Mangaversity: October 2025
Autumn leaves fall upon the CITY. Summer is over. Now is the time of the pumpkins.
Welcome one, welcome all, to Mangaversity! This is my attempt to continue my contribution to the Soliciting Multiversity column while messing with the format to make it my own. Special thanks again to Zack Davisson for pointing out this should’ve been my choice for the title from the get go.
Did you hear? Did you hear? Crunchyroll is rolling out its manga service again. This time it'll cost you extra but it has a far wider variety of licenses from the likes of Viz, Kodansha, and the rest. Turns out that Sony money is good for something. Just not allowing a union or running a competitive and competeent e-store or keeping the Nozomi Entertainment staff around to finish out their kickstarters properly, I guess.
Manga! That's what you're here for, not griping.
What a bounteous month this October is. It truly is harvest season as a number of titles come to an end. Some I haven’t read in a while, others I’m awaiting with baited breath. I decided to be a bit more brutal in what I chose to highlight, rather than the usual “everything under the sun and then some.” It’s still a lot, mind you. I just can’t help myself.
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.)
Chainsaw Man, Vol. 19
Written and Illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Published by Viz
This is where things really start to ramp back up. I’m curious to see if this volume fixes the supposed error from the original serialization.
With the disappearance of Nayuta, Denji finds himself in the grasp of a deep depression so he decides to eat away the pain, but at a sushi restaurant, Denji will be confronted by an unimaginable tragedy.
The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 21
Written and Illustrated by Kore Yamazaki
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment Llc
The wait between volumes is interminable. I need to know what’s next now that we’re in a new arc!
The Church Coalition, with the aid of the Seven Shields (the great houses of alchemy), begin investigating the rumors of a red dragon, and it is then that the children of House St. George, the Monster Hunters, happen upon a small, frightened creature
Classmates, Vol. 7: Home
Written and Illustrated by Asumiko Nakamura
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment Llc
“Classmates” is one of those series you forget about until a new volume drops and then you wonder how you could ever forget it. Nakamura’s style is flowy and elegant and her characters are just the right amount of difficult so as to be perpetual drama machines without feeling overblown. I wonder if this will truly be the last volume or if we’ll get another in five years.
The long-awaited new volume of the beloved Boys' Love franchise! Continue the ever-growing love story of Kusakabe and Sajo in this latest installation.
Kusakabe and Sajo have gone from being classmates to boyfriends to getting married. And now that they’re living together, they’re still learning new things about each other and what it means to love another person. A collection of short stories featuring the cast of the modern boys love classic, Classmates!
Moan: Junji Ito Story Collection
Written and Illustrated by Junji Ito
Published by Viz
Junji Ito is such a staple, do I even need to hype him up?
Obsession and persistence warp reality in this collection of macabre stories set in Junji Ito’s bloodcurdling world.
A dark evil lurks in the unreachable depths of a pipe, groaning out moans that echo through the house of a germophobe mother and her daughters. In another tale, flowers blooming in the shape of eyeballs are only the beginning of the strange phenomena surrounding a mysterious transfer student. Could he have supernatural abilities? Also, a man in a village deep in the mountains shares memories of his wife. What happened to her after she said she would give freely of her blood?
Legendary horror author Junji Ito presents six stories that will make your blood run cold!
Deluxe Den:
Every so often, there’s a new deluxe edition of a beloved manga that I think is worth shouting out but not at the expense of another item on the list. Usually this is the case for interstitial volumes, like the ones this month.
Ajin: Demi-human, Complete Vol. 5
Written and Illustrated by Gamon Sakurai
Published by Vertical Inc
The action truly never relents in this series. Fun fact: I originally read every chapter for this series on Crunchyroll's original, mostly decent but very quickly abandoned manga app. It's where I read "Space Brothers" (rip me keeping up with that amazing series) too.
BYE-BYE, PREMIER!
Taking over Japan is exactly what Sato threatens… How do you neutralize a master tactician who literally won’t die? His opposite number in cold calculating genius, our boy anti-hero, thinks he has a plan. It involves a squad of elite soldiers, a hole dug in the ground, and just a tiny window of time.
The breathless nightmare trip Ajin: Demi-Human, finally available in omnibus format. A thriller that just keeps on getting better and deeper.
Akira Hardcover, Vol. 3
Written and Illustrated by Katushiro Otomo
Published by Kodansha Comics
Third verse, same as the first.
