Fall 2026 Preview: Manga
Manga gets personal this season, with affecting memoirs, semi-autobiographical dramas, and historical fiction.
Top 10
Black Witch Mirror
Togawa Yonan, trans. by Jan Mitsuko Cash. Titan Manga, Sept. 22 ($12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-78774-974-0)
Debut creator Yonan launches a series in which a girl’s world fractures when she crosses paths with a witch who uses mirror-based magic.
Delusion
Hongjacga, trans. by Somin Parker. Inklore, Sept. 1 ($20 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-217-09292-5)
An artist in 1930s Korea is hired to paint a portrait of a reclusive and dangerous woman in this seductive vampire story, soon to be a live-action Korean drama on Disney+.
The Dragon School Is atop the Mountain
Ryoko Kui, trans. by Taylor Engel. Yen, Oct. 27 ($15 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-85544-475-9)
The creator of Delicious in Dungeon serves up a collection of short stories about everyday life in a world inhabited by dragons, centaurs, and other fantastic beings.
Fire!
Hideko Mizuno. Uncivilized Books, Sept. 29 ($49.99, ISBN 978-1-941250-70-9)
A teen delinquent joins the 1960s music scene in this long-awaited release of the classic work by one of the stars of the pioneering Year 24 shōjo manga movement.
Good Morning, Good Night, and See You Tomorrow
Moka Onmae, trans. by Jan Cash. Seven Seas, Nov. 10 ($14.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-685-2)
Onmae draws inspiration from her own cancer treatments for this story about a single woman coping with a cancer diagnosis.
Human Clock
Seichiro Tokunani, trans. by Ryan Holmberg. Smudge, Sept. 9 ($19.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-961581-20-3)
In this Kafkaesque underground manga originally published in 1962, a watchmaker’s son transforms into a clock—or is he descending into madness?
My Journey to Her
Yuna Hirasawa, trans. by Mishima Kitan. Kodansha, Oct. 6 ($13.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-88877-838-8)
Hirasawa’s Eisner-winning autobiographical manga chronicles coming out as trans and traveling from Japan to Thailand for gender-affirming surgery.
On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides
Marina Lisa Komiya, trans. by Diana Taylor. Takumigraphics, Sept. 1 ($22.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-
8750-0229-8)
After WWII, two Japanese women are forced to set aside their love for each other and pursue new lives as the wives of American GIs, in this historical graphic novel from debut creator Komiya.
Sassy Cats
Yamada Murasaki, trans. by Ryan Holmberg. Drawn & Quarterly, Nov. 3 ($20 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-77046-897-9)
Housecats comment sardonically on life and observe the humans around them in this classic alternative manga by Murasaki, originally serialized in the magazine Garo from 1979 to 1980.
Sound of a Blink
Shuzo Oshimi, trans. by Daniel Komen. Viz, Sept. 15 ($16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-9747-6603-1)
In his much-anticipated memoir, the Eisner-winning creator of Blood on the Tracks confronts childhood memories after his brother is diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Manga Comics Longlist
Airship
The Neverending Winter, the Land of Broken Dreams by Mei Hachimoku and Kukka, trans. by Evan Ward (Sept. 22, $15.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-253-3). A teenager is trapped in a murderous time loop at an amusement park in the latest light novel from the creators of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes.
Trapezium by Kazumi Takayama, trans. by Emily Hemphill (Nov. 24, $15.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-506-0). This light novel by a real-life idol singer reveals the behind-the-scenes world of Japanese idol culture as a teenage girl strives to form her own hit group.
Dark Horse
Forget-Me-Not by Kenji Tsuruta, trans. by Dana Lewis (Jan. 5, $29.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5067-5711-7). The slacker scion of a dynasty of detectives must solve an art theft to claim her inheritance.
H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dunwich Horror by Gou Tanabe (Sept. 29, $49.99, ISBN 978-1-5067-5348-5). A strange young man seeks the forbidden secrets of the Necronomicon in Tanabe’s adaptation of Lovecraft’s weird fiction classic.
Suicide Island by Kouji Mori, trans. by Kumar Sivasubramanian (Dec. 8, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5067-5680-6). After a failed suicide attempt, a young man is transported to a remote island inhabited by other people who have tried to die.
Disney Manga
Poor Unfortunate Soul by Barbara Perez Marquez, Yui Obata, and Serena Valentino (Sept. 22, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4278-8136-6). The first manga adaptation of the bestselling Disney Villains novel series reveals the history of Ursula the Sea Witch and her rivalry with King Triton.
