Vertical Inc. – serie

Tsutomu Nihei, master of the mysterious architectural monolith, brings his genius to bear on the fantasy genre for the first time. Having established himself with hit series like Blame! and Knights of Sidonia, he has now created a gritty, dark fantasy world and populated it with evil sorcerors and unique undead horrors. The ingenuous farmboy Yuva must accompany a contingent of knights through the increasingly dangerous floors of massive tower on the way to rescue the princess, Nihei bringing his unique sensibility to bear on a crumbling world of malformed creatures, wounded soldiers, and labyrinthine darkness.Level 25 of the Dragon Tower—Yuva and his companions, having fallen into a trap set by deserters from the Royal Guard, are grievously wounded and on the brink of annihilation. The traitors demand that Eriquo hand over the Dragonbane, a legendary relic they seem to think he secretly carries… But even if they survive this deadly encounter, can our tiny band of adventurers really overcome the dangers of the indomitable labyrinth, defeat the Necromancer, and rescue Princess Ignelia?The gritty dungeon-crawling fantasy from science fiction master Tsutomu Nihei (Blame!, Knights of Sidonia) continues!

Tsutomu Nihei, master of the mysterious architectural monolith, brings his genius to bear on the fantasy genre for the first time. Having established himself with hit series like Blame! and Knights of Sidonia, he has now created a gritty, dark fantasy world and populated it with evil sorcerors and unique undead horrors. The ingenuous farmboy Yuva must accompany a contingent of knights through the increasingly dangerous floors of massive tower on the way to rescue the princess, Nihei bringing his unique sensibility to bear on a crumbling world of malformed creatures, wounded soldiers, and labyrinthine darkness.Eriquo, Lilicen, and Yuva are left to rescue the princess on their own after their commanding officer, who just so happens to be the king's sister, is whisked back to the capital to sit the throne in his absence. The three face innumerable dangers as they begin to tease out the secrets of the Dragon Tower—but danger lurks without as well as within. Haughty knights, mighty sorcerers, a killer with the indomitable power of the Dracomorph… Monsters come in many forms!This dark dungeon-crawling fantasy from master of science fiction Tsutomu Nihei (Blame!, Knights of Sidonia) continues to expand its scope, hinting at a wider narrative set in what is surely his richest world yet.Do you have what it takes to face the perils of the Dragon Tower…?

Iruma Suzuki has always been eager to please, even at the cost of his well-being. Worst yet, he's the son of two selfish parents who end up selling him to a demon. Thanks to their totally irresponsible actions, Iruma has found himself living in the Netherworld, where he must live and attend school as the grandson of an older demon. Luckily, his new, doting grandfather is there to help, but Iruma will have to figure out how to blend in with his demonic classmates or risk getting eaten. All he needs to do is subjugate rival classmates, summon familiars, and do other typical demon things while never revealing that he's human... Piece of cake, right?

The Big 15!! Iruma Suzuki, once a poor young boy with nothing to his name, is now set to take a big step towards adulthood in the netherworld!! And with that come new questions, like what exactly does the Student Council President Ameri mean to him...?!

Dance, Demons, Dance! After Iruma’s heartfelt pitch, Purson gives in and agrees to take to the stage at the Music Festival with the rest of the Misfit Class!! With all thirteen misfits determined to win, Keroli suggests the group perform a truly torturous feat―the Hell Dance. But what could that be...?!

From Tsutomu Nihei, the creator of Knights of Sidonia, APOSIMZ and Biomega. NOiSE is the prequel to the hit series BLAME!What starts as a routine investigation into a series of child kidnappings turns personal when detective Musubi Susono’s partner is viciously murdered by a fanatical cult. Stymied by her superiors and armed only with a mysterious sword, Susono must descend into the depths of her decaying city in search of answers—and what she finds will remake the world as she knows it.Set 3,000 years before the events of BLAME!, this dark, action-packed prequel from sci-fi visionary Tsutomu Nihei (Knights of Sidonia, Aposimz) provides a glimpse into the origins of the Safeguards and the NetSphere, while standing alone as a gritty masterpiece of cyberpunk noir. Finally back in print, NOiSE also includes Nihei’s prize-winning debut story, an early version of BLAME!