In the 21st century, the glittering Neo-Tokyo has risen from the rubble of a Tokyo destroyed by an apocalyptic telekinetic blast from a young boy called Akira—the subject of a covert government experiment gone wrong now imprisoned for three decades in frozen stasis. But Tetsuo, an unstable youth with immense paranormal abilities of his own, has done the unthinkable: He has released Akira and set into motion a chain of events that could once again destroy the city and drag the world to the brink of Armageddon. Resistance agents and an armada of government forces race against the clock to find the child with godlike powers before his unstoppable destructive abilities are unleashed.
Red River: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 5
Written and Illustrated by Chie Shinohara
Published by Viz
Things are heating up as Yuri struggles with her feelings for the prince and her desire to go home. It’s such good romantic tension! Catnip for genre fans.
Yuri, a modern teenager, is transported to ancient Anatolia as part of a scheme by the evil Nakia, queen of the Hittites. Only the intervention of Nakia’s stepson, Prince Kail, saves Yuri from the queen’s bloodthirsty intentions. As an unintended consequence of the prince’s actions, the people of Anatolia embrace Yuri as the incarnation of the great war goddess Ishtar.
Yuri and Kail continue to face the challenge of finding a way to protect their people without further bloodshed. At the same time, Nakia is trying to sabotage the only method that Yuri can use to ever return home.
Mobile Suit Gundam: the Origin Deluxe, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by
Published by Vertical
There will only be six of these and they are fucking massive. Gundam has never looked so good.
The storied Gundam franchise’s “First Season” that set new standards of verisimilitude for televised sci-fi animation returns in comics form at the hand of one of the initial creators! The definitive account expands on the classic narrative with the same sense of purpose that lit up the screen more than four decades ago.
This new edition collects the original bestselling twelve-installment English release into six oversized volumes. All of the many color pages—unusually numerous for Japanese comics—have been retained…only at a larger size. The master’s artwork has never looked so grand!
Nana: 25th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Ai Yazawa
Published by Viz
I’ve always thought I should get into “Nana” but volume one never grabbed me enough. Normally that’s not a problem. However, the series has been on hiatus since, like, 2008 and I have very little faith that Yazawa is gonna come back to finish it. Once something sits so long, it’s nearly impossible to return without an act of god. Then again, it’s possible Yazawa has the goods to do it.
A chance meeting on a train to Tokyo sends two girls named Nana on a collision course with destiny!
After a string of epic romantic failures, Nana Komatsu is ready to take control of her life and get a clean start in the big city. After prioritizing her musical ambitions over love, Nana Osaki is ready to stomp her way to the top of Tokyo’s punk scene. With determination in their hearts and dreams in their eyes, these two women are ready to take the world by storm! But first, they need a place to live. Roommates, anyone?
Anxious to get into a Tokyo groove, both women are on the prowl for a funky and cheap place to live. But inexpensive apartments in Japan’s capital city are hard to find. Thank goodness each Nana has a clique of cool friends willing to help out. Too bad these friends are a little eccentric!
Caught My Eye:
A very scattershot list this time around, as they usually are. I’m trying out having short, capsule comments on most of the volumes. Let me know if you like them.
- Astro Royale, Vol. 2
- Cover looked cool, though it ending at 7ish volumes doesn’t bode well.
- Before You Go Extinct
- The penguin got me. The “through the eyes of occasionally psychopathic species before they go extinct” feels too real though.
- Cupid Is Struck by Lightning, Vol. 1
- I’ve always wondered what Izaya Orihara would do if he were in a BL story and not a complete chaos gremlin.
- Hope You're Happy, Lemon 1
- I’m a fan of the art style but I’m always hesitant around body-swap stories.
- My Dress-up Darling, Vol. 14
- Did I forget that the series is 18+ in the manga? Ayup!
- Nezumi's First Love 1
- As a fan of Cassandra Cain, I’m intrigued by the premise of yakuza romance.
- Real, Vol. 16
- I’ll be real. I haven’t read any of Inoue’s work, but this is the first volume in a while…
- The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 6
- I promise I’ll catch up!
- To Your Eternity, Vol. 23
- The future arc is very good. It’s just also kinda slow going. I think it’ll work better once it’s all out.
- Vampeerz, Vol. 6
- Oh my god they’re peers. Vampire peers.
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 list worthy - but have a certain je ne sais quoi that are absolutely worth pointing out and gawking at. Or, more often it seems, the erotica that makes milk shoot out of my nose when I read its descriptions.
- Betrayed by the Hero, I Formed a Milf Party With His Mom!, Vol. 3
- Folks. We’ve found it. We’ve found the most honest iseaki out there. No more cardboard cut-out shadow-plays. No photo this time either.
