Month: June 2018

Announcing: July digital-first debuts!

Posted on | New Release


The campaign continues as we launch at least one new “digital-first”manga series every week, and in July we kick off 5 new manga series, with a shonen RPG actioner, different looks at romance in a trio of shojo/josei titles, and even a Tokyo cool neighborhood guide in manga form!
Kodansha Comics’s digital-first manga releases are part of an exciting new initiative begun last year to put a greater diversity of manga series into the market. This month’s series debuts will be available at all of Kodansha Comics’s partner digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, BookWalker, comiXology, Google Play, Kobo, and nook:


~ Click on the cover to read Chapter 1 for free ~

I’m Standing on a Million Lives (debuting July 3), Naoki Yamakawa and Akinari Nao’s visually stunning “RPG manga” about a high-school loner who gets transported along with two classmates to another world where they must work together to fight for their lives (Japanese title: 100-man no inochi no ueni orewa tatteiru);

Tokyo Alice (debuting July 10), Toriko Chiya’s slice-of-life romance manga about four “Alices” living in the big city in search of happiness … and shopping!;

Kakafukaka (debuting July 17), Takumi Ishida’s modern-world romance about a woman who moves into a sharehouse and re-encounters her first love—only to discover a major revelation;

Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? (debuting July 24), MAKIHIROCHI’s offbeat manga city guide, courtesy the Shigeta Twins, a couple of cool real estate agents here to show you around Tokyo’s secret best neighborhoods (Japanese title: Kichijoji dakega sumitai machi desuka?);

The Prince’s Romance Gambit (debuting July 31), Nikki Asada’s romantic manga about a prince who has a 500 IQ and just about everything, but gets his life thrown out of whack by one plain girl. Problem is, she’s not sure if she wants anything to do with him!  (Japanese title: Oujiga watashi wo akiramenai!) .

More information about Kodansha Comics’s “digital-first” initiative can be found here.

Media: Download the official press kit here

 

Edens Zero: Chapter 1 of Hiro Mashima’s new manga—read it now

Posted on | New Release | Partners

Eleven months after the grand finale of Fairy Tail, master mangaka Hiro Mashima is back with a great adventure beyond imagination! All the steadfast friendship, crazy fighting, and blue cats you’ve come to expect… IN SPACE!

Read it now The worldwide-anticipated release of Chapter 1 of Edens Zero is available the same day as Japan in five languages: Chinese, English, French, Korean, and Thai!

Read it in English streaming on Crunchyroll Manga—or as a download on comiXology or Kindle!

A young boy gazes up at the sky and sees a streaming bolt of light. The friendly, armor-clad being at his side tells him gently,”That’s a dragon.” The fact that he’s joking isn’t important. What’s important is the look of wonder on the boy’s face … and the galaxy-spanning adventure that’s about to take place! Join Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail, Rave Master) once more as he takes to the stars for another thrilling saga!

Announcements coming soon on the release of Volume 1 of the graphic novel!
Wanna see something cool? After you’ve read Chapter 1, compare the final finished artwork to the rough sketches we previewed back in April!

What’s Happening at AX2018? Con exclusives, panels, activities & MORE!

Posted on | Events

July 7 update: all of our major licensing announcements from our Saturday industry panel!

Time for the biggest otaku party of the year—and we’re going bigger than ever before! Come visit Kodansha Comics and Vertical at this year’s Anime Expo, July 5-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and meet the stars and people behind your favorite manga and anime, get exclusive convention merchandise and free stuff, pick up pre-release books, and be the first in the world to hear about our massive plans for 2019 and beyond!
We’re hosting and participating in five panels this year, our most ever: our regular industry panel, as well as a little BIG something extra for fans of Sailor Moon,   Devils’ Line, and The Seven Deadly Sins!

Panels!



The Seven Deadly Sins Manga & Anime Panel
When? Friday, July 6, 10:30 am-11:30 am
Where? LP2 (JW Platinum Ballroom)

Meet Yuki Kaji and Bryce Papenbrook, the Japanese and American stars of the hit anime The Seven Deadly Sins, based on the manga published by Kodansha Comics. Join us for an exciting panel with new announcements and a peek behind the scenes. Plus Q&A and free books and promo items!

Come early to The Seven Deadly Sins panel and make sure to get the panel commemorative item featuring a special illustration by Nakaba Suzuki (manga creator of The Seven Deadly Sins)! 


