Mangaversity: December 2025

Welcome one, welcome all, to Mangaversity! Join me as I trawl through the month’s manga releases and pick out what’s hot and what’s not. A perennial special thanks to Zack Davisson for pointing out that my initial name was bad, I should feel bad and that Mangaversity is superior.

December is an absolutely packed month of releases. I sifted through a lot and left way more on the cutting room floor than I expected to have to. There’s just way too much out there! So much manga, so little time. Literally.

I’m also still playing catch up from November and working out what this column should look like in the new year. I think I’m finding my footing and can’t wait to see what 2026 has to offer. It’s gotta be better than what we got in 2025, right?

Right?!

Perennial Favorites:

My love for these titles are very well documented and you will not go wrong reading them, though some titles that get featured here come with more caveats than others (“Berserk,” for instance, gets my full endorsement, but is certainly not for everyone.) As this section expands, I may start reducing the details and just listing the books.

Dandadan, Vol. 16
Written and Illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu
Published by Viz Media

Season 2 was a true joy and a bright spot in 2025. The romance! The action! The goofiness! The William Tell Overture! The wait for season 3 will be interminable…unless you’re reading the manga. :) 

Momo and Okarun task Turbo Granny with uncovering who picked up Okarun's family jewel from the police station. She succeeds in infiltrating the station but is quickly thwarted by its computer system. Undaunted, the pair decide they'll try again, but on their way home, they run into the Serpoian Rokuro, and it's through his powers that they're able to identify the culprit! But why is it that guy?

The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Vol. 21
Written and Illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa
Based on the books by Yoshiki Tanaka
Published by Kodansha Comics

Each new volume is another chance to sing the praises of Arakawa as a master mangaka in the vein of Naoki Urasawa or Jiro Taniguchi. She can make even the dullest of topics - farm high school - into a rip-roaring romp. “Arslan” may be exceptionally slow but damn if I don’t get extraordinarily hyped for each new volume.

Crown Prince Arslan has bided his time in the southern port city of Gilan long enough: with Hilmes's betrayal leaving the Lusitanian forces in shambles, the time to retake the fallen capital is nigh. But as Arslan and his allies undertake their final preparations to free their country and their people from the invaders, Hilmes and King Andragoras each make their own moves to secure power over Pars for themselves.

A Man and His Cat, Vol. 14
Written and Illustrated by Umi Sakurai
Published by Square Enix Manga

This manga is my comfort food. If I can convince at least one of you that it is yours as well, I will have done my job.

Though he still can't perform on stage, Kanda challenges himself with street piano. He never imagined his audience would include his former teacher, Margarethe Dressel. The ever-present Fukumaru is ready to win new hearts--luckily, Kanda's mentor is a fellow cat lover! Then, Geoffroy becomes Kuju's piano teacher, but the lesson gets off to a rocky start.

Show-Ha Shoten!, Vol. 9
Written by Akinari Asakura
Illustrated by Takeshi Obata
Published by Viz Media

While this final arc is truly dragging out, I’m too invested in these goofballs to not enjoy every second of it. What a shame “Show-ha Shoten” is ending where it is.

Broken Glass Slipper's first-place reign has finally come to an end! But will Sprechchor be able to defend their hard-won spot all the way to the end? Rising and Shiba Inu World Tour are ready to take the stage, and with the audience's laughter growing louder and louder, one of these two comedy duos may just bring down the roof!

Spy X Family, Vol. 15
Written and Illustrated by Tatsuya Endo
Published by Viz Media

This might be my favorite arc of “Spy x Family” to date and I’m excited for anyone reading in print to experience it.

Due to the war between East and West, Henry and Martha part ways without ever expressing their feelings for each other. Martha enlists to fight and only narrowly survives a bloody battle in Westalis. Amid the chaos of war, can she make her way back to Ostania?

Deluxe Den:

With the manga explosion that’s occurred in the last few years, there’s been a corresponding increase in deluxe editions of beloved or classic or obscure manga. This is the section where I pull out the ones I think are worth a gander but not necessarily a volume that needs a place on the main list. Some of these are personal favorites of mine, others are notable for one reason or another.