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The List:
11. I’m Really Worried for Her
Nagata Kabi is a wonderful memoirist who’s been unflinchingly open about her life, her struggles, and thoughts for around a decade now. It’s full of the ups and downs (and downs and downs) she’s been experiencing. They’re hard reads, folks, and I expect this one to be no different.
With each subsequent volume, however, there’s a nagging voice in the back of my head wondering if we should be getting this kind of real-ish time access, wondering if I can handle knowing that when the volume is over, that’s where she is more or less now. It is valuable, in that it is far less pat than a traditional memoir, showing false starts and stops, relapse and recovery, and the gordian knot that is life on this bitch of an Earth. It is truer in that way.
Yet there is an element of voyeurism that makes me uncomfortable. I can’t help but wonder if her success as a diarist of these difficult, personal subjects isn’t, I dunno, feeding back in on itself? Like she feels she has to turn more and more of herself out into the light in rawer and rawer pieces? Like we’re doing her harm by reading the books and watching her talk about her drinking, her eating disorder, her loneliness?
Should we be reading this, encouraging this? Should Kabi’s life (or any life) be packaged and sold in bite-size chunks? I guess it’s the question of all influencers, particularly those for whom their life is their content. Or is the value of an artist being so open in that openness, in that unflinching reality, confronting us with the raw humanity of this person, asking us to consider them, consider ourselves, consider our society?
I don’t really know.
My Twisted Eating Disorder
Written and Illustrated by Nagata Kabi
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
The autobiographical manga from the Harvey Award-winning creator of My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness—finally available in print!
In her latest diary comic, Harvey award-winning artist Nagata Kabi explores her complex, often destructive relationship with food and alcohol. From the extremes of bulimia and binge shopping to fasting and obsessive food preparation, Kabi lays bare her struggles with brutal honesty and profound vulnerability. This deeply personal journey offers a poignant, unvarnished look at the emotional turmoil surrounding disordered eating, and will resonate with anyone who has battled food, self-image, or life's darker moments.
10. From Heavy to Fluffy
Sometimes, you just need something simple and cute to get through the day or to provide a transition.
Fairy Cat, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Hisa Takano
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
THE CAT'S OUT OF THE BAG
Kanade is settling into life with his new roommate, a palm-sized cat named Fluffy. But what will happen when his family discovers the elusive, endearing creature?
9. It was only a sniff. It was only a sniff.
Nagabe living up to their reputation and making another furry one volume work. I still haven’t gotten the chance to read “Eat.” Think their next one will be called “Look?”
Smell
Written and Illustrated by Nagabe
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
It started with a sniff—and turned into something neither of them saw coming.
At a school for beastmen, two students have an awkward encounter that sparks an unexpected connection. Joseph, a cheerful border collie, catches the quiet, skittish bloodhound Noy secretly sniffing his shirt between classes. But instead of being weirded out, Joseph responds with warmth and kindness, slowly earning Noy’s trust. As it turns out, Noy is completely captivated by Joseph’s scent.
Their strange little moment lingers, and something begins to shift between them. Is it just curiosity? A fleeting crush? Or could this be the start of something more?
8. Blade Running Idols
Host clubs have captured my mind ever since I saw Ouran High School Host Club many years ago. That I like dark takes on genres that seem to have something to say about their subjects - this time fame and jealousy - and it’s safe to say “Shoot Juliet Down” has my attention. It’s also probable that things are going to get “Two households, both alike in dignity” soon.
Shoot Juliet Down, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Komachi Katsura
Published by Vertical Inc
Love is a brutal battle between vanity and yearning.
Amidst the dark glamor of host club Velvet Kiss, Juri—also called Juliet—commands a vice-like grip on the number one position. Impressed by this poker-faced beauty’s supreme reign, newbie and number-two host Akatsuki decides he must learn Juliet’s secrets—and shoot him down from the top of the pack. But Akatsuki’s first up-close taste of Juliet’s intoxicating charm leaves him craving more than he’d expected. And as he may soon learn, some secrets are better left in their bottles, and the bullet that shoots through one heart might take out more than it bargained for…
7. A Flammable Life
Rintaro is a fascinating character that I want to learn more about. Coming from the animation world, he’s been around since basically the start so I’m sure he has some tales to tell. It’s likely this is less tell-all and more tell-some. Even still, manga auto-biographies like these are so few and far between that I’m willing to accept it even if it is light on salacious details.
My Life in 24 Frames Per Second
Written and Illustrated by Rintaro
Translated by Montana Kane
Published by Kana
An autobiography in manga form from legendary anime director Rintarô. Fully illustrated and with a foreword by director Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of Akira, this inspiring memoir is the unique journey of an animation trailblazer.
Grand Prize Winner of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize!
