Kodama Tales, the manga publisher behind BAKI and BAKI the Grappler, announced three new manga licenses early this week on X. Per the announcement, the titles will be available next summer. Members of Kodama Tales will be able to access the titles one month before their release.
Neo Cat
by Aoka
Available June 2027
Cats evolved. We still can’t resist them.
They walk on two legs, hold down jobs, and even work in host clubs. In Aoka’s world, cats participate in human society while remaining unmistakably feline. Across eight offbeat stories, humans and cats work together, clash, and discover unexpected connections. Expressive feline characters and stylishly drawn human settings bring this strange shared world to life, with humor that finds fresh possibilities in our fascination with cats.
A Mandala in Flames
By Chie Shinomoto
Available July 2027
In an age of warlords, one man sets out to conquer Japan with a paintbrush.
Rejected as an apprentice by the celebrated Kano Eitoku, painter Hasegawa Tohaku struggles to establish himself in Kyoto. When he risks his life to see Eitoku’s masterpieces inside a burning castle, his ambition is rekindled. Against the upheaval of sixteenth-century Japan, Tohaku fights for recognition while confronting the losses that will shape his art. Chie Shimomoto’s complete, one-volume historical drama imagines the turbulent life of one of Japan’s great painters.
Baki Hanma
by Keisuke Itagaki
Available July 2027
The fight Baki has spent his entire life preparing for is finally within reach.
Yujiro Hanma is the strongest creature on Earth. His son intends to take that title from him. In the third arc of Keisuke Itagaki’s legendary martial arts saga, Baki seeks out opponents who defy every limit of human strength, from the prison powerhouse Biscuit Oliva to the prehistoric warrior Pickle. Each confrontation brings him closer to the battle fans have been waiting for. Every punch, every broken bone, every impossible victory has led to this.
According to the announcement tweet, Neo Cat, Baki Hanma, and A Mandala in Flames join the following titles also releasing in 2027:
- HORIZON
- Beautiful Place
- Crows
- Cyberblue
- Casino Gui
Which titles are you most excited for? As always, stay tuned to Comic Beat for more manga licensing news!
