Looking at more upcoming releases from May 2024 and beyond that I find interesting, and maybe you will too!
Alright, this is my second article on upcoming releases, and it mostly covers manga expected to be released in the fall and winter of 2024. Spoiler alert, most of the major upcoming releases that I'm looking forward to and think deserve your attention is coming from Seven Seas and and Viz. So, buckle up. Here is the list of manga you'll want to check out in 2024 in no particular order.
Table of Contents
Oh, the Horror!
Good news, horror fans! Horror manga has been on the rise in recent years. Besides more Junji Ito, you can look forward to these three releases.
Her Frankenstein by Kawashima Norikazu (oneshot/complete)
Published by newcomer Living the Line under the Smudge imprint, Her Frankenstein is a single volume psycho-horror classic written by Kawashima Norikazu. The original story was published in 1986 but is now being published for the first time in English. Living the Line is an indie graphic novel publisher that debuted in 2021.
Living the Line describes the story:
Dare to read the psycho-horror classic that horror manga master Ito Junji called a "frightening but moving story about an unfortunate individual who, lost in search of his true self, finds his own annihilation instead."
Little Tetsuo is a wimpy mess. His parents don’t love him. He meets the beautiful Kimiko, an ailing teenage girl obsessed with movies and mayhem in equal amounts. She doesn’t love Tetsuo either, or anyone other than herself. But she needs him. So Tetsuo becomes the man she wants—the monster she wants. He becomes HER FRANKENSTEIN!
You can purchase the single volume of Her Frankenstein on May 28 from Living the Line's store or wherever you like. Learn more about the manga here.
The Strange House by Uketsu (Asukashinshakan) and Kyo Ayano (3+ vols/ongoing)
Based on a novel turned live-action film, The Strange House is a chilling supernatural mystery manga about a house designed to murder people. The manga is presently published in Comic Howl, and there are three volumes out in Japan currently.
Seven Seas gives nothing away in its description of the series:
“I’ve always had a fascination with the occult; you might even call it my specialty. I’ve been brought in as a consultant on many supernatural and strange mysteries. But nothing could have prepared me for this house. It seemed so ordinary at first, except for that one room. It had no doors, no windows, and was tucked away, leaving anyone to think it was just a wall. I knew that there was something more to it. It shouldn’t be there, it shouldn’t exist, and yet… Just what is this house, and what dark secrets does it hold?”
Find out wtf is going on in August 2024.
Hell is Dark with No Flowers by Yoru Michio and Ruka Todo (light novel, 8+ vols/ongoing)
Yen Press is releasing yet another detective-and-his-assistant-solve-cases occult mystery series. Love to see it. Besides Hell is Dark with No Flowers, you can read Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (both light novel and manga) and The Contract Between a Specter and a Servant (light novel only). Anyway, Hell is Dark with No Flowers is an ongoing light novel series about a handsome detective and his NEET assistant.
Yen Press describes the series:
Seiji Tohno sometimes sees the people around him as monsters. It is a curse that had driven him to a life of despair, living out of internet cafés with nowhere to call home...but all that changes one twilit evening when he stumbles across a huge European mansion. There, Seiji meets a bewitchingly beautiful boy dressed in a kimono with a white peony motif on the shoulder, who introduces himself as Shiroshi Saijou. This mysterious young man seems to know more about Seiji than he does himself, and before he knows it, Seiji has agreed to become Shiroshi's assistant in exchange for room and board. Little does he know, however, this “proxy service,”' as Shiroshi puts it, is none other than outsourced death! Sending monster-possessed sinners to Hell, will bring Seiji face-to-face with terrifying new creatures each and every day!
Hell is Dark with No Flowers has been adapted to manga so expect Yen Press (or another publisher) to announce the license for it soon (maybe, probably). In the meantime, you can read the first volume of the light novel in August 2024.
Just Act (Super) Natural
Supernatural manga fans, this section is for you!