Born in 1941 in Tokyo, Rintaro joined the Japanese animated film company Toei Animation in 1958 at the young age of 17. Even in his humble beginnings, when he was involved in putting the finishing touches on the animated film Legend of the White Serpent, Rintaro made unfathomable waves for anime as we know it, with Hayao Miyazaki citing it as a core inspiration in becoming an animator and director rather than a manga artist.
In 1960, Rintaro transferred to Mushi Production, an animation studio established and overseen by the “god of manga” Osamu Tezuka himself. He made his directorial debut with the TV anime Astro Boy (1963–66) and served as the chief director for the first-ever full-color TV anime in Japan, Kimba the White Lion, which aired from 1965 and made peerless contributions to the development of technical Japanese anime culture during its early years.
Rintaro returned to Toei in 1977 and began work on Jetter Mars. In 1978, his directorial work on Space Pirate Captain Harlock caught the attention of the then-president of Toei Animation, leading to his appointment as the director of the theatrical version of Galaxy Express 999. Released in 1979, this film became a record-breaking hit.
After being chosen by Haruki Kadokawa to direct Genma Wars in 1983, Rintaro shifted their main activities to studio Madhouse, directing major films such as The Dagger of Kamui, Yona Yona Penguin, and the critically acclaimed Metropolis.
A unique journey that will take us from postwar Japan to the release of the film Metropolis in 2001, My Life in 24 Frames per Second is a journey filled with encounters, opportunities, endless nights, jazz, cigarettes, but above all, cinema. Follow Rintaro’s memoir as key milestones in the history of Japanese animation are unearthed in insightful clarity.
6. Scheduling Apocalypse Denpa
It has been a long half-decade in the making but the finale to “Kaiji’s” first part - the only part Denpa has the license to right now - is almost finished. If you’ve been waiting, now’s the time to get reading and find out how Kaiji’s going to get out of his no good, very bad, more and more realistic-by-the-day, capitalist critique.
Kaiji: Gambling Apocalypse, Vol. 6
Written and Illustrated by Noboyuki Fukumoto
Published by Denpa
In the final volume of the legendary gambling manga that inspired SQUID GAME, Kaiji has turned the tables on gamemaster Tonegawa, but this last game will not just put his life on the line the Teai Group is willing to sacrifice their middle manager, as well!
5. Buff Sisters Bluffing
I know it’s shallow to say that I’m only excited for this because it’s “from the creator of The Apothecary Diaries.” I know. It doesn’t make it any less true. Natsu Hyuuga is out here making classic detective stories and historical fiction that puts most “mystery box” shows and isekai to shame. Now we’re getting that but nun based and gambling focused? It’s like this series was written for me. Join me in the renaissance (but not that renaissance.)
You Can't Bluff the Sharp-eyed Sister, Vol. 1
Written by Natsu Hyuuga
Illustrated by Yo Asami
Published by Kodansha Comics
A shrewd, young priestess-in-training is set a murder to solve in this new mystery manga from the creator of The Apothecary Diaries! By day, Chloe lives at a convent. By night, she's such a card shark, a holy knight ends up believing she has a rare, magical gift. What he doesn't know is, she just has sharp eyes and a quick wit--which she'll need when she's uprooted and dropped in the middle of a round of deadly palace intrigue!
In a sleepy countryside church, Chloe plays the part of a prim and naïve novice, studying to become a cleric. But when night falls, she sneaks out in disguise to win big money at cards! Despite her best efforts, word gets around, and one day a handsome young holy knight named Erald—known as a rising star in the capital—arrives to enlist her help. A murder two years ago threatens the stability of the kingdom, and Erald thinks this card shark in sister’s clothes can solve it using her charism—the rare blessing that allows someone to use magic. Little does Heraldo know, there’s nothing supernatural about Chloe’s winning streak. She’s just got a quick wit, and sharp eyes! Will that be enough to survive the den of devils that is the great church?
4. Didn’t Have This On My 2025 Bingo Card
Many years ago, Super Eyepatch Wolf did a video about “Baki the Grappler” and its legendary status in Japan. As is, sadly, well-established, sports manga just don’t do well here so its many, many, many volumes never crossed the sea outside of some digital releases by Media Do; I’m looking at “Ashita no Joe” rot on our manga shelf and it kills me.
Well, that’s about to change because “Baki’s” getting a print release! Move over boxing. Get outta the way basketball. It’s time to grapple with the best of em: Paru Itagaki’s father. I mean….Baki.