• Ashita No Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow, Vol. 4
• Akira Hardcover Collection, Vol. 5
  • I’ve only just realized that this is the first single-volume version of “Akira” that’s been released in its original right-to-left orientation. The paperbacks, as far as I can tell, were the flipped Dark Horse versions, and these hardcovers were initially part of the limited edition box set. Wild!
• Gunsmith Cats Omnibus, Volume 3
  • Finally got around to reading this one and it is both what I expected - high-octane action, car chases, girls with guns, an excellent high concept and kinetic art - and a bunch of stuff I should’ve expected but didn’t; this is a 90s series that hit it big with that generation of otaku here in the states, after all. If you can get past the extremely gross relationship that’s played off as romantic (not a fan!,) and don’t mind the explicit but shadowed sexual content or copious amounts of fanservice, then definitely check it out.
• Initial D Omnibus, Vol. 8
• Issak Omnibus, Vol. 4
• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Deluxe, Vol. 3
• Nana 25th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 2
• Planetes Deluxe Edition Book 2
  • Do I love Planetes? Yes. Is its second (and final) volume list worthy? Ehhhhh.

Cat Corner:

I see a lot of cat manga when I do this column. It takes every ounce of willpower to not include at least two of these on the list each month. As I put together November’s list, I realized: I can just make a new section and put the titles and covers here. Cat lovers unite!

• Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi Vol. 5 
• Chainsmoker Cat Vol. 1
  • Yes. Yes. This one’s about a catgirl but the vibes felt right. Or wrong, as the case may be?
• My Cat Is Such a Weirdo, Vol. 8

Caught My Eye:

These are the manga that didn’t make the cut for one reason or another that I still wanted to bring to your attention. Usually so I can make some kind of snarky remark or to help me remember to actually read the dang things so I can have an informed opinion.

• The 13th Footprint, Vol. 2
  • Kei Sanbe has a type of story he likes to tell and I have a type of story I like to read.
• Beast Complex, Vol. 4
  • She’s still at it folks! Not even Sanda can keep her away.
• Black Butler, Vol. 34
  • Another series I am shocked to see is still going strong that I’ve always wanted to read but am basically waiting until it’s finished to do so.
• Demon Lord 2099: The Complete Omnibus
  • I wonder if Doom 2099 knows there’s some Final Fantasy-ass pretender to his throne.
• Dogsred, Vol. 4 
  • First volume kinda struggled but it’s starting to really come into its own. Volume 3 really had that Noda charm.
• Gogogogo-Go-Ghost!, Vol. 5: Volume 5 
  • Five volumes of interest later and I still haven’t read this series.
• How I Met My Soulmate, Vol. 5
  • I like the meditation of what “the one” means in a shojo series. If done right, this could be an all-time classic.
• The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All, Vol. 3 
  • I think we’re finally, finally, getting these into the library so I can read it and gush. 
• Insomniacs After School, Vol. 12
  • The cover is so pretty. A cozy series, I’m sure.
• Kageki Shojo!! Vol. 15
  • I really gotta catch up with this one.
• Komi Can't Communicate, Vol. 36
  • They’re holding hands! In the same bed! So lewd.
• One-Punch Man, Vol. 32
  • I think I say it every time. I love “One Punch Man.” It’s just in a weird spot where each volume doesn’t accomplish all that much.

WTF is this:

A corollary to the Caught My Eye subset are the comics I don’t actually think are potentially worth a read - or at least don’t strike me as list worthy - but have a certain je ne sais quoi that are absolutely worth pointing out and gawking at.

• Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 18“Zom 100” is, to be clear, a wild series with a wonderful concept and great execution. I just never expected the damn thing to go into space! Space zombies!! What?!
• I Kept Pressing the 100-Million-Year Button and Came Out on Top, Vol. 7What the fuck is a 100-million-year button?! Why are isekai like this now? Whyyyyyyyyyyy?
• Animan, Vol. 1A deeeeeply unsettling concept that I’m very curious to see where it goes. Still, that cover makes me want to scream and run.

The List:

12. Shhhhhhhhhh

I know what you’re thinking. I’ve already plugged a ton of manga so I should be able to whittle this list down to 10, or do my usual cheat with 11. Not expand out to 12! Normally, I would agree with you. However, this December is both stacked with books I wanted to talk about and this last one features the line “how will he bridge the distance, when there’s no talking in the library?”

Folks. That’s manga gold right there.

Flip Flip Slowly (The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity)
Written and Illustrated by Mame Ohtako
Published by Kodansha Comics

In a rural country town where nothing exciting ever happens, a new face suddenly appears at the library: a former city man who starts to show up every week without fail. With each visit, the librarian, Hagiwara, can't help but notice little things about this new regular, Yabumi--his punctuality, his demeanor, his strangely methodical approach to reading every single book by a single author... Slowly, without realizing it, that simple observation blooms into a deeper interest that draws Hagiwara in, until he can't help it! He wants to get to know Yabumi better. But how will he bridge the distance, when there's no talking in the library?