Drawn & Quarterly
Hodo by Yeong-Shin Ma, trans. by Janet Hong (Sept. 15, $30 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-77046-846-7), tells the time-jumping story of a girl’s childhood trauma and encounters with ghosts.
A Lullaby in Hell by Hideshi Hino, trans. by Zack Davisson (Nov. 10, $25, ISBN 978-1-77046-907-5), collects grotesque, nightmarish short stories by cult-favorite horror artist Hino.
A Nobody Artist by Yoshiharu Tsuge, trans. by Ryan Holmberg (Nov. 10, $30, ISBN 978-1-77046-859-7). Alternative cartooning
legend Tsuge, who died earlier this year, shares autobiographical and semi-autobiographical stories about making manga.
First Second
President of the Anime Club by Stephanie Evangelista Fukuda and Daigo Fukuda (Sept. 1, $17.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-250-34893-7). Friends handle blossoming feelings in their freshman year of high school as they join the anime club together. Ages 14–18.
Ghost Ship
Even the Student Council Has Its Holes! by Muchimaro, trans. by Susamaji (Sept. 8, $13.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-067-6). In this saucy slice-of-life comic strip, a struggling high schooler joins his student council and gets to know its quirky members.
Graphix
Crescent Moon Marching by Hamachi Yamada, trans. by Azuki (Aug. 4, $11.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-5461-8626-7). A girl finds her place in a small town by joining the school marching band in this full-color manga. Ages 9–12.
Inklore
Eleceed by Jeho Son and Zhena, trans. by Somin Parker (Jan. 19, $23 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-217-09349-6). A veteran superhero trapped in the form of a chonky cat trains a young speedster learning to use his powers.
How to Hide the Emperor’s Child by Lee Yeonseon and Ssal (Oct. 13, $23 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-87245-1). Cast aside by her husband after a single day of marriage, a former empress conceals their child from the imperial court.
Ink Pop
I Shall Master This Family by Mon, Ant Studio, and Roah Kim, trans. by Ciel (Oct. 13, $24.99, ISBN 979-8-217-22424-1). Reborn as her child self, a spurned illegitimate heir is given the chance to save her noble family. Ages 12 and up.
Ize
On the Way to Meet Mom by Gomynag (Dec. 8, $20 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-40090-593-3). A feral child taken in by an orphanage sets out on a fantastic quest to find his mother.
Special Civil Servant by Sora Kwon, Jaewon Seo, and ch (Nov. 17, $20 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-40090-596-4). After a monstrous encounter, an average guy lands a job with the Special Civil Service as a public defender against the paranormal.
Kana
Before Dawn and the End of the World by Inio Asano, trans. by Andria McKnight (Nov. 10, $24.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4197-8572-6), brings together early short stories by the creator of Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction. 75,000-copy announced first printing.
The Gentleman, the Cat & the Tearoom by Molicoross, trans. by Minna Lin (Nov. 3, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4197-9218-2). In this gentle slice-of-life series, a dashing café owner and his cat soothe each of their customers with the perfect cup of tea.
Hideout by Masasumi Kakizaki, trans. by Nube Consulting (Oct. 13, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4197-8570-2). This survival horror thriller follows a couple’s descent into madness while trapped on an island.
Kodansha
Aidol by Yu Kuraishi, Kazu Inabe, and Ku Tanaka, trans. by Stephen Paul (Dec. 1, $29.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-88877-849-4). In this supernatural thriller, a disturbed fanboy possesses the Tokyo electrical grid and will stop at nothing to “help” the obscure idol singer he stans.
Mr. Vamp Is a Vampire by Dorothy Odoroo, trans. by Matt Treyvaud (Dec. 1, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-88877-947-7). An ancient yet beautiful and young-looking vampire thinks he has everyone fooled in his secret identity as a teacher, but his supportive
students know he’s a bloodsucker.
Rainy Day Serenade by Haruka Kawachi, trans. by Lindsey Clifford (Dec. 8, $24.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-88877-925-5). After she’s transported to the early 20th century, a modern-day girl swaps places with her look-alike and becomes entangled in romantic and family drama.
Say Hello to Mr. Wallaby! by Marume Goshika, trans. by Matt Treyvau (Sept. 8, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-88877-952-1). A talking wallaby moves to Japan and becomes a teacher in this sunny slice-of-life series.
LoveLove
Flashlight by Sara Lozoya, trans. by Ruby La Cruz (Nov. 10, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4278-8839-6), unfurls a boys’-love romance between two small-town friends, one of whom hopes to make it big as a K-pop idol.