THE MONKEY DANCE OF DEATH Tetsuo Hara’s masterful follow-up to the generation-defining Fist of the North Star—a rollicking samurai epic inspired by a real-life legend.Keiji’s luck has finally run out. Imperial Regent Hideyoshi has caught wind of his exploits in Kyoto and summons him to an audience with a not-so-veiled threat: fail to appear, and the House of Maeda pays the price. Having brought the nation to heel, the ruthless warlord now seeks to bend the famously freewheeling kabukimono to his will—something Keiji’s samurai pride will never allow. But faced with a foe he can’t simply fight, and with more than his own life at stake, Keiji may soon have no choice but to dance to the tyrant’s drum…or preserve his honor in death!

The Explosive Finale to the Black Auction Operation! After surviving a dangerous brush with death, Iruma gets back on his feet, ­determined to save everyone he cares about. Together with Clara and Ameri, he sets off on a mission in this stunning conclusion to the black auction ­showdown...!!

Who needs him? I’m perfectly fine on my own! Get ready for a brand-new rom-com, perfect for Bridgerton fans and anyone who’s tired of playing second fiddle! Young noblewoman Nicole has had her heart broken more times than she can count by her fiancé, Keios. Day after day, he overlooks her in favor of Princess Caroline, beloved queen bee of their elite academy and Keios’s childhood friend. After one too many slights, Nicole makes a bold decision: If he can do as he pleases, why shouldn’t I? Embracing her newfound independence, she begins to shine in ways that even the clueless Keios can't ignore…

"Newcomers and existing fans alike will enjoy diving into the world of Monogatari and meeting the delightful cast of characters. If you're yet to experience this series in any form then this is the perfect time to climb aboard!" - Anime UK NewsShinobu’s matter has been settled, but there’s still one last problem to solve: Hanekawa and her struggle with the Tyrannical Tiger. With the life of a loved one in danger, Hanekawa will have to risk it all to put down her formidable feline foe, but can she really win the battle in a fight against her feelings?

While the title (which translates as 'ordinary' or 'everyday') suggests a story of simple, everyday school life, the contents are more the opposite. Set in a strange school where you may see the principal wrestle a deer, or a robot hide the school lunches, the days that unfold in Nichijou are curious and hilarious, if not downright bizarre. However amidst all the chaos and comedy Arawi still takes time to share everyday slice of life stories giving readers an insight into modern Japanese youth culture.

An unexpected return of nichijou!The quirky gang is back!  For the die-hard nichjou fans or even those picking it up for the first time, this cute and outrageous gag comedy series is definelty going to have you bust a gut!never-changing normalcy an increasingly ludicrous game of charades. a potentially explosive situation. a tasty new way to get to check-mate. citrus juice can be weaponized. sneaking into the school brings out surprisingly unscary monsters. just 5 more seconds of sleep...

From Keiichi Arawi, the creator of hit series nichijou, comes a new slapstick comedy series about a penniless college student who moves to a town filled with bizarre people. This reckless girl will be the one who eventually sets the city in motion.Nagumo and her friends decide to go camping. Wako Izumi has already gone out and bought everything they might need—the gear, the food, all of it—when she suddenly comes down with a cold…Will they postpone the trip, or press on using everything she’s prepared and leave her behind?After three years, that familiar “CITY” is finally back on the page—and on screen! The same people, the same chaos, yet brand-new stories are about to unfold. Enjoy the ride!

Let the Music Play!! With the Harvest Festival behind them, Iruma and the Misfit Class must now begin rehearsing for their next challenge: the Music Festival!! They decide to come together as a group and aim to sweep the competition off its feet…but run into some unforeseen trouble at the very first note!!

Blast from the Past Working hard to be the best underboss he can be, Iruma convinces his Nonno and Kalego to let him follow up on intel about a project meant to revitalize his hometown: the slums. Little does he know, a long-lost friend is determined to stop him in his tracks...

