San Diego Comic Con 2026: Manga News Roundup
There were a lot of exciting spring and summer 2027 manga licenses announced with various English manga publishers, along with the winners of the Eisner Awards. Check out the licensing news below!
Thursday, July 23
Yen Press
Yen Press announced a manga, 2 light novels, and an audiobook, with more to come at their industry panel on Friday.
The Dragon Prince's Ill-Mated Betrothal by Sango Sansan, Nanaki Ichinose (original story), Noco Sugimachi (character design)
- Also available as chapters on Bookwalker
Adeline, daughter of an earl, receives an offer of engagement from the Dragonkin Realm on her seventeenth birthday. All Dragonkins must find their “Mate,” and they want her for their third prince. Soon, amid scorn and criticism, she realizes she's an unwilling participant in a twisted—and deadly—plot. But the story doesn't end there! 250 years later, history begins to repeat itself with another invitation...and the unknown secrets that lie beyond it.
Titan Comics
Two manga series were announced exclusively on Anime News Network during the con weekend.
LastBoss LoveDeath by Yoshikazu Kuwajima (Story), Takahiro Seguchi (Art)
- April 6, 2027
- $12.99 USD
High school girls Fūka Nagisa, Julie Yūki and Kanon Amamiya never expected their ordinary lives to end with extraordinary powers. Suddenly gifted incredible abilities, the trio throws themselves into battle against a sinister secret organisation threatening the world.
But becoming heroes isn't as easy as they imagined.
Overpowered by the mysterious enemy, the girls are captured – and rather than destroying them, the organisation recruits them as its newest idol group. Now trapped between the dazzling spotlight and the shadowy schemes of their captors, they must navigate fame, friendship and impossible choices while searching for a way to reclaim their freedom.
Bursting with spectacular battles, colourful characters and unexpected humour, LastBoss LoveDeath delivers an inventive twist on the magical girl genre, combining superhero action with the cut-throat world of idols. Writer Yoshikazu Kuwajima and artist Takahiro Seguchi create an energetic series full of surprising reversals, emotional stakes and stylish artwork that keeps readers guessing until the very last page.
The Rabbit Circle by Sanada Shiro
- April 20, 2027
- $12.99
In a world where humanoid animal hybrids exist, Teddy is a rabbit and grows up in an orphanage for rabbits. He is ostracized for his pale skin, white hair, and red eyes. But suddenly, his world changes.
A letter from his father invites him to live at his mansion along with his many rabbit brothers. Things are different when they show him kindness and love. But something doesn't sit right with Teddy, a familiar feeling obscured by the mirage of affection.
He meets his brother Adelbert who quickly becomes infatuated with Teddy, and all seems well...until his brothers reveal that they are there to one day be eaten by their father.
Angered at the prospect of losing his closest friend and brother, Teddy vows to break out before he and Adelbert can be eaten.
Featuring supernatural elements and a horrifying mystery at its center, The Rabbit Circle is bound to lead you down the rabbit hole.
Mahjong Pros
Bird: Mahjong's Deadliest vs The Master Illusionist by Hiromi Aoyama (writer), Kazutoshi Yamane (artist)
- November 2026
A war over underground casino territory rights will be settled at a mahjong table. One side recruits Kazuya, the hidden genius behind the world-famous illusionist Bird. Across from him sits Snake, an undefeated gambler who can manipulate a fully automated table designed to make cheating impossible. To win, Kazuya must expose Snake's trick before Snake uncovers his.
Akayoroshi: Hanafuda Shadow Games by Yume Yamaguchi (writer), Yadokugaeru (artist)
- November 2026
In 1876 Yokohama, a boy with a perfect memory is forced into an underground gambling ring where Japanese flower cards decide who walks away and who pays with flesh. Akayoroshi: Hanafuda Shadow Games is a vicious historical thriller about debt, deception, and the players who become addicted to risking everything.
Manga Mavericks Books
Our Insignificant Justice by Rin Kawano
- March 2027
One day, a singer named Sayoko Tano suddenly disappears, changing the lives of her fans, friends, and lovers forever.
While perhaps an insignificant event for those who never knew her, to others, she was a living god.
This manga weaves together the stories of six different men and women who knew Sayoko, set in both Tokyo and Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan.
Friday, July 24
Eisner Awards
The Eisner Awards inducted Akira Toriyama and Go Nagai into their Hall of Fame. In addition, three other Asian series won an award.
