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Tomorrow: Kodansha Comics Sampler at Halloween Comic Fest on October 28!

Posted on | Giveaways

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Halloween Comic Fest is a chance to see all the coolest comics coming up this holiday season – all for free. If you’re familiar with Free Comic Book Day, it’s like that, only spookier.


This year, Kodansha Comics is participating for the first time, with a special preview of brand new editions of three of the greatest manga of all time: Akira 35th Anniversary Edition, Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, and Sailor Moon Eternal Edition! These upcoming premium manga will feature newly revised translations, new lettering, and larger art, and this is your first chance to see them! 

Just head to your nearest comic shop and pick up the book for free!

Horror Manga Sale: scary digital manga up to 50% off!

Posted on | Sales

Candy … costumes … and everything scary … Gearing up for Halloween? We certainly are here at Kodansha Comics and this week, we're putting all the horror manga—including our 3 newly released October Horror reveals—on sale up to 50% off at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook. Sale ends November 6 at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, or for select stores, in local time. 

— Kodansha Comics Horror Manga Sale  —
October 24-November 6
Read Chapter 1s at the links! 

ALIVE
Ajin: Demi-Human
As the Gods Will: The Second Series
Cage of Eden
Deathtopia
Devils' Line
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life
Fort of Apocalypse
Happiness
Hozuki's Coolheadedness
Kasane
Kokkoku: Moment by Moment
I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die 
Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu
Livingstone
The Ghost and the Lady
Neo Parasyte f
Museum
Mushishi
Parasyte
Princess Resurrection
Sankarea
Until Your Bones Rot
Witchcraft Works


We're revealing a new digital-first horror manga every week during Horror October! 

Horror October Reveal 10/24: I Want to Hold Aono-kun so Badly I Could Die

Posted on | New Release

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” 

Just as ol' Lovecraft would have wanted, for our month-long Horror October Reveal we here at Kodansha Comics fully intend to bring you that fear of the unknown—of unknown new digital manga licenses, that is!

All month long we will terrify you each Tuesday by revealing a new horror manga series available at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook!

Debuting on October 24, we've got Umi Shiina's haunting—and somehow bittersweet and funny—love story I Want to Hold Aono-kun so Badly I Could Die. 

Summary I would die if it would allow me to touch you. That is my love. Airhead Yuri-chan and her boyfriend Aono-kun had a perfectly normal relationship until one day Aono-kun suddenly “passed away” … They will never be bound together, and they cannot even touch. This is their difficult and almost too sincere love story. Read all of the haunting Chapter 1 right here:

[reader chapter_id=”17490″]

Check back on Halloween Day next Tuesday October 31 for the final reveal! 

Horror October Reveal 10/17: Until Your Bones Rot

Posted on | New Release

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” 

Just as ol' Lovecraft would have wanted, for our month-long Horror October Reveal celebration we here at Kodansha Comics fully intend to bring you that fear of the unknown—of unknown new digital manga licenses, that is!

All month long we will terrify you each Tuesday by revealing a new horror manga series available at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook!

Debuting on October 17, is Yae Utsumi's creepy horror-thriller about a group of teenagers who share an unspeakable truth: Until Your Bones Rot. 
 

Summary The summer they were eleven, they killed a man and buried his body in a cave. Since then, every year, one summer night has marked a ritual: a ritual never to forget, and never to betray. Five years have passed. Their sixteenth summer. The body, now a skeleton. Unraveled lies. A faceless blackmailer. The phone rings, and a life is torn apart. The bones, like their crime: never rotting, never fading away. Now, a living hell begins. Read all of the chilling Chapter 1 right here:

[reader chapter_id=”17288″]

 

Check back next Tuesday October 24 for another reveal, and of course the last reveal will take place October 31—Halloween!