Otaku Vampire's Love Bite by Julietta Suzuki (3+ vols/ongoing)
2024 is the Year of Shoujo, and it's the Year of Shojo Beat. I guess Viz got tired of everyone ganging up on them and Shojo Beat because they swung for the fences with these awesome new license announcements back in February 2024. In short, they gave the people what they wanted, and what they wanted was more Julietta Suzuki. Yes, Julietta Suzuki, aka the same mangaka behind Kamisama Kiss. Her latest series Otaku Vampire's Love Bite is running in Hana to Yume magazine, and it's a rip-roaring romcom about a vampire girl who's a little obsessed with a certain anime.
Viz describes the story:
Hina Arukado is a modern vampire who drinks blood from bags instead of humans. But she’s also a complete shut-in who hasn’t left the house in 30 years. In an effort to reach her, Hina’s worried dad does something that changes her life—he gives her the complete box set of the Vampire Cross anime series! Hina is instantly obsessed with everything about the show, especially the character Mao. But it’s hard to fan as hard as she wants from her bedroom in Romania, so now Hina is out of the house and off to Japan to live her otaku dream!
The first volume hits store shelves in October 2024, just in time for Halloween!
Stigmata: Love Bites by Hidebu Takahashi (mature-rated, 2 vols/complete)
Besides Shojo Beat, Viz's premiere BL imprint SuBLime Manga also got some love this year. The imprint announced 5, FIVE, new licenses for "BLentine's Day" on X/Twitter. That's a big deal considering the imprint is very small and only puts out 2 manga volumes a month on average. In addition to licensing more omegaverse (not this title; scroll further down), SuBLime is publishing more series once stuck in digital jail, like this one. Stigmata: Love Bites was first published by the subscription service MangaPlanet under the Futekiya BL imprint in 2023, and as of this post, you can still read the manga on its service. (Apparently, Stigmata: Love Bites is pretty hot at 3 chili peppers.)
SuBLime describes the story:
In a shocking turn of events, one of the cases this unique team of investigators takes on is the murder of Superintendent Kuroiwa’s own ex-wife, Mari. Upon visiting the murder scene, Asako reacts by collapsing and bleeding profusely from a wound that suddenly appears on his back. But why are Mari’s final thoughts about her ex-husband Kuroiwa, and what does Asako’s surprising reaction to them really mean?
The first volume will hit store shelves on October 8, 2024. Learn more here.
Sanctify by Godsstation (mature-rated, manhua, 3 vols/complete)
So, here's another story about a dude investigating something weird in the neighborhood, and it's wild. I have read Sanctify already as it was published and released in English a few years ago. However, I am happy to see that Sanctify is finally getting a wide release, and I wouldn't mind buying it again. The art alone is worth it! It's so pretty and also pretty brutal. The story contains violence, gore, graphic sexual content, and sexual assault. Sanctify is not a fluffy BL. It's lacking in the romance department too. However, it nails the supernatural murder mystery portion.
Tokyopop describes the story:
In this world, there is good and evil... and one cannot exist without the other.
Lance Hunter is a disgruntled exorcist tasked to protect the public from malevolent forces in London. When a series of gruesome supernatural murders catches his attention, he meets policeman William Gilbert at one of the crime scenes. Willian seems quite helpful at first... but seems to be hiding some twisted desire.
The first volume hits store shelves in September 2024. Check it out here. (Also, follow Godsstation on X/Twitter here.)
Fantastical Adventure Awaits!
If you enjoy fantasy and/or adventure, then this section is for you. Check out these manga.
Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono (2+ vols/ongoing)
In March, VIZ surprised everyone with a random announcement. The publisher announced it has licensed Kagurabachi in memetic form declaring, "Enough time has passed..."
As of this post, only 2 volumes are out in Japan! It's been a hot minute since we've seen such a quick turn-around time for manga licenses in English, and just for that, Kagurabachi deserves to be included on this list. Well, that and the fact that the "Bachi Bros" respect fujoshis.