Devils’ Line Dubcast Edition + Q&A
When? Friday, July 6, 10:00 pm-11:00pm
Where? LP5 / 404 AB
Join HIDIVE as we explore the Devils’ Line supernatural underworld with Anzai’s English voice actor, Adam Gibbs, and director Kyle Colby Jones.

Come early to Devils’ Line panel and make sure to get the panel commemorative item featuring a special illustration by Ryo Hanada (manga creator of Devils’ Line)! 

 

 
Kodansha Comics/Vertical Comics Manga AX-travaganza
When? Saturday, July 7, 3:30 pm-4:30 pm
Where? LP3 (408AB)
Meet the people behind two of America’s top manga publishers: Kodansha Comics (Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, The Ghost in the Shell) and Vertical Comics (Chi’s Sweet Home, Gundam: The Origin, the Monogatari Series). Stop by for the latest new manga announcements, free exclusives straight from Japan, and stories from pros all about your favorite manga and anime!
Sailor Moon Official Behind the Scenes Panel
When? Saturday, July 7, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm
Where? LP2 (JW Platinum Ballroom)
Meet Fumio Osano, the original Japanese editor of the Sailor Moon manga, plus Sailor Moon Crystal producer Junichiro Tsuchiya and Sailor Moon Eternal Edition editor Lauren Scanlan for the ultimate peek behind the scenes at how the Pretty Guardians were born and where they’re headed next! Plus Q&A and cool stuff! (If you can’t make it to this panel, check out the Sailor Moon panel the same day from 10 am to 12 pm from our friends at Viz Media—you’ll be able to get a free Kodansha Comics sampler there, too!)
Sentai Presents Devils’ Line: Inside the Producer’s Mind
When? Saturday, July 7, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Where? Room 411
Join us as we jump into the minds of part of the creative team from King Records, the producers of Devils’ Line, with questions straight from the fans. Got a question you want to us to ask? Make sure to send it to us via social media or e-mail before July 1st using the hashtag #SentaiAsksDEVILSLine!
Come early to the Devils’ Line panel and make sure to get the panel commemorative item featuring a special illustration by Ryo Hanada (manga creator of Devils Line)! 

Buy it @ Booth #1100!

This year’s Kodansha Comics/Vertical Comics booth,#1100, is a whopping 40 feet by 30 feet—those are some Titan proportions, right there!—and it’ll be bursting with free swag, activities, shopping, and events. You’ll be able to check out Kodansha and Vertical manga, including the latest from Attack on Titan, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Devils’ Line, Pop Team Epic and more!
Grab free manga samplers, door hangers, and character masks and buy convention-exclusive enamel pins, posters, manuscript replicas, and acrylic key chains. At the other end of the booth, a big screen will show fresh manga and anime trailers the whole weekend long, and our live stage will host chats with anime talent and fan meet-ups!
For all the Pretty Guardians out there, our Sailor Moon Art Gallery will feature a 16-foot wall with the five Inner Guardians and framed replicas of illustrations by Naoko Takeuchi—perfect for photos—plus an exclusive chance to sign up for the Sailor Moon Fan Club and get Fan Club member only items from Japan. And for the first time, we’ll be selling a range of exclusive Sailor Moon items direct from Tokyo’s pop-up store in our booth!
Finally, our Art Gallery will give everyone a peek at the craft behind the comics, featuring framed art from Attack on Titan, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, The Seven Deadly Sins, Devils’ Line, and Monogatari series! Don’t miss the chance to see the whole process of Japan’s top manga artists.

AX2018 EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE!

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Staff Enamel Pin Set
Cells At Work! Red Blood Cell and White Blood Cell Acrylic Keyholder Set
Attack on Titan Poster Set
The Seven Deadly Sins Manuscript Replica
Monogatari Poster Set
NEKOMONOGATARI Large Poster
Devils’ Line Manuscript Replica
K: Seven Stories Tapestry
K: Seven Stories Character Acrylics
Pop Team Epic Chara Dice
Pop Team Epic Selfie Sticks
Pop Team Epic Acrylic Stamps

  

GIFT WITH PURCHASE!

