Titan Manga has officially announced that it will publish the English-language adaptation of Uketsu’s bestselling horror novel, Strange Pictures (original title: Hennae), with the first manga volume set to release on June 2, 2026. The chilling series, adapted by artist Noriyuki Aiba, promises to bring the enigmatic masked writer’s popular work to a new global audience.
The announcement confirms the highly anticipated translation of a novel that has captivated millions in Japan, blending suspense and mystery with unsettling visuals.
Unraveling the Mystery of “Strange Pictures”
Strange Pictures delves into a world where seemingly innocent childlike sketches hold dark secrets and connect a web of unsolved mysteries. The narrative reportedly centers around nine such drawings, each revealing a piece of a larger, terrifying puzzle. These include a pregnant woman’s doodles on her blog that conceal a dire warning, a boy’s simple drawing of his home hiding a disturbing message, and a murder victim’s final sketch becoming a crucial clue for an amateur sleuth.
Titan Manga describes the story as a “spine-tingling manga adaptation” that transforms the mundane into the macabre, appealing to fans of modern psychological horror and creators like Junji Ito. The novel’s unique approach, combining text with images and diagrams, allows readers to actively piece together clues to solve gruesome happenings.
The Creators Behind the Horror Phenomenon
The original Strange Pictures novel was penned by Uketsu, an enigmatic masked YouTuber and writer who has become one of Japan’s most talked-about authors. The novel, published in Japanese by Futabasha in 2022, has sold over 1.5 million copies and has been translated into more than 30 languages. An English translation of the novel itself, by Jim Rion, was published by HarperVia in 2025.
The manga adaptation is brought to life by artist Noriyuki Aiba (also known as Kikō Aiba). Aiba launched the manga on Futabasha’s Web Action manga website in October 2024, with the third compiled volume already shipped in Japan as of August 2025. Another manga adaptation of Uketsu’s work, The Strange House (Henna Ie), is also being released in English by Seven Seas.
Titan Manga’s Expanding 2026 Lineup
The addition of Strange Pictures further solidifies Titan Manga’s diverse slate of releases for 2026. The publisher has been actively expanding its English-language offerings, bringing a wide range of genres from Japan to Western readers.
Upcoming titles from Titan Manga in early 2026 include:
- Unemployed Killers Support Group Vol. 1: A noir-inspired dark comedy by Rio, set for release on February 3, 2026.
- Gizmo Riser Vol. 1: Roku Souna’s sci-fi debut, arriving on February 17, 2026, set in a dystopian kingdom where social status is vertical.
- Grendizer U: The Inception: Go Nagai and 8KEY’s manga adaptation of the iconic UFO Robot Grendizer, slated for March 17, 2026.
- The Five Star Stories Volume 1: Mamoru Nagano’s long-running science fiction manga, which Titan Manga will publish on March 3, 2026.
- Record Journey Vol. 1: Ryoichiro Kezuka’s collection of short stories about music and memory, scheduled for April 7, 2026.
- Geniearth Vol. 1: Rensuke Oshikiri’s dark saga of genetic evolution and civil war, due out April 14, 2026.
Strange Pictures Vol. 1 will be available for pre-order from major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Forbidden Planet.