Baki the Grappler, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki
Published by Kodama
The martial arts world is shaken to its core by an enigmatic young fighter. Keisuke Itagaki’s genre-defining fighting manga is finally being released in English with a new Perfect Edition! Featuring professional translations and lettering approved by the original Japanese publisher, as well as a premium slip cover and all of the full-color insert pages that were featured in the manga’s original serialization, the Baki the Grappler Perfect Edition is the definitive way to experience the martial arts saga that has sold over 100-million copies worldwide! The first print run of this volume will feature an exclusive foil-stamped cover, only available while supplies last!
A seventeen-year-old boy with a white belt enters a karate tournament and shakes the foundations of Japan’s martial arts scene. As he effortlessly defeats his opponents, the world’s top fighters are left to ask: just who is this bizarrely strong young man, and what is he trying to achieve? Available officially for the first time in English, experience Keisuke Itagaki’s best-selling and highly influential BAKI saga from the start!
3. Fare Thee Well
“My Hero Academia” was my big shonen series. While I technically grew up with The Big Three (“Naruto,” “Bleach,” “One Piece,”) I was never that into them and kinda missed the boat with my anime fandom. By the time I was really getting into it, after boning up on some then modern classics, two of those three were long done and off the air and the other was so long I decided to wait it out (insert the sound of my bones bleaching with the heat death of the universe.)
“My Hero,” however, aired its first episode exactly as I was easing into the season grind in April 2016. It grabbed me. I must’ve watched that first episode four or five times before the season was even over. When it was, I knew I had to know what was coming next.
I don’t know what it was that got me. I’m not usually big into battle shonen, even if I enjoy reading and watching it. Maybe it was because it featured a lot of superhero nonsense. Maybe it was the sheer imagination of and breadth of character designs from Horikoshi. Whatever it was, I was hooked and I remained for quite a while after.
I was hyped when I heard Viz was going to speed up volume releases to catch up with the Japanese release like Kodansha does (egg on my face. It never happened.) I eventually fell off when I got busy with grad school and my reading plummeted, though I kept up in chunks whenever I had the time. Never wanted to do the digital chapters. It only felt right to finish in print.
I’m three volumes behind now (four when this releases) and…I’m nervous. Not that it may not stick the landing, not that I won’t like it, but that I won’t be sad when it’s over. I’ve been reading “My Hero” for a long time now. It lasted 42 volumes, putting it in the upper echelons of Shonen Jump successes, and by all accounts it went out on its own terms, with no “you gotta do another saga” nonsense.
Whatever my thoughts on the series as it went - too little Ochako, too much “dark Deku” - they’re irrelevant in the face of the ending. When I read those final pages, my critical thoughts won’t matter. Just my feelings and the recognition that a chapter of my life is well and truly over. All I have left to say is...
Plus ultra!
My Hero Academia, Vol. 42
Written and Illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi
Published by Viz
Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world's greatest hero, in the final volume of the best-selling series.
2. The Mystery Concludes…?
I was convinced, convinced, this was the final volume. Joke’s on me because not only is there at least one more volume, the serialization isn’t even done yet. See, anime industry? Sometimes longer is better! (I’m not bitter about the truncated, speed-run adaptation that aired recently. Not one bit.)
Also, that cover?! Holy crap.
Kowloon Generic Romance, Vol. 10
Written and Illustrated by Jun Mayuzuki
Translated by Amanda Haley
Lettered by Abigail Blackman
Published by Yen Press
A fragment of a memory shows the “abnormal” that colors the everyday “normal.” Will this reveal the truth about Kowloon, and how Kujirai B’s identical appearance to Reiko goes beyond mere resemblance? To face the future, one must learn the past, no matter how painful it might be...
1. And a Comedy Returns.
Arawi is a comedy legend and you do yourselves a disservice not reading his work. That “City” doesn’t fly off the library shelves, that it isn’t the most talked about anime this season, is a travesty. Among this dearth of taste rises one savior: a new volume of a series long thought ended. Go! Go and read and then watch the amazing OP for the anime and the gloriously wacky official music video.
Then go watch Kyo-ani’s City The Animation flex on the entire anime industry with the power of salaried, full-time, and fully en-benefitted animators on, ugh, Amazon Prime.
Nichijou, Vol. 12
Written and Illustrated by Keiichi Arawi
Published by Vertical Inc
An unexpected return of nichijou!
The quirky gang is back! For the die-hard nichjou fans or even those picking it up for the first time, this cute and outrageous gag comedy series is definelty going to have you bust a gut!
never-changing normalcy
an increasingly ludicrous game of charades. a potentially explosive situation. a tasty new way to get to check-mate. citrus juice can be weaponized. sneaking into the school brings out surprisingly unscary monsters. just 5 more seconds of sleep...
Elias Rosner
Elias Rosner
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