Kodansha Debuts New English-First Science Fiction Manga Series Re:Anima Exclusively on kodansha.localhost/
New Kodansha Reader Portal series begins free serialization
Re:Anima to debut in print Fall 2024
Kodansha announced today the debut of the latest English-first manga series exclusive to kodansha.localhost/—the mind-bending science fiction shonen epic Re:Anima, by Yoshinori Matsuoka. Set in a world ravaged by climate change, Re:Anima imagines a future where technology is the only way humanity can walk the earth. The debut chapter of Re:Anima is now available free-to-read for all Kodansha Readers, with new chapters serialized every other week on kodansha.localhost/. These beginning chapters of Re:Anima will remain free until the debut of the first collected volume in print, coming Fall 2024. Print editions of Re:Anima will be distributed by Penguin Random House.
“Hello! My name is Yoshinori Matsuoka, and I am a shonen manga creator in Japan. This new series Re:Anima is a fresh take on an old idea I had that didn’t quite get anywhere. I’m beyond thrilled that it’s finally getting the chance to see the light of day. My favorite manga—which also happens to be the first one I ever read—is the science fiction series Level E by Yoshihiro Togashi, and wow, is it something! It’s been my dream to draw a manga like that someday,” says Yoshinori Matsuoka, Re-Anima series creator. “The wonderful thing about science fiction is that it allows you to experience a world quite unlike the one you already live in. I hope Re:Anima invites readers on an adventure filled with excitement, thrills, and heart-pounding moments!”
“For our English-language first titles, we debuted with horror with BLOOD BLADE, moved into fantasy with The Spellbook Library, and now with Re:Anima we enter the territory of science fiction,” says Alvin Lu, Kodansha USA Publishing President & CEO. “Matsuoka-sensei combines their shonen manga sensibilities with concepts of ecological disaster and humanity’s inextricable link to technology, in a future cyberpunk world that feels more prescient than we might want to admit.”
In a world where environmental conditions have forced humanity to take refuge below the Earth’s surface,“normal” life is made possible thanks to the advent of Re:Anima, artificial bodies that allow users to walk in the light of the sun—with some caveats. There are those who would seek to exploit Re:Anima technology for their personal gain, and it’s up to Kara Kamikigi, his partner Shinano Nagano, and the Enforcement Bureau to deal with these menaces. While the danger they face may not always be mortal, the peril of contending with the darkness in people’s hearts is very real…
Re:Anima is the latest in the line of all-original, English-first, Kodansha Reader Portal Series to debut and serialize for free exclusively on kodansha.localhost/. Other free-to-read Kodansha Reader Portal Series include the action horror saga BLOOD BLADE, by Oma Sei, and the fantasy adventure series The Spellbook Library, by Uta Isaki (Is Love the Answer). Print editions of both BLOOD BLADE Volume 1 and The Spellbook Library Volume 1 are set to debut February 2024 and October 2024, respectively.
The Kodansha Reader Portal allows new and existing manga fans to read exclusive Kodansha Reader Portal series, buy digital manga with greater ease, sample extended previews of hundreds of Kodansha series, take advantage of exclusive discounts, and much more. To experience the full benefits of becoming a Kodansha Reader, visit kodansha.localhost/ and sign up for a free account today.
Get 4 FREE volume 1s & up to 50% off additional select volumes!
Treat yourself and fulfill your digital manga desires with the tempting offerings in our Sweet Treat digital manga sale! This sale comes with special treats as fans can get FREE digital volume 1s of four select series including, the shape-shifting love comedy, A Kiss with a Cat; the shy-boy-in-love series, Doing His Best to Confess; the high school love story between two “princes”, In the Clear Moonlit Dusk; as well as the cozy and sweet domestic romance, Mr. Bride. Not only that but save up to 50% off additional digital volumes and on other romantic sagas like Boarding School Juliet, Knight of the Ice, Living-Room Matsunaga-san!
Sale Ends Monday, February 12th, 2024!
Take advantage of these tantalizing discounts either by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Curious to learn more about the series on sale during the Sweet Treats digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on five recommended series!
