Titan Manga – the manga imprint of Titan Comics – has announced that they will be publishing Chang Sheng’s manhua series Yan in English for the first time. The comic features a powerful entity in the garb of a Peking Opera actress on a trail of vengeance – and the detective trying to unearth their secret. The first volume will hit stores February 25, 2025, retailing for $16.99.
Yan (originally published as 閻鐵花 or ‘Yan Tiehua’) was first released by Taiwanese publisher Dala in three 350+ page volumes between 2020 and 2022. A film adaptation is reportedly in the works. The Titan Manga release of the series will be 176 pages – so expect around six volumes. It has been described by Dala as “Taiwan’s first superhero comic”.
The comic even got a neat trailer in Taiwan:
The synopsis from Titan Manga:
“Immerse yourself in a riveting tale of mystery and horror with Yan Vol. 1, a masterpiece by the award-winning writer and artist Chang Sheng.
“Embark on a journey of suspense and action, as the mystery of Yen Tieh-hua’s return leaves a trail of death and destruction. Despite having been declared dead ten years prior, in prison records, she is now back and seeking vengeance for her family’s massacre, the same crime that she was imprisoned for.
“Accompany Detective Lei on his mission to shine a light on cold cases from the past, so he can solve current crimes and murders. We also witness the detective’s struggle to grasp the supernatural revelations that he comes across throughout his investigation.
“This is no ordinary horror story, with a savage monster for readers to hate and fear. While she may be feared, we learn so much more about Yen Tieh-hua and her companion Higa Mirai (a chess prodigy who possesses the power of precognition) on their violent quest for justice.”
This will be the second series by writer-artist Chang Sheng (常勝) to be made available in English after the release of his 4-volume medieval fantasy Oldman saga with EigoManga (published between 2022 and 2023). From a fine art/advertising background and based in Taiwan, he made his comics debut with Stanley in 2004 – immediately receiving the Executive Yuan Information Bureau Best Drama Comic Award. His work has continued to rack up the plaudits – having won and been shortlisted for international manga awards in Japan and receiving Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Comic Awards (漫畫金像獎; Mànhuà Jīnxiàng Jiǎng). His other acclaimed series include science fiction action saga BABY, which received two Golden Comic Awards in 2011; and The Hidden Level, which won a Golden Comic Award in 2017.
