Shueisha’s global digital manga platform, MANGA Plus, has announced that it will begin simultaneously publishing Eco Mikawa’s baseball manga, Oblivion Battery (Bōkyaku Battery), with its Japanese release. The simulpub commenced on Thursday, June 26, 2025 (JST), allowing international readers to access new chapters in English at the same time they become available on Shonen Jump+ in Japan. This move expands MANGA Plus’s growing collection of titles released concurrently with their Japanese counterparts.
About ‘Oblivion Battery’
Oblivion Battery is a sports manga written and illustrated by Eco Mikawa. It began serialization on Shueisha’s online manga app, Shonen Jump+, in April 2018. As of April 2025, Shueisha has released 21 compiled volumes of the series.
The story centers on a formidable baseball duo from middle school, pitcher Haruka Kiyomine and catcher Kei Kaname, who were once renowned as a “monster battery” and feared by their opponents. After a devastating loss, high school student Tarou Yamada, a former baseball player who faced this elite team, attempts to escape his past by enrolling in Kotesashi High School, a school with no baseball club. To his surprise, he reunites with Haruka and Kei, only to discover that Kei has amnesia and has lost all memory of playing baseball.
The narrative follows Tarou and Haruka as they endeavor to reignite Kei’s passion for baseball, forming a newly established baseball club. They are joined by other talented players, Aoi Todo and Shunpei Chihaya, who had also given up on baseball after experiencing defeat against Haruka and Kei. The manga blends sports action with character-driven drama, exploring themes of lost memories, redemption, and the pursuit of athletic glory.
The Growing ‘Oblivion Battery’ Franchise
Oblivion Battery‘s popularity has led to its expansion into various media. An anime television series adaptation, produced by MAPPA, premiered in April 2024. Crunchyroll streams the anime, which stars Toshiki Masuda as Haruka Kiyomine and Mamoru Miyano as Kei Kaname. A second season of the anime has already been confirmed. Prior to the full series, MAPPA also produced a short event anime adaptation in October 2020 for the Jump Special Anime Festa 2020. Furthermore, the franchise is set to receive a stage play adaptation in October.
What is Simulpub?
“Simulpub,” a portmanteau of “simultaneously” and “publish,” refers to the practice of releasing manga chapters in English (and other languages) at the exact same time as their Japanese publication. This model, pioneered by platforms like MANGA Plus, aims to provide global fans with immediate access to the latest chapters, significantly reducing the time lag between Japanese and international releases. MANGA Plus, owned by Shueisha, launched in January 2019 and offers a wide array of titles, with the latest chapters often available for free. This service helps combat piracy by offering a legal and timely alternative for international readers.