A Kiss with a Cat By Miko Senri
Mito, who has no family to rely on, lives on the streets, disguised as a boy. Ruka, a vampire, saves her from a perilous situation and makes her an offer: become his subservient thrall from which he can feed whenever he wants, and she can live with him—in the boys’ dorm. Because her very existence depends on her secret not being found out, every day is a new danger—to say nothing of that vampire! Meanwhile, Ruka, not knowing Mito’s a girl, dotes on her night and day in an attempt to ripen her “disgusting male blood,” but when real feelings develop… this dangerous romance between a crossdressing girl and an obsessive vampire begins!
Natsuaki-kun is aloof, handsome, and popular with the ladies…except to his friends, who know his aloofness is because he’s shy and always in his own thoughts. Thoughts always occupied by his oddball classmate, Nashida-san…but try as he might, Natsuaki-kun can’t ever seem to get up the courage to confess. Can he find a way to tell her how he feels?!
Yoi Takiguchi has long legs, a deep voice, and a handsome face…in other words, Yoi is such a good-looking guy that most people don’t notice or care that she is, in fact, a girl. Indeed, she’s had the nickname “Prince” for as long as she can remember. That is, until she met Ichimura-senpai…the only person who really seemed to see her for herself. To her surprise, she’s not sure how to handle this new relationship, especially when her newfound friend is a prince himself (and a guy prince, at that). The story of the two high school princes starts here!
Hayami is the it-woman at her job—she’s cool, confident, and admired by all. But her has-it-all exterior belies a dark secret…her house is a mess, and she’s no good at taking care of herself! Enter Yamamoto-kun—her colleague who thinks the world of her, and who refuses to let her slobbish behavior slide. Soon he’s over at her house often enough that she asks him to move in with her! Where will this roundabout relationship take them?!
Blue Lock, Volume 11 By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura
With seconds left on the clock, Isagi manages to weave a masterful play—until Rin Itoshi and what seems like a stroke of bad luck deal the definitive blow. But what role does luck really play in a soccer match? Ego is eager to impart his wisdom on the advancing players, with the unknowns of the Third Selection looming just ahead…
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Shangri-La Frontier, Volume 10 By Ryosuke Fuji and Katarina
Sunraku has plunged into a rematch against Lycaon the Nightslayer, one of the Seven Colossi! In order to defeat this wolf that melts into the night itself, he must turn the “Attack Master” Psyger-0 and his most powerful of weapons. In a pitch-black battlefield where a moment’s indecision spells doom, ancient ruins pierce into the sky—as a silent shadow stalks the earth. The all-powerful lupine overlord of the night must be defeated!
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-seen-before action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters where the two of them will be safe…but as they set out for Monster Island, the sinister forces of Cerberus are in hot pursuit.
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Blue Lock, Volume 11 By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura
With seconds left on the clock, Isagi manages to weave a masterful play—until Rin Itoshi and what seems like a stroke of bad luck deal the definitive blow. But what role does luck really play in a soccer match? Ego is eager to impart his wisdom on the advancing players, with the unknowns of the Third Selection looming just ahead…
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Shangri-La Frontier, Volume 10 By Ryosuke Fuji and Katarina
Sunraku has plunged into a rematch against Lycaon the Nightslayer, one of the Seven Colossi! In order to defeat this wolf that melts into the night itself, he must turn the “Attack Master” Psyger-0 and his most powerful of weapons. In a pitch-black battlefield where a moment’s indecision spells doom, ancient ruins pierce into the sky—as a silent shadow stalks the earth. The all-powerful lupine overlord of the night must be defeated!
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Remember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara’s journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in an all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon. Contains a new translation of Initial D Vol. 1-2.This edition is still running in the ’90s but features a refreshed translation and lettering for the 2020s, as well as a special large size.
Takumi Fujiwara spends a lot of time behind the wheel. His tofu delivery job sends him racing down the treacherous roads of Mount Akina, and without even realizing it, Takumi has mastered racing techniques that take most drivers a lifetime to learn. Of course, none of his friends realize this. They’re all too busy watching the Akina Speed Stars, the local street racing team. When the legendary Red Suns show up to challenge the Speed Stars, the rival team obsesses over a phantom car, the Trueno Eight-Six, seen racing through the mountain roads. Who is the driver, and will they take on the dangerous challenge?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: March 19, 2024
In a world where angels protect the people against demons, a young orphan with pitch-black wings may hold the key to the kingdom’s fate. An exquisitely drawn, dark fantasy manga for fans of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Made in Abyss, and Witch Hat Atelier.
An orphaned girl named Blue has always dreamed of joining the ranks of the noble Angels, servants of the floating palace who protect the Quartz Kingdom against demons. Yet, Blue is not like the other children at the orphanage. Where their fledgling angel wings are downy white, Blue’s are pitch black, giving rise to whispers that she is cursed.
One day, the orphanage comes under attack by a host of demons. Angels swoop down from the palace to drive the demons back, but Blue watches in horror as they are cut down one after another. Just when all seems lost, Blue feels a dark power welling up inside of her. It may be enough to avenge her friends…but will the cost prove too great?
Price before Discount: $13.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-seen-before action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters where the two of them will be safe…but as they set out for Monster Island, the sinister forces of Cerberus are in hot pursuit.
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Blue Lock, Volume 11 By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura
With seconds left on the clock, Isagi manages to weave a masterful play—until Rin Itoshi and what seems like a stroke of bad luck deal the definitive blow. But what role does luck really play in a soccer match? Ego is eager to impart his wisdom on the advancing players, with the unknowns of the Third Selection looming just ahead…
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Shangri-La Frontier, Volume 10 By Ryosuke Fuji and Katarina
Sunraku has plunged into a rematch against Lycaon the Nightslayer, one of the Seven Colossi! In order to defeat this wolf that melts into the night itself, he must turn the “Attack Master” Psyger-0 and his most powerful of weapons. In a pitch-black battlefield where a moment’s indecision spells doom, ancient ruins pierce into the sky—as a silent shadow stalks the earth. The all-powerful lupine overlord of the night must be defeated!
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
One hitman is feared above all in Japan: the killing machine known as “The Fable.” But is he really a tough guy or more of a…weirdo? After a particularly lucrative spree necessitates a break from his life of crime, the Fable faces his hardest assignment ever: living as a normal guy, with a cover story, an apartment, and a pet parrot! Omnibus edition includes Vol. 1-2. Anime coming soon!
The man called The Fable is a self-proclaimed “genius at killing.” The mention of his codename strikes fear into the hearts of every yakuza in Japan. His talent has brought him everything he could want: money, respect, purpose. But this is no legend. He’s just a man—a rather irritating man who loves stupid jokes and bad TV.
After a bloody period of gang enforcement in Tokyo, the Fable’s boss advises him to lie low and enjoy his earnings for a while. So begins the Fable’s toughest mission yet: a full year living a normal life, at the other end of the bullet train, in Osaka. It’s a mission he takes on with his usual professionalism and rigor. But can the Osaka mob let this legend rest? Or will they be unable to resist pulling him back into the underworld?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: April 9, 2024
Remember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara’s journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in an all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon. Contains a new translation of Initial D Vol. 1-2.This edition is still running in the ’90s but features a refreshed translation and lettering for the 2020s, as well as a special large size.
Takumi Fujiwara spends a lot of time behind the wheel. His tofu delivery job sends him racing down the treacherous roads of Mount Akina, and without even realizing it, Takumi has mastered racing techniques that take most drivers a lifetime to learn. Of course, none of his friends realize this. They’re all too busy watching the Akina Speed Stars, the local street racing team. When the legendary Red Suns show up to challenge the Speed Stars, the rival team obsesses over a phantom car, the Trueno Eight-Six, seen racing through the mountain roads. Who is the driver, and will they take on the dangerous challenge?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: March 19, 2024
In a world where angels protect the people against demons, a young orphan with pitch-black wings may hold the key to the kingdom’s fate. An exquisitely drawn, dark fantasy manga for fans of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Made in Abyss, and Witch Hat Atelier.
An orphaned girl named Blue has always dreamed of joining the ranks of the noble Angels, servants of the floating palace who protect the Quartz Kingdom against demons. Yet, Blue is not like the other children at the orphanage. Where their fledgling angel wings are downy white, Blue’s are pitch black, giving rise to whispers that she is cursed.
