Mangas to look forward to in Q1 2022
I know of lots of people who started learning Japanese so that they could read manga. Many decades ago, manga were not translated into English. Eventually so many people were interested that some publishing houses finally decided to have them translated.
Though there are many, many titles have not yet been translated, and people are still learning Japanese mainly for this reason… the good news is that we’re getting more and more manga titles in English, so that a wider audience can appreciate this genre.
Here is a list of some of the most highly anticipated new manga being released between January and March of 2022. And if you cannot find what you’re looking for, just get in touch with us and we will look for the title for you!
The list is divided into two: one with new series, and the other with some ongoing series and new issues being released in this period.
Let’s jump into them and who knows?… You might find a new interesting title you haven’t heard about before!
NEW SERIES
1. Record of Ragnarok
Record of Ragnarok, vol. 1 – 18th January 2022
Art by Azychika, Story by Shinya Umemura and Script by Takumi Fukui
Humanity’s greatest heroes battle the gods for the survival of the human race!
Once every millennium the gods assemble to decide if humanity is worthy of its continued existence or if it should be destroyed! If the verdict is destruction, the final battle between the gods and mortal heroes will decide the survival or extinction of the human race – a battle known as Ragnarok!
The valkyrie Brunhilde has convinced the gods to give humanity a chance at redemption through combat in the Valhalla arena. Seeking a quick end to the proceedings, the gods present their first fighter, Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Facing him is a warrior said to be the strongest in the history of mankind, the legendary general Lü Bu!
2. Deadpool Samurai
Deadpool Samurai, vol. 1 – 8th February 2022
Story by Sanshiro Kasama, Art by Hikaru Uesegi
Deadpool moves to Tokyo and makes a mess of everything! Everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth has finally come to manga!
As soon as Deadpool moves to Tokyo, he runs afoul of some familiar faces. Before he knows it, he’s teaming up with new heroes, battling gods, attending concerts, and being repeatedly dismembered. That’s good, right?
Anyway, Deadpool lands in Tokyo with a bang! What could possibly go wrong when Iron Man invites Deadpool to join the Avengers’ new Samurai Squad? After all, Deadpool is just in it for the money…and the trip to Japan. This is fine, right?
3. Blackguard
Blackguard, vol. 1 – 10th February
Story and Art by Ryo Hanada
SURVIVE, THEY SAID. HAVE HOPE, THEY SAID.
The world is no longer what it used to be. Shojo – ferocious, ape-like creatures who feed on humans – roam the land, and anyone who’s bitten becomes infected with the same mysterious virus.
Humanity has resisted by building aerial cities and forming special units called Guards to fight back. Among them, a young man with a blank stare battles continually without regard for his life – Minami.
People call him a messiah, but their only hope has a constant death wish and defends them day in and day out simply because he still breathes…
A dark post-apocalyptic fantasy from the creator of Devils’ Line, Ryo Hanada!
4. Classroom of the Elite
Classroom of the Elite, vol. 1 – 22nd February
Story by (Shogo) Syougo Kinugasa, Art by ShunsakuTomase, Script by Yuyu Ichino
Based on the popular psychological drama/light novels (also from Seven Seas) that inspired an anime.
Students at the prestigious Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School are given remarkable freedom – if they can win, barter, or save
enough points to work their way up the ranks! Ayanokouji Kiyotaka has landed at the bottom in the scorned Class D, where he meets Horikita Suzune, who’s determined to climb up the ladder to Class A. Can they beat the system in a school where cutthroat competition is the name of the game?
5. Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, vol. 1 – 1st March
Story by Riku Sanjo, Art by Koji Inada, Supervision by Yuji Horii
Begin the adventure of a lifetime in this classic fantasy series set in the world of the legendary Dragon Quest video games!
Raised by monsters in a battle-scarred world, Dai has the heart of a hero. He sets off on a grand journey with brave friends, traveling the world to take down the Dark Lord’s minions. Along the way, Dai must awaken the hero he was meant to be and master his dormant powers.
Before his adventure begins, Dai lives in peace as the lone human among monsters on Dermline Island. While he dreams of becoming a hero, a group of fakes shows up to kidnap the Golden Metal Slime! Then, when Princess Leona arrives in need of a hero, Dai is ready to answer her call… but he needs more training! Will a tutor come along to help him?
