Mangaversity: June 2026

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 and I should feel bad and that Mangaversity is superior.

I nearly made the list this month a top 10 of the Glacier Bay Books catalog. The long and short of why is distributor list I use for figuring out which manga volumes are coming out in June has just added most of GBB’s back catalog and set the pub dates as June 30! Alas, it would be too much of a cheat. Most, if not all, of the titles have been out for well over a few months.

I do think you should check out their catalog. It’s full of some real gems (and some real oddities) from small-press mangaka and dojinshi creators. I even reviewed one for SOLRAD last year. Maybe I’ll do another here.

The other book I wanted to give a special shout-out to, that I am planning to review, is Peow2’s release of “Stop!! Hibari-Kun!” The first volume came out at the end of 2025 and Volume 2 is up for preorder now. More on that to come later. For now, let's dig into those June picks! It’s a banner month this time around.

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.) Because these articles are already so long, I’m streamlining everything that’s not on the main list.

Why aren’t these on the main list even though I love them? There’s only so much I can say about some of these, especially the shonen titles publishing six times a year. I’d rather highlight some new, interesting, weird, and important titles there.

All that said, if you see a title here, assume it’s worth reading and that you should find a copy now. Right now! Go! I see you dawdling.

• Black Night Parade, Vol. 10
  • I really love this volume’s cover. One of my favs of the series.
• Chainsaw Man, Vol. 21
• Dandadan, Vol. 19
• The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 20
• Ghost and Witch, Vol. 2
  • Just read volume 1 and Kore Yamazaki has done it again. What a great cast of surly characters and dangerous creatures.
• Sakamoto Days, Vol. 22
  • This might be a stretch but I do still enjoy the series.

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. These books are 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. All are getting the ~deluxe~ treatment (or a 3-in-1 budget re-release, as the case may be.)

• Baki the Grappler (Perfect Edition) Vol. 17 & 18
• Blue Lock Omnibus, Vol. 3
• City Hunter Omnibus, Vol. 3
• Haikyu!! (3-In-1 Edition), Vol. 9
• Initial D Omnibus 10

• Nana 25th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 4
• One Piece (Omnibus Edition), Vol. 36
  • I know I’ve been leaving off “One Piece” so this is my mea culpa to the biggest comic in the world. I ain’t reading it till it’s done folks! See you in 20 years?
• Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 2
• A Sign of Affection, Omnibus 4
• Übel Blatt Deluxe Edition, Vol. 6
  • They don't put out the volume covers!!! They're basically all the same anyway.
• Vagabond Definitive Edition, Vol. 5

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. A few months back I realized: I can just make a new section and put the titles and covers here. Cat lovers unite!

• Chainsmoker Cat, Vol. 3
• Me and the Alien Mumu, Vol. 3
• A Timid Lady Was Turned Into an Ugly Cat, But on the Verge of Fainting Is Picked Up by the Most Fearsome Military Duke, Vol. 1
  • And the award for longest title I’ve ever had here goes too…

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.

• Adabana, Vol. 3
  • Before this article goes live, I’ll probably have read the first two volumes and will be raving about them. That’s just my gut feeling.
• Animan, Vol. 2
  • Fear to read about the spooky bunny on the bone throne.
• Fool Night, Vol. 9
  • I wanna dig into a couple more volumes before making a judgement on how much I like this series.
• Ichi the Witch, Vol. 3
  • When I read this, I’m sure it’s gonna jump onto some part of the list.
• I'm No Angel, Vol. 1
  • A new (old) Ai Yazawa book is always worth a gander.
• Kingdom, Vol. 8
  • Volume 1 was pretty good. I see what the hype is about. Not sure it’s made the leap to “favs” yet.
• My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files, Vol. 6
  • It’s been a while since I’ve read an actual detective story and this one seems fun.
• Omori, Vol. 2
  • Another one to keep track of and see if it holds up to the image in my head.
• Our Aimless Nights, Vol. 1
  • The art looks a little rougher than I’d like to bump it up but I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.
• Please Look After the Dragon, Vol. 2
  • A healing read after a long day.
• Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign, Vol. 34
  • Rocketing towards the end in as decompressed a manner as ever! I’m waiting till it's all over to finally finish.
• Shadows House, Vol. 11
  • I forgot this was still coming out…I should get on it.
• Steel of the Celestial Shadows, Vol. 10
  • Really digging this one but it’s definitely got some pacing issues.
• Workin' the Night Shift at Akumart, Vol. 1
  • I mean…look how cute the cover of this one is.

Judging by the Cover:

After a good run, it was time to retire my WTF section. It was basically the same three books (or types of books) each month. So, instead, I’m selecting volumes with excellent and/or baffling covers and putting them here. Will there be snark? Time will tell.

