Publisher TOKYOPOP gets into the holiday spirit and presents an award-winning selection of manga and graphic novel titles to consider for gift ideas this holiday season.
The titles selected by TOKYOPOP’s editorial team feature titles from the Comics That Matter collection that utilizes the graphic novel medium to raise awareness about important causes and social issues. These include GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA, WHY I ADOPTED MY HUSBAND, AT 30 I REALIZED I HAD NO GENDER, and A Smart and Courageous Child.
Enjoy the award-winning slice-of-life drama, SINCE I COULD DIE TOMORROW, an acclaimed story about a woman facing the physical and emotional challenges of middle age told across four volumes.
Also catch the paranormal Boys Love suspense thriller, SANCTIFY, which features a premium gold-foil cover and two exclusive 5″ x 7″ art cards, part of the LoveLove romance imprint.
Manga gift ideas for action fans include Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness – THE BEGINNING, a prequel to the Netflix animation Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness inspired by the CAPCOM game series, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon REMIX, an original Boys’ Love manga inspired by the Netflix anime series featuring alter egos of characters from the hit Ubisoft video games in a highly referential homage to the early 90s, and WATCH DOGS TOKYO, another Ubisoft tie-in inspired by the hit video game franchise.
GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA, written by Fabien Grolleau, artwork by Ewen Blain · 144 Pages · Print MSRP: $19.99 ·
ISBN: 978-1427871367 · For Ages 10+ · Available Now
It was March 11, 2011 when a massive earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami, which, in turn, destroyed the cores of three reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. This tragedy cost almost 20,000 lives and devastated countless more, including that of Naoto Matsumura, a farmer evacuated from the deadly radiation zone.
Unwilling to abandon his beloved animals, Naoto chooses to return home to his farm — and to fight for the beauty of life. This important
graphic novel originating from France alludes to timeless Japanese legends as an ode to Mother Nature, and human resilience.
WHY I ADOPTED MY HUSBAND, story and artwork by Yuta Yagi · SRP: $12.99 · 148 pages · ISBN: 9781427873385 · for Ages 13+ · Available Now
As a gay couple living in Japan (where gay marriage is not yet legal), Yuta and Kyota found a unique loophole to live together and support one another financially, legally, and medically; Kyota adopted Yuta. This nonfiction manga depicts how they met, living together, discussions with their parents, and their future anxieties and determination as they strive for independence and equal rights under Japanese law.
Yuta Yagi is a self-described otaku living in Japan with his partner, Kyota. He is best known for his autobiographical manga, WHY I ADOPTED MY HUSBAND.
AT 30 I REALIZED I HAD NO GENDER, story and art by Shou Arai · Print SRP: $13.99 · 180 pages · ISBN: 9781427873453 ∙ For Ages 13+ · Available Now
At age 30, Shou Arai realized that he had no gender. Now he was faced with a question he’d never really considered: how to age in a society where everything is so strongly segregated by gender? This autobiographical manga explores Japanese culture surrounding gender, transgender issues and the daily challenges faces by gender minorities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community with a lighthearted, comedic approach.
Shou Arai (he/him) is an intersex transgender manga creator born and raised in Japan. Arai has published numerous titles about gender identity including Chuusei Furo e Youkoso!, Seibetsu R (Revolution)!, and Ano Koro wa Joshi Kousei, and also starred in the documentary film, Seibetsu ga, nai! Intersex Mangaka no Queer na Hibi, directed by Shogo Watanabe.
A Smart and Courageous Child, by Miki Yamamoto · Print SRP: $16.99 ∙ 224 pages · ISBN: 9781427877192 · For Ages 18+ · Available November 19th
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 the attempted assassination of Pakastani female rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai’s by 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.
SINCE I COULD DIE TOMORROW, by Sumako Kari · Print SRP: $13.99 · 160 pages · ISBN: 978-1427875273 · For Ages 13+ · Available Now
Sawako Honna, 42, single; she works hard at a film promotion company. One night, suddenly, her heart palpitates, and her body goes cold… Could it be that she’s going through menopause!?
Not as hard-working as in your 20s. Not as flippant as in your 30s. The mental and physical changes, and the obstacles you face in your 40s. Sudden illness, menopause, fatigue you can’t get rid of, changes in working patterns, money worries, life, and plans for the future.
Winner of the 23rd Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Award winner.
Nominated for the 2020 Manga Taisho Award.
SANCTIFY VOl. 1, story and art by GODSSTATION · Print SRP: $19.99 · 240 pages · ISBN: 9781427877284 · For Ages 18+ · Available Now
In this world, there is good and evil… and one cannot exist without the other.
Thirty-three-year-old Lance Hunter has no memory of his past lives, but the scars of his former selves remain etched in his skin. As the only remaining Exorcist in London, Lance is hired to investigate a series of gruesome murders connected to a sinister cult: The Fallen, known for their unholy history of ritual human sacrifices.
Features a premium gold-foil cover and two exclusive 5″ x 7″ art cards.
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness · The Beginning, by Keith R.A. DeCandido · Print SRP: $15.99 · 128 pages ·
ISBN: 978-1427868428 · For Ages 16+ · Available Now
Before the events of the 2021 animated series, Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, Leon Kennedy is called in to investigate alongside Pittsburgh PD when a bomb kills a guard at the Carnegie Museum of Art. But when that guard rises from the autopsy table and begins a chain reaction of undead corpses hunting for blood, Leon is once again caught in a complex web of intrigue. A terrorist cult, a mysterious virus, and the corpses of the dead returning to life to assault the living…
Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon REMIX, story by Ben Kahn, art by Bayou Kun · SRP: $14.99 · 176 pages ·
ISBN: 9781427874047 · For Ages 16+ · Available Now
Dolph Laserhawk, the once powerful and illustrious super-soldier stationed under the oppressive Eden mega-corporation, stands at a crossroads between staying a mindless killing machine under Eden’s control and joining a band of rebel outcasts on a risky undercover mission. Before he can finally be free of the manipulative forces surrounding him, he must relive the best and worst moments of his life. Using Holloway’s VR technology, he walks through his memories of living as a penniless deserter, meeting and abandoning the love of his life, and coming to terms with the truth behind his passionate and tumultuous love affair with Alex Taylor – the ruggedly handsome criminal mastermind who once saved his life.
Watch Dogs Tokyo, VOL. 1 story by Seiichi Shirato, art by Shuuhei Kamo · Print SRP: $13.99 · 224 pages ·
ISBN: 9781427875501 · For Ages 13+ · Available Now
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…
Source: Press Release