Not sure if Kagurabachi will be the next big Shonen Jump property or will just continue to have a large cult following, but I will be keeping an eye on this series. If you want a sneak peek, you can read the series now via Viz's Shonen Jump site or via MangaPlus.
MangaPlus describes the story:
Young Chihiro spends his days training under his famous swordsmith father. One day he hopes to become a great sword-maker himself. The goofy father and the serious son--they thought these days would last forever. But suddenly, tragedy strikes. A dark day soaked in blood. Chihiro and his blade now live only for revenge. Epic sword battle action!
The first volume will be released in November 2024.
Red River by Chie Shinohara (3-in-1 omnibus re-release, 28 vols/complete)
Besides listening to the "Bachi Bros," Viz is finally listening to Shojo Beat fans. In the same February announcement that gave us Otaku Vampire's Love Bite, Viz announced that Red River will be re-released as a 3-in-1 omnibus. No more searching for odd volumes, dealing with scalpers, fretting over bootlegs, and giving in to bad manga deals!
Viz describes the story:
Yuri, a pretty Japanese girl, is ecstatic after passing her college entrance exam and having her first kiss with her childhood friend-turned boyfriend. However, her luck soon changes. She starts to notice that water becomes agitated whenever she goes near it. One night, hands appear out of a puddle on the street and drag her into the water! Transported to an ancient village in the Middle East, she is then captured by armed troops and taken to the Queen's palace for a human sacrifice. Adventure and good-looking boys fill this great first volume!
This classic 90s shojo series returns on October 15, 2024. Mark your calendars! (Fingers crossed that we will get more Chie Shinohara in the future, preferably her latest series Yume no Shizuku, Kin no Torikago.)
When the Villainess Seduces the Main Heroine by Kasai Fujii (mature-rated, 2 vols/complete)
Yen Press announced comedy yuri manga When the Villainess Seduces the Main Heroine at Sakura-con this year.
Yen Press describes the story:
When the crown prince announces he's breaking off his engagement to the infamous Akuya, his spurned fiancée wastes no time turning her seductive words of passion to her actual target—Sei, a commoner who worked her way up through the ranks with her wit and charm alone…and the very girl the prince dumped Akuya for! Sei's about to get a taste of what a real lover is like in this steamy tale of two girls who traded in their Prince Charming for each other!
It sounds funny, and it's short! The first volume will hit store shelves in September 2024.
Alphas Rule, Omegas Drool
2024 is the Year of Omegaverse. There are over 8, EIGHT, new titles scheduled to be released just this year alone! So, this section is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wails of the Bound and Wails of the Bound: Beta by Keri Kusabi (mature-rated, 1 vol & 3 vols respectively, both complete)
Here's a two-for, for ya!
Wails of the Bound and the spin-off Wails of the Bound: Beta are the latest ShuCream BL digital manga picked up for wide distribution by Tokyopop. Wails of the Bound is an enemies-to-lovers office romance between an alpha boss and a subordinate omega. The spin-off follows a different couple in the office so you don't have to read Wails of the Bound in order to read Beta, but you should probably read Wails of the Bound first.
Tokyopop describes Wails of the Bound:
Alpha Keisuke Takaba has just transferred to a new office, hoping for a peaceful work environment filled with fellow Alphas. His illusions are quickly shattered when he meets his new manager, Miyabi Karasuma—a brash Omega who is willing to use his body to get whatever he wants. Keisuke can't stand Omegas, but no matter how hard he tries, he can't avoid Miyabi and is even forced to follow along as Miyabi performs "favors" for business associates. The more he sees of Miyabi's life, the more he feels pity for the Omega... but maybe "pity" isn't the only thing he's feeling?
The single volume will be released in August 2024.
Tokyopop describes Beta:
The heart seeks love, and the body seeks servitude. Although Uto and Suzube still care for each other, they return to being boss and subordinate.
The first volume of Wails of the Bound: Beta will be released in October 2024. Check it out here.
How My Daddies Became Mates by Mikkamita (mature-rated, 2 vols/complete)
A twist on the "how I met your father" trope with delinquents and omegaverse? Sign me up!