• Three Exorcism Siblings, Vol. 4
  • Chomp chomp. Fizz fizz. Oh what a relief it is.
• Dara-San of Reiwa, Vol. 3
  • Is this a gag series? A horror series? An ad for G-fuel?!
• The Bugle Call: Song of War, Vol. 7
  • These guys have a serious case of “Attack on Titan” face as drawn by Makoto Yukimura.

The List:

11. Party Like It’s 1977

Technically, this is not not a cheat. Yes, it’s an art book but it’s also the entire first half of the manga “Star Wars: A New Hope” manga scanned from the original art boards, complete with pencil marks, margin notes, and original, pasted-on lettering. If you’ve only read the original release, this has an updated translation that’s, well, not so stuck in 1997 manga practices. I should note: it’s not a smooth read unless you’re fluent in Japanese. The new translation is included in the margins, with a numerical key for balloon matching, to keep the pages looking as they did coming off Tamaki’s drawing table. It is an art book, after all.

Folks, let me tell you, this book is gorgeous. I backed the kickstarter and am holding the object in my hands. If you have any interest in process or raw, uncleaned up pages, you should give this a gander. Or if you’re a regular Star Wars fan and want to see what a real “special edition” looks like.

The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope--The Manga Volume 1
Written and Illustrated by Hisao Tamaki
Published by Dark Horse Books

The first of two hardcover volumes collecting the precisely recreated original art from the 1997 manga adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope, with a new translation taken directly from the lettering on the boards.

In 1977, the world was changed by the release of George Lucas's seminal science-fantasy epic. Fascinating characters, groundbreaking special effects, and breathtaking action affected audiences in ways that movies never had before and seldom have since.

Twenty years later, renowned manga creator Hisao Tamaki adapted the films in his own singular style that allowed legions of Star Wars fans to enjoy their favorite story in an exciting new way. Now, Dark Horse has unearthed and meticulously reassembled Tamaki-sensei's original art boards to chronicle and showcase the creation of a unique artifact of popular culture.

10. Another Manga Redux

Speaking of translating an older sci-fi story into manga form, have you heard the good word about “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin?” If you’re reading this column, I’m sure you have; I talked about the first volume of the re-release of this masterpiece around a year ago. Since this will be my last opportunity, I thought it prudent to bump the book from its hibernation in the Deluxe Den to the main list. Spring has sprung, after all.

This manga was my main entry point into the series. Gundam specifically, not just this Gundam. I’m not a big Giant Robot fan, even though I love a good space opera, so I’ve never felt much of a desire to watch the original, more episodic series where the intent or subsequent critical analysis doesn’t always match the output. “The Origin” scratched the itch of seeing what all the hype was about as well as getting a more focused, dramatic, and consistent story. Is that heretical to say? I sure hope not.

“The Origin” is both adaptation & retelling as well as an exorcism. Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s attempt to take all that he, and presumably the team, wanted to put into the show but couldn’t for whatever reason: budget, time, format, health, network politics or lack of imagination. This is Yasuhiko’s chance to sweep it all away and bring into being the version that existed in their minds and the minds of the children who watched it as it aired (or re-aired.) Rare, how rare it is, this opportunity.

It is incumbent on us, then, to recognize this story, timeless and timely. A story of the unfathomably high price of war and a reminder of who pays it. The deluxe editions may be at an end, but your journey into the Universal Century is just beginning.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Deluxe, Vol. 6
Written and Illustrated by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Original Story by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate
Published by Vertical Comics

The classic Gundam series now in a premium Deluxe Edition hardcover! [Editor’s Note: This is it. Seriously. The rest of the description is, like, quotes about how good it is or a list of what’s in the volume.] 

9. In a Magical Girl Mood

I don’t know why but I’ve been in the mood for more magical girl manga. Wouldn’t you know it, here comes one now! I like the contrasting designs of the cover and the promise of mismatched visuals-to-personality. Seems like a fluffy time and I could go for a bit of cotton candy right now.

Magical Girl Dandelion, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Kaeru Mizuho
Published by Viz Media

Tanpopo Ohanami's quiet days are interrupted by a life-changing offer to become a magical girl! But she has one big, bad, serrated-toothed secret: Her best friend, Shade, is a fiend in a world where fiends are villains to humankind.

Tanpopo's battle with Alice, the fiend within the realm of mirrors, comes to a close, but a chilling new enemy emerges from the mist...

8. Books! Books! Books!

I’m shocked it took this long to get “Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-San” in English! The anime was a certified hit when it aired back in turns to dust 2018. Or at least it was with my friends. As with any gag manga, it’ll probably wear thin by the end of this omnibus. I don’t care. The guy’s a skeleton! His jaw clicks and clacks! He knows one English word and I remember that joke killing!