The Seven Deadly Sins Mini-shikishi by Nakaba Suzuki (Gift with purchase of any product)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Mini-shikishi by CLAMP (Gift with purchase of any CLAMP related products)
Kodansha Comics and Vertical Comics AX2018 Original Tote Bag (Gift with purchase over $50)
Land of the Lustrous Pin Button (gift with purchase of any volume of Land of the Lustrous)
Attack on Titan Anthology T-shirt (Gift with purchase over $20 on Attack on Titan manga or merchandise)
Devils’ Line Mini-shikishi by Ryo Hanada (gift with purchase of any product)
Devils’ Line pin button with purchase of Devils’ Line manga
CITY Pin Button
Moteki Pin Button
Kodansha Comics and Vertical Comics AX2018 Original Tote Bag (Gift with purchase over $50)

PLUS!
Chance to win Chi merchandise such as cups, posters and pillow.
A winner every time with purchase of Chi’s Sweet Adventures.
*while supplies last

Newsletter subscriber exclusive! Sign up to our newsletter at the Kodansha Comics Booth (#1100) merchandise register or show us that you’re already subscribed to our newsletter and get an exclusive poster featuring Edens Zero and BECK!

Pre-street titles to be sold at AX

Golosseum Volume 2
Grand Blue Dreaming Volume 1
Attack on Titan Season 2 Manga Box Set
Tokyo Tarareba Girls Volume 2
Land of the Lustrous Volume 6
Garrison Girl: Attack on Titan novel from Quirk Books

From Vertical
Gundam Wing Volume 7
Cardfight! Vanguard Volume 12
My Boy Volume 2

Preorders

Monogatari Boxsets
Preorders for Monogatari Series Box set (season 1) can be made at the RightStuf/COSPA booth (#4729 & #4730). With every preorder at Anime Expo, you will receive a Shinobu acrylic as a gift!

Pop Team Epic
Preorder the Pop Team Epic manga set (volume 1 and Second Season) at the RightStuf/COSPA booth (#4729&4730) during AX,  and you will receive a Popuko and Pipmi acrylic keychain as a gift!

Check back here soon for more information, including a complete list of books for sale, convention exclusives, and a schedule of the exciting events at our live stage!

Events @ BOOTH #1100!

THURSDAY, JULY 5th

K PHOTO SESSION with KANAME☆ 1:00-2:00 pm There are cosplayers, and then there are stars who just happen to be cosplayers. It’s right there in the name for KANAME☆, who’s been a fixture on the Japanese cosplay scene for more than a decade, will be attending AX as a special guest this year! Come see KANAME☆ take on the new film K: Seven Stories and get the chance to take your own photos!
POP TEAM EPIC Q&A and AUTOGRAPH SESSION with Producer KOTARO SUDO and YouTuber JOEY 3:00-4:30 pm  We reveal the secrets behind Pop Team Epic, with producer Kotaro Sudo and YouTube’s The Anime Man (and Pop Team Epic voice actor) Joey! Be you fan or hater, don’t miss this insider look at one of the most baffling anime of all time! To be followed by an hour-long signing session.
K PHOTO SESSION with KANAME☆ 5:00-6:00 pm

FRIDAY, JULY 6th

SAILOR MOON FAN MEETUP 10:30-11:30 am Calling all sailor guardians! Head to our Sailor Moon Art Gallery, featuring a 16-foot wall depicting the five Inner Guardians, for a very special photo opportunity and fan meetup. While you’re here, why not sign up for the Japan-based Sailor Moon Fan Club or check out some of our EXCLUSIVE, DIRECT-FROM-TOKYO Sailor Moon merch?
K AUTOGRAPH SESSION with Voice Actor SHIMBA TSUCHIYA 12:30-1:30 pm Hey, K fans! This is your unique opportunity to meet the Japanese voice actor behind Takeru in the brand new K: Seven Stories movie, Shimba Tsuchiya (Haikyu!!, Welcome to the Ballroom).
DEVILS’ LINE AUTOGRAPH SESSION with Producer KISARA TAKAHASHI 2:00-3:30 pm Can’t get enough of DEVILS’ LINE? Neither can we! Sentai Filmworks will be at Kodansha Comics booth for an autograph session with Kisara Takahashi, producer of DEVILS’ LINE! Get there early to make sure you can snag a ticket.
K PHOTO SESSION with KANAME☆ 3:30-4:30 pm
SATURDAY, JULY 7th
DEVILS’ LINE AUTOGRAPH SESSION with Producer KISARA TAKAHASHI 1:00-2:30 pm