Seven Seas describes the story:
As teenagers, Kuroga Akane and Shirosaki Aoi couldn’t have been more different. An alpha and an omega from rival schools, their initial meeting wasn’t exactly love at first sight. In fact, it was downright brutal! Fast forward to adulthood, and not only are they mated and married, but they even have an adorable daughter! How did these former delinquents go from wanting to beat each other to a pulp to falling in love?!
The first volume will hit store shelves in September 2024.
Worst Soulmate Ever by Haruta (mature-rated, oneshot/complete)
SuBLime is publishing its third omegaverse manga in December this year, and SuBLime will be the first publisher to release a Haruta manga in print. Most of Haruta's works are digitally available via Renta or Futekiya/MangaPlanet.
SuBLime describes the story:
Impatient 29-year-old omega Shishikura has watched all his friends get married while his own romances keep fizzling out. Determined to find someone compatible, he turns to a matchmaking service. But while waiting for his perfect soulmate to be found, he goes into heat at the worst possible moment—alone with Kotani, a new coworker who is nursing a longtime grudge against Shishikura! After spending a desperate steamy night together, there’s no doubt that the two are physically compatible, but do they even like each other?
Check out Worst Soulmate Ever here.
Read the Manga, Watch the Anime
You've read the manga, now it's time to watch the anime. This section is all about the upcoming releases that have past or future anime adaptations. So, another two-for, for ya!
The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store by Tsuchika Nishimura (2 vols/complete)
The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store is an award-winning fantasy manga series turned anime film about the daily life of a new employee. Seven Seas is publishing the manga series, and Crunchyroll will release the film theatrically sometime in 2024.
Here's the trailer:
Seven Seas describes the story:
Working retail is tough enough with regular human customers, but what about when they’re owls, wolves, koalas…and a woolly mammoth? Welcome to the Hokkyoku Department Store, where new employee Akino’s customers are talking animals–including extinct species! Just like any shopper, each has their own complicated request that Akino must strive to satisfy. From a wealthy laughing owl searching for the perfect present to delight his wife to a thespian sea mink attempting to find a gift for a long-awaited reunion with her father, Akino must learn to meet their needs, while also dealing with her challenging coworkers and elusive floor manager.
Check out the manga when it drops in August 2024. Learn more here.
Studio Ghibli: Architecture in Animation (hardcover artbook)
Any animators or architects in the house? How about Ghibli fans? This book is for you and your coffee table.
Viz describes the book in brief:
Explore the dazzling animated worlds of Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and more! Featuring interviews with acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki, and behind-the-scenes info, Studio Ghibli: Architecture in Animation releases Fall 2024.
Pre-orders are up now. Mark your calendars for October 22, 2024.
Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow by Tetsuya Chiba (hardcover omnibus, 20 volumes/complete)
Yes, the quintessential boxing manga that inspired anime adaptations, live-action films, readers, and mangakas for decades is finally coming to America. When Kodansha casually dropped the news on a Thursday afternoon in February, X/Twitter exploded. People were falling on their knees at work, school, and Target in shock. My timeline was filled with nothing but excitement for this series and what it means for classic 60s (read: older-than-the-hills) manga that people said and just accepted couldn't be licensed. It's too old. Too long. Too...something. Well, not Ashita no Joe. Not anymore.
Starting in December of this year, Kodansha will release Ashita no Joe in all of its glory, across eight oversized, hardcover omnibus editions. Kodansha will also publish the series digitally on the Kodansha US reading portal and via other digital manga retailers. (As of this post, Ashita no Joe is not available to read on K-Manga, but Hajime no Ippo is there.)
Kodansha describes the story:
A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time, he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching - Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him, but the cocky young fighter brushes him off. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he's going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive.
I'll be honest. I'm not a sports girlie so Ashita no Joe is not high on my personal tbr list. However, I am excited for what this might mean for future old classic and non-classic but niche series. I wonder what classic manga Kodansha will roll out next. Check out Ashita no Joe here.
