Kara Dennison
December 20, 2024 
Still got more room on your 2025 reading list? Viz Manga has some gorgeous new print titles coming your way in the new year—plus a recent release you may have missed! We’ve got an early look at these new titles and where you can order them. Read on for a sneak peek at what’s to come and a look at a title already available!
Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic: All-in-One Edition
Previously, Viz Manga released Studio Ghibli‘s film manga of Kiki’s Delivery Service. This four-volume series turned the beloved 1989 classic into a manga using stills from the film. Late last month, the publisher combined the volumes into an all-in-one edition, perfect for collectors and film lovers! With this new edition, you can relive the movie from beginning to end.
While film comics can be difficult to follow if the frames aren’t chosen well, this one definitely translates well visually. The images aren’t color-corrected or restored at all; this leads to the pages not being as vibrant as they might be, but lends a nostalgic feel to the book overall. The only real issue is that the added sound effects are translated in an appendix at the end, rather than on the page. While that’s more visually sound, that could lead to parsing issues—especially since some of the “sound effects” are actually dialogue. This aside, it’s a lovely volume that Ghibli fans will want to own.
Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic: All-in-One Edition is available now.
Vagabond Definitive Edition, Vol. 1
While manga readers may know Takehiko Inoue best as the creator of sports manga Slam Dunk, he’s also the mind behind the historical epic Vagabond. Launched in 1998 and currently on hiatus, this martial arts series is a retelling of the life of the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, starting from the age of 17. Viz Manga has been published a translated version for some time, but now they’re releasing a hardcover “Definitive Edition.”
The first book clocks in at 728 pages, compiling the first three volumes of the series. The story starts back when Musashi was known as Shinmen Takezo: a young, fiery warrior who strove to be “invincible under the sun.” After coming back to his village and being punished for his crimes, he is “reborn” as Musashi and seeks to make a name for himself abroad. Besides being a gorgeously written and drawn manga to begin with, this volume is excellently localized. Even if you know nothing about Japanese history, it’s easy to follow and thrilling to read.
Vagabond Definitive Edition, Vol. 1 goes on sale January 21, 2025.
Tokyo Alien Bros., Vol. 1
Meet the Tanaka brothers, Fuyunosuke and Natsutaro. Little brother Fuyunosuke is friendly, charming, and gregarious. His big brother Natsutaro is clumsy, standoffish, and walks around in a bathrobe. In this first volume of Tokyo Alien Bros. from Viz Manga, they’re learning how to get by in life. And also whether or not they should invade. Because, as the title indicates, the Tanaka brothers are aliens.
While some of the early adult content might turn new readers off, note that this isn’t the constant way of things in the book. There are moments of partial nudity and Fuyunosuke trying out less common “hobbies,” but mostly the manga is about functioning in modern society. It’s a surprisingly fun slice-of-life series that investigates the oddities of dating, work, and other things we take for granted. And as the first volume closes, we learn the real reason why the seemingly incompetent Natsutaro is on this mission.
Tokyo Alien Bros. Vol. 1 goes on sale January 21, 2025.
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