Right Stuf, Inc. has announced a special agreement with the Japanese publisher Gentosha Comics and Tokyopop that will allow Right Stuf to publish the Hetalia: Axis Powers manga in the U.S.  In late June Right Stuf will publish the third Hetalia volume, which has never been available in an English language version here in North America, along with reprints of the first two volumes, which were originally published here by Tokyopop.

 

The manga series by Hidekazu Himaruya is an over-the-top allegory of World War II with hugely stereotyped characters personifying the warring nations.  Funimation has released the Hetalia anime adaptations here in North America, where the property has developed something of a cult following.

 

The initial print run of Hetalia: Axis Powers, Vol. 3 will include an eight-page color insert from the original Japanese print edition of the manga (the future print-on-demand edition of this volume will include these pages but reproduce them in black-and-white). 

 

The first two volumes of the Hetalia: Axis Powers manga are available now from Right Stuf in reprint editions (with the color pages from the original American editions reprinted in black-and-white).  All three volumes of the Hetalia: Axis Powers manga series will have a cover price of $15.99.

 

Tokyopop founder Stuart Levy was happy that the Hetalia manga series has found a new home: "The North American publishing market has been changing so rapidly, and I am proud to partner with Right Stuf and Gentosha Comics to bring the long-awaited latest volume of Hetalia to our fans. Thanks to everyone for their patience."