UPDATE — October 6!
Hey! We just made some cool announcements yesterday at our industry panel— where, besides the new licensing announcements recapped below, we had a special guest from Japan, Yohei Takami, the editor-in-chief of Monthly Shonen Magazine and founding editor of Noragami, to talk about his experience of working with Harold Sakuishi, who received this year’s International Spotlight Award at the Harvey Awards for his groundbreaking music manga BECK.
Digital-first announcements
Debuts October 2nd! Are You Lost? by Kentaro Okamoto and Riri Sagara
Because of a plane crash … starting today, we’re spending the springtime of our lives on a desert island!! There’s nothing here, so we have to make everything!! And eat everything!! (Ugh!) Check out our high-school-girl survival story of courage and knowledge. We’re actually doing pretty well! Volume 1 includes: how to eat cicadas, how to build traps, a simple allergy test, how to eat hermit crabs, etc. (original Japanese title: Sounan desuka?)
Debuts October 9th! Kira-kun Today by Rin Mikimoto
For one short year, haplessly awkward, cockatiel-toting Nino has to keep watch over class joker and nextdoor neighbor, Kira-kun. Can Kira-kun—who harbors a terrible secret—find it in himself to open up and learn something new from Nino, or will she be consumed by his world? Find out in this touching tale of two fates that intertwine to become the “closest love to Heaven”—the latest from Rin Mikimoto (Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Love’s Reach)! (original Japanese title: Kyou no Kira-kun)
Debuts October 16th! Tokyo Revengers by Ken Wakui
Watching the news, Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his girlfriend from way back in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, has died. The only girlfriend he ever had was just killed by a villainous group known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. He lives in a crappy apartment with thin walls, and his six-years-younger boss treats him like an idiot. Plus, he’s a complete and total virgin … At the height of his rock-bottom life, he suddenly time-leaps twelve years back to his middle school days!! To save Hinata, and change the life he spent running away, hopeless part-timer Takemichi must aim for the top of Kanto’s most sinister delinquent gang!!
Debuts October 23rd! Forest of Piano by Makoto Isshiki
This is a story about a piano, pitifully abandoned in the woods, and a young boy, Kai, who grew up playing it as his favorite toy. While Kai cannot even read sheet music, one day, he meets Shuhei Amamiya, an aspiring child pianist who transfers schools from Tokyo, and their music teacher, Sosuke Ajino. Ajino was also once a gifted pianist, until a tragic accident stole his promising future from him forever. Each from a different background, the trio’s personalities gravitate to one another and rebound. All the while, the piano sits patiently, awaiting a hand to play it.
Also debuts October 23rd! Mikami-sensei’s Way of Love by Hiro Aikawa
Without a single boyfriend in sixteen years, Natsume has zero relationship experience … and it’s all thanks to her super overprotective neighbor—high school teacher, Mikami-sensei!! Whether at home or at school, Natsume is always being manipulated by his strangely overbearing affections. But while it may have seemed like sibling love at first, their relationship soon takes an unexpected turn … ! (original Japanese title: Mikami-sensei no aishikata)
Debuts October 3oth! Princess Resurrection Nightmare by Yasunori Mitsunaga
With her flowing black dress, roaring chainsaw, and android, werewolf, vampire, and blood warrior at her service … the Princess of Monsters is back! Yasunori Mitsunaga’s masterpiece, Princess Resurrection, is hereby resurrected for a new series!
New licensing announcements—Kodansha Comics
I’m Standing on A Million Lives by Akinari Nao and Naoki Yamakawa
Releases in print May 2019. Volumes 1-3 currently available on digital. Check out free chapter 1 preview. The digital-first hit comes to print! A teenage loner boy gets transported into a fantasy world with his two scary female classmates. The girls find themselves as a wizard and a warrior, but he’s woken up as … a farmer?! How will be become a hero now? An original fantasy-action adventure manga for fans of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime!