One day, the orphanage comes under attack by a host of demons. Angels swoop down from the palace to drive the demons back, but Blue watches in horror as they are cut down one after another. Just when all seems lost, Blue feels a dark power welling up inside of her. It may be enough to avenge her friends…but will the cost prove too great?
Price before Discount: $13.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-seen-before action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters where the two of them will be safe…but as they set out for Monster Island, the sinister forces of Cerberus are in hot pursuit.
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Blue Lock, Volume 11 By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura
With seconds left on the clock, Isagi manages to weave a masterful play—until Rin Itoshi and what seems like a stroke of bad luck deal the definitive blow. But what role does luck really play in a soccer match? Ego is eager to impart his wisdom on the advancing players, with the unknowns of the Third Selection looming just ahead…
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Shangri-La Frontier, Volume 10 By Ryosuke Fuji and Katarina
Sunraku has plunged into a rematch against Lycaon the Nightslayer, one of the Seven Colossi! In order to defeat this wolf that melts into the night itself, he must turn the “Attack Master” Psyger-0 and his most powerful of weapons. In a pitch-black battlefield where a moment’s indecision spells doom, ancient ruins pierce into the sky—as a silent shadow stalks the earth. The all-powerful lupine overlord of the night must be defeated!
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
The best-selling shojo romance manga from the creator of Shortcake Cake gets a new, large-sized omnibus edition! Yuki is a typical college student—it’s just that she can’t hear. A chance encounter on a train leads to a serious crush…but will he give her a chance? Includes Vol. 1-3.
Yuki, who’s always been deaf, is used to communicating with sign language and her phone. But she’s not used to English, so when a tourist from overseas asks for directions, she nearly panics…until a handsome stranger steps in to help. His name is Itsuomi, and it turns out he’s a friend of a friend. A charismatic globetrotter, Itsuomi speaks three languages, but he’s never had a deaf friend. The two feel drawn to each other and plan a date on a romantic winter’s night, but Yuki’s friend is afraid that she might be setting herself up to get hurt. Could this be something real? Or will these feelings melt away with the snow?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: April 30, 2024
One hitman is feared above all in Japan: the killing machine known as “The Fable.” But is he really a tough guy or more of a…weirdo? After a particularly lucrative spree necessitates a break from his life of crime, the Fable faces his hardest assignment ever: living as a normal guy, with a cover story, an apartment, and a pet parrot! Omnibus edition includes Vol. 1-2. Anime coming soon!
The man called The Fable is a self-proclaimed “genius at killing.” The mention of his codename strikes fear into the hearts of every yakuza in Japan. His talent has brought him everything he could want: money, respect, purpose. But this is no legend. He’s just a man—a rather irritating man who loves stupid jokes and bad TV.
After a bloody period of gang enforcement in Tokyo, the Fable’s boss advises him to lie low and enjoy his earnings for a while. So begins the Fable’s toughest mission yet: a full year living a normal life, at the other end of the bullet train, in Osaka. It’s a mission he takes on with his usual professionalism and rigor. But can the Osaka mob let this legend rest? Or will they be unable to resist pulling him back into the underworld?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: April 9, 2024
Remember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara’s journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in an all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon. Contains a new translation of Initial D Vol. 1-2.This edition is still running in the ’90s but features a refreshed translation and lettering for the 2020s, as well as a special large size.
Takumi Fujiwara spends a lot of time behind the wheel. His tofu delivery job sends him racing down the treacherous roads of Mount Akina, and without even realizing it, Takumi has mastered racing techniques that take most drivers a lifetime to learn. Of course, none of his friends realize this. They’re all too busy watching the Akina Speed Stars, the local street racing team. When the legendary Red Suns show up to challenge the Speed Stars, the rival team obsesses over a phantom car, the Trueno Eight-Six, seen racing through the mountain roads. Who is the driver, and will they take on the dangerous challenge?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: March 19, 2024
In a world where angels protect the people against demons, a young orphan with pitch-black wings may hold the key to the kingdom’s fate. An exquisitely drawn, dark fantasy manga for fans of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Made in Abyss, and Witch Hat Atelier.
An orphaned girl named Blue has always dreamed of joining the ranks of the noble Angels, servants of the floating palace who protect the Quartz Kingdom against demons. Yet, Blue is not like the other children at the orphanage. Where their fledgling angel wings are downy white, Blue’s are pitch black, giving rise to whispers that she is cursed.