…am I just a cat entertained by jangling keys and a laser pointer…I’m going to have to think about this.

Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-San: The Complete Omnibus
Written and Illustrated by Honda
Lettered by Bianca Pistillo
Translated by Amanda Haley
Published by Yen Press

Ever wonder what it's like to sell comics at a Japanese bookstore? Honda provides a hilarious firsthand account from the front lines! Whether it's handling the store, out-of-print books, or enthusiastic manga fans, Honda takes on every challenge. And now, all the observations and shenanigans have been collected into one complete volume!

7. Killer Thriller

The horrors of dating, this time on the apps! I’m being flippant but it’s a great place to start a modern thriller. How well do you know the man on the other side of the app? What secrets does he hold? It’s a classic set up! Now all that matters is if they can land the execution.

Whoever You Are, I Love You, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Keiku Hagiwara
Published by Vertical Comics

Evil lurks beneath the most beautiful surfaces...

Unmarried at 32, temp worker Yuki Sato is determined to find a husband for the sake of her ailing father, who wants nothing more than to see his beloved daughter in a wedding dress before he dies. Enter Yoji, the perfect man she meets on a dating app. Now Yuki is finally ready to settle down--until the beguiling Shun confronts her with the details of his brother's mysterious death, and she discovers that her fiancé may not be who he seems--!

A world of digital deceit gives way to very real danger in this tense romantic thriller.

6. What’re You Looking At?

Ah the delinquent manga. A genre I…basically missed the heyday of by decades. Still, I’ve lived it vicariously through “Yu Yu Hakusho,” “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable” among others and now I can add another modern twist on it: the yuri romance! It remains to be seen if this can be anything but a one-note series, or if it's a serious romance versus a comedy romance. I’m excited to see, though. Plus, look at the linework on those characters. A throw-back and a half!

The Delinquent and the Transfer Student, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Fujichika
Published by Seven Seas

A tough, no-nonsense delinquent and a sweet transfer student find a way to grow closer with a silly game in this sweet yuri/Girls' Love romance!

Kanzaki Riri, the new girl in class, has a peculiar pastime--she wants the school's toughest delinquent, Atsuko, to say ridiculously cute things. Atsuko plays along, thinking Riri's just a harmless weirdo... until those silly little word lists start making her cheeks turn red. With each sweet phrase, the gap between them closes--and it's not just Atsuko who's getting flustered. Is this just a quirky game between opposites...or the beginning of something real?

5. Pandemic Literature

I don’t know about you but I still have trouble reading anything set during the early days of the COVID pandemic. It sends me back to that time and all I can think is how much of a rupture in the world it was. How we’ve never truly…reckoned with that time, not as a society at large. We’ve preferred to hide it away in the recesses of our minds.

All this is to say, I will struggle with this work for that reason but am happy to see Gengoroh Tagame return with a new literary romance. If it’s written with the same care and warmth as his previous works, I’m probably going to be a weepy mess by the end of it.

Fish and Water
Written and Illustrated by Gengoroh Tagame
Translated by Anne Ishii
Published by Pantheon Books

From Gengoroh Tagame, the brilliant mind behind My Brother's Husband and Our Colors, comes Fish and Water, which follows the unlikely love story of two "straight" friends. Having met at a mutual friend's wedding, Akira, a business sales administrator, and Koji, a freelance writer, quickly become close buddies. One day, during a visit with a farm client, Akira is offered a case of freshly picked cabbage. Since no one at his office wants it, and he is no cook, Akira decides to see if Koji (who loves to cook) might be interested. Koji accepts and invites Akira to join him. Lonely and in the midst of pandemic-related shutdowns, Akira welcomes the chance and one meal becomes many. Once they get past how to be COVID-cautious, they become quite relaxed with each other, creating an amusing but emotionally perplexing scenario. Eventually, Akira and Koji grapple with deciding if they are just friends, or something more. 

4. Problematic Favs!

I love “Mars.” Back when I had ComiXology Unlimited, I got access when Kodansha made the whole series available. I think it hit me at just the right time in my life, open as I was to having my heart torn from my chest, enamored with the tragic and the romantic.

It’s captivating, watching these flawed, damaged characters find love in each other’s arms and navigate a (by all accounts) unhealthy relationship. It’s not a clean series and that’s what I appreciate about it. I like when a shojo series has an edge to it, a little bit of darkness. It makes it feel more…real? These feel like teenagers to me. Messy. Full of big emotions. Ready to make all the wrong decisions in the name of love.