11. What Do You Mean Heart Gear’s Stopping?

Why do I seem to only notice these series right as they're ending? “Heart Gear” has such a fun sci-fi premise and character designs to boot. The art is clean and, from the previews, right at home with the likes of Kentaro Shinohara (“Astra Lost in Space,” “Witch Watch.”) I guess it’s an easier sell of “it’s finished and 7 volumes. Go read it now!” Hopefully I don’t eat my words when I check out the volumes in a couple days.

Heart Gear, Vol. 7
Written and Illustrated by Tsuyoshi Takaki
Published by Viz Media

Roue, Chrome, and Rock receive an unexpectedly warm welcome in Heaven Land. When Roue asks if Zett can be revived, D and R agree, but on the condition that she sit down for a one-on-one conversation with each of them first. It's then that Roue learns the truth about the war 200 years ago and of the two plans humans entrusted to D and R in their final days. After tirelessly fighting their way across the wastelands for so long, Roue and Chrome's journey finally comes to an end in this captivating conclusion.

10. The Claaaaaawwwwww

One of the weirdest mainstream manga I’ve ever read. This is a work I would expect to be published by, like, Living the Line or another underground publisher/imprint of one of the smaller “literary” publisher like Fantagraphics. Umezz’s sensibilities are so out there! I truly have no idea how “Shingo” is going to end and that’s a testament to Umezz’s ability to keep me on my toes, enthralled as this early AI drags itself to sentience and into the real world.

A real “Frankenstein-esque” story, now that I think about it, only his creators are children and aren’t neglectful pieces of shit. Still exceptionally self-centered though. Children. What’re you gonna do? 

My Name Is Shingo: The Perfect Edition, Vol. 6
Written and Illustrated by Kazuo Umezz
Published by Viz Media

Despite the upheaval in the world around him, the robot now called Shingo refuses to give up his search for Satoru and Marin, the children he considers his parents. He reunites with old friends and pushes himself to his literal limits, but the outlook for reunification seems bleaker than ever in the final volume of this classic tale of identity, social climate, and artificial intelligence.

9. One Ear, Partially Clipped

I’m a little sleepy so when I re-read the description of “Stray,” I had to do a double take to make sure this wasn’t a supernatural revenge tale about a man befriending a ghost. That’s not why I picked “Stray.” I picked it because I love a well-told and concise story of people done wrong and how they live their life after.

Sometimes this is a “Monte Cristo” or an “Oldboy” - more vengeance than living. “Stray” appears to be flipping the script a little where our main character, Ken, isn’t actually out for revenge but is instead dragged back into the world to help someone else get vengeance. That’s a hook and the mystery of what happened and how will they get out, or will they get out, keeps me on the line.

Stray
Written by Ryu Kamio
Illustrated by Yu Nakahara
Published by Titan Manga

After serving nine years for a crime he didn't commit, Hachiya Ken is free--but his past is far from behind him. Released from prison, he's confronted by Hana, the fiery daughter of a ghost from his past. Together, they're forced to navigate a deadly web of betrayal, yakuza power, and political corruption.

As they uncover a conspiracy that runs deeper than either could have imagined, Ken must confront his own demons--and decide how far he's willing to go for redemption. 

8. More Yuri, More Cooking

Is there anything more endearing than two young, anxious lovers fumbling to figure out how to express that love in wholesome, large-gestured, yet plausibly deniable ways? Or the social fear that comes from not knowing what invitation or lack thereof will be taken as an insult or sign of disinterest? Or baking?!

No? I thought so.

The Moon on a Rainy Night, Vol. 8
Written and Illustrated by Kuzushiro
Published by Kodansha Comics

Despite her initial misgivings, Kanon was able to conduct her classmates flawlessly during the choir contest, with Saki accompanying her on the piano. As Kanon thinks back on all the times that Saki has helped her, she decides it's her turn to return the favor by making Saki's favorite food, cream puffs. She enlists Ayano's help, but Kanon's first time baking proves more difficult than she'd expected. Meanwhile, Saki gets roped into performing in her piano school's upcoming recital. The prospect of playing on stage is nerve-wracking enough, but Saki's just as worried about whether to invite Kanon. Will Kanon think her insensitive if she invites her? Will she be hurt if she doesn't? All she knows is that when it comes to Kanon, there are no easy answers...

7. Metamorphosis, but with More Knives and Less Cockroaches

I haven’t read Hara’s previous work but I’m intrigued enough by the cover’s dangerous allure and a promise of short stories. Plus, more yuri that’s not saccharine high school romances (which is a staple part of all romance diets.) 