Magus of the Library by Mitsu Izumi
Releases July 2019. An all-ages story about one boy and the (literal) magic of reading set in a lushly-detailed Arabian Nights-inspired fantasy world! The whole villages mocks the poor little elf boy, calling him “Knife-Ears.” His only solace is in sneaking into the small branch library to read. Then one day, he meets Sedona, a librarian at the magical central library, who will sweep him away into a world of new knowledge and adventures!
O Maidens in Your Savage Season by Mari Okada and Nao Emoto
Releases April 2019. Legendary anime creator Mari Okada (anohana, Maquia, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) makes her manga series debut with a moving, funny, so-true-it’s-embarrassing story of high school girls coming of age together. The girls in a high school literature club do a little icebreaker to get to know each other: answering the question, “What’s one thing you want to do before you die?” One of the girls blurts out, “Sex.” Little do they know, the whirlwind unleashed by that word pushes each of these girls, with different backgrounds and personalities, onto their own clumsy, funny, painful, and emotional paths toward adulthood.
New licensing announcements—Vertical Comics
The Golden Sheep by Kaori Ozaki
Releases September 2019. From the creator of Gods Lie! Tsugu-chan is separated from her friends (Sora, Yuushin and Asari) when she moves away. After a few years, she finally returns and is happy to be reunited with them. Tsugu-chan believes that her friends didn’t change, but that doesn’t turn out to be the case. Themes of changes in life, friendship and bullying.
Don’t Mess with Me, Nagatoro by Nanashi
Releases November 2019. Mischievous Nagatoro-san always bugs Senpai to get a reaction out of him. What is her motivation? Does she just want to create misery for Senpai? Or maybe she secretly likes him?
Voices of a Distant Star (Novel) Original story by Makoto Shinkai, adapted by Arata Kanoh
Releases July 2019. Great novel for Makoto Shinkai and Voices of a Distant Star fans! The manga adaptation of Voices of a Distant Star is currently available in print and digital. This story narrates the story from a tangent. It also fills in a lot of the gaps and answers many questions present in the manga/OVA.
Harvey Awards 2018
Congratulations to Harold Sakuishi (creator of BECK, Seven Shakespeares) for receiving this year’s International Creator Spotlight Award at the Harvey Awards for his achievements in creating the groundbreaking music manga, BECK!
Harold Sakuishi (BECK) meets Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) at the Harvey Awards 2018.
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New York Comic Con is just around the corner, and that means another NYCC of epic new panels, news announcements, con-exclusive goods, and more from Kodansha Comics and Vertical Comics! In New York October 4 through 7? Look for our Kodansha Comics / Vertical Comics booth (#2109) and events at New York Comic Con and Anime Fest, featuring The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network, Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, APOSIMZ, BECK creator Harold Sakuishi, and more!
GUESTS!
Harold Sakuishi It’s been announced that Harold Sakuishi (BECK, Seven Shakespeares) is receiving the International Spotlight Award from the Harvey Awards this year. He will also be making appearances at New York Comic Con as a ComiXology Originals guest—doing signings at the comiXology booth (Artists Alley #1B5), appearing at the International Creator Spotlight panel, and meeting you in person! For more details on Harold Sakuishi’s rare Stateside appearance, click here.
Kodansha Comics’s BECK and Seven Shakespeares are now both available exclusively as comiXology Originals!
The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network Creators The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network is debuting at this year’s NYCC (on-sale date: October 21,) the minds behind this brand-new original comics anthology will be sharing the process behind the making of this project. Plus they will be doing signings at the Kodansha Comics booth (#2109) several times throughout the NYCC weekend. Here are the list of guests:
Alejandro Arbona –– Editor, Black Magick, Old Guard
David Lopez –– Artist, Mystic, New Mutants
Brenden Fletcher –– Writer, Batgirl, Motor Crush
Genevieve Valentine ––Writer, Mechanique, Catwoman
Alex de Campi ––Writer, Smoke, No Mercy
SIGNINGS at the Kodansha Comics Booth (#2109)
Come and get your fresh copy of The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network signed by the creators!
Friday, October 5, 5-6 pm
Saturday, October 6, 5:30-6:30 pm
Sunday, October 7, 11:00-12:00pm
Make sure to grab a copy of The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network debuting at NYCC, or preorder now!
