kodansha sdcc

Kodansha’s SDCC Manga Announcements

Manga publisher Kodansha was ready for SDCC with a list of new manga licenses readers can expect in the next year. The list was divided between digital and physical announcements; the digital ones coming a lot quicker (due to the nature of how they work). Most of the physical books revealed over the weekend will not be available until next spring, with the exception of one…

The Sailor Moon Naoko Takeuchi Collection Manga Box Set, which contains volumes 1 through 6 of the main series, will be available this holiday season. An exclusive set of 16 art cards will also be housed within this holographic box featuring a premium magnetic enclosure. They’re still finalizing what the box will look like, but you can see above what they’re thinking about.

The physical titles announced for 2025 include GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis, a twist on the traditional kaiju rampage story where a young woman named Miyako proposes finding a scientific solution to the threat instead of just shooting at it. But she’ll have to figure one out first. Other planned releases for next year: Tune In to the Midnight Heart, Roar: A Star in the Abyss and Issak.

Kodansha’s full list of SDCC announcements has been posted below.

SPRING 2025 NEW PRINT LICENSES:

GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis
By KENT

A gigantic monster devastates a small, seaside town. Ten years later, the resilient community has emerged as a tourist destination, when the monster, known as GAEA-TIMA, returns. Miyako, a local hero and survivor of the first attack, pushes to find a scientific solution to the problem of the giant creatures known as “gigantis.” But is humanity capable of responding to violence with anything except more violence?

This captivating new sci-fi manga from the creator of the hit series Colorless is a poignant adventure that puts a modern twist on the kaiju genre’s environmental and anti-war roots. Fans of Godzilla Minus One and Kaiju No. 8 shouldn’t miss GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis!

Rated: 13+

Tune In to the Midnight Heart
By Masakuni Igarashi

At the end of a difficult day, the haughty but purehearted rich kid Arisu found his only solace in the voice of another girl his age, who hosted a livestream under the pseudonym “Apollo.” Then, one day, the broadcasts stopped. Arisu has dedicated the years since then to finding Apollo’s true identity, and he’s narrowed it down to one particular high school. He transfers in as a student and figures it’ll be a cinch, but then discovers it could be any of the girls in the broadcasting club! And the real Apollo isn’t talking for reasons of her own! These four girls have no use for Arisu’s personality, but they each harbor dreams of using their voices to build a career, and they sure could use his money… Can the blunt and blustering Arisu buy his way into the club’s good graces, and find the real girl attached to his dream voice?

Rated: 16+

Shout Loud, My Heart
By Rayri Youga

College student Gen, a guitarist for the rock band Eve, meets a man named Mike while playing at one of his gigs. Mike’s the kind of person who has no trouble saying what’s on his mind, and Gen soon finds himself captivated by the smooth talker’s voice. The next day, the two meet again when they realize they go to the same college. Be it on stage or just during casual conversation, Gen finds himself more and more captivated by Mike’s voice, and the more time the two spend together, the more Gen realizes it’s more than just Mike’s voice he’s attracted to…

A sexy, new BL one-shot manga that will seduce you with its sultry tones!

Rated: 18+

Roar: A Star in the Abyss
By Ai Okaue

“Who is the villain of your story…?” 

Misato had a perfect childhood, with parents who loved her and a home on an idyllic island in Japan’s inland sea. But then a TV show starts shooting in town. Misato’s cast as an extra, and in an instant, her life is turned on its head. A woman appears claiming to be her real mother, and before she knows it Misato is living in a lavish mansion surrounded by greedy schemers of all stripes. The curtain rises on the story of a rising star who plunges into an abyss, where the only sustenance is vengeance!

The new revenge thriller manga from the creator of the hit manga and TV drama Guilty!

Rated: 16+

Issak
Story by Shinji Makari, Art by DOUBLE-S

The digital hit, fresh off its American Manga Awards nomination, comes to print in 2-in-1 omnibuses! 

The year is A.D. 1620. Europe is riven with the conflagrations that will grow into the Thirty Years War. Catholic and Protestant forces clash across battlefields ruled by sword and gunpowder alike, and mercenaries of every stripe ply their trade. Among them is Issak, a lone Japanese warrior wielding a matchlock gun of strange design, on a sworn mission to find and kill the man who murdered his master and fled Japan for the other side of the world.

Meticulously researched and gorgeously illustrated, Issak is the next historical action epic manga that fans of Vinland Saga, Shogun, and Blade of the Immortal have been waiting for!

Rated: 16+

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT HOLIDAY 2024:

Sailor Moon Naoko Takeuchi Collection Manga Box Set 1
By Naoko Takeuchi

The Sailor Guardians awaken in this box set edition of the everlasting masterpiece!

Includes:

  • Volumes 1–6 of the Naoko Takeuchi Collection edition of the Sailor Moon manga
  • An exclusive set of 16 art cards
  • A beautiful holographic box featuring a premium magnetic enclosure

Rated: 13+

AUGUST 2024 NEW DIGITAL LICENSE:

That Beauty Is a Tramp
By Hal Osaka

Debut Date: August 13, 2024

Cool and tomboyish Nagi wants a boyfriend, but has one big problem, ever since an incident in college, her body reflexively rejects the touch of any man. That is, until she encounters the beautiful male model Aran, who uses his androgynous look to effortlessly model both masculine and feminine styles. She’s shocked to discover that she can touch him without having a reaction, and when he asks her to join him in an upcoming photo shoot with a famous photographer, she agrees, on one condition, be her practice boyfriend for one month, and help her conquer her aversion once and for all. By the author of Such a Treacherous Piano Sonata!

Rated: 16+

 

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Avatar of LisaCannot
LisaCannot

Member

518 messages 7 likes

"I'm beyond thrilled about the Sailor Moon Naoko Takeuchi Collection Manga Box Set! Sailor Moon was a huge part of my childhood, and this set looks amazing with the holographic box and the art cards. It's definitely going on my holiday wish list.I just wish she will start writing again
. I also can't wait to dive into GAEA-TIMA the Gigantis. The idea of a kaiju story that emphasizes scientific solutions over violence is refreshing. Plus, the environmental and anti-war themes resonate with me deeply. ."

Reply Like

Avatar of King Bam
King Bam

Tower Climber

117 messages 5 likes

Kodansha's lineup for SDCC is quite intriguing. I'm particularly interested in Tune In to the Midnight Heart. The premise of Arisu trying to find Apollo among the girls in the broadcasting club sounds like it could delve into some compelling social dynamics and character development. However, I'm a bit skeptical about Shout Loud, My Heart. While I'm all for diverse stories, I hope it doesn't fall into cliched BL tropes and instead offers a nuanced portrayal of its characters

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Avatar of Gibril Hassad
Gibril Hassad

Active Member

488 messages 39 likes

That Beauty Is a Tramp sounds like such a fun and unique romance story! Nagiโ€™s struggle with physical touch and her deal with Aran to become her practice boyfriend adds a fresh twist to the romance genre. Itโ€™s refreshing to see a plot that tackles such personal issues. Also, Tune In to the Midnight Heartโ€™s mystery and romance elements combined with high school drama make it a must-read for me. These are definitely going on my digital reading list!

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Avatar of BeKindRewind
BeKindRewind

Active Member

479 messages 54 likes

Issak is at the top of my list from these announcements. The Thirty Years War is a fascinating period, and seeing it through the lens of a Japanese warrior on a mission is a fresh take. The combination of meticulous research and captivating illustrations promises a rich reading experience. I'm eager to see how historical events are woven into the narrative, and it might just become my new favorite manga!

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