The Maiden’s Bookshelf series combines classic short stories of the early 20th century with gorgeous original artwork to create collectible editions for a contemporary audience.At what cost art?In the course of a routine journey, government inspector Yuan Can encounters his old friend Li Zheng—but not as he remembers him. Transformed by obsession into a hideous beast, Li Zheng spins a tragic tale, and ultimately presents his confidante with a singular request. Dressed in the trappings of 8th-century China, Atsushi Nakajima’s meditation on poetry and friendship nevertheless transcends time and language to speak directly to our hearts about what it means to be human. 14+

From the renowed artist Boichi comes a gorgeous and shocking hard-boiled sci-fi classic!"Boichi crafts a smart futuristic thriller with an interesting premise and delivers it with skill. Recommended." - Otaku USAI know what you really are—! As he demolishes one identical GON-BOT after another, ORIGIN’s own body is slowly but surely brought to the brink. But even when the massive GON PRIME bursts onto the scene wielding unimaginable destructive power, ORIGIN exercises his newfound will to prioritize protecting Mai Hirose over his own survival. Physical power isn’t everything, though—and the knowledge of GON PRIME’s true identity might just give ORIGIN the edge he needs!

"Flying Witch emphasizes that while actual magic is nice, there is ultimately magic in everything." --Anime News NetworkHigh Stakes MissionsTo atone for stopping time under the influence, Makoto’s sister Akane must undertake a challenging job for the Society. Her mission: retrieve a sacred artifact from a long-sealed chamber in the Tibetan mountains or risk forever staining her reputation. Back in Aomori, Makoto fits a friend in a handmade robe—only to unexpectedly unleash a little chaos. And when a special visitor asks for help, Makoto and her crew put all their skills to the test in a task that, if done wrong, could spell the end of the human race.

"There's a distinct visual element to APOSIMZ that sets it apart from many other manga, a lightly-inked, barely-shaded style that lends it a dreamlike quality. " - Anime News NetworkAs Etherow, Titania, Keisha, and Wasabu, in disguise as civilians, continue to make their way towards the center of the Rebedoan Empire, they come across Rutohmero, a city on the outskirts that has been decimated by Frame disease. As the illness blights the Empire via airborne contaminant, the execution squad resurfaces, and Wasabu’s fate hangs in the balance...

The 200,000 KM diameter artificial celestial body of APOSIMZ. Most of its volume is its core space, which is covered by a superstructural shell. Fifty centuries ago, the people who lost a war against the core lost their right to reside legitimately in APOSIMZ, and were left behind on the extremely cold surface. They face the spreading Frame disease. And aggressive automatons which appear frequently on the ruins level. Yet even so, somehow people survive.

A massive cultural phenomenon, made even bigger by the hit anime based on it. To this day, "Ashita no Joe" remains one of the most important manga of all time, and now it will finally see the light of day in English for the first time!A BRIEF, BLINDING FLAME..The stunning end to his epic fight with Carlos Rivera catapults Joe into the limelight, but what will he give up to spend his youth under that blinding glare? Boxing is everything to him, leaving no room for love or other distractions—all he wants is to burn bright and leave behind nothing but pure white ash. And now, an appearance by world champion José Mendoza means Joe's sights are set on an even bigger stage...!This universally acclaimed classic is much more than a sports manga: it is a cultural touchstone and a realist masterpiece, perhaps the most prominent series ever to eschew any hint of the superhuman or supernatural, yielding a keenly observed human drama that captured the hearts of an entire generation on its way to becoming a runaway bestseller.  Serialized from 1968-1973, Ashita no Joe made a particular impact on college students and the working class, who saw their own experience reflected in Joe's struggle. To this day, it remains one of the most important manga ever published, and this landmark omnibus edition marks its first appearance in English translation.Hitmaker Asao Takamori was arguably the biggest manga author of his day, while the massively influential Tetsuya Chiba was awarded the prestigious Order of Culture by the Japanese government in 2024, the first manga artist ever to receive that honor.

From Keiichi Arawi, the creator of hit series nichijou, comes a new slapstick comedy series about a penniless college student who moves to a town filled with bizarre people. Some changes are coming to the CITY—with Ecchan departing for good and Nagumo finally ready to pay Granny back (if she’ll accept the money), things won’t be the same around the neighborhood.Meanwhile, Captain Obina agrees to a soccer shootout with the fate of Gongenyama hanging in the balance, an unexpected prize-winning photograph creates another unexpected celebrity, and even the mysterious creatures living in the sewers don’t know what to make of a bizarre newcomer. Surprised? Don’t be. Everyone should know by now that all bets are off in the CITY!

