Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 10h

Okay, putting in my prediction for a "wave 2" (for another 4):

Conan = Skews older fans, but rebranding may get more newer fans
Fate Rewinder = New anime, pull younger fans
Golgo 13 = Sell on "coolness factor" without direct anime/manga availability
Komi Can't Communicate = general popularity

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 11h

Yeah, Conan would be great for a "wave 2". Their initial line-up is a good test to see what sells. A well thought out launch.

Frieren = Popular new series
Inuyasha = Classic series for older fans
Ranma = Classic series and new anime dipping both markets
Uzumaki = Constant seller to baseline against

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 15h

The quality and variety of merch Box Lunch stocks is pretty good. From a store layout perspective, it definitely makes more sense to push that into Box Lunch rather than Hot Topic. Seems like a win-win all around!

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 19h

This sounds like a smart decision on the editorial staff. Better to take some time now to rest-up, and maybe build a bit of a chapter backlog. That way when the new anime season airs they can hit all of their marketing beats uninterrupted.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 22h

Kodansha has launched their "Kodansha Manga Academy" website!

It's a pretty slick website and will also be part of the new "Kodansha Manga Award" that will be coming in 2026.

You can also read "A Mangaka's Road to Japan" manga for free as new chapters come out.

KODANSHA MANGA ACADEMY | Everything You Need to Know to Become a Manga Creator

Join Kodansha and shape the future of manga. Complete guide to manga creation - from first inspiration to professional serialization in Japan.

manga-academy.kodansha.com

Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 1d

Matagi Gunner's mangaka @juanalbarran.bsky.social now has his new essay manga "A Mangaka’s Road to Japan" available in English on K Manga! Both chapters are currently free to read.

Great to see this and looking forward to reading it!
kmanga.kodansha.com/title/10671/...

A Mangaka’s Road to Japan | Chapter 1 The Country That Keeps Making Manga / K MANGA - You can read the latest chapter on the Kodansha official comic site for free!

Is it possible to have your manga serialized in Japan as a person from overseas who can’t speak Japanese…?! The manga artist for Matagi Gunner, Juan Albarran, shares the ups and downs of his days on t...

kmanga.kodansha.com

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 1d

Ah! I forgot he did get that one title in Jump.
Looks like it got passed around by at least 6 different publishers after that.

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Reposted by Andy's Islands

Manga Mavericks @mangamavericks.bsky.social · 2d

NEW MANGA LICENSE:
Sinbad by Atsuji Yamamoto

Chart a course for adventure with Sinbad!

Join in this time-spanning adventure crafted by storied manga creator Atsuji Yamamoto.

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Reposted by Andy's Islands

Manga Mavericks @mangamavericks.bsky.social · 2d

NEW MANGA LICENSE:
Horon of the Closed Country by Sen

What the Forest Deity takes will never return...

A breathtaking fantasy series coming from Manga Mavericks Books in 2026!

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Reposted by Andy's Islands

Behind The Manga @behindthemanga.com · 2d

🚨 New Episode🚨

Behind the Manga was able to speak with Pierre Dubost, co-founder of the English Manga Publisher, @kodamatales.bsky.social!

Pierre talks about Kodama's origins, handling the restoration on Baki, and more!

buff.ly/9RaNI8m

#manga

Behind Kodama Tales Co-founder Pierre Dubost Part 1

Behind The Manga · Episode

buff.ly

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 2d

I still have a couple chapters I haven't read yet. Don't want it to end quite yet.

But I'm hopeful that next year we might get a limited run of chapters back in Weekly Shonen Jump. Enough for a volume or two to run in parallel with the anime (just like Nube got).

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 3d

While working on supplemental research for upcoming articles I always got to keep looking up if I have a copy of that specific Jump seasonal issue being referenced.

For quite a few, it's not the one I need.

But I finally landed on one that I do own! Finally paid off having a physical copy!

Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 3d

It was surprising to find that Yudetamago's "Yūrei Kozō ga Yattekita!" manga was so heavily influenced by Shigeru Mizuki. Maybe the most Shigeru Mizuki-styled manga in all of Weekly Shonen Jump?

The color opening 2-page spread of the Japanese manga "Yūrei Kozō ga Yattekita!" for chapter 3. It shows many colorful spirits in a forest along with text-based descriptions, all in Japanese.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 5d

Kodansha is really stepping up it's game this year with reaching out and expanding manga worldwide. Young Magazine USA, Mochikomi Fresh Ink manga reviews, Kodansha House, and developing a new manga award next year. A ton of year-long efforts that look to be paying off!