Out of the Cocoon
Written and Illustrated by Yuriko Hara
Translated by Amanda Haley
Published by Yen Press

Yuriko Hara, author of the atmospheric, eerily beautiful yuri Cocoon Entwined, brings us five haunting stories of love and attachment. Ranging from horrific to wistful, these captivating tales, featuring both yuri and boys' love, are sure to ensnare readers. Fans of her previous work will be especially delighted by the final piece, which provides an extra chapter of Youko and Hana's story.

6. Right-to-Left and It Feels So Good

Y’all don’t realize what a big deal this is.

Dark Horse Comics deserves a lot of props for bringing so many early manga to the US. While they weren’t the first or necessarily the biggest, the vast majority of the licenses they picked up were deeply influential not only to the industry here but also the industry back in Japan. To be in the market back then, however, they had to make some compromises. The biggest one was “flipping” manga so that it read left-to-right rather than the original right-to-left that manga readers are now attuned to.

While this practice fell out of favor many years ago - a story for a different blog - Dark Horse continued to re-print the series they’d already flipped as is; in fact, so did Kodansha when they regained the “Ghost in the Shell” and “Akira” licenses, both* originally from Dark Horse. This isn’t ancient history. “Blade of the Immortal,” despite getting a deluxe edition, is still flipped! (For good reason and another story for another day.)

Which brings me back to “Lone Wolf and Cub.” This seminal, highly-respected manga has gone through many reprintings, digital releases, and omnibus collections. All left-to-right. It’s how I originally read it! There’s never been a (legal) way of reading it otherwise…until now. Man, I’m so glad those “Berserk” Deluxe editions sold as well as they did.

Lone Wolf and Cub Deluxe Edition, Volume 1
Written by Kazuo Koike
Illustrated by Goseki Kojima
Translated by Dana Lewis
Published by Dark Horse Manga

The acclaimed genre-defining samurai epic manga by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima is presented in a new deluxe oversized hardcover edition and is now oriented in right-to-left reading format as originally published in Japan!

The groundbreaking samurai masterpiece of beauty, fury, and power!

Ogami Itto, once the shogun's executioner, has fallen from grace after false accusations by a rival clan. With his wife murdered and with his three-year-old son to protect, he chooses the path of the ronin, the masterless samurai. Together, the lone wolf and his cub wander feudal Japan, but all roads will lead them to a single destination--vengeance. 

5. Eight Volumes of MMA ACTION

I first heard about “Teppu” from a Super Eyepatch Wolf video years ago while he lamented its general unavailability in the English speaking world. A couple years after that Kodansha released it digitally. By then, ComiXology had died an ignoble death, I canceled by ComiXology Unlimited Subscription, and I swore off purchasing digital manga unless it came with DRM-free downloads. Kodansha, despite doing wonderful, DRM-free Humble bundles, does not offer this service on any of the platforms it sells things on. Dark Horse is the same. This baffles me and I will not be quiet about it.

Fast forward another year or so and Kodansha (re)debuts its Kodansha Print Club, a print-on-demand service for its digital-first series. One of these titles is “Teppu” and has proven to be popular enough for them to add more than the first volume to the program. Why a print-on-demand service isn’t making the entire series available from the jump confuses me but I’m not a corporate bigwig.

The print quality is apparently not amazing, at least not when it first came about, so your mileage may vary on whether this is. As for me, I’m excited to give it a read right after I catch up with “Baki” and his grappling antics.

Teppu, Vol. 3
Written and Illustrated by Moare Ohta
Published by Kodansha Comic

Natsuo joins the Takenaka Dojo, where she starts training under pro MMA fighter Karin Kontani. Each day is a tough grind—endless training exercises, grueling grappling sessions, getting “volunteered” to be Karin’s demonstration dummy for her class on takedowns, and having her butt handed to her by snarky fellow first-year Haruka Kirido’s jiu-jitsu…but for once, she isn’t bored. When the team goes to support a dojo member competing in an amateur grappling tournament, they’re shocked to see her completely outclassed by none other than Yuzuko Mawatari, competing for Team Cordeiro. When the tournament ends in a spontaneous face-off between Team Takenaka and Team Cordeiro, an eventual clash seems inevitable. To help her get prepared, Karin books Natsuo her first amateur fight…

4. You Are Already A Samurai

Tetsuo Hara could illustrate the phone book and I would read it and recommend it highly. This series could be absolute garbage and I would still have it here at number four. The man draws muscle and carnage like no other. I wonder also if I’m just in a historical fiction mood this month, between this and “Lone Wolf and Cub.” Hmmmm….