One day, the orphanage comes under attack by a host of demons. Angels swoop down from the palace to drive the demons back, but Blue watches in horror as they are cut down one after another. Just when all seems lost, Blue feels a dark power welling up inside of her. It may be enough to avenge her friends…but will the cost prove too great?
Price before Discount: $13.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-seen-before action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters where the two of them will be safe…but as they set out for Monster Island, the sinister forces of Cerberus are in hot pursuit.
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Blue Lock, Volume 11 By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura
With seconds left on the clock, Isagi manages to weave a masterful play—until Rin Itoshi and what seems like a stroke of bad luck deal the definitive blow. But what role does luck really play in a soccer match? Ego is eager to impart his wisdom on the advancing players, with the unknowns of the Third Selection looming just ahead…
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Shangri-La Frontier, Volume 10 By Ryosuke Fuji and Katarina
Sunraku has plunged into a rematch against Lycaon the Nightslayer, one of the Seven Colossi! In order to defeat this wolf that melts into the night itself, he must turn the “Attack Master” Psyger-0 and his most powerful of weapons. In a pitch-black battlefield where a moment’s indecision spells doom, ancient ruins pierce into the sky—as a silent shadow stalks the earth. The all-powerful lupine overlord of the night must be defeated!
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Pre-Order & save at Barnes & Noble for a limited time!
For a limited time manga fans can save BIG with Barnes & Noble during their Pre-Order sale happening now until Thursday, 1/26/23. Barnes & Noble Premium & Rewards Members save 25% off pre-order books by using the code PREORDER25 at checkout. Premium members get an additional 10% discount, for a total of 35% off!
Barnes & Noble Pre-Order Sale Ends 1/26/24!
This means any Kodansha manga available for pre-order is eligible for this deep discount. So, if you’ve been waiting to pre-order the stunning Vinland Saga Deluxe, oversized, hardbound edition; upcoming series debuts like A Kingdom of Quartz and BLOOD BLADE; multi-volume omnibus editions of A Sign of Affection, and The Fable; or just the latest volumes of fan-favorite series like Blue Lock and Shangri-La Frontier, now’s your chance to save! Fans who read on Nook can also save by pre-ordering digital volumes and even box sets!
See below for recommendations, previews & links to pre-order excellent Kodansha manga during the Barnes & Noble Pre-order sale!:
PRE-ORDER PREMIUM EDITIONS:
Vinland Saga Deluxe By Makoto Yukimura
As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band’s leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery…the land Leif called Vinland.
This premium, hardcover edition presents the acclaimed action epic in hardcover, at a bigger size than ever before (7 by 10 inches), wrapped in a red leather-patterned cover with logo stamping. This new edition features all the content of the original release, plus new and exclusive bonus illustrations, interviews, and behind-the-scenes details never before translated.
Includes volumes 1-3 of the Japanese edition of Vinland Saga and the following bonus content: • Exclusive color art never before published in English • Creator Makoto Yukimura opens up about the pivotal moments of the story. • Faux leather covers featuring historical Viking runes • Original endpapers with a beautiful, color map • Larger size than ever before • Maps, concept art, and behind-the-scenes details
Price before Discount: $54.99 Debuts: February 6, 2024 Rated: 16+
The best-selling shojo romance manga from the creator of Shortcake Cake gets a new, large-sized omnibus edition! Yuki is a typical college student—it’s just that she can’t hear. A chance encounter on a train leads to a serious crush…but will he give her a chance? Includes Vol. 1-3.
Yuki, who’s always been deaf, is used to communicating with sign language and her phone. But she’s not used to English, so when a tourist from overseas asks for directions, she nearly panics…until a handsome stranger steps in to help. His name is Itsuomi, and it turns out he’s a friend of a friend. A charismatic globetrotter, Itsuomi speaks three languages, but he’s never had a deaf friend. The two feel drawn to each other and plan a date on a romantic winter’s night, but Yuki’s friend is afraid that she might be setting herself up to get hurt. Could this be something real? Or will these feelings melt away with the snow?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: April 30, 2024
One hitman is feared above all in Japan: the killing machine known as “The Fable.” But is he really a tough guy or more of a…weirdo? After a particularly lucrative spree necessitates a break from his life of crime, the Fable faces his hardest assignment ever: living as a normal guy, with a cover story, an apartment, and a pet parrot! Omnibus edition includes Vol. 1-2. Anime coming soon!