Top New Releases I'm Looking Forward to Reading
Lastly, here are my top upcoming series that I'm looking forward to reading soon.
Alpha Wolfgirl x Omega Wolfboy by Natsuha Kasazaki (mature-rated, 5+ vols/ongoing)
Look. Anything from Seven Seas's premiere smut imprint Steamship is automatically placed on the tbr list. However, I am especially looking forward to Alpha Wolfgirl x Omega Wolfboy for two reasons. One, it's an omegaverse title, and two, it's an omegaverse title with an alpha female. Alpha Wolfgirl x Omega Wolfboy is the first m/f omegaverse manga in the Steamship catalog, but it's the second m/f omegaverse manga title published by Seven Seas, the first being Bite Maker: The King's Omega. For anyone keeping score, we now have two m/f omegaverse manga titles in print! (Keyword: manga in print. More on that later.)
Seven Seas describes the story:
In this Mature-rated omegaverse manga, the new lady at work shows the bossy guy there that she’s on top!
Nobody realizes Ohkami Ichirou is an omega. At his high-class restaurant job, he poses as an alpha to advance his career and status. Everything is going smoothly until a new trainee, Oukami Ako, becomes a thorn in his side. When he tries to show her who’s boss, she reveals she’s secretly an alpha. If he doesn’t submit to her will, his life will be ruined.
Blanket content warnings for this one, folks. Definitely not a title for everyone, but it is definitely for me. The first volume will land on store shelves on August 13, 2024. Check it out here.
Colette Decides to Die by Alto Yukimura (2-in-1 omnibus, 20 vols/complete)
From the same February announcement event that brought us the Red River re-release and Otaku Vampire's Love Bite, comes yet another Shojo Beat win. It's been meme'd and screamed into the social media void, but Viz finally did it. Viz has finally licensed Colette Decides to Die for the Shojo Beat imprint. (What freaking took them so long?!) A lot of fans are looking forward to seeing this manga in an official capacity, myself included. I can finally cross off Colette Decides to Die on my most wanted unlicensed manga list.
Viz describes the story:
Colette, an overworked apothecary, finds romance and a new lease on life—in the underworld!!
When exhausted workaholic apothecary Colette jumps into a well, instead of dying she finds herself caring for a new patient: Hades, Lord of the Dead. As Colette goes back and forth between her world and the underworld, new patients of every kind arrive daily!
Colette meets Hades, a fellow workaholic, while he is ill in bed with a rash and fever. After treating his condition, she learns about the work he does and what drives him, which renews her sense of purpose as an apothecary. When Colette is sent back to her own world, is it the last she will see of Hades?
Viz will release the series as a 2-in-1 omnibus starting November 5, 2024. Each volume will retail at $16.99.
Love is an Illusion! - The Queen by Fargo (mature-rated, full-color manwha/webtoon, 27 chapters + 4 side stories/complete)
Love is an Illusion - The Queen is a m/f omegaverse spin-off series to the hit omegaverse BL Love is an Illusion. I loved reading Love is an Illusion, and I am presently collecting the physical books, which is also being published via Seven Seas. The spin-off follows elite alpha Park Dojin's older sister.
Seven Seas describes the story:
Park Do-gyeom, a free-spirited alpha and the older sister of Park Dojin, has finally decided to put her promiscuous past behind her and settle down. As a 39-year-old woman, however, her options for marriage have dwindled. Luckily she has her beleaguered omega secretary, Lee Seung-ah, to do most of the work of finding a marriage partner for her. It shouldn’t be a problem, even if Seung-ah and Do-gyeom have harbored secret feelings for each other for years. In fact, arranging Do-gyeom’s marriage may just be the catalyst for the two of them to finally admit their attraction…unless another alpha gets in the way!
A story about an older alpha woman set in the same universe as Love is an Illusion? I'm sold! The first full-color, large trim volume will hit store shelves on October 29, 2024. Learn more here.