Horror October Reveal: Kokkoku

Posted on | New Release

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“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” 

Just as ol' Lovecraft would have wanted, for our month-long Horror October Reveal celebration we here at Kodansha Comics fully intend to bring you that fear of the unknown—of unknown new digital manga licenses, that is!

All month long we will terrify you each Tuesday by revealing a new horror manga series available at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook!

First up? We have Seita Horio's absolutely unique dark fantasy involving time-stoppage and grotesque creatures: Kokkoku: Moment by Moment on sale starting October 10! 

Summary In order to save her brother and nephew who have been kidnapped by a mysterious religious group known as the Genuine Love Society, Juri and her family cast a spell using a stone hidden by her grandfather to enter the world of stopped time known as Stasis. However, when they infiltrate the kidnapper's base, they're met by other people who can also move about freely. With grotesque creatures lurking about, will they be able to escape the parallel world and return to their normal lives?! Read all of Chapter 1 right here:

[reader chapter_id=”17165″]

 

Check back next Tuesday October 17 for another reveal, then on October 24, and of course the last reveal will take place October 31—Halloween!

 

 

#ThankYouMashima SNS Contest! Show your love for Hiro Mashima

Posted on | Giveaways

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Do you wish you were at New York Comic Con this year to celebrate the conclusion of Fairy Tail with the guest of honor Hiro Mashima in person? If you want your voice to be heard by the creator of one of the greatest shonen manga, no matter where you are at, this is your chance! All you have to do is share your stories and how much Fairy Tail means to you!

How to enter the contest: 

Step 1. Follow Kodansha Comics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
Step 2. Use the hashtag #ThanYouMashima and post a comment from SNS account. 

How do I know if I won?

Kodansha will pick a winner from each SNS and contact via direct message by the end of NYCC and they will receive the limited Fairy Tail Ultimate bundle which includes all the exclusive retail items made by Kodansha to celebrate Hiro Mashima at NYCC!

Good Luck!

Hiro Mashima digital sale: all Mashima including Rave Master, Fairy Tail 50% off thru October 9

Posted on | Sales

This week Kodansha Comics celebrates Hiro Mashima, the hit-machine creator of Fairy Tail and Guest of Honor at New York Comic Con! We're putting all of his works on sale for 50% off at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook. Sale runs through October 9. 

Mashima just completed his long-run bestselling shonen fantasy series, Fairy Tail  in July. While we're waiting for volumes 62 and 63 of the English graphic novels to come out, this is a perfect opportunity to catch up on the volumes you need to get to the end of the story!

That ain't all—Mashima's world of Fairy Tail expands even further with its spinoff series. Ever wonder how the legendary guild got started? Or what the daily lives of the Fairy Tail girls are like?

But you're already all caught up on Fairy Tail and all the spinoffs, you say? Truly impressive, but then you must also know about Mashima's original breakout fantasy series, Rave Master! Long out of print, Rave Master is now all the way back in digital form—Kodansha Comics just re-launched volumes 1 thru 35, and you can get 'em all now, cheap, and binge-read the whole shebang all the way to its conclusion~


— Hiro Mashima Sale —
October 3-9 

Fairy Tail volumes 1-61
Rave Master volumes 1-35
Fairy Tail Zero
Fairy Tail: Twin Dragons of Saber Tooth
Fairy Tail: Rhodonite
Fairy Girls volumes 1-4 
Fairy Tail Ice Trail volumes 1-2 
Fairy Tail Blue Mistral volumes 1-3 
Monster Soul volumes 1-2

Getting all fired up now? Dive in and celebrate the world of Fairy Tail with us today! 

Digital Sports Manga Sale + 2 new digital-first series: All Out!! and Shojo Fight

Posted on | Sales

Fall: a good time to get into new sports … and sports manga! Now undergoing a full-blown renaissance—thanks to the increasing popularity of sports anime like Ace of the Diamond and even Welcome to the Ballroom (yes! Ballroom dancing is a competitive sport!)—this underrated genre has been bulking up Kodansha Comics's digital-first list. This week's Sports Manga Sale makes it easy to try something new!  

