10 Biggest Nerd-Out Moments at the Summer Cons for Kodansha Fans

Aug 30, 2023

10 Biggest Nerd-Out Moments at the Summer Cons for Kodansha Fans

This has been a super epic summer for us here at Kodansha USA. We’ve been on the road meeting the fans and creators of Kodansha manga, celebrating the fandom together at the biggest conventions of the season like Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con 2023.

Kodansha Booth at AX23 with large logo & series hanging banners from the ceiling, 7 ft tall manga display, and reading station tables displayed.

Here are the 10 biggest nerd-out moments that had happened so far this summer:

1. The Biggest Manga Ever

If you are a true manga fan, who wouldn’t want to read a 7-feet tall manga?

7ft tall manga display of MF Ghost, Volume 1

At our booth at Anime Expo, we’ve made sure that everybody can enjoy the best manga reading experience.

Person in wheelchair interacting with the 7ft tall manga display of digital manga, plus folks waiting in line.

2. The MF Ghost Hype

Induced by the Initial D nostalgia, the drifting dudes and dudettes were feeling the hype for the anime premiere of its official sequel MF Ghost, hosted by our friends at Crunchyroll.

Cosplayer smiling with fingers showing peace sign

3. Yuri Represent

Among the mostly shonen crowd, we stood out by bringing the spotlight on Comic Yuri Hime and its recent hits like Yuri Is My Job! and Whisper Me a Love Song.

Cosplayer in front of the 7ft tall manga digital display showcasing art from Yuri Is My Job!

Folks were happy to see more LGBTQ+ narratives, or simply more diverse, good stories represented at the Kodansha booth.

Attendee throwing a pair of finger peace signs in front of the 7ft tall manga digital display showcasing art from Yuri Is My Job!

4. Locked & Loaded with New Manga

We made a barrage of new licensing announcements at both AX23 and SDCC23 panels, like BLOOD BLADE, I Can’t Say No to the Lonely Girl, Initial D Omnibus, and I Got Reincarnated in a (BL) World of Big (Man) Boobs. (Wait. WHAT?!)

Misaki waving to the camera as Ben talks into a microphone during a panel

Check out the Kodansha panel at SDCC23 here.

ICYMI, check out the full list of Spring 2024 New Licensing Announcements here:

5. A Proud Kodansha Reader

We had our grand opening of the Kodansha Reader Portal, where you can read extended previews and keep track of your favorite Kodansha manga.

Close up photo of one of many ipad reading stations to check out our new Reader Portal, along with the AX23-exclusive Kodansha lanyards & buttons, with 7ft tall manga digital display of MF Ghost in the background

It was so cool to see the new members going around the show with AX23-exclusive Kodansha lanyards and big smiles on their faces.

Group photo of Kodansha ambassadors, employees, and cosplayers

Kodansha ambassadors looking fly in their swag.

6. Makoto Yukimura Rocked Comic-Con

Our guest of honor, Makoto Yukimura (creator of Vinland Saga) was one of the biggest manga guests at San Diego Comic-Con this year – and he absolutely killed it!

Makoto Yukimura posing in front of the San Diego Convention Center

Yukimura was in a rockstar mode the whole time, whether on real-time TikTok posts, in an interview with IGN, or on a panel speaking directly to the true fans of Vinland Saga.

7. Invitation Only Autograph Sessions

Lucky fans were invited to intimate autograph sessions where they had a chance to have face-to-face conversations with the one-and-only creator of Vinland Saga.

Makoto Yurimura posing by the booth with framed sketches in the background and large wall graphic with volume 1 art that's been signed by him

8. Leif the Lucky

Like Leif finding Thorfinn, Frank Todaro, the English voice actor of Leif Erikson in the anime Vinland Saga on Netflix came to see Yukimura-sensei at our booth.

Frank Todaro and Makoto Yukimura posing together for a photo off-camera

Needless to say it was an emotional moment for two people (and everyone else who was around them) who feel deeply connected through a shared story.

Frank Todaro in black denim jacket with buttons looking down with boom mic nearby and convention floor in the background

9. Sneak Peak

Those fans who visited Vinland Saga Manga Gallery at Comic-Con got the very first look at Vinland Saga Deluxe, a gorgeous new edition coming from Kodansha just in time for this holiday season.

Close up of Vinland Saga Deluxe, Book One – red hard cover with white text & embossed symbol

Preorder is available now.

10. Vinland Saga Viking Contest Winners

Together with Yukimura-sensei we’ve selected the finalists of the Vinland Saga Viking Contest, which determines the most passionate, creative, and funniest warriors of the Norse, who are worthy of receiving one of Yukimura-sensei’s sketches.

Photo of prizes – signed color art by Makoto Yukimura – behind plexiglass in the booth

The contest winners were just announced along with Yukimura-sensei’s comment here.

Final Thoughts

For those of you who came to see us at the show, it was very nice to meet you in person! Nerding out with the real fans of Kodansha was the best reward for us this summer. We hope to stay in touch with you, and keep on exploring new manga together!

Makoto Yukimura in the center with arms spread open with entire panel room full of attendees in the background

Next up: Fall Events for Kodansha

Our mission to bring the fans and creators of manga together is not just over yet. Next up, there are two new events coming up in September:

9/22-9/23 Toronto International Festival of Authors with Makoto Yukimura (creator of Vinland Saga)
9/28-9/29 Cartoon Crossroads Columbus with Keito Gaku (creator of Boys Run the Riot)

If you are interested in attending these events, stay tuned at kodansha.us