HOW DO I PROVE MY HEART TO HER? Without Keios holding her back, Nicole is blossoming more than ever and even sets her sights on a new dream: studying abroad in Iregard. Humbled and desperate, Keios scrambles to win her back, cursing the man he once was. But is it enough? Their misunderstanding may be behind them, but with their roles now reversed, there’s more distance between them than ever—especially with the arrival of a potential rival on the scene.Can they find their way back to each other? Or are they doomed to drift apart for good?

The shocking, gritty new seinen crime thriller from the team behind bestselling manga My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought. A unique blend of cinematic art and realistic storytelling undergird the terrifying mysteries and wild reversals of this dark police procedural, which will appeal to older readers of crime novels and graphic fiction far beyond the usual manga audience.With Juzo Haikawa’s sudden arrest and confession, it seems the Mansion Murders have been solved just like that. But Kanon Hasumi, one of Haikawa’s surviving “children,” insists that someone else was actually behind the gruesome crime. Persuaded by her conviction, detective Jin Saeki continues the investigation, which stalls until suddenly Haikawa himself is murdered outside his prison cell…!

DEATH TO ALL DRAGONS! The sudden appearance of massive monsters known as 'Dragons' throws the world into chaos. The New United Nations, created as a response to the threat, puts together a team known as the Dragonslayers, including (among others) a vampire, an android, a witch, the animated remains of the legendary ogre Shuten Doji, and....a little girl?! Ace pilot Momo may still be in grade school, but she just might have the skills to save humankind. Taut action, propulsive storytelling, and sly humour take this seinen action series to new heights and unexpected places! On the fateful day the dragons first appeared, Dr. Abe's beloved died in the inital onslaught. Now he has created an android in his own image: the DS-08 'Shikigami,' part of the NUN (New United Nations)'s top secret project to counter this monstrous invasion. In addition to the Shikigami, this team of 'Dragonslayers' is comprised of members of the many races that have up till now lived in obscurity: elves, dwarves, witches, vampires, and more... As the team assembles to fight off the massive and mysterious creatures that now menace humanity, however, one member stands apart from the rest: Momo Agatsuma, the young daughter of an NUN scientist and ace pilot par excellence. Together this motley crew must fend of the greatest threat the world has ever faced...!

SF/Fantasy visionary Tsutomu Nihei's most accessible and exciting series yet! With a strong influence from classics like Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Castle in the Sky, Kaina tells the story of two worlds - above and below, both of which look to one another for salvation. Part of coming-of-age, part adventure, part high fantasy, this is bound to be a classic. Nihei's character designs are brought to vivid and engaging life by Itoe Takemoto (known for series including The Beast Player). With a very well-received anime adaptation currently on Crunchyroll, Kaina of the Great Snow Sea is perfectly set up to be a smash hit.A young man named Kaina ekes out an existence high atop the canopy that spreads from the titanic orbital spire trees. He and the handful of aging fellow villagers who remain believe they are the last humans in the world—after all, no one could survive amid the great snow sea that blankets the surface below. But they're about to learn how wrong they are…Here begins the epic tale that could change the fate of a dying world forever!

What is ORIGIN up against—?! Having destroyed DA, ORIGIN is suddenly ambushed by the murderous robot’s compatriots SON and GON in what is clearly an act of revenge. But with neither sentiment nor ego, no robot should engage in such illogical behavior—can one among his foes truly be a robot with emotions?!Even as this desperate battle plays out in the shadows, ORIGIN has another fight on his hands: the struggle to pass as human in his day-to-day existence!

From the renowed artist Boichi comes a gorgeous and shocking hard-boiled sci-fi classic! Tokyo, 2048. Japan is now connected to the entire northern hemisphere by the Eurasian Railroad, and all manner of crime and vice pour into the megalopolis at its eastern terminus. Little do the people know that inhuman beings live among us, however--robots with high-level AI, who will kill to survive. Only one 'man' can stop them--their prototype: ORIGIN.

From the renowed artist Boichi comes a gorgeous and shocking hard-boiled sci-fi classic!You got a death wish, Tanaka—? To carry out his new central dogma—“protect Mai Hirose”—ORIGIN dons his exo-muscle armor and charges into battle against wave after wave of identical GON replicas. Victory seems within his grasp, until a powerful new foe bursts onto the scene. With the Kyoto A.I. Institute coming down around his ears, flight is ORIGIN’s only chance at survival—but for Mai’s sake, he will overcome his programming and fight on, armed with a new weapon:an independent WILL...!