Set for release as part of TOKYOPOP’s Comics That Matter collection comes the award-winning slice-of-life drama, A SMART AND COURAGEOUS CHILD. This will be followed by a comic preview for FAR CRY: CULL THE HEARD that debuts on May 4th for Free Comic Book Day featuring memorable villains from Ubisoft’s hit video game franchise. Additional notable debuts include another Ubisoft tie-in with WATCH DOGS TOKYO, and from the Disney Manga imprint comes DESCENDANTS: MAL’S ROYAL CHALLENGE.
More releases will include new releases from the LoveLove imprint as well.
Here’s what Tokyopop has in store for manga lovers!
FAR CRY: CULL THE HERD (FCBD EDITION)
by Ryan Nichols
Available May 4th
Villains from popular Far Cry games are transported into prehistoric times by the priestess Batari, who has pulled them from their lives before they’ve committed their most heinous crimes. Now, they’re tasked with fighting against the dangers of a prehistoric world and challenging their supposed destiny. Will the unusual circumstances encourage them to come together, fight against each other, or go rogue?
This nature-versus-nurture narrative examines popular characters in a new context. The series features appearances from Anton Castillo (Far Cry 6), Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3), Pagan Min (Far Cry 4), and Batari (Far Cry Primal).
A SMART AND COURAGEOUS CHILD
Miki Yamamoto
Available Jun 18th
Winner of the 24th Manga Division Excellence Award at the 2020 Japan Media Arts Festival\
Every young couple has high hopes for their unborn child, and Sara and Kouta Takano are no different. But only days away from giving birth, Sara learns about the tragedy of Malala Yousafzai’s attempted assassination at the hands of the Taliban, and her pure and innocent belief in the future is shaken. If such a smart and courageous child can be hurt so badly by the world, how can she keep her own baby safe? With Sara now in a state of shock, will the young couple be able to bridge the widening gap between them, or will it tear their family apart?
The reality of this world, as seen through the eyes of an author that has spent years illustrating the women and their lives.
SCARLET SECRET, Vol. 1
Tomo Serizawa
Available April 16th
With his crimson eyes and uncanny ability to predict the weather, Shiki has always been the odd child out in his village. Despite his quirks, he’s cherished by the village chieftain’s impetuous son, Yamato, and they grow up together as the dearest of friends. But when the Shamaness Himiko, ruler of Yamatai, selects Shiki as a ritual sacrifice, the two are torn apart. Yamato spends years searching in vain hope for any sign of Shiki, only to find him alive and well… at the center of Himiko’s court?
Disguised as the Shamaness and inheritor of her divine power, Shiki is no longer human and can no longer act upon human desires. Despite that, Yamato is eager to swear himself into ‘her’ service and stand by the Shamaness’ side to safeguard and lead their people. But can Shiki resist his love for Yamato, even if it means going against the will of the gods…?
A BEAST’S DESCENT INTO LOVE
by Rui Asajima
Available April 16th
After sneaking into a black-market auction, the thief Kalim accidentally steals one of the most highly priced goods: a beautiful demi-human with beast ears and a tail named Asena. Now, Kalim must take responsibility and shelter Asena in his home for one month until the ship that can take him back to his homelands arrives. Asena, who despises humans for the way they’ve subjugated demi-humans, treats Kalim coldly at first, but then something Kalim never could’ve expected happens: Asena goes into heat!
WATCH DOGS TOKYO, VOL. 1
story by Seiichi Shirato
art by Shuuhei Kamo
Available April 30th
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government decided to introduce J-ctOS, an urban infrastructure management system developed by Blume Japan. People’s lives have changed completely due to the convenience of improved infrastructure, and the ease of interconnectivity. Everything is fine, if they don’t think too hard about what lurks in the shadows behind closed doors at the Blume corporation…
A BEAST’S LOVE IS LIKE THE MOON
Guri Nojiro
Available May 7th
Tired of the fast-paced city life, Izuki has agreed to take care of his uncle’s house in the mountains, which are said to be “visited by yokai.”
Izuki, dismissive of superstition, goes exploring — only to be attacked by a yokai in the woods. He’s saved by a beautiful man named Haku, who claims to be the incarnation of a komainu guardian dog. He pledges himself to Izuki and begs him to be his master. Izuki refuses at first, wanting to return to the city as quickly as possible, but is swayed by Haku’s lonely eyes and brings him back to the house. Gradually, he falls into a comfortable rhythm with the pushy but devoted Haku while living under the same roof, and Izuki wonders if he really wants to return to the city as he thought.
