Titan Manga has announced the acquisition of the license to publish the Saint Seiya: Dark Wing manga series in English. This spinoff of Masami Kurumada’s renowned Saint Seiya manga is written by Kenji Saito and illustrated by Shinshu Ueda. Saint Seiya: Dark Wing offers a fresh perspective on the classic series, focusing on characters within Hades’s army and exploring themes of destiny, betrayal, and the balance between life and death. The first volume is slated for release on September 16, 2025, with the second volume following on December 16, 2025.
What is Saint Seiya: Dark Wing?
Saint Seiya: Dark Wing (Japanese: 聖闘士星矢 （ セイントセイヤ ） 冥王異伝 ダークウィング, Hepburn: Seinto Seiya Meiō Iden Dāku Uingu, lit. ‘Saint Seiya: An Alternate Tale of the Underworld Emperor – Dark Wing’) is a Japanese manga series. It began serialization in Akita Shoten’s Champion Red magazine on December 19, 2020. As of August 2024, six tankobon volumes have been released in Japan. The seventh volume is scheduled to release on March 18, 2025.
Storyline
The story centers around Shoichiro, an ordinary high school student who is thrust into a war between Athena and Hades after an unexpected ambush during a school trip sends him and his classmates to the land of the dead. He discovers he is chosen as Wyvern, one of the three Judges of the Underworld and one of the 108 Specters of Hades. Shoichiro, now Wyvern, finds himself battling against the forces of Athena. Meanwhile, Cattleya, the reincarnation of Athena, fights to defend the living. Together, they uncover shocking truths about a darker conspiracy that threatens everything they know.
The second volume delves deeper into the escalating war between the gods. Shoichiro navigates a web of treachery as he faces not only Athena’s warriors but also new alliances and deadly enemies.
Characters
- Shoichiro/Wyvern: An ordinary high school student who becomes one of Hades’s Judges of the Underworld.
- Cattleya: The reincarnation of Athena, who leads the fight to defend the living.
The series also features characters from Athena and Hades’ armies, including Gold Saints and Specters.
Publication Details
Saint Seiya: Dark Wing is written by Kenji Saito and illustrated by Shinshu Ueda. The manga is published by Akita Shoten in Japan and licensed by Titan Manga for English release.
- Original Run: December 19, 2020 – present
- Magazine: Champion Red
- Publisher (Japan): Akita Shoten
- Publisher (English): Titan Manga
Release Dates (English Edition)
- Volume 1: September 16, 2025
- Volume 2: December 16, 2025
Reception and Reviews
Opinions on Dark Wing are varied among fans. Some appreciate its fresh perspective and unique storyline. Others find it less enjoyable compared to other Saint Seiya spinoffs like The Lost Canvas and Episode G. Some appreciate that Dark Wing tries something different for the story, while others criticize it for poor fanfiction ideas and a lack of coherence with the original series.
Where to Pre-Order
Pre-orders for the first volume are currently available from:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Books A Million
- Forbidden Planet (U.K.)
The Saint Seiya Universe
The original Saint Seiya manga, written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada, was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1990. The manga’s success led to numerous anime adaptations, films, and spinoffs. Saint Seiya follows the story of Seiya, a young orphan who trains to become one of Athena’s Saints, warriors who protect the goddess in her battle against evil forces.
Other Notable Saint Seiya Spinoffs
- Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – Meiō Shinwa by Shiori Teshirogi
- Saint Seiya Episode.G by Megumu Okada
- Saint Seiya: Next Dimension – The Myth of Hades by Masami Kurumada
- Saint Seiya: Saintia Shō by Chimaki Kuori
- Saint Seiya: Rerise of Poseidon by Tsunakan Suda
