Today, our team at Manga Mavericks LLC is very excited to announce the launch of Manga Mavericks Books, a new manga publisher that will work directly with Japanese creators to license, localize, and distribute their stories worldwide! This has been a project over a year in the making, and one that has been an aspiration dream for our team for even longer than that. That said, what does our initial slate of manga look like?
Starting in July 2025, Manga Mavericks Books will be releasing 3 manga titles that have been directly licensed by our team:
BONDS by ZENZO
ALTERNATIVE[SELF LINER NOTE] by Chiaki Yagura
Zigoku’s Foreman by 9banta
In addition to these manga, we will also be selling 3 manga acquired by our localization partner, Red String:
Now No One Lurks Beneath the Snow by Aneido
The Murderer and Her Runaway Desire by Aneido
Senpai no Kohai by Hanakage Alt
Through our partnership, we will help support the marketing and print distribution of these titles in the United States. Red String has been an amazing collaborator to us, having helped manage the localization of our initial titles, so we are very excited to share their projects with a larger audience.
Pre-orders are available now on the newly launched Manga Mavericks Books Store (store.mangamavericks.com), where they will be shipped to customers worldwide!
Our very own Co-Founder & COO Siddharth Gupta has provided a statement on the establishment of Manga Mavericks Books:
When I came up with the name “Manga Mavericks” nine years ago, I never would’ve predicted that we would grow from a podcast that talks about manga into a company that publishes manga. Under Varun’s leadership, we have built strong connections and trusted relationships with manga artists and industry professionals, and have assembled a team of passionate manga fans who each bring essential skills and valued perspectives to our operations as a publishing company. Manga Mavericks began as a podcast dedicated to exploring manga as both a medium and as an industry, and Manga Mavericks Books is the next chapter in our mission to highlight and celebrate incredible Japanese creators and comics, introducing them to new readers who may very well discover their new favorite manga.
More details on our initial publishing slate can be found below:
Upcoming Titles From Manga Mavericks Books
By ZENZO
Social: X (Formerly Twitter), Bluesky
In an alternate take on Journey to the West, Son Goku and Sanzo have only just begun their long journey, and trust doesn’t come easily. Their already shaky bond is tested further when Sanzo’s misgivings lead to a rift between the two. Is the journey over before it even begins, or is it true that adversity is what forges unshakable bonds?
Originally published in 2019, BONDS is the first original full-length manga created by ZENZO, a talented manga artist who studied under Beyblade: Metal Fusion creator Takafumi Adachi. The manga was the winner of both the Japan Representative Selection and Candidate Award in the Featured Manga category for the 2019 Goku Cup manga contest.
Expected Release Date: July 2025 (Print/Digital)
By Chiaki Yagura
Social: X (Formerly Twitter)
“The good die young.” There’s a whole movement of entertainers who by 27 years old had left their mark on the world, including my God. At 28, what have I done? Am I worthy to stand on the same stage? Why does my gospel stay unwritten?
Originally released at COMITIA 130 in 2019, ALTERNATIVE[SELF LINER NOTE] is a story about music, creative slumps, and letting it all out. Chiaki Yagura’s beautiful artwork and homage to the music medium will leave readers craving more from this rising talent.
Expected Release Date: July 2025 (Print/Digital)
By 9banta
Co-planning by Hiroki Kamishiro
Social: X (Formerly Twitter)
Meet the literal boss from hell. Mizuchi, once a human, died, went to hell, and became an unruly demon. Though he’s not just any demon: he’s a foreman with underlings who make up a motley crew. With a magic sword and super strength, some hellish construction work should be a snap, but Mizuchi and his crew are hellbent on doing anything aside from their work.
Zigoku’s Foreman is an ongoing series, currently with 2 volumes, that tells its hilarious underworld tale through an arrangement of manga and short prose chapters. Originally self-published by 9banta in 2019, the manga is now being widely published on e-book platforms in Japan by COMPASS Comics. For the upcoming Manga Mavericks Books release, the English logo and cover were personally designed by 9banta.
Expected Release Date (Volume 1): July 2025 (Print/Digital)
New Manga Additions From Red String
Now No One Lurks Beneath the Snow
By Aneido
Social: X (Formerly Twitter), Bluesky
No one ever wanted to make the journey. And so, the role fell to me to go and visit the manor located deep in the mountains. I was to deliver carrots, of all things, to this residence that everyone was reluctant to visit. And there, a mysterious, beautiful, and wise individual, who called the snowy manor their home, awaited me. [Mature]
Aneido’s 2nd Kickstarter success story! If you missed out on the initial print run, more are on the way. You’ll find a spicy cover hidden under French flaps, bonus content, and limited goods on the Manga Mavericks Books Store!
Sale Date: July 2025 (Print/Digital)
The Murderer and Her Runaway Desire
By Aneido
Social: X (Formerly Twitter), Bluesky
At a certain school, students are being killed one after another. The culprit is the teacher. The other students are completely unaware. Only “DESIRE” knows the teacher is the murderer. In order to protect her secret, the teacher surrenders her body to “DESIRE”. Although “DESIRE” is mercilessly brutal, her cunning words and “cunning” actions push the teacher towards hedonism. [Mature]
Aneido’s Breakout Kickstarter Success! A cursed Yuri story, set in a certain school where mass murder doesn’t seem to phase anyone. Prints have embossed lettering on the cover and include a bookmark!
Sale Date: July 2025 (Print/Digital)
By Hanakage Alt
Social: X (Formerly Twitter), BlueSky
One day, on her way to work, Sayuri Terazono, suddenly spots an all too familiar back in the crowd of people before her. Though many years had passed since she last saw Risa, there’s no way Sayuri would be able to forget her precious Kouhai. After all, Risa wasn’t just any Kouhai for Sayuri, she was special. But, there’s no way Risa would remember her after all this time, right?
Hanakage Alt’s workplace romance finally concludes in part 3 of Senpai no Kohai. Previously released in English, this version includes a new translation of Parts One and Two of the manga, as well as a newly-drawn Part Three. Prints will include bookmarks!
Sale Date: July 2025 (Print/Digital)
About Red String
Red String is a localization service provider based in Japan. Operating since 2020, Red String has a fantastic track record of producing GL manga on Kickstarter and finding new, up-and-coming talent in the manga world. Red String has previously worked with manga artists such as mmk, Daichi Kawada, and Aneido, while also helping mangaka raise over 40 million yen in crowdfunding towards independent distribution. Red String provides top-quality translation, lettering, and licensing services for mangaka and publishers alike.
Stay up to date on the latest news and crowdfunding campaigns by following Red String:
About Manga Mavericks LLC
Originally launched as a manga news podcast in 2016, Manga Mavericks has grown into a multimedia company anchored by a successful podcast network and a team of journalists and reviewers dedicated to exploring manga as both a medium and as an industry across the world. With the launch of Manga Mavericks Books, the company seeks to expand further into the manga industry, highlighting the eclectic storytelling, artistry, and creativity of Japanese creators and comics.
For more information on Manga Mavericks, you can follow us on our social platforms and website:
