New Manga at the Library

Published Friday, May 30, 2025

The Edwardsville Libray's pop culture section doesn't just have movies and graphic novels, it also has manga! Manga refers to comic books that were originally published in Japan. Mostly printed in black and white; manga is made in all genres. Manga has been popular in Japan since the 1950s, but in recent years its popularity in the US has been growing rapidly. Now manga makes up 76% of all comic book sales in the US.

Our library's manga collections contain a variety of volumes from classics to new releases and genres from romance to horror. With our selection ever-expanding, I put together a list of some popular manga that have recently been added to our collection. For even more options, don't forget to check out the rest of our adult manga collection located in the adult library in the pop culture section!

Sakamoto Days, Volume 1: The Legendary Hit Man

Yuto Suzuki

Taro Sakamoto was once a legendary hitman considered the greatest of all time. Bad guys feared him! Assassins revered him! But then one day he quit, got married, had a baby, and is now living the quiet life as the owner of a neighborhood store. To keep the life he loves, all he needs to do is not break the family rule: no killing. But, when other assassins start coming out of the woodwork to collect the bounty on his head, he's going to have to get creative to keep his family safe and not break the family rule.

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The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1

Natsu Hyuuga

Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn't long for a life of drudgery. Using her wits to break a "curse" afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attention of the beautiful Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the clever apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and even solving mysteries.

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Dandadan, Volume 1

Yukinobu Tatsu

Momo Ayase strikes up an unusual friendship with her school's UFO fanatic, whom she nicknames "Okarun" because he has a name that is not to be said aloud. While Momo believes in spirits, she thinks aliens are nothing but nonsense. Her new friend, meanwhile, thinks the exact opposite. To settle matters, the two set out to prove each other wrong—Momo to a UFO hotspot and Okarun to a haunted tunnel. Neither of them could have anticipated the paranormal problems that their experiment is about to unleash.

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Skull-face bookseller Honda-san. Vol. 1

Honda

Ever wonder what it's like to sell comics at a Japanese bookstore? Honda provides a hilarious firsthand account from the front lines. Whether it's handling the store, out-of-print books, or enthusiastic manga fans, Honda takes on every challenge!

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Firefly Wedding, Vol. 1

OrecoTachibana

On the surface, Satoko has it all—she’s beautiful, the daughter of a nobleman, and at a prime age for marriage. Unfortunately, she is also quite ill and only has a short time left to live. Before she can secure a marriage that will redeem her worth in her family’s eyes, she finds herself the target of the mysterious assassin Shinpei, and her plans are put in jeopardy. In order to save herself, she makes a desperate proposal—of marriage! When it comes to love, however, Shinpei takes “until death do we part” seriously.

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Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, Vol. 1

Jinushi

At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking—and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can't find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her. The despondent man thinks he's made a new smoking buddy in the cool, teasing Tayama, but Sasaki doesn't realize he already knows her!

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My Happy Marriage Vol. 1

Akumi Agitogi

A mistreated daughter is cast out of her family home and sent to audition as a bridal candidate for the heir to one of the most powerful families in the land. Considered worthless for having failed to inherit the superhuman powers of the bloodlines into which she was born, Miyo Saimori lives her days unwanted and unloved. She is treated as a servant by her half-sister who, unlike Miyo, is blessed with unusual powers, while her step-mother and very own father have little time or love for their eldest daughter. Ultimately seen as nothing more than a nuisance and a drain on the family wealth, Miyo is packed off to the Kudo house as a bridal candidate for its heir, Kyoka Kudo. But whispers abound about the Kudo clan, the most powerful in all the land. Still, will the allegedly cold and cruel house into which Miyo aims to marry prove much warmer than the family she left behind?

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The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity - Kaoru & Rin Vol. 1

Saka Mikami

Chidori High is a boys' school that takes in the dregs of society with the lowest grades. Next door stands Kikyo Girls' High, where the wealthy, high-class families send their precious daughters. Chidori second-year Rintaro, who has a fierce face but a gentle heart, is helping at his family's patisserie when he meets a girl named Kaoruko. The two hit it off right away...but this blissful peace is quickly disturbed when Rintaro discovers that Kaoruko is actually a student at Kikyo. Worse, she doesn't seem to realize what a huge problem this really is! Will these two be able to forge a path for themselves, and sidestep the traps (metaphorical and literal) laid by their classmates?

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About the Author

Jacqueline is a Circulation Clerk in the Adult Library who started in 2024. She enjoys reading epic fantasy books and cozy rom-coms; and believes the best way to read is with the physical book and the audiobook together. When she’s not reading she also loves going to the movies.