SUNDAY, JULY 8th

LAND OF THE LUSTROUS TRIVIA AND FAN MEETUP 11:00 am-12:00 pm It’s a Lunarian trivia attack! The editor of the English edition of Land of the Lustrous flings questions at lucky audience members for cool prizes. Can you hit back or will you shatter? Plus, meet fans and cosplayers for a special photo opportunity!
MONOGATARI SERIES FAN MEETUP 12:30-1:30 pm Come celebrate NISIOISIN’s MONOGATARI SERIES First U.S. Exhibition and show us who’s the most hardcore fan! We will be having a raffle and giving away some cool prizes.
ATTACK ON TITAN FAN MEETUP 2:00-3:00 pm Meet the translator and editor of the English edition of Attack on Titan, ask questions, and win prizes! Then meet up at our Attack on Titan Art Gallery for a special opportunity to take photos with fellow fans and Attack on Titan art!

Kodansha Comics Summer Linewide Sale!—1600+ digital manga up to 50% off (ends 6/25)

Posted on | Sales


Schools’ Out: Read Manga!

Summer’s here (basically) and that means we all have just that much more time to read manga, right? Any manga that you’ve been holding off of reading because you simply didn’t have the time? Well, this is the time to get on it, because Kodansha Comics and Vertical are putting (almost) every single digital book that we publish (that’s 1600+ volumes of manga!) up to 50% off at all of our digital-partner platforms: BookWalker, comiXology, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook. Not only that, this offer will last for 2 weeks (ends June 25)!
And don’t forget to check out our digital-first library! We’ve been building up this collection over the past several months and there’s quite a bit more available than there were this time last year. Some of them have been (or soon will be) turned into anime series, like Tsuredure Children—or better yet, later released in print editions due to popular demand, like Grand Blue Dreaming and Tokyo Tarareba Girls!

Check out the FULL LIST of manga on sale here!

Kodansha Comics Manga to Anime Humble Bundle

Posted on | Partners | Sales



The Ghost in the Shell, Battle Angel Alita, The Seven Deadly Sins … You may recognize these titles from their anime or live-action adaptations, but didja know (you did, didn’t you?) that the story started here at Kodansha Comics—as manga? 
Starting Wednesday June 6, Kodansha Comics and Humble Bundle team up again to present you our BIGGEST manga bundle yet, Humble Manga Bundle x Kodansha Comics: Manga to Anime. That’s $800+ worth of digital manga including a complete series of The Ghost in the Shell and its spinoff series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Battle Angel Alita, and Inuyashiki. Not to mention you can catch up to the most recent story arcs  of series like The Seven Deadly Sins and Ajin (both as seen as anime on Netflix)—so you know what happens beyond what’s been anime-ated thus far. So how does it work? 
Name your price. Together, the books in this bundle usually cost as much as $800. At Humble Bundle, though, you choose the price!
Read ’em anywhere. These comics are available in multiple formats including CBZ, PDF, and ePub, so they work on your computer, e-readers, iPads, cell phones, and a wide array of mobile devices! Instructions and a list of recommended reading programs can be found here. 
Support charity. Choose where the money goes—among Kodansha Comics and our preselected charity The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund—or, if you like, a charity of your choice—via the PayPal Giving Fund. For details on how this works, click here. If you like this bundle or like what Humble Bundle does, you can leave a Humble Tip too.

This special bundle ends WEDNESDAY, June 20, 10:59 A.M. PACIFIC TIME

Media: download the official press release PDF here

____________

PAY WHAT YOU WANT! Here’s what you’ll get with each tier:

Pay $1 or more
Ajin: Demi-Human volumes 1-11
+1-month subscription for HIDIVE

 

Pay $8 or more
Inuyashiki volumes 1-10 (complete series)
The Seven Deadly Sins volumes 1-10
+ 1-month subscription for HIDIVE

 

Pay $15 or more
The Seven Deadly Sins volumes 11-22
The Ghost in the Shell volumes 1-2 (complete series, includes volume 1.5)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex volumes 1-5 (complete series)

 

Pay $18 or more
Battle Angel: Alita volumes 1-9 (complete series)
Battle Angel Alita: Last Order omnibus volumes 1-5 + volumes 16-19
Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle volumes 1-2

 