The man called The Fable is a self-proclaimed “genius at killing.” The mention of his codename strikes fear into the hearts of every yakuza in Japan. His talent has brought him everything he could want: money, respect, purpose. But this is no legend. He’s just a man—a rather irritating man who loves stupid jokes and bad TV.
After a bloody period of gang enforcement in Tokyo, the Fable’s boss advises him to lie low and enjoy his earnings for a while. So begins the Fable’s toughest mission yet: a full year living a normal life, at the other end of the bullet train, in Osaka. It’s a mission he takes on with his usual professionalism and rigor. But can the Osaka mob let this legend rest? Or will they be unable to resist pulling him back into the underworld?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: April 9, 2024
Remember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara’s journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in an all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon. Contains a new translation of Initial D Vol. 1-2.This edition is still running in the ’90s but features a refreshed translation and lettering for the 2020s, as well as a special large size.
Takumi Fujiwara spends a lot of time behind the wheel. His tofu delivery job sends him racing down the treacherous roads of Mount Akina, and without even realizing it, Takumi has mastered racing techniques that take most drivers a lifetime to learn. Of course, none of his friends realize this. They’re all too busy watching the Akina Speed Stars, the local street racing team. When the legendary Red Suns show up to challenge the Speed Stars, the rival team obsesses over a phantom car, the Trueno Eight-Six, seen racing through the mountain roads. Who is the driver, and will they take on the dangerous challenge?
Price before Discount: $22.99 Debuts: March 19, 2024
In a world where angels protect the people against demons, a young orphan with pitch-black wings may hold the key to the kingdom’s fate. An exquisitely drawn, dark fantasy manga for fans of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Made in Abyss, and Witch Hat Atelier.
An orphaned girl named Blue has always dreamed of joining the ranks of the noble Angels, servants of the floating palace who protect the Quartz Kingdom against demons. Yet, Blue is not like the other children at the orphanage. Where their fledgling angel wings are downy white, Blue’s are pitch black, giving rise to whispers that she is cursed.
One day, the orphanage comes under attack by a host of demons. Angels swoop down from the palace to drive the demons back, but Blue watches in horror as they are cut down one after another. Just when all seems lost, Blue feels a dark power welling up inside of her. It may be enough to avenge her friends…but will the cost prove too great?
Price before Discount: $13.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-seen-before action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters where the two of them will be safe…but as they set out for Monster Island, the sinister forces of Cerberus are in hot pursuit.
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 20, 2024
Blue Lock, Volume 11 By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura
With seconds left on the clock, Isagi manages to weave a masterful play—until Rin Itoshi and what seems like a stroke of bad luck deal the definitive blow. But what role does luck really play in a soccer match? Ego is eager to impart his wisdom on the advancing players, with the unknowns of the Third Selection looming just ahead…
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Shangri-La Frontier, Volume 10 By Ryosuke Fuji and Katarina
Sunraku has plunged into a rematch against Lycaon the Nightslayer, one of the Seven Colossi! In order to defeat this wolf that melts into the night itself, he must turn the “Attack Master” Psyger-0 and his most powerful of weapons. In a pitch-black battlefield where a moment’s indecision spells doom, ancient ruins pierce into the sky—as a silent shadow stalks the earth. The all-powerful lupine overlord of the night must be defeated!
Price before Discount: $12.99 Debuts: February 27, 2024
Get $.99 volume 1s & up to 50% off manga that can’t be missed!
Whether it’s finally starting live-action drama inspired manga like The Drops of God and Burn the Hourse Down, catching up on cute romances that picked up steam last year like How to Grill Our Love, and Matcha Made in Heaven, or just looking to discover hidden gems like Last Gender and Quality Assurance in Another World, our latest digital sale is making it easy to pickup amazing series you might’ve missed! During the In Case You Missed It digital manga sale we’re giving fans a great opportunity to sample fan-favorite, media-inspiring, and hidden gem classics starting with volume 1 at 99¢ and additional volumes up to 50% off!