— New Digital-First Series! — 
Read Chapter 1s at the links! 


All Out!! by Shiori Amase is a classic shonen manga about high school rugby. You may recognize this series from the recent hit anime on Crunchyroll. And of course, sports aren't just for boys, either: Yoko Nihonbashi's Shojo Fight! is about the rise of a “formerly underdog” fearless women's volleyball team. 

This week only, we're putting all the sports manga (including the 2 series that debut today) from Kodansha Comics on sale up to 50% off at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook. Sale ends October 2 at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, or for select stores, in local time. 

— Kodansha Comics Sports Manga Sale  —
September 26-October 2
Read Chapter 1s at the links! 

All Out!! —Rugby!
Ace of the Diamond —Baseball!
Air Gear—Air Trek!
All-Rounder Meguru—MMA!
Giant Killing—Soccer! 
Grand Blue Dreaming—Scuba diving!
Sayonara Football—Soccer!
Shojo Fight!—Volleyball! 
Suzuka—Track!
Toppu GP—Motorbike racing!
Welcome to the Ballroom—Ballroom dancing!

Ready, set, GO! Start reading a new sports manga today!

[reader chapter_id=”16927″]

The digital return of Rave Master! More than 40% off preorders through October 3

Posted on | Sales

It happens. Sometimes printed manga titles become no longer available: they go “out of print.” And as part of our massive digital-first lineup expansion, we’ve been bringing a lot of those titles back—as digital “rescues” so they can be discovered by new generations of manga fans.

Whether it was Tsutomu Nihei's cyberpunk trendsetter NOiSE or Tomoko Ninomiya's all-time classical-music tearjerker Nodame Cantabile or Kouji Seo's Fuuka predecessor Suzuka, we haven't just been resurrecting long out-of-print titles but in many cases finally completing those series so they could at last be read in their entirety in English. But there was always one series out there that we especially wanted to bring back …

As part of our ongoing celebration of the conclusion to Fairy Tail and all things Hiro Mashima, on October 3 Kodansha Comics will be releasing in one fell swoop the entire 35-volume run of Mashima’s original fantasy-action breakout hit, Rave Master. Originally one of the bestselling titles published by Tokyopop, Rave Master has been out of print for almost a decade, but now all 35 volumes are back and available for preorder at all of our digital retail partners: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook.

We're also running a special promotional preorder price—more than 40% off cover price—for every volume!

So, for those of you crying over the end of Fairy Tail, there's a whole other world of Mashima waiting for you … back where it all started! And you can read the preview of Chapter 1 right here:

[reader chapter_id=”16702″]

 

Kodansha Comics at New York Comic Con: events, exclusives, free stuff!

Posted on | Events | Giveaways

No question: Hiro Mashima is the anime/manga headliner at New York Comic Con this year. But celebrating the finale of Fairy Tail, one of the great manga epics, isn't all Kodansha Comics is about—we've got a lot else going on too!

Come see us at Booth #2109 at Javits Convention Center in NYC October 5-8,  and one of us will give you the NYCC lowdown! But if you want a quick preview and/or you can't be there but are dyin' to know what's happening anyway … here's your cheatsheet:

WHAT TO DO? EVENTS!


Click here for a complete list of Hiro Mashiima's personal appearances and signings in New York City October 5-8. Check for updates!

“The World of Fairy Tail” Art Exhibition
October 5-8, New York Comic Con, Javits Center, Kodansha Comics Booth #2109
We'll be celebrating Hiro Mashima and his completion of Fairy Tail throughout New York Comic Con with a special “The World of Fairy Tail” art gallery exhibition at the Kodansha Comics booth (#2109). The exhibition will display curated manga art from throughout Mashima’s legendary Fairy Tail run, with a second display in NYCC’s Artist Alley (table C14). 