Hall of Fame
Akira Toriyama
Akira Toriyama became well known for creating the popular manga series Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball. In 1981, he won the Shogakukan Manga Award for Dr. Slump, which sold over 35 million copies in Japan and was also made into a successful anime TV show. Dragon Ball has become one of the most popular manga worldwide. It sold 260 million copies, making it one of the bestselling manga series ever. The Dragon Ball anime shows helped make anime popular in Western countries. Toriyama also designed characters for many popular video games.
Go Nagai
Of the many genres of manga popular today in the United States, there are few that Go Nagai (Kyoshi Nagai) has not either influenced or outright created. On Mazinger Z, he created the first mecha robots—a genre centered on piloted giant robots—popular now more than ever. With Cutie Honey, he helped pioneer the “magical girl” genre. The postapocalyptic visions, dark violence, and psychological depth present in works such as Violence Jack and Devilman were hugely influential, not only in his native Japan, but also the world over. Much of his work continues to be adapted across other media to this day.
Winner of Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Asia award: Purgatory Funeral Cakes by Sanho
- Translated by Danny Lim (Dark Horse)
Best Short Story award: "Blood Harvest" by Shintaro Kago (from Brain Damage)
- Translated by Zack Davisson (Fantagraphics)
Best Archival/Collection Project Award: AKIRA Volumes 1–5 Hardcover Collection by Katsuhiro Otomo
- Edited by Haruko Hashimoto, Ajani Oloye, and Lauren Scanlan (Kodansha USA Publishing)
Best Academic/Scholarly Work: Manga’s First Century: How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics, 1905–1989 by Andrea Horbinski (University of California Press)
Udon Entertainment
Udon announced three manga/illustration books at their panel. They also confirmed the September 1, 2026 release of previously announced licenses: Manga Biographies: Momofuku Ando - The Inventor of Instant Noodles and Manga Biographies: Amelia Earhart - The Amazing Pilot.
Department Store Waltz by Hiromi Matsuo
- Full color
Rondo: The Ladies' Graphic Magazine by Hiromi Matsuo
- Full color
Belles Ruelles by Various Artists
- Anthology
- Each volume features various artists who write about shops and facilities in a fictional town called Euphemia.
Yen Press
Yen Press announced one light novel and nine manga titles at the Yen Press Industry Panel.
Champignon Witch by Tachibana Higuchi
Deep within the depths of a murky forest resides a quite peculiar dark witch.
Dwelling in an abode created by poisonous mushrooms, leaving toxic fungi in her wake and even exhaling noxious spores with every breath she takes, Luna lives a rather solitary existence.
Believing her future would continue in the same vein for the rest of eternity, she is shocked to her core by a sudden dreamlike encounter...
My First Love With You Again by Haru Yūki
When Shino saw Sena playing guitar in middle school, it was love at first sight—and then her first relationship, her first real boyfriend...and countless other firsts!
Even after Sena's transfer to another school forced them apart, Shino has carried a torch for him all the way to college, where she's found him again by some miracle! But that pure and genuine face she once knew is no longer there, instead replaced by a distant expression...
Sharkmaid of the Shore by Teruya
When Wataru's parents passed away in a tragic accident, he found himself with no living relatives. Now, his resident maid, Kosame, is his only guardian. She's as loyal as they come, and she's been by Wataru's side ever since he was young...but she's not exactly human!
As they live their lives together in the eclectic fishing village they call home, will Wataru manage to win her eternal love...?
The Deskmate Cat and the Love Novice by Akinoko
Minato Seno's first semester of high school has barely begun when his homeroom teacher asks him for help.
The favor? To take care of Nekozane-san, the girl who sits next to him—and sleeps at her desk through every class! Seno quakes in his boots at the thought of starting a conversation with a girl he's never even seen face-to-face, let alone spoken to...Despite his fear, he summons all his courage and wakes her up, only for Nekozane to throw her arms around him?!
The Villainesses Are Unwavering by Nina Akabane (manga), Yatsuki Wakatsu (original story), Taku Haruno (original character design)
Aini Miccola, the illegitimate child of a countryside baron, is the talk of the Royal Academy. The boys can't get enough of her cuteness, and the girls seethe at her blatant ignorance of noble conduct...but as she makes a name for herself, three others are gaining notoriety as the “villainesses” of the academy: Serafina, daughter of a powerful marquess and fiancée to the crown prince; Sandra, a viscount's high-minded daughter with a once- in-a-generation talent for business; and Bernardetta, cunning attendant to the prime minister and heiress to a house with close ties to the royal family. When the three villainesses go toe-to-toe with Aini the apprentice saint, what paths will each of them choose?
