Kodansha Comics announced the second title in its English-first program at its Anime NYC panel, along with new series by the creators of One-Punch Man and Sweat and Soap and an omnibus edition of Your Lie in April.

The new English-first series is The Spellbook Library, by Uta Isaki, a fantasy adventure series, rated 13+, about “librarians” who capture supernatural creatures and imprison them in books.  The series is the second in Kodansha’s English-first program (see “Kodansha Announces English-First Title”), in which manga created in Japan are released chapter-by-chapter via the digital portal on the Kodansha website before going to print.  The first chapter is available now; all chapters will be free to read until the print volume is published.

Isaki has gained a following among English-language readers for their one-shots Is Love the Answer? and Mine-Kun Is Asexual, and Kodansha also announced at Anime NYC that it has acquired the digital license for Isaki's debut manga, the battle fantasy series Sayabito: Swords of Destiny, which will debut in December 2023.

Kodansha's Fall 2024 print license announcements included two by creators who already have successful series in English.

Versus, a battle story featuring humans fighting Demon Lords, is based on a story by ONE, the writer of One-Punch Man (see “VIZ Announces ‘One-Punch Man’ Print Editions”) and the writer and artist of Mob Psycho 100(see “Dark Horse Licenses Mob Psycho 100”). The artist for the series, which is rated 16+, is Kyoutarou Azuma.

Home Office Romance is a one-shot rom-com written and drawn by Kintetsu Yamada, the creator of Sweat and Soap, about an office worker working at home during the pandemic who becomes intrigued with his neighbor.  This manga is also rated 16+.

In addition, Kodansha will publish an omnibus edition of Naoshi Arakawa’s shonen romance Your Lie in April, the story of a music prodigy who loses the ability to play the piano but finds new inspiration when he meets a high-spirited violinist.  The 11-volume series, which is rated 13+, won the Kodansha Manga Award and has been adapted into an anime.