KODANSHA teases new international manga award in 2026

At the editor panel at Kodansha House, editors from Kodansha Japan discussed ways for mangaka outside of Japan to get published.

www.comicsbeat.com

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 5d

They really should have driven the "now go buy the manga/figure from the Crunchyroll Store" angle. It's sort of there, but buried under "Extras". And not even offering to sell digital volumes to continue reading. Doesn't quite feel like a full vision on what they want to do with it.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 5d

Similarly, I wonder how frequent they will add new chapters/series. Are they always going to stay far behind? Too early to tell, but could be easily forgettable.

Services like Azuki, Viz, & Manga Plaza are out there in Social Media land doing their best to get those titles out there for awareness.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 5d

It seems like the catalog is "wide but not deep." A lot of titles, but most aren't the entire story. Feels more like you are paying for extended samples/previews, not a commitment to getting to the end. It forces you to leave the new platform to continue reading something you may enjoy.

Strict Algorithm LLC @wsstalkback.bsky.social · 5d

@crunchyroll.com manga has officially launched.

Crunchyroll Ultimate Fan subscribers ($15.99/month) can enjoy Crunchyroll Manga at no extra cost, along with anime-streaming on up to 6 devices, offline viewing and reading.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 6d

The one silver lining I can see is that they may be more motivated to license out some more of their catalog titles, even on other services. Especially if they have an upcoming anime tie-in.

Like "Liar Game" now has a better shot at an official English release.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 6d

MangaPlus isn't getting into product merchandising either. Viz has established those pipelines for success (Hot Topic, etc.).

They also aren't promoting "Young Jump" has a brand either. So they aren't making collective gains there either.

It feels like they should be partnering with someone first.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 6d

Feels like just covering the already minimal overhead costs.

But it's degrading the product if they get a hit on their hands. Would Viz buy a non-exclusive title that they may have to completely retranslate/letter? A print-only license that might not be a passion product (ala FotNS print editions)?

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 6d

The tricky part is that it also doesn't seem to have a long term roadmap. These titles aren't getting print releases. They aren't being promoted online via social media. They aren't getting convention appearances.

Without the investment to make them successful, its kinda a waste on its own.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 6d

Looks like the app is out early. My quick initial findings for those interested (reposting from Discord):

Doing a quick survey of the new Crunchyroll Manga app....
• Don't need an account to at least view the titles available.
• Doesn't appear to have any "buy the volume". So it is a "all-you-can-read".
• No chapter samples, so need to pay in order to see what the reader experience is like
• Does have links to the Crunchyroll store to buy physical goods.
• Does have links to the Crunchyroll app if they have an anime in their catalog
• No publisher search
• No listing of credits/publishers
• No exclusive titles from what I can tell
• Very few Viz's Shonen Jump. None of their Shogakukan (Viz Media) titles
• Doesn't highlight any simulpubs being a part of the service
• For some titles, doesn't split "volumes" into actual chapters. Just listed as "chapters" which contain a full volume.
• Most of them only have 2 or 3 volumes of content. Only a few have a lot more. But even things like One Piece is still missing hundreds of chapters.

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 6d

Uhh... Good luck for the Crunchyroll Manga (v2) launching tomorrow...

Almost one of the worst times the launch. But maybe it will be the big win they need right now. One can hope for it to be a fantastic service with lots of content ready for day one!

unhinged eldritch abomination @rhymeswithk.bsky.social · 6d

Friends, #weebwednesday is upon us once again! You know the drill - quote-post with your weebiest hot takes, nothing racist, nothing intentionally inflammatory, have fun with it ♥

a girl in a blue dress is dancing next to a jukebox

Alt: a girl in a blue dress is dancing next to a jukebox

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Andy's Islands

⚡Bubblegum Midlife Crisis⚡ @bunnycartoon.bsky.social · 7d

BookshopOrg is having an Anti-Prime Day sale--for the next 2 days, you get FREE SHIPPING on ALL orders! A great time to order manga, comics, & books from indie bookstores. Bonus: if you're feeling generous, you can use my portal link to shop to support me, too! bookshop.org/shop/AnimeNo...

A promo image for Bookshop.org's "Anti-Prime Sale", which reads "FREE Shipping Oct 7 & 8. Support bookstores, not billionaires."

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Andy's Islands @andysislands.bsky.social · 7d

I do want to shout out Neon Ichiban's implementation of manga publisher sales. Clean layout, unique URL, filter and search only on sale titles (!), and all titles in order (by series and volume).

Kodansha frequently has sales, and this is the best way to view them that I've seen! Great job!

Screenshot of Neon Ichiban's "Kodansha's House" sale. A grid of manga titles with "A Sign of Affection" and "Ace of Diamond" are shown in a 7x3 grid with the covers for each volume shown. The title, release date, and price are shown below each cover.

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