6. Ima Koi: I’m in Love
Ima Koi: Now I’m in Love, vol. 1 – 1st March
Story and Art by Ayuko Hatta
Sometimes the greatest romantic adventure isn’t falling in love – it’s what happens after you fall in love!
After missing out on love because she was too shy to confess her feelings, high school student Satomi blurts out how she feels the next time she gets a crush – and it’s on her impossibly handsome schoolmate Yagyu.
To her surprise, he agrees to date her. Now that Satomi is suddenly in a relationship, what next? Given how fast everything has happened, Satomi is still clueless about how dating is supposed to work. How will she forge ahead in her relationship with Yagyu?
7. Alice in Borderland
Alice in Borderland, vol. 1 – 15th March
Story and Art by Haro Aso
An action-packed thriller and source of the hit Netflix drama where the only way to survive is to play the game! Eighteen-year-old Ryohei Arisu is sick of his life. School sucks, his love life is a joke, and his future feels like impending doom.
As he struggles to exist in a world that can’t be bothered with him, Ryohei feels like everything would be better if he were anywhere else. When strange fireworks show transports him and his friends to a parallel world, Ryohei thinks all his wishes have come true. But this new world isn’t an empty paradise, it’s a vicious game. And the only way to survive is to play.
The first game starts with a bang, but Ryohei manages to beat the clock and save his friends. It’s a short-lived victory, however, as they discover that winning only earns them a few days’ grace period. If they want to get home, they’re going to have to start playing a lot harder.
8. Orochi: The Perfect Edition
Orochi: The Perfect Edition, vol. 1 – 15th March
Story and Art by Kazuo Umezz
A deluxe edition of Orochi, featuring all nine of the classic interconnected short stories by horror master Kazuo Umezz, the creator of The Drifting Classroom!
A mysterious young woman slithers into the lives of unsuspecting people like the legendary multitailed serpent for which she is named – Orochi.
Umezz’s classic horror manga opens with “Sisters”, in which Orochi affects the lives of two wealthy siblings who couldn’t be more alike… or more different. Next, in “Bones”, Orochi helps a man come back to life after a terrible accident, but resurrection can be a deadly business…
ONGOING SERIES
1. Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Super, vol. 15 – 4th January
Story by Akira Toriyama, Art by Toyotarou
Goku’s adventure from the best-selling classic manga Dragon Ball continues in this new series written by Akira Toriyama himself!
Ever since Goku became Earth’s greatest hero and gathered the seven Dragon Balls to defeat the evil Boo, his life on Earth has grown a little dull. But new threats loom overhead, and Goku and his friends will have to defend the planet once again in this continuation of Akira Toriyama’s best-selling series, Dragon Ball.
Goku finally manages to activate the complete version of Ultra Instinct, and he’s got Moro on the ropes. However, Moro has one more trick up his sleeve… Having stocked Merus’s Ultra Instinct, Moro is about to give Goku a taste of his own medicine! Can Goku win against another user of that divine power?!
2. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Stories of Water and Flame – 4th January
Original Concept by Koyoharu Gotouge, Story and Art by Ryoji Hirano
One volume featuring two action-packed tales from the universe of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Savage demons devour unsuspecting humans in Taisho-era Japan. Armed with special swords, the Demon Slayer Corps fights to stop the devastation demons spread. Giyu Tomioka, the sole Water Hashira, and Kyojuro Rengoku, a high-ranking Kinoe, embark on missions to eliminate demons and prove their mettle as two of the fiercest Demon Slayers.
Giyu heads north to an area where a band of hunters was killed. He and the Insect Hashira meet Yae, the daughter of a slain hunter, who believes a bear killed her father, but the truth is harder to face. Kyojuro also receives his newest assignment and hopes completing it will prove he’s worthy of the title Flame Hashira, which his father abandoned. An explosive battle unfolds as Kyojuro takes on a demon of the Twelve Kizuki, who holds a grudge against Kyojuro’s father.
3. Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Vol. 13 – 4th January
Creator/Supervisor: Masashi Kishimoto, Art by Mikio Ikemoto, Script by Ukyo Kodachi
The ninja adventures continue with Naruto’s son, Boruto. Naruto was a young shinobi with a knack for mischief.
He achieved his dream to become the greatest ninja in his village, and now his face sits atop the Hokage monument. But this is not his story. A new generation of ninja is ready to take the stage, led by Naruto’s own son, Boruto!