Sale Ends Monday, January 29th, 2024!
Take advantage of these holiday discounts either by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Curious to learn more about the series on discount during the In Case You Missed It digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on three recommended series!
The Drops of God By Shu Okimoto
When world-renowned wine critic Kanzaki passes away, his will reveals that his fortune of a wine collection isn’t bequeathed as a matter of course to his only son, who in a snub went to work sales at a beer company. To come into the inheritance, Shizuku must identify—in competition with a stellar young critic—twelve heaven-sent wines whose impressions the will describes in flowing terms…
Dating can be tough when you nerd out over barbecue. Kenta, a practical pitmaster, looks for a grill-friend in Chihiro, an aloof and faultless business babe…or is she? Scared of being rejected for who they really are, the two of them find comfort in food and each other…and all is well until Kenta must transfer away. With their developing relationship at steak, Chihiro proposes they tie the knot and they marry for better or wurst. Winging a long-distance marriage is one thing, but here’s the rub—they barely know each other! It’s a rare marriage where all the awkwardness of dating meets a sizzling passion for grilling!
The Great Cleric By Hiiro Akikaze, sime and Broccoli Lion
One man’s story of turning blood, sweat, and tears into a successful living—literally! After his untimely death as the hardest-working salary man in Japan, Luciel is reincarnated into the magical fantasy world Galdardia. Always the man with a plan, he recreates himself to be a healer, and sets about making his way in the world. But while Luciel knows a thing or two about making money, he knows absolutely nothing about Galdardia. Will his good heart and great work ethic be enough to make him…The Great Cleric?
Initial D Omnibus 1 debuts in print March 2024 with variant covers from Crunchyroll and Kinokuniya
Initial D – the world-renown ’90s street racing manga series – is set to return this March in an all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition, complete with refreshed translation and lettering. And to celebrate, Kodansha has teamed up with long-time partners Crunchyroll and Kinokuniya to bring two amazing variant editions of the first volume to manga fans everywhere!
Initial D Omnibus 1 debuts in print March 19, 2024
This week, Kodansha will reveal each new variant to be released side-by-side with the standard edition of the Initial D Omnibus 1. Once revealed, new and existing Initial D fans can read below for details on how to pre-order these exclusive variants.
Learn more about the Initial D Omnibus 1 standard edition debuting March 2024:
Initial D Omnibus 1 By Shuichi Shigeno
Takumi Fujiwara spends a lot of time behind the wheel. His tofu delivery job sends him racing down the treacherous roads of Mount Akina, and without even realizing it, Takumi has mastered racing techniques that take most drivers a lifetime to learn. Of course, none of his friends realize this. They’re all too busy watching the Akina Speed Stars, the local street racing team. When the legendary Red Suns show up to challenge the Speed Stars, the rival team obsesses over a phantom car, the Trueno Eight-Six, seen racing through the mountain roads. Who is the driver, and will they take on the dangerous challenge?
This large-sized, print edition contains Volumes 1-2 of the original series with a new translation and new lettering.
COVER REVEAL: CRUNCHYROLL AND DIRECT MARKET EXCLUSIVE VARIANT
This Crunchyroll and Direct Market Exclusive variant edition of the print edition of Initial D Omnibus 1 features an exciting, mid-drift, action shot of the legendary Trueno Eight-Six (complete with sound effects) as illustrated by series creator Shuichi Shigeno. Designed to evoke the pulse-pounding action of each race, this edition is a perfect addition to any Initial D completist’s bookshelf.
Not sure where to find your local comic shop? Use the Comic Shop Locator!
COVER REVEAL: KINOKUNIYA VARIANT AND MINI-SHIKISHI
This Kinokuniya variant edition of the print edition of Initial D Omnibus 1 features a relaxed and fashionable Takumi Fujiwara in front of his legendary Trueno Eight-Six as illustrated and colored by series creator Shuichi Shigeno.
In addition to this exclusive cover Kinokuniya is also offering fans who pre-order a FREE mini-shikishi (mini-art board) featuring yet-to-be-revealed Initial D art from Shigeno-sensei. While supplies last!