Disenchantment Camera by Tomato Tri
Jigen Oohashi, age twenty-seven, is a self-styled photographer who's fed up with all things romantic after taking family photos of his married unrequited male crush, Yamada. After having vowed never to fall in love, Jigen attends his big sister Himeko's wedding, where he meets Amélie Shirogane...and discovers she's a serial home-wrecker who's having affairs with both Himeko herself and Yamada! But Himeko has also handed her brother a mysterious camera that she claims “erases sexual desire”?! It's the anti-romance manga that gives a big ol' middle finger to “love”!
Don't Talk to Me by Zoukoujo
Thirtyish, gay, and too straitlaced for his own good, Yamada has never been great at finding romance.
One evening, he turns to an app to get some loving, only for the shock of a lifetime to appear at his door: his hot coworker Takimiya, who's a hit with guys and ladies alike!
Yamada assumes they'll just do their business and move on with their lives, but it looks like Takimiya has other ideas...
Mane Mane Nichi Nichi: Baseball Manager Everyday by Sōichirō Yamamoto
Karina Ichinose, gal fashionista, became a team manager because she loves baseball. Yuki Himemiya became a team manager because her boyfriend was on the team. Akane Nagisa became a team manager because she's popular—despite not knowing the first thing about baseball!
Their managerial duties run the gamut—making rice balls for the team, cleaning lewd books(?) out of the clubroom, keeping a childhood friend company during his batting practice, and fretting over the team during their first nail-biting practice game! The bases are loaded with their exciting memories, and it's time to play ball!
#ImLookingForZombies: The Complete Omnibus by Katsuwo
Thirteen years ago, a mysterious illness infected 90 percent of humanity, but Aki's too young to remember the world before the apocalypse. Instead, what she cares about is finding her dad!
Along with her friends, Haru and Natsu, Aki leaves her village for the world outside and its many wonders: lush nature, feats of human ingenuity...and hordes of zombies!!
Ize Press
Two popular BL series currently available online were licensed for print.
Codename: Anastasia by Boy Season
- March 2027
- Available on TappyToon
When a piece of intel with disturbing implications on international power balance is uncovered, it falls on Taekjoo Kwon, an agent at NIS, to go on a top secret mission to Russia with one goal—track down the mysterious weapon, code-named “Anastasia,” which could threaten global peace! But what can one agent do by himself in an unfamiliar land? Thankfully, he has been set up with a capable local collaborator named Zhenya. But the bad news? The strikingly handsome Russian agent is about as stable as a Molotov cocktail—switching from a friendly, easygoing persona to that of a stone-cold murderer within moments! And making matters more complicated, Zhenya seems to have taken a keen interest in Taekjoo…
Mignon: Special Box Set w/USB by Bboungbbangkkyu
- January 2027
- Available on Lezhin
- The Mignon: Special Box Set w/USB includes both volumes of the comic, special photocards, and a USB containing the uncensored animated film and an exclusive eleven-minute side story animation.
Mignon is stuck living a vicious life as he joins underground cage fights every night. Facing constant violence and exploitation, he finds solace in Doctor Oh, the ring's mysterious doctor who shows genuine concern for him. Despite his growing feelings, Mignon is content with their current relationship…until he discovers the doctor's bloodthirsty identity and takes the chance to offer his help. Just as he can feel Doctor Oh's heart opening to him, Mignon's risky decisions come back to bite him—but he isn't the only one whose dangerous lifestyle threatens to drag them down…
Saturday, July 25
Kodansha USA
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Manga Box Set 1 by Saka Mikami
- Spring 2027
The sweet romance manga that inspired the hit anime reaches full bloom in this premium box set edition featuring exclusive artwork from the author!
Includes manga volumes 1-6 of The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity and an exclusive set of 10 art cards, all inside a pastry box-inspired package with magnetic closure!
Chidori High is a boys’ school that takes in the dregs of society with the lowest grades. Next door stands Kikyo Girls’ High, where the wealthy, high-class families send their precious daughters. Chidori second-year Rintaro, who has a fierce face but a gentle heart, is helping at his family’s patisserie when he meets a girl named Kaoruko. The two hit it off right away…but this blissful peace is quickly disturbed when Rintaro discovers that Kaoruko is actually a student at Kikyo. Worse, she doesn’t seem to realize what a huge problem this really is! Will these two be able to forge a path for themselves, and sidestep the traps (metaphorical and literal) laid by their classmates?