Isshiki finally reveals his true form and takes the fight to Konoha village. His goal is to implant the Karma on Kawaki once again, but he’ll have to find him first. Can Naruto, Sasuke, and Boruto protect Kawaki from this unstoppable monster with godlike powers?!
4. The Way of the Househusband
The Way of the Househusband, vol. 7 – 18th January
Story and Art by Kousuke Oono
It’s a day in the life of your average househusband – if your average househusband is the legendary yakuza “the Immortal Dragon”!
A former yakuza legend leaves it all behind to become your everyday househusband. But it’s not easy to walk away from the gangster life, and what should be mundane household tasks are anything but!
Tatsu is tasked with squeezing the locals for money owed to the association – the neighborhood association, that is. But when the former gangster tries to collect, what should be a quick and easy job ends up anything but! All your faves are back in action as the cozy yakuza comedy continues!
5. Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen, vol. 14 – 1st February
Story and Art by Gege Akutami
To gain the power he needs to save his friend from a cursed spirit, Yuji Itadori swallows a piece of a demon, only to find himself caught amid a horrific war of the supernatural!
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukuna were lost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there is a mysterious school of Jujutsu Sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Sukuna, unleashed, is wrecking Shibuya, and Fushiguro has suffered a serious injury from a curse user’s surprise attack. Fushiguro comes up with a desperate plan to deal with both the rampaging Sukuna and the curse user, but the cost will be grave…
6. Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man, vol. 9 – 1st February
Story and Art by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Broke young man + chainsaw dog demon = Chainsaw Man! Denji was a small-time devil hunter just trying to survive a harsh world.
After being killed on a job, Denji is revived by his pet devil-dog Pochita and becomes something new and dangerous – Chainsaw Man! With the climactic battle against the Gun Devil close, Aki may be wavering. Has he found something more important to him than revenge? And what is the true meaning behind the vision shown to him by the Future Devil?
7. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 5 – Golden Wind, vol. 3 – 1st February
Story and art by Hirohiko Araki
A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil!
The legendary Shonen Jump series is now available in deluxe hardcover editions featuring color pages! JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles.
Narancia Ghirga is under siege. Chased all over by an enemy Stand user, Passione member and Bruno Bucciarati ally Narancia has been shrunk to the size of a doll and faces certain death! Narancia is unable to locate his enemy, gets separated from his team, and is at risk of being eaten by rats and – even worse – spiders! His only hope of turning it around and saving himself is using his own Stand to counter the enemy. Is this the end of everyone’s favorite immature gangster, or will Narancia’s temper somehow help him save the day?
8. My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia, vol. 30 – 1st March
Story and Art by Kohei Horikoshi
Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy. What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”?
Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?
Midoriya and Tomura have finally come to blows and the battle intensifies as Tomura tries to steal One For All. The clash extends into the One For All spirit realm, where the previous users and even All For One join the struggle. While the battle for the ultimate Quirk rages, the other heroes and villains duke it out. Ochaco finds herself taking on Toga, who doesn’t want a fight so much as a heart-to-heart? Then, Dabi finally arrives in Jaku City with a shocking revelation…
9. Fist of the North Star
Fist of the North Star, Vol. 4 – 15th March
Story by Buronson, Art by Tetsuo Hara
In the original classic manga set in a postapocalyptic wasteland ruled by savage gangs, a hero appears to bring justice to the guilty. This warrior named Ken holds the deadly secrets of a mysterious martial art known as Hokuto Shinken – the Divine Fist of the North Star!
In a postapocalyptic world, humanity has risen from the ashes of all-out nuclear war to a nightmare of endless suffering. It is a time of chaos. Warlords and gangs of savage marauders rule the broken ruins of civilization, terrorizing and enslaving the survivors. Life has become a brutal struggle for existence and death is the only release.
Ken, the wielder of the legendary Hokuto Shinken martial arts style, once trained with three other students of the technique. One of them, Jagi, could never accept their master’s choice of Ken as the successor. Now Jagi has become a murderous wasteland warlord, terrorizing the innocent… in Ken’s name! Ken must face off with Jagi to clear his reputation and restore the honor of Hokuto Shinken. But Jagi is not the only one of Ken’s former brothers who may be using Hokuto Shinken for evil deeds…