However, Haku harbors a secret that could put Izuki’s life at risk. Will Izuki and Haku come together in the end, or will Haku succumb to the loneliness that he’s held at bay for centuries…?
THIS REINCARNATED CROSS-DRESSING PRINCESS WON’T BE LOOKING FOR A FIANCÉ
story by Akino Shiina
art by Saki Tsukigami
Available May 7th
One day, Princess Alicia, who cross-dresses to attend the male only Magic Academy, realizes that the world she is currently in is the setting of the BL novel she was reading in her previous life.
Her purpose at the academy is to get married to one of the candidates her mother has prepared for her, so that she can avoid a political arranged marriage. However, all the candidates are members of the novel’s protagonist’s harem. Close to giving up hope, she’s spotted by a man she’d never heard of… a new character in the story! The handsome summoner Lucius demands her hand, and before she knew it, Alicia was falling for him!
THE MAN WHO SHATTERED MY WORLD
Osamu Moriya
Available May 21th
Tachibana is a handsome top who exclusively has no-strings-attached sex with slender, pretty men. When he picks up the brawny, confident Kuzumi on a whim, he doesn’t expect much to be different… except Kuzumi flips the script on him, telling Tachibana: “I love turning men like you into my little bitch.”
Kuzumi is merciless in his attentions, and Tachibana finds himself helpless to resist. In one night, everything Tachibana thought he knew about sex and desire gets turned on its head, and he finds himself coming back for more. But can he trust Kuzumi with more than just his body – or will he be discarded by the other man as soon as he gets bored?
THE GENIUS PUPPETEER LOVES THE HOLY KNIGHT FIERCELY
Hatoba Kogarashi
Available May 28th
As a high-ranking general captured after the end of a war, the Holy Knight Gilbert braces for execution… when at the last moment, his life is saved by Chris, the enemy nation’s master artificer and puppeteer. An arrogant, wickedly playful man who surrounds himself only with dolls of his own making, Chris claims to admire the beauty of Gilbert’s soul and intends to use him to create his newest masterpiece.
When Gilbert refuses to go along with Chris’s plan, he is forced to choose between certain death and forsaking his faith to become an immortal doll. Hoping to buy enough time to make his escape, Gilbert instead offers himself up to Chris as a slave. But if that’s the game this knight wishes to play, then Chris fully intends on toying with him until Gilbert breaks to his will…
SWEET FOR SWEETS AND FOREIGNERS, VOL. 1
Marina Sano
Available Jun 18th
Ami Satou works for Cobara, a company that specializes in sweets. While she may be good at sales, her confidence in pretty much everything else is low, which is why she hasn’t even thought about dating since college. Instead, she fills up her imagination with romantic scenes from shoujo manga.
When she meets Alain Giraud, a handsome, older French man in charge of a new project she’s assigned to work on, she begins to struggle to keep that romantic imagination in check… especially with Alain being so overly friendly! Ami keeps reminding herself that it’s just because he’s French, but will she be able to resist his romantic charm?
DISNEY MANGA: DESCENDANTS: MAL’S ROYAL CHALLENGE
story by Jason Muell
art by Natsuki Minami
Available June 25th
Opening the bridge between Auradon and the Isle was the easy part – bringing two disparate cultures together will be the real challenge that Mal must face. Realizing that she needs help, Mal brings on as consuls the two people who best personify their respective homes: Audrey for Auradon and Uma for the Isle of the Lost. They’re charged with helping Mal introduce their own cultures to a whole new audience… but how?
As far as Mal sees it, they can only really truly understand the issues that the people of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost will face by first experiencing it for themselves, which means that Audrey will need to live a day in Uma’s life on the Isle and Uma in Audrey’s shoes in Auradon. This experience – full of embarrassing missteps and unexpected situations – opens up Audrey and Uma’s eyes to just how inattentive they’d been to the challenges faced by those who’d grown up elsewhere and inspires them to join forces with Mal to find a better solution to truly integrate their cultures.
WILD BEAST FOREST HOUSE, VOL. 1
Irma R
Available June 25th
“Wild Beast” is the only place in the forest where wild animals can rest under the promise of not hurting each other. When the owner, a wolf called Ragnar, receives the unexpected visit of Yule, a domestic cat, he foresees the boy’s going to bring him trouble. But maybe something else too…?
Source: Press Release