The POOL by Gamon Sakurai
- Spring 2027
Twenty years ago, a wormhole suddenly appeared above Earth’s orbit and opened a passageway to an alien planet full of untapped resources and mysterious life forms. Two decades later, Team Sierra, a small military squad of security specialists working for the Tiberius Coke Corporation, are thirty miles away from home base on that planet when their leader, Chief Yugi Oishi, spots an SOS flare coming from a theoretically abandoned mine. Despite the danger, she leads her four-man team to the facility to see who’d called for help, only for it to be attacked by a horde of powerful creatures almost as soon as the doors close behind them. Now, she and the stranded exploratory excavation crew Team Sierra finds inside must traverse the treacherous mine to reach the only vehicle that could get them to safety—without waking the terrifying monster that’s been picking off the researchers one by one.
The Cat and Dog’s Nine-Tailed Lives by Maki (story) and Hamuhamu (art)
- Spring 2027
What if your pets could live forever? When an aging cat and dog named Buchi and Kotaro wake up one day as immortal yokai, they’re overjoyed at the chance to spend more years with their beloved owner. But time waits for no man, as Buchi and Kotaro soon learn… A heartfelt fantasy one-shot manga for animal lovers young and old!
One day, a pet cat and dog named Buchi and Kotaro wake up to find that they have become yokai, supernatural beings blessed with eternal life. Now, not only do they get to spend more time with their beloved owner, they can stick around to befriend his children, and his children’s children! But even as Buchi and Kotaro remain the same, their owner slowly begins to gray… A heartwarming tale about the importance of life and all its little joys.
Kraken Mare by IZU (story) and Hagane (art)
- Spring 2027
In the distant, far-flung future, humanity’s pursuit of a vital energy source known as “Black Ether” has awakened monsters called Krakens, which lay dormant within black holes. These horrors brought humanity to the brink of extinction. A thousand years later, the Krakens are worshiped as gods by a church that exploits them to spread fear and control the remnants of humanity.
Brave smugglers known as scavengers defy the iron fist of the clergy, risking their lives to mine black ether in secret for profit. The crew of the space ship Pulsar, led by Captain Paze, is tasked with extracting black ether from an extremely dangerous black hole at the request of the Mars-based pirate group Red Sand.
Oriale, a church agent and skilled Atomancer, lurks amongst the crew, pretending to be the innocent cook “Eden.” But when the Pulsar is discovered by a terrifying Abyssal Kraken, she must reveal herself in order to save the crew.
A full-fledged science fiction story in which a heroine with wild power and cunning spycraft collides with a world swirling with revolution and conspiracy.
Meaheim by Kenji Tsurubuchi (story) and Konata (art)
- Spring 2027
Meaheim—where fallen, rotting fruit returns to the tree, lakes roil with flame, and gold flows like water.
Meaheim—where reality itself unravels and only specialized Guides can navigate the dangers.
Meaheim—a realm untouched by God.
Firechasers come to the Dark Lands seeking impossible treasure, but what they find instead is untold danger…and few return to enjoy the spoils. Now a young scholar named Ren must brave the journey to retrieve the panacea that is her ailing brother’s only hope…
A young scholar named Ren makes her way to Meaheim, the last town on the border of the Dark Lands—a bizarre place where horrifying monsters run amok, and reality itself is all but unrecognizable. With the aid of a Guide named Tobia, Ren sets off on a journey into the very maw of chaos, where she must overcome monsters known as “Witches,” traitorous adventurers, and the godforsaken land itself to retrieve the panacea and save her brother…
Powered by impeccable art, a clean premise, and excellent storytelling, this ominous, surreal fantasy is a cut above the crowd. With a female protagonist worthy of Le Guin and a dark style that will instantly hook fans of Tower Dungeon and Attack on Titan alike, Meaheim is poised to be the next powerhouse fantasy series.
Rega in the Sleeping Forest by yoruhashi
- Spring 2027
To save Princess Lorana from a sleeping curse cast by an evil dragon, Rega, captain of the kingdom’s knights, faces down a wicked wyrm within an ancient forest. Drawing upon his devotion to the princess, who rescued him from a life of slavery many years ago, Rega slays the monster, freeing the princess from her sleep. But the moment she awakens, the girl begins casting wicked magic, slaying Rega’s fellow knights and cursing the land, creating a “sleeping forest” which corrupts familiar figures into dark, monstrous forms. Stunned at this horrific sight, Rega looks up to see a crooked, crescent-moon smile in the night sky. Could this be the mastermind behind the corruption? And were those tears Rega saw in the princess’s eyes as she gleefully destroyed the kingdom she called home?
I Love You, Please Dump Me by Shizuku Torii
- Spring 2027
“Love makes people go crazy.”
Hikaru’s always been told to be wary of love—it can make you do stupid things. Like abandon your dreams, or worse, fail your exams! Which is exactly what happens when she falls in love at first sight with the gorgeous Kairi Kira. The problem is, Hikaru’s dream of one day living it up in an expensive penthouse apartment relies on her first achieving academic success. Which is why she’s going to have to nip this little love problem in the bud. If Kairi rejects her and breaks her heart, she’ll be able to get over her feelings and focus on her grades. Except Kairi insists on becoming her girlfriend, which is definitely not part of the plan! But this should be fine, right? She just has to get used to splitting her time and attention. Or…she could, if Kairi would let her!
I Loved Him First! by toreta
- Spring 2027
A charming and funny friends-to-lovers BL one-shot manga about an ex-yakuza member who won’t let anything stand in the way of winning over his best friend’s heart—including that best friend’s boyfriend!
Makoto, an ex-yazuka, has harbored feelings for his best friend Ayato since high school but has always been afraid to confess his love and risk ruining their friendship. Instead, he resigns himself to the role of best friend to the bitter end…that is, until Ayato tells him he’s dating—a guy. Makoto does a total 180 and vows to win over Ayato’s heart by any means necessary—after all, he thinks, “I loved him first!”
Subaru and Subaru by Shuichi Shigeno
- Spring 2027
A new entry in the world of legendary street-racing manga Initial D! It’s the modern era, and the next generation of heroes take the wheel on terrain made famous by the tofu delivery boy-turned-GOAT driver Takumi Fujiwara. Premiering in Young Magazine USA, Subaru and Subaru is what you’ve been waiting for, if you feel the need for speed.
One year after Takumi Fujiwara’s student Kanata Rivington tore it up on Japan’s mega-popular MFG street racing circuit, two new drivers are itching to try their luck at the event. Their names: Subaru Sato, from Gunma Prefecture, and Subaru Kudo, from Kanagawa. The worlds of Initial D and MF Ghost meld into one as these two Subarus join together to weave the ultimate street racing legend!
Drawn & Quarterly
One Woman and the War by Kondō Yōko (art), Sakaguchi Ango (original creator)
- Spring 2027
- Translated by David Boyd
A melancholic portrait of Tokyo at the edge of collapse during the final days of World War II, adapted from Sakaguchi Ango by a celebrated GARO cartoonist.
Marmalade Princess by Ito Shigeo
- Spring 2027
- Translated by David Boyd
MARMALADE PRINCESS also showcases Ito’s short comics fiction across a number of post-GARO alt-manga magazines such as Yakou, Comic Baku, and the famed A*Ha–the Esso-sponsored magazine that published the likes of Guido Crepax and Gary Panter. Revel in Ito’s wiry black inks and distinctly 1980s pops of bright color.
Lady Hokusai by Sugiura Hinako
- Fall 2027
- Translated by David Boyd
Set in Japan’s Edo period, this incredibly cartooned feat of historical fiction follows the famed artist’s most talented daughter O-Ei as she works in his studio as his apprentice. Swipe for a first look at what to expect when LADY HOKUSAI hits the shelves in Fall 2027!
MARVEL x KADOKAWA
Spider-Man Of Shibuya by tokitokoro
It’s finally been announced!📢
— tokitokoro (@_tokitokoro) July 26, 2026
KADOKAWA × MARVEL !!
What if there was a Spider-Man born in Shibuya, or a Daredevil in Shinjuku? Yakuza-style Punisher?
It’s crazy, I know.
Stay tuned 💻↓ more designs pic.twitter.com/75NBkSGGZ1
👹 ☠️ pic.twitter.com/qU7wCwXxrY
— tokitokoro (@_tokitokoro) July 26, 2026
Untitled Spider-Gwen by Ryuusei Yamada
Spider-Gwen manga by Ryuusei Yamada, published by Kadokawa, announced at SDCC
by u/Icywind014 in SpiderGwen
Source: SDCC, Press Releases
