published by Vertical Comics
From Keiichi Arawi, the creator of hit series nichijou, comes a new slapstick comedy series about a penniless college student who moves to a town filled with bizarre people. Nagumo is in a bit of a bind. She’s a college student, and like many people in her situation, is struggling with money. She is in debt and her landlord is trying to shake her down for rent. Asking her friends no longer works! They know her deal and they do not have the cash to prop her up, even temporarily. So what is she supposed to do under these circumstances?
2. Sayonara!
Sports manga is usually fun. I’m partial to shorter series. And while I wasn’t a fan of the “Your lie in April” anime, I think I would have enjoyed the story in its original manga form. So a two-volume sports manga by Naoshi Arakawa is exactly the kind of thing I’d love to read. This cover looks like a blast!
Continued belowSayonara Football, volume 1
Written and Illustrated by Naoshi Arakawa
Published by Kodansha Comics
High-octane girls’ soccer action mixes with the drama of high school in this cleats-out manga from the creator of Your Lie in April!
Midori and Sumire are soccer stars at rival middle schools, destined to collide-one’s a striker, the other a goalie. But the two girls end up in the same high school, with a lazy coach and a bizarre teammate, Nozomi, who brags that she’s a genius but can’t seem to stop kicking the ball into her own goal. To become champions, they’ll have to get over their rivalry and work some magic on the field-not to mention the challenges of growing up.
1. Wannabe anime creators!
This series’s anime adaptation came in third in our “What should I watch on HBO Max?” reader poll last week. I hadn’t even heard of it until then, and now I’m fascinated. A slice-of-life book about three unlikely anime fans trying to create their own anime from the ground up? This is going to be a great time.
Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! volume 1
Written and Illustrated by Sumito Oowara
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Asakusa loves to design worlds. Mizusadi loves to animate. Sayaka loves to make money! And at Shibahama High, they call them Eizouken-a three-girl club determined to produce their own spectacular science fiction anime! But with no budget from their school and a leaky warehouse for a studio, Eizouken is going to have to work hard and use their imagination . . . the one thing they’ve got plenty of!Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! was nominated for the Manga Taisho Award as one of the 10 best new manga of the year!
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Anything I missed? What are YOU looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!