Ugly Girls by Rokakoen, trans. by Stephanie Liu (Sept. 29, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4278-8819-8). An unhappily married woman is stalked by a mysterious, beautiful woman she met overseas in this horror-tinged girls’-love light novel.
Mad Cave Studios
Gatchaman: Red Impulse by Steve Orlando and Riccardo Robaldo (Oct. 27, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5458-2340-8). The classic superhero squad returns in a new story about the secret missions of the Red Impulse pilots.
Manga Mavericks
Oni and Dawn: Bakumatsu High School Girls by Hana Ikuta, trans. by Charlene Woolson (Oct. 27, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-
968054-40-3). Ikuta’s girls’-love fantasy takes place at a girls’ school where all the students are the reincarnations of great samurai.
Vegetable Sandwich by Banjo Saitou, trans. by Michael Jokoh (Sept. 29, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-968054-36-6). This 1980s-style action comedy stars a would-be tough guy who takes fighting lessons from a super-strong elementary schooler.
Nakama
CMS Astronomical Research Team by Alice Ma (Dec. 1, $10.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-5458-3254-7). A young astronomer and his assistants investigate an ancient device at the Hong Kong Observatory in an adventure that incorporates science and history. Ages 14 and up.
Land of Ming Yi by Mimi Tsoi (Nov. 10, $10.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-5458-3128-1). In a world ruled by the balance of yin and yang, four teenagers must set things right after a ritual unleashes an ancient force of destruction. Ages 14 and up.
Yashirojima: The Forest of Lost Dreams by Kaeru Utagawa (Dec. 15, $10.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5458-3288-2). A boy in a magical forest explores Japanese history and mythology through dreams.
Seven Seas
Draw This, Then Die! by Minoru Toyoda, trans. by Evan Ward (Aug. 11, $13.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89765-903-6). A small-town teenage girl dreams of becoming a manga creator in this
award-winning series.
Gilded Seven by Tasuku Karasuma, trans. by Alethea Nibley and Andrew Love (Sept. 8, $13.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-071-3). A state trooper and the gang he’s tailing are transported to an alternate frontier America in this weird western from the creator of No Guns Life.
Nemurubaka: Half-Awake Fools by Masakazu Ishiguro, trans. by Jenny McKeon (Nov. 10, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-
498-8). The creator of Heavenly Delusion spins a heartfelt drama about two young women living together as one attends college and the other tries to make it in an indie band.
Sleeping Dead by Nemui Asada, trans. by Tristan K. Hill (Dec. 8, $29.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-497-1). A murdered teacher is brought back to life by a mad scientist in this boys’-love manga with a body-horror twist.
Smudge
The Darkness by Shinichi Koga, trans. by Ryan Holmberg (Nov. 11, $19.95, ISBN 978-1-961581-21-0), collects chilling short stories by the creator of Mansect.
Square Enix
My Ex-boyfriend Loves Boys’ Love by Mugiimo, trans. by Sawa Matsueda Savage (Sept. 8, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89910-047-5). Sparks rekindle between an office worker and her high school boyfriend when she discovers they share a passion for boys’-love manga.
The Princess Groom by Asaki Asagiri and Selen, trans. by minami (Aug. 4, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-64609-497-4). A beautiful noblewoman transforms into a man to perform heroic exploits. When her fiancé learns about her alter ego, he swoons.
Stalker Stalks Stalker by Yuo Yodogawa, trans. by Kiki Piatkowska (Oct. 20, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89910-046-8). Unbeknownst to each other, three male college students are obsessively stalking one another.
Steamship
Flirting with My Bear-Like Boyfriend by Akari Tsuchihashi, trans. by WWWave Corp. and Biddy MacAdam (Oct. 6, $24.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-89863-404-9), chronicles a steamy romance between a petite woman and her big bear of a boyfriend.
Sublime
Robin in the Veil of Night by Fumi Tsuyuhisa, trans. by EC Renne (Dec. 8, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-9747-6927-8). A police officer and his folklorist brother investigate a potentially murderous cult in a snowbound village.
Sunshine in Hades by Puling, trans. by Adrienne Beck (Sept. 8, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-9747-1669-2). In ancient Rome, a priest of the sun god is assigned to train a gladiator in the ways of lovemaking.
Takumigraphics
Comet Club by Yi Yang, trans. by Jamie Richards (Sept. 29, $22.99 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-8750-0256-4). High schoolers in a small Chinese mountain town form the Comet Club, dedicated to investigating the mysteries of space, and stumble upon paranormal surprises.