The Magnificent Bastard: The Legend of Keiji, Vol. 1
Original Story by Keiichiro Ryu
Adapted by Mio Aso
Illustrated by Tetsuo Hara
Published by Vertical Comics

The Wildest Samurai Who Ever Lived

Tetsuo Hara's masterful follow-up to the generation-defining Fist of the North Star--a rollicking samurai epic inspired by a real-life legend.

Tall, handsome, and deadly, Keiji revels in his own taste of beauty, whether it be slaying men on the battlefield or carousing with courtesans in the pleasure district. But in an era when might and ruthless politics reign, staying true to oneself--while staying alive--is no easy feat.

As feudal lords vie for supremacy, Keiji's House prepares for a clash with the powerful Hojo Clan. When a team of scouts is dispatched to procure wild horses for the House's army, they are attacked by a creature unlike any they have ever seen. Tasked with slaying this beast, Keiji sets out to tame it instead. Once the Hojo and their ninja master catch wind of this expedition, however, Keiji will have more than a wild beast to break...

3. The 90s Called. They Want Their Manga Back.

What if, instead of bows, cupids shot gunnnnnnnnnns? It’s the most extreme manga to ever manga. Bite the bullet and fall in love.

This is what I was thinking when I first saw the title and read the ad copy. Of course, that’s far from the reality of Inee’s debut work. Well, kinda. Aesthetically, it’s true and that’s part of what makes the work stand out. Cupids with guns, how over-the-top and edgy! That said, in the preview of the first chapter I’ve seen, Inee makes it feel like the most natural evolution of the toolset.

Modern methods for modern cupids.

In those first couple scenes, Inee manages to establish a baseline plot, a tone, and a number of distinct characters. They’re not all that fleshed out but I can already see the possibilities for the dynamic of the cupid team as well as the love dilemmas that are going to come up. Plus! It’s already queerer than most of these “divine romance” type stories are from the jump, though that’s a low bar.

Anchored by Inee’s wonderfully vibrant and cute art, this is a series that could be a real hit. And I promise my love of Thom Zahler’s “Cupid’s Arrows” isn’t influencing my opinion at all.

Love Bullet, Vol. 1 
Written and Illustrated by Inee
Translated by Masaaki Fukushima
Lettered by Aila Nagamine
Published by Yen Press

>In this contemporary world, Cupids solve problems of love not with bows and arrows but with guns! However, when the Cupids get in an argument over how to solve a love triangle...a full on shoot-out occurs?!

2. From Love to Viscera

Initially, I thought this was a novel adaptation rather than a light novel adaptation. While there’s way less of a difference between the two than marketing would have you believe, light novels do have a specific tenor to them that sets them apart as a literary medium. Novel adaptations always catch my attention, and get a bit more special consideration, while light novel adaptations are a dime a dozen at this point, particularly in the isekai field. Therefore, I had to reassess “Divine Incursions’” placement on this list to see if I still wanted it to be #2.

The answer, as you can see, was a resounding yes. 

Ashitaka’s characters look strongly influenced by Tatsuki Fujimoto’s - always a good lineage for oddball horror - plus a fantastic premise that hits all the right buttons for me. Supernatural mystery? Promise of conspiracies in a small town? Floating eyeballs?! Give it to me now.

Divine Incursions, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Kouya Ashitaka
Based on the Light Novel by Oumi Kifuru
Translated by James Balzer
Lettered by Adnazeer Macalangcom
Published by Yen Press

Titanic body parts fall from the sky onto a town. The guts and viscera of corpses are mysteriously absent. And humanity continues to dream of eternal life and eternal youth. Katakishi of the Divine Incursion Special Investigations Department is on the case to uncover the truth of these phenomena, and other secrets that hit closer to home...

1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Maiding

Sometimes you just have to appreciate a good play on words and killer draftwork.

Maid to Skate
Written and Illustrated by Suzushiro
Published by Viz Media

From brewing a perfect cup of tea to nailing the sickest kickflips on their skateboards, these maids can do it all.

In this world, maids go about their everyday lives dressed in long black dresses, frilly aprons--and skate shoes?! Whether they're running errands or hitting the half-pipe, these maids shred the town. Like witches have their brooms, these ladies have their boards. If one thing's certain, these maids are totally Maid to Skate.

Mangaversity: November 2025

What’s this sound? Leaves are crunching, shoes are tapping. Oh no! It’s a high schooler late for class with bread in their mouth! RUN!

House of Ideas, Powers of SecretsElias Rosner

Mangaversity - House of Ideas, Powers of Secrets

House of Ideas, Powers of SecretsElias Rosner