This all-new cover for the standard edition of the print edition Initial D Omnibus 2 features an exciting, mid-drift, action shot of the Keisuke Takahashi’s blazing yellow Mazda RX-7 as illustrated by series creator Shuichi Shigeno.
This large-sized, print edition contains Volumes 3-4 of the original series with a new translation and new lettering.
ICYMI: INITIAL D OMNIBUS FEATURED FOR FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
Free Comic Book Day – an event that happens every May in local comic shops all across North America – has announced their full line-up of free comic book and manga offerings to be given away on May 4, 2024. As part of this tremendous line-up of Free Comic Book Day giveaways you’ll find a special 2-in-1 preview of both the Initial D Omibus by Shuichi Shigeno AND Kaina of the Great Snow Sea by Tsutomu Nihei. Be sure to let your local comic shop know that you want to see the FCBD 2024 INITIAL D AND KAINA OF GREAT SNOW issue this May.
Get $.99 volume 1s & up to 50% off terrifying Kodansha tales
In the dead of winter, terrors lie in wait. This season, you can wait out the howling winds and icy blizzards by cozying up to terrifying tales from Kodansha during the Dead of Winter digital manga sale! Whether you’re looking for monstrous romances like Vampire Dormitory and Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost; haunting mysteries like Undead Girl Murder Farce and Arisa; or pulse-pounding thrillers like Kasane and Back When You Called Us Devils, there’s a scare for everyone! And now you can try each series in the Dead of Winter sale starting at $.99 for volume 1 and take up to 50% off additional volumes after that!
Sale Ends Monday, January 15th, 2024!
Take advantage of these holiday discounts either by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Curious to learn more about the series on discount during the Dead of Winter digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on five recommended series!
Vampire Dormitory By Ema Toyama
Mito, who has no family to rely on, lives on the streets, disguised as a boy. Ruka, a vampire, saves her from a perilous situation and makes her an offer: become his subservient thrall from which he can feed whenever he wants, and she can live with him—in the boys’ dorm. Because her very existence depends on her secret not being found out, every day is a new danger—to say nothing of that vampire! Meanwhile, Ruka, not knowing Mito’s a girl, dotes on her night and day in an attempt to ripen her “disgusting male blood,” but when real feelings develop… this dangerous romance between a crossdressing girl and an obsessive vampire begins!
Carried into modern Japan from a forgotten past, the being known as Ogushi haunts and tortures humans of all kinds. Little is know about Ogushi’s curse, except that it resides in an unexpected place: human hair.
“I want to kill you”—Taku Kamishiro’s crush on Mika Hanazono had always been one sided, until one fateful day, his feelings turn into murderous impulse instead…You won’t be able to predict what each new page will bring!
Vampires, a supernatural detective, and a girl’s head in a birdcage, oh my! The mysterious game is afoot in Victorian England in this atmospheric supernatural story that’s sure to keep you on your toes!
Kasane’s face is so hideous, you couldn’t bear to look twice at her—and her ugliness has forced her to walk a harsh path in life. But her mother left her something: a tube of lipstick. The power of this lipstick will change everything about her downtrodden life.
An exciting new D&D-esque fantasy adventure manga debuts in January
Kodansha ushers in the new year by revealing the digital debut of a dungeon-crawling fantasy-adventure, January 9, 2024. Ready your equipment pack and dive into the world of I Left my A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths!, by Yuri, Kosuke Unagi, and Super Zombie—where an under appreciated support Mage leaves his top-tier party to help his former students start their own epic adventure.
January’s debut digital series series is perfect for fans of other Kodansha fantasy-adventure series like:
Take a look below for more details about this upcoming digital series debut and a free chapter 1 preview.
JANUARY 2024 NEW DIGITAL LICENSES:
I Left my A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! Art by Yuri, Story by Kosuke Unagi, Original Character Designs by Super Zombie
Debut Date: January 9, 2024
As far as adventuring goes, supporting your party is a thankless job—even more so if you’re just a lowly red mage like Yuke Feldio. So, when he gets fed up with his A-rank party of total a-holes, he ditches them for some former students—a trio of girls who just looove his company. Thing is, to conquer the world’s greatest dungeon and achieve his dream, he’ll have to teach these cuties a thing or two…and he may just learn there’s more potential within him (and them) then he ever knew.
