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My Most Anticipated Manga Releases of 2023

 



This year is stacked with an incredible line-up for manga, so let's go over some of my most highly anticipated releases! 




Insomniacs After School, Vol. 1 by Makoto Ojiro

The defunct observatory at Kuyou High is believed to be haunted, which makes it the perfect secret hide out for two night owls! However, when a teacher catches them sneaking inside, they come up with an agreement to relaunch the astronomy club in exchange for getting permission to use the space.

This is a charming and wholesome slice-of-life that's also getting an anime this spring. 





The Essence of Being a Muse, Vol. 1 by Fumino Aya     

Miyuu is a young office worker who lives a boring, unfulfilling life under the thumb of her hyper-controlling mother. However, one night, she finally has had enough. She flees home, deciding to pursue true passion for art, but there’s no telling what the future will hold. 

I'm forever a sucker for manga about art, so I'm keeping this manga on my radar. 






Don't Call it Mystery, Omnibus (1-2) by Yumi Tamura

When a brilliant college student is wrongly accused of murder, he decides to find the real culprit in order to prove his innocence. 

This is a critically-acclaimed shoujo that received a live-action TV adaption last year, so this is definitely one that you don't want to miss out on. 




The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren

Yoshiki and Hikaru are two childhood best friends. However, after Hikaru returns from a trip to the mountains, Yoshiki starts to notice that something is … off with him. When Yoshiko decides to confronts him about it, he transforms into an unearthly monster and confesses his love to him, leaving their relationship forever changed. 

A horror BL manga? Hello?? Sign me up!





King in Limbo, Vol. 1 by Ai Tanaka

Eight years ago, a deadly sleeping sickness swept across the word, but when a retired Navy officer receives word that the sickness may be returning, he’s tasked with tracking down a mysterious man who’s able to cure the disease by diving into people’s memories.

That man is codenamed: King.

I really enjoyed the earnestness of Tanaka's characters in Apple Children of Aeon, so I'm looking forward to this one as well.





Horizon by Jeong Ji-Hoon

In a cruel, post-apocalyptic world, two orphans embark on a journey in search of peace. 

OK, I'm cheating a little because it's technically a manhwa, but I'm including it on this list anyway because it's an incredible, harrowing read that'll leave you crying. 




Soloist in a Cage, Vol. 1 by Shiro Moriya        

In the cold and brutal Prison City, two orphans named Chloe and Locke live. However, when Chloe tries to escape with her baby brother, the two of them are tragically separated. Now, years later, she returns to try and find him.

This one is a hauntingly beautiful dystopian complete with jaw-dropping art, and if you're too impatient to wait for the printed volume, you can also read it officially on Manga Plus here. 




Homunculus, Omnibus (1-2) by Hideo Yamamoto

Nakoshi Susumu is homeless and living out of his car, so when he’s offered a large sum of money in exchange for taking part in a scientific experiment, he seizes the opportunity. At first, he experiences no side effects. However, when he begins to see homunculi in every person, his entire perception of the world changes. 

This is a dark, psychological series that explore identity and what it means to be human, so this one seems completely up my alley. 



Innocent, Omnibus (1-3) by Shin-ichi Sakamoto

Last but not least we have a bloody historical drama that’s not for the faint of heart. Innocent follows the Samsons, a real-life family of executioners, during the events that led up to the French Revolution.

I've been begging English publishers to license this one for years, so I'm over the moon happy that I'll finally be able to own this one. I just wish we could have gotten individual volumes because the covers are so gorgeous. 

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