PANELS!
Thursday, October 4
Sailor Moon Presented by Kodansha Comics
The original Sailor Moon manga returns this year in a beautiful, definitive Eternal Edition, and this is your chance to see what’s in store! Come see new cover illustrations, color pages that have never been printed in any English edition, and details and videos about Sailor Moon live shows and concerts. Plus, ask some of the Sailor Moon Eternal Edition localization team your questions and win fabulous prizes straight from Japan!
Date Thursday, October 4
Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location Anime Fest – Main Stage
Friday, October 5
The Kodansha Comics and Vertical Comics Big 2019 Mangastravaganza
The publishers of classics like Akira, Sailor Moon, and Battle Angel Alita, as well as new hits like Attack on Titan, APOSIMZ, Pop Team Epic, and Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, reveal their exciting slate of titles for 2019 for the first time. Don’t miss this chance to be the first to see where manga in the US is headed next! Talk to the editors and publishers of your favorite series, get free manga samplers, and win fun, exclusive prizes straight from Japan.
Date Friday, October 5
Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location Javits Center, Room 1A24
Saturday, October 6
Making Manga: From Mind to Magazine to Your Bookshelf
A team of manga professionals presents a unique inside look at how your favorite Japanese comics are created. Learn about the differences between American comics and manga, then experience a live demonstration featuring the translation, design, and lettering of an English-language manga. Ask a question and you could win a free book! Presented by Kodansha Comics.
Date Saturday, October 6
Time 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location Anime Fest – Mirai Stage
Master manga creator Harold Sakuishi has built a storied decades-long career with his kinetic style and award-winning manga, like the musically charged BECK and historical drama Seven Shakespeares—both available via ComiXology Originals. Join comiXologists Matt Kolowski and Kiersten Wing in this rare chance to hear from renowned mangaka Harold Sakuishi in an intimate and wide-reaching conversation, along with Sakuishi’s editor at Kodansha, Yohei Takami, and Kodansha USA’s Misaki Kido—it’s a panel no manga fan can miss!
Date Saturday, October 6
Time 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Location Javits Center, Room 1A02
The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network Creator Panel
Meet the minds behind this brand-new original comics anthology, supervised by The Ghost in the Shell creator Shirow Masamune, including Alex de Campi (Twisted Romance), Brenden Fletcher (Motor Crush, Batgirl), David López (All-New Wolverine), and Genevieve Valentine (Catwoman). Speak with the writers and editors about their contributions to the Ghost in the Shell world, and see the future of Section 9!
Date Saturday, October 6
Time 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location Javits Center, Room 1A24
Kodansha Comics / Vertical Comics Booth #2109!
WHAT’S FOR SALE?
PRESTREETS!
APOSIMZ, volume 1
Battle Angel Alita, Deluxe Edition volume 5
Battle Angel Alita: Holy Night and Other Stories
The Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network
CON EXCLUSIVE MERCH!
Attack on Titan Poster Set
Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Enamel Pin Set
Cells at Work! Acrylic Keychain Set
Devils’ Line Manuscript Replica
Pop Team Epic Chara Dice
Pop Team Epic Selfie Sticks
Pop Team Epic Acrylic Stamps
FREEBIES*!
EDENS ZEROglobal pin (the US Edition) with Kodansha Comics newsletter sign up! …Details
Kodansha Comics x Vertical Comics con exclusive tote bagwith gift with purchase of $25 or more
The Seven Deadly Sins, Devils’ Line, or Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Cardmini shikishi free with purchase
Pop Team Epic keychain with purchase of Pop Team Epic volume 1
& MORE!
*while supplies last.
PLUS – DON’T MISS OUR OFFICIAL SAILOR MOON POP UP SHOP!
Visit Kodansha Comics at NYCC Javits Center Booth #2109 to pick up a Sailor Moon discount flyer couponand exclusive Sailor Moon merchandise straight from Japan, such as Moon Stick, original illustration hand towel, handkerchief, and more!
Sailor MoonEternal Edition is available now from Kodansha Comics!
