Digital manga platform Azuki has officially released Kodansha’s Young Magazine U.S. Special Issue, making the first-ever English edition of the celebrated seinen manga publication available to users for free. Announced at Anime NYC 2025, this special issue celebrates Young Magazine’s 45th anniversary and introduces a curated selection of new manga titles to American audiences.
A Landmark Release for Seinen Manga Fans
The special U.S. edition of Young Magazine marks a significant expansion for Kodansha’s long-running publication, known for serializing influential works such as AKIRA and Ghost in the Shell. This English-language issue is a celebration of the magazine’s 45th anniversary, which first launched in Japan on June 16, 1980. Its availability on Azuki as a free digital offering provides unprecedented access for North American manga enthusiasts to content previously difficult to obtain.
Unfiltered Manga for Mature Audiences
The core concept behind the Young Magazine U.S. Special Issue is “[UN-filtered MANGA],” focusing on sci-fi, dark horror, and cyberpunk stories tailored for adult readers, exploring “raw, unfiltered realities of ordinary human beings in extraordinary situations”. This aligns with the seinen demographic, which targets older audiences with themes and ideas beyond the scope of shonen manga.
The massive issue contains over 1,044 pages of high-quality content, featuring 19 new manga series. These include contributions from acclaimed creators such as Shuzo Oshimi (known for The Flowers of Evil), Masaaki Nakayama (PTSD Radio), and Shuichi Shigeno (Initial D), alongside emerging artists. Popular series like UNDER NINJA by Kengo Hanazawa are also showcased.
Fan Voting Event to Discover New Series
A key interactive element of the special issue is a fan voting event, where readers can select their favorite titles from 16 eligible manga series featured within the magazine. The winning manga will receive a serialization on Kodansha’s official manga app, K MANGA. Voting will run until November 10, 2025, with final results slated for December 15, 2025. This initiative not only engages readers but also offers a direct pathway for new creators to gain wider recognition.
Accessibility and Availability
The Young Magazine U.S. Special Issue was initially distributed for free as a physical copy to attendees of Anime NYC 2025 from August 21-24, and at participating Kinokuniya locations for a limited time. Digitally, Azuki announced its free availability on its platform from August 24, 2025. The digital edition will remain free until December 31, 2025, but users can permanently add it to their Azuki library before that date to ensure continued access. GlobalComix also made the special edition available for free through the end of 2025, alongside an expanded Kodansha catalog.
Azuki, a digital manga publishing service launched in 2021 by KiraKira Media Inc., aggregates English-translated manga from various publishers, offering content through a monthly subscription or individual purchases. This release further solidifies Azuki’s role in providing legal and accessible manga to a growing global audience.