Trillion Game by Riichiro Inagaki and art by Ryoichi Ikegami (mature-rated, 9+ vols/ongoing)
By the same writer of Dr. Stone and Eyeshield 21 and the artist behind Crying Freeman and Sanctuary comes an award-winning drama manga about two friends, a company, and a big dream. The manga has been adapted to a live-action series that's available in the U.S. via Netflix, and the manga will soon be an anime series.
Viz describes the series:
Self-proclaimed “world’s most selfish man” Haru and timid computer whiz Gaku set out to make a trillion dollars. They start the company Trillion Game to accomplish this task and hope to iron out the details as they go. With charm, technical skills, and no business plan, can these unlikely friends reach their lofty goal?
After Haru and Gaku become the first Japanese people in the 21st century to be listed among the world’s top ten billionaires, Gaku reflects on when he and Haru met and the events that led to the founding of their company, Trillion Game. What started as a middle school acquaintanceship builds to a fruitful and unorthodox partnership as the two progress on their ruthless path to success.
It's been forever since we had Ryoichi Ikegami's works in English. I have read all of the reluctant assassin series Crying Freeman thanks to publishers keeping that license alive, but I have never finished reading the political thriller Sanctuary. (I've long given up trying to collect the series because the aftermarket prices were ridiculous!) I hope Viz brings back Sanctuary because Trillion Game sounds like a goofy distant cousin to it. I'm looking forward to reading Trillion Game (and watching the anime) soon. The first volume will be released on September 17, 2024. Learn more here.
Last Quarter by Ai Yazawa (3 vols/complete)
Last, but certainly not least, we have one final Shojo Beat win. (Unless you're counting the Vampire Knight re-release, that is.) In the same February announcement event that brought us the Red River re-release, the Vampire Knight boxset re-release (yes, it's happening), Otaku Vampire's Love Bite, and Colette Decides to Die, Viz licensed Last Quarter by Ai Yazawa for the Shojo Beat imprint. Ai Yazawa should need no introduction, but in case you've been living under a rock, Ai Yazawa is the author and illustrator behind mega hits Nana, Paradise Kiss, and A Neighborhood Story. Basically, if you enjoy fashion, music, drama, and stylized art with a good dose of romance, then you should check out Ai Yazawa's works.
Now, I'm not a huge Ai Yazawa fan. However, I am a fan of Paradise Kiss, and I am a fan of mystery manga. Last Quarter is a supernatural tale with a mystery twist, and it sounds like a departure from what I've come to expect from and know about Ai Yazawa.
Viz describes the story:
A story of love between souls transcending space and time!
Struggling to adapt to life with a new mother and sister after her father’s remarriage, Mizuki meets a blue-eyed man playing guitar on the street in Shibuya and is powerfully drawn to him. How far will she go to see him again?
After a brush with death, an elementary school student named Hotaru meets Mizuki for the first time in a dream. The next day, while out looking for her missing cat, Hotaru wanders into an abandoned mansion and comes face-to-face with the girl she met in her dream!
This 90s tale hits store shelves on September 3, 2024. With Viz announcing all of the good stuff back in February, will there be anything else for us to look forward to at Anime Expo or Anime NYC? Yes, probably. Hopefully. At any rate, Viz has won 2024, and I'm looking forward to them announcing more Shojo Beat and Ai Yazawa stuff in the near future.
Conclusion
And there you have it, over a dozen manga to look forward to reading and collecting in the second half of 2024. But wait, there's more! In case you missed it, here is the list of manga (and non-manga) releases that was announced late 2023 for you to peruse through. These books are mostly scheduled for release in early 2024. Between this list and my prior rundown, you should have at least 1 release to look forward to this year. As always, I can't cover every release in detail. Inevitably something just didn't make the cut. So, now it's your turn. What's on your to-read or to-buy list? Let me know below or on X/Twitter (@ThatMangaHunter). Until next time, happy reading!
(NOTE: release dates are subject to change. As of this post, the release dates are accurate.)