Pay $20 or more
Battle Angel Alita Exclusive Wallpapers
Battle Angel Alita Exclusive Sketch Video
The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network Exclusive Preview (forthcoming September 2019)

Special campaign: Devils’ Line on BookWalker (ends June 19)

Posted on | Partners


How are you liking the Devils’ Line anime on HIDIVE? To celebrate this anime season’s senses-shattering climax of Devils’ Line, Vertical Inc. and Kodansha Comics are hosting the Devils’ Line Special Campaign exclusively on BookWalker!
Purchase any Devils’ Line manga (digital edition) on BookWalker from June 5–19 and automatically be entered for a chance to win a replica autograph by Ryo Hanada (manga creator of Devils’ Line)! Plus—NEW digital bonus items for volume 1 and volume 10 are available now! Check out the deets, below:

Buy any Devils’ Line manga on BookWalker and get a chance to win! 
20 winners will get a Devils’ Line a replica shikishi featuring artwork and autograph by Ryo Hanada (manga creator of Devils’ Line)
20 winners will get a Devils’ Line anime poster signed by the English voice actors of the series. Courtesy of our friends at Sentai Filmworks.
Digital bonus items—available now on BookWalker! 

Digital Bookshelf Skin 
Purchase Devils’ Line volume 1 (digital edition) and get this item*
 *Bookshelf skin will be available for a limited time from June 5 to September 5.

Digital Autograph
Purchase Devils’ Line volume 10 (digital edition) for this bonus item.*
 *Digital autograph will be available for a limited time from June 5 to September 5.

Read beyond the latest volume on comiXology Unlimited! 18 series up to 50% off

Posted on | Sales


Ever gotten through the latest volume of a great manga series and then wanted to read more? You can, you know, if you’re a subscriber to comiXology Unlimited! We’re encouraging the readers of 18 Kodansha Comics series to READ BEYOND as we put up chapters that go past the latest available volume on comiXology Unlimited and add new chapters along the way!
It’s a great way to jump ahead on your favorite series—at no extra cost beyond the $5.99/month subscription fee. In fact, based on our math, all the chapters that are already up on Unlimited are alone worth more than the price of admission!
Which brings us to … more savings! To help get you up to speed, for this week only, we’re putting all graphic novels volumes of those 18 series for sale up to 50% off exclusively on comiXology and Kindle. It’s a great chance to catch up and then read beyond on comiXology Unlimited. Alas, this sale ends, as all sales must, on June 11.

~ READ BEYOND! ComiXology Unlimited Sale ~
June 5~11
Click on the banner to read Chapter 1 for FREE!

Fuuka 
All graphics novels up to the latest volume 17 (chapters 156-165) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 166-194
New chapters every week! 

GTO Paradise Lost
All graphics novels up to the latest volume 8 (chapters 62-70) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 71-97
New chapters every week!


The Seven Deadly Sins
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 26 (chapters 207-213) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 214-263
New chapters every week!


Space Brothers
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 31 (chapters 287-295) 50% 0ff
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 296-315
New chapters every week!


To Your Eternity
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 4 (chapters 25-34) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 35-64
New chapters every week!


UQ Holder!
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 13 (chapters 129-132) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 133-147
New chapters every week! 

Ajin: Demi-Human
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 11 (chapters 49-53) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 54-57
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!

APOSIMZ
Chapters available on comiXology Unlimited 1-14
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!

Attack on Titan
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 24 (chapters 95-98) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 99-104
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


Devils’ Line
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 10 (chapters 48-52) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 53-59
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!

Drifting Dragons
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 3 (chapters 12-17) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 18-23
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!

Farewell, My Dear Cramer
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 1-23
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


Grand Blue Dreaming
All graphic novels up to the latest volume latest volume 9 (chapters 34-37) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 38-43
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


The Heroic Legend of Arslan
All graphic novels up to the  latest volume 8 (chapters 47-52) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 53-58
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


Our Precious Conversations
All graphic novels up to the latest volume Latest volume 2 (chapters 7-11) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 12-19
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


Sweetness and Lighting
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 10 (chapters 45-49) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 50-53
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


TOPPU GP
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 2 (chapters 8-14) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 15-25
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!


Wave, Listen to Me!
All graphic novels up to the latest volume 3 (chapters 17-24) 50% off
Chapters now on comiXology Unlimited 25-39
All chapters as single issues 50% off
New chapter every month!