Classic SF Manga featuring Akira 35th Anniversary Edition, Ghost in the Shell,& Battle Angel Alita
Friday October 6 at 5:15pm, Room 1A24
The holy trinity of cyberpunk manga are all back and better than ever from Kodansha Comics! Be the first ever to see the Akira 35th Anniversary Edition Box Set in person. Meet big-name contributors to the upcoming original graphic novel The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network. And exciting news for fans of the cyber-martial arts epic Battle Angel Alita! Plus free books and exclusive promo items straight from Japan.

Kodansha Comics featuring Fairy Tail and Sailor Moon
Sunday October 8 at 4:00pm, Room 1A06
The U.S. arm of Japan's largest book publisher reveals new art and new manga licenses and gives away a slew of free stuff! Plus a tribute to Fairy Tail upon its final chapter and more information about the major new releases Land of the Lustrous and the Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, plus a chance to speak with the editorial and publishing team face-to-face.

WHAT'S FOR FREE? FREE NYCC EXCLUSIVES!
Where: Kodasha Comics/Vertical Booth #2109


NYCC 2017 Commemorative Fairy Tail tote bag 
free with any Kodansha Comics email signup


Fairy Tail mini-shikishi featuring a new illo by Hiro Mashima 
free with any purchase


The Art of Fairy Tail mini-artbook 
free with any purchase over $50

Happy pin 
Available at Funimation booth (#542)!

Manga Samplers

8×11 artcards

WHAT'S FOR SALE? NYCC EXCLUSIVES!
Where: Kodasha Comics/Vertical Booth #2109

Enamel Pin limited-edition sets: Fairy Tail — 2 different designs

Limited-edition Fairy Tail genga replicas — 2 designs

Limited-edition Fairy Tail deluxe poster

Fairy Tail mini-poster set

Fairy Tail Ultimate Exclusives Bundle 
You can get ALL the Fairy Tail NYCC exclusives
PLUS bundle exclusives:
Fairy Tail Lanyard and pin!

Pre-street books from Kodansha Comics
Ghost in the Shell README: 1995-2017
Attack on Titan: No Regrets Complete Color Edition
Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Volume 1
Fairy Tail Master Edition, Volume 5
Fairy Tail S, Volume 1
Inuyashiki, Volume 9
To Your Eternity, Volume 1

Pre-street books from Vertical Comics
Ajin: Demi-Human, Volume 10
Devils' Line, Volume 9
Imperfect Girl,  Volume 1
Helvetica Standard Bold, Volume 1
The Flowers of Evil—Complete, Volume 1

 

Summer Anime Season Finale Sale—digital manga volumes up to 50% off!

Posted on | Sales

What anime have you been watching this summer? Did you know some of the biggest fan faves from the summer anime season are based on Kodansha Comics? That means, while the anime left you hanging in the season finale, you can pick up and continue the story—in manga! 

This week's Summer Anime Season Finale Sale features those most recently anime-ated series and puts them on 50% discount at all of our digital retail channels: BookWalker, comiXology, Crunchyroll, Google Play, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, and nook. Sale ends September 25! 

2017 Summer Anime Season Finale Sale 
— Read free full Chapter 1s at the links —
Aho-Girl — watch the anime on Crunchyroll
Altair: A Record of Battle — watch the anime on Anime Strike 
Elegant Yokai Apartment Life — watch the anime on Crunchyroll
Love and Lies— watch the anime on Anime Strike 
Tsuredure Children— watch the anime on Crunchyroll
Welcome to the Ballroom — watch the anime on Anime Strike 

 

 

Your Guide to Hiro Mashima events in NYC, October 5-8

Posted on | Creator Spotlight | Events | Partners

— UPDATED September 27: 10/6 KINOKUNIYA EVENT ADDED —

With Fairy Tail, one of North America's (and the world's!) all-time best-selling manga, nearing the end of its historic run, it's the perfect time to celebrate and reflect on Hiro Mashima’s accomplishments with the man himself and all his fans in New York City October 5 through 8! Back in July we announced Mashima-sensei was going to be a Guest of Honor at New York Comic Con—now here's all the deets on how to see him in action for this rare Stateside appearance!

