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Manga Mavericks Books Announces July Release Of First 3 Manga Titles

Manga Mavericks Books logo
New North American publisher launches with print and digital editions of BONDS, ALTERNATIVE [SELF LINER NOTE], and ZIGOKU’S FOREMAN

Manga Mavericks LLC, a new manga publisher serving North America, has announced the print and digital debut its first three titles. These releases launch July 16th, with print editions now available exclusively for pre-order from the Manga Mavericks Books website. Digital editions also will be available from Amazon, Google Play, iBooks, Kobo and Nook. 

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.

is a story about music, creative slumps, and letting it all out. Originally released at COMITIA 130 in 2019, creator Chiaki Yagura’s homage to music will leave readers intrigued and craving more.

ZIGOKU’S FOREMAN is an ongoing series that tells a hilarious underworld tale through manga and short prose chapters. Originally self-published by creator 9banta in 2020, the manga is now published on e-book platforms in Japan by COMPASS Comics. For the release, a new English logo and cover were designed by 9banta.

Pre-orders are available now at:  https://store.mangamavericks.com/

BONDS, Vol. 1, story and art by Zenzo ∙ Print SRP: $11.99 / Digital SRP: $4.99 ∙  36 pages ∙ ISBN: 9781968054007 ∙ For Readers 13+ ∙ Available July 16th 

Bonds Cover

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? 

Print edition available for purchase at: https://store.mangamavericks.com/products/bonds  

Digital edition available at:  https://store.mangamavericks.com/products/bonds-digital 

ALTERNATIVE [SELF LINER NOTE], story and art by Chiaki Yagura ∙ Print SRP: $11.99 / Digital SRP: $4.99 ∙  40 pages ∙ ISBN: 9781968054014 ∙ For Readers 13+ ∙ Available July 16th    

ALTERNATIVE [SELF LINER NOTE] cover

“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 of standing on the same stage? Why does my gospel stay unwritten?

Print edition available for purchase at:
https://store.mangamavericks.com/products/alternativeself-liner-note

Digital edition available at:
https://store.mangamavericks.com/products/alternativeself-liner-note-digital

ZIGOKU’S FOREMAN Vol. 1, story and art by 9banta ∙ Print SRP: $23.99 / Digital SRP: $9.99 ∙  88 pages ∙ ISBN: 9781968054014 ∙ For Readers 13+ ∙ Available July 16th    

ZIGOKU'S FOREMAN Vol. 1 Cover

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 

Print edition available for purchase at:
https://store.mangamavericks.com/products/zigokus-foreman-volume-1

Digital edition available at: https://store.mangamavericks.com/products/zigokus-foreman-volume-1-digital 

About the author

Panos Kotzathanasis

Panagiotis (Panos) Kotzathanasis is a film critic and reviewer, specialized in Asian Cinema. He is the owner and administrator of Asian Movie Pulse, one of the biggest portals dealing with Asian cinema. He is a frequent writer in Hancinema, Taste of Cinema, and his texts can be found in a number of other publications including SIRP in Estonia, Film.sk in Slovakia, Asian Dialogue in the UK, Cinefil in Japan and Filmbuff in India.

Since 2019, he cooperates with Thessaloniki Cinematheque in Greece, curating various tributes to Asian cinema. He has participated, with video recordings and text, on a number of Asian movie releases, for Spectrum, Dekanalog and Error 4444. He has taken part as an expert on the Erasmus+ program, “Asian Cinema Education”, on the Asian Cinema Education International Journalism and Film Criticism Course.

Apart from a member of FIPRESCI and the Greek Cinema Critics Association, he is also a member of NETPAC, the Hellenic Film Academy and the Online Film Critics Association.

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