Mars 30th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Fuyumi Soryo
Published by Kodansha Comics

>Kira's life has been marked by pain. Gang violence took her father when she was young, and her mother's remarriage only inflicted even more appalling scars. She has no trust left to offer the world, so when a ravishingly handsome boy asks her for directions one day, she draws a map and hands it to him without a word. On the other side of the map is one of her drawings, which catches the eye of the boy, a motorcyclist named Rei. When the two end up in the same class, an outrageous incident will bind them together--Rei promising to model for Kira, in exchange for more of her art. But Rei has also suffered a family tragedy that has worn down his temper to a short, flashing fuse. Can these two damaged souls with nowhere else to turn heal each other, or will they burn themselves out first?

Upon its release in English in 2002, MARS quickly became one of the best-selling shojo manga of all time, on par with Nana. But this beloved classic has been out of print for decades--until now. Kodansha is bringing MARS back for its 30th anniversary with an all-new translation in collectible, 2-in-1 hardcovers featuring glittering metallic covers and new cover illustrations from creator Fuyumi Soryo. 

3. A Soft Style for a Hard Topic

I like how unassuming “Cocoon’s” cover is. At first, it seems pastoral. Like this going to be a quiet book. But her face? It’s not calm - it’s shocked. Not in an exaggerated, horror comic kind of way but in that numbing, medical way.

Then you see the flower in her hands and…what’s that the stem is pointing at? Is that…blood? Yes. It’s blood, all along her pants. Fresh violence coats her and now you realize the red of her shirt isn’t simply a shadowed, stylized color. It is a faded red, as if this shirt has been washed over and over again.

But the stain remains.

Cocoon
Written and Illustrated by Machiko Kyo
Published by Viz Media

A heart-wrenching chronicle of loss and resilience based on the true story of the Himeyuri corps of student nurses in WWII.

San and her best friend Mayu attend a boarding school for girls on Japan's Southern Island, but their studies are interrupted when they and the other students are recruited to help the war effort as assistant nurses. Sent to the front lines, the girls must deal with more than just the threat of enemy bombs overhead. Stuck working in the horrifying caves of a field hospital, San wishes she could wrap herself and her friends in a cocoon of protection. But invisible threads of affection are no match for the carnage that surrounds them, and more students perish day by day. Worn down by starvation and loss, what will San and her remaining friends do when they are told to find their way home through the fields of war?

2. Stylish Gyo

Truly, this volume is on the list for two reasons: a sick, slick visual style, a killer title, and a bonkers ass premise. OK. Three reasons.

I mean…what do I even say about it that isn’t expressed through that cover? I’m so excited.

Fishgod, Volume 1
Written and Illustrated by Chlona
Published by Manga Mavericks Books

The world is infested by Kaigyo: fish that walk on land, eat concrete, and destroy buildings.

Their typical behavior is bizarre enough, but ten years ago, Jaytle Nish witnessed these pests become murderers while under the command of a mystery person clad in black, and eat his parents whole. He takes on a job exterminating the fish while looking for leads, but instead finds a strange woman eating poisonous kaigyo flesh.

From deadly fish to mysterious cultists, the odd duo will take on it all in this pop art-inspired revenge action series! 

1. Billy! Bat!

New Naoki Urasawa! This is not a drill! I repeat! This is not a drill!

I don’t know what dark wizardry Kana has been working to bring some of these classic manga into print. All I know is “Billy Bat” is coming stateside and I, along with a host of others, are hotly anticipating its release. Do I wish it were in the “Perfect Edition” style? Sure but I’m cool with this. 

Now if they could get “Pineapple Army” and “Yawara!,” I’d be a very happy man.

Billy Bat, Volume 1
Written by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki
Illustrated by Naoki Urasawa
Translated by Kristi Iwashiro
Published by Kana

The story begins in 1949 Los Angeles. Kevin Yamagata, a Japanese American cartoonist, has built his career on Billy Bat, a sharp, wisecracking detective beloved by readers. But everything shifts when Kevin realizes he may have unknowingly copied the character from an image he once saw in Japan.

Determined to find the truth, Kevin returns to a devastated, postwar Japan. What he uncovers goes far beyond questions of inspiration or theft. The image of the bat is ancient, surfacing again and again across history, tied to moments of upheaval, power, and violence.

As Kevin follows the trail, he is drawn into a far-reaching mystery that blurs fiction and reality, where a single drawing may hold the key to forces shaping human history.

Mangaversity: May 2026

The cat content in this column may exceed your daily allowance. Consult your cat if Mangaversity is right for you.

House of Ideas, Powers of SecretsElias Rosner

Mangaversity - House of Ideas, Powers of Secrets

House of Ideas, Powers of SecretsElias Rosner