And be sure to check out our full lowdown on Kodansha Comics (booth #2109) events including Fairy Tail con exclusives we'll be selling and giving out at New York Comic Con 2017!

— Thursday October 5 —

Hiro Mashima: The Magical World of Fairy Tail 
Head to Japan Society’s beautiful auditorium for an intimate evening chat with Mashima-sensei. Hear about Fairy Tail’s origins and its creator’s struggles and triumphs over the years, then enjoy a Q&A followed by reception with the Fairy Tail localization team. Chance to win a special gift from Mashima-sensei!
when 6:30 p.m.
where Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
how to get tickets $30/$25 Japan Society members, seniors & students. Get tickets at the Japan Society website.

— Friday October 6 —

Celebrate Fairy Tail: Live Sketch and Q&A
Glimpse in person Hiro Mashima's creative process! Mashima-sensei will be drawing live and engaging in an off-the-cuff chat with his fans in this one-of-a-kind appearance. Attendees will get a special gift!
when 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
where New York Comic Con, Javits Center, Main Stage
how to get tickets 2 options:
(1) Sign up for NYCC's Pre-Show Lottery. Lottery signup starts Thursday September 14 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and ends September 25 at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced Friday September 28 at 5 p.m.
(2) Go to the 1C Queue Hall the morning of October 6 and tap your badge to reserve a seat. More details on NYCC's Main Stage Seating Process here.

Signing and sketch
Recipients will get a signed shikishi with a personalized sketch from one of the world’s most popular manga-ka!
when 4 to 5:30 p.m.
where New York Comic Con, Javits Center, Autograph Hall
how to get tickets Only available through NYCC's Pre-Show Lottery process. Lottery signup starts Thursday September 14 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and ends September 25 at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced Friday September 28 at 5 p.m.

[NEWLY ADDED EVENT—JUST ANNOUNCED!] Kinokuniya signing and sketch
Come to Kinokuniya Bookstore New York to meet and get a signed sketch from Hiro Mashima! Special after-hours admission will be given to wristband holders to attend.
when 8:30 to 10 p.m.
where Kinokuniya Bookstore New York, 1073 6th Avenue
how to get tickets Visit the Kinokuniya website for instructions on how to get tickets. Sign-up lottery takes place September 28-October 3.

— Saturday October 7 —

Celebrate Fairy Tail: A Chat with Hiro Mashima
Mashima looks back on his manga career and what went into his uniquely long-running masterwork. Brought to you in partnership with Funimation. Attendees will get a special gift!
when 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
where New York Comic Con, Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
how to get tickets Seats are available to NYCC attendees only on a first-come first-served basis, as people arrive at Hammerstein Ballroom. Click here for more info about the queue and seating process.

Signing and sketch
Recipients will get a signed shikishi with a personalized sketch from one of the world’s most popular manga-ka!
when 2 to 3:30 p.m.
where New York Comic Con, Javits Center, Autograph Hall
how to get tickets Only available through NYCC's Pre-Show Lottery process. Lottery signup starts Thursday September 14 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and ends September 25 at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced Friday September 28 at 5 p.m.

— Sunday October 8 —

Funimation booth signing and sketch
Come to the Funimation booth (#542) in your favorite Fairy Tail cosplay! Recipients will get a signed shikishi with a personalized sketch from one of the world’s most popular manga-ka.
when 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
where New York Comic Con, Javits Center, Funimation booth #542
how to get tickets Some tickets will be given out at the “Celebrate Fairy Tail” panel on Saturday, October 7 at Hammerstein Ballroom. More tickets will be given out the morning of Sunday, October 8 10:00 a.m.  at the Funimation booth (#542), right before the signing and sketch.