The Ultra Power Mongol Invasion by Shintaro Kago, trans. by Zack Davisson (Nov. 10, $29.99, ISBN 979-8-8750-0269-4). The creator of Brain Damage envisions a bizarre alternate history where Genghis Khan conquers the world.
Titan Manga
Egnaro the Star Eating Killer by Arata Yamaji, trans. by Andria McKnight (Dec. 8, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-78774-916-0). The creator of A Certain Scientific Railgun takes readers to a world split by a colossal rift, where adventurers descend into the earth in search of ancient relics.
Nova, Little Girl in the Monster Forest by Kamatama (Nov. 17, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-80618-295-4). A little girl raised by monsters has gentle, folkloric adventures as she tries to master forest magic.
The Obsession of Red Riding Hood by Yasuo Isanami (Nov. 10, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-78774-937-5). When a schoolgirl accidentally releases the characters in the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales from a magic book, her life starts to resemble the tale of Red Riding Hood.
Tokyopop
The Devil’s in the Lunch Deals by Ishiko, trans. by Nate Derr (Aug. 4, $13.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4278-8872-3). Reborn
as an ordinary human who runs a bento shop, a former goddess seeks to regain her divinity by performing good deeds.
The Encyclopedia of Vegetable Fairies by Ponkichi, trans. by Jacqueline Fung (Nov. 3, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4278-8787-0) comprises a bestiary of absurdly adorable animal-vegetable hybrids, from the Chinese cabbage dog to the sweet potato newt.
There, Beneath the Water by Kaiko Fuyumushi, trans. by Massiel Gutierrez (Oct. 27, $14.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-
1-4278-8786-3). A girl moves to a rural village and learns the monstrous truth behind its local mermaid legend in this girls’-love horror.
Tokyopop Kids
As Yubooh Slumbers by Paulina Palacios, trans. by Diego Collaguazo (Oct. 13, $15.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4278-8669-9). A girl suspects that her new school is secretly magical, but the truth only comes out while she’s fast asleep. Ages 10 and up.
Vault
Return of the Runebound Professor by Actus, Roy Xavier Flores, and Yumiitsu (Sept. 8, $19.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-63849-300-6). Transported to a world of sorcery, an ordinary man takes over the life of a recently murdered professor at a magic academy.
Viz
The Amazing Digital Circus by Sakura, Glitch Productions, and Gooseworx (Sept. 8, $11.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-9747-1693-7). Hapless humans try to escape a glitchy virtual world in the manga adaptation of the Netflix animated series.
Heroes by Inio Asano, trans. by Abby Lehrke (Nov. 17, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-9747-6874-5). The creator of Goodnight Punpun spins a twisted fairy tale in which bizarre heroes join forces to defeat the Dark Lord—but all is not as it seems.
Horror Picture Book: Looking at Me by Junji Ito and Soshichi Tonari, trans. by Jim Hubbert (Oct. 6, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-9747-6272-9). This installment of the Horror Picture Book series offers up a spooky story written by award-winning author Tonari and illustrated by horror master Ito.
The Seaside Where Dragon Boys Dwell by Asato Shima (Nov. 3, $11.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-9747-6924-7). A young woman moves to a seaside town inhabited by dragonfolk and finds herself living with a half-dragon man.
Webtoon Unscrolled
Act Like You Love Me! by Xuann (Nov. 3, $19.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-83411-052-3). A celebrity’s overworked assistant gets the upper hand in their relationship when she finds a doll that allows her to control him.
Yen
Deep-Sea Aquarium Magmell by Kiyomi Sugishita, trans. by Kevin Steinbach (Aug. 25, $15 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-85542-156-9). An ocean-loving boy works at an aquarium located 200 meters below Tokyo Bay.
Hand in Hand with Mu-chan: Lessons from My Autistic Daughter by Rin Minato, trans. by Ajani Oloye (Aug. 25, $16 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-85542-666-3). Mintaro draws on her experiences as the mother of an autistic child for this series about a couple whose daughter is diagnosed with autism.
How to Keep a Human by Pieta, trans. by Amanda Haley (Oct. 27, $15 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-8554-1979-5), takes the form of guide to humans for monsters who want to keep these exotic and charming creatures as pets.
N by kurumuakumu and nc&gm, trans. by Ko Ransom (Oct. 27, $15 trade paper, ISBN 979-8-8554-2569-7). A string of modern-day murders is linked to an ancient cult known only by the letter N.
