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Vertical Adds Kizumonogatari Novel, Seraph of the End Novels, Ninja Slayer Manga

North American publisher Vertical announced at its Katsucon panel on Saturday that it licensed the Kizumonogatari light novel, the Seraph of the End light novel series, and the Ninja Slayer manga series.

Kizumonogatari is the third volume in NisiOisin's Monogatari book series that inspired Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Monogatari Series Second Season, and subsequent anime adaptations. Vertical marketing director Ed Chavez explained that his company is publishing this volume because "NisiOisin's editor suggested we start there. His team is very involved in this project." On whether Vertical can only announce this volume for now, he added, "We can only discuss Kizumonogatari now."

The story is a prequel to Bakemonogatari and tells the story of how protagonist Koyomi encounters the female vampire that would turn him and his journey to return to his normal life.

The volume will ship in November with original illustrations by VOFAN. A film adaptation of Kizumonogatari by Akiyuki Shimbo and SHAFT was announced in 2011. Aniplex of America is releasing the anime adaptations of NisiOisin's novels in North America.

Owari no Seraph: Ichinose Guren, 16-sai no Catastrophe (Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose, Catastrophe at 16) is a prequel light novel by Kagami Takaya with art by Yamato Yamamoto. The story follows the younger Guren Ichinose prior to the events of the Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga. A total of four volumes are available in Japan. Vertical plans to release the series as an omnibus.

The manga's post-apocalyptic story takes place after most of the world's population falls due to an epidemic. Vampires then emerge from the depths of the Earth to claim dominance of humanity. Humans fight back against the vampires by utilizing weapons imbued with demonic powers.

Viz Media is releasing the manga series in North America as part of its Shonen Jump imprint. An anime adaptation by Wit Studio and director Daisuke Tokudo is slated for this spring.

The Ninja Slayer: Machine of Vengeance manga Yūki Yogo is published online by Tokyo Otaku Mode. The manga's scripts are written by Yoshiaki Tabata with “Japanese translation” by Yū Honda and Leika Sugi and character designs by Yogo and Warainaku. The manga is based on the light novels credited to Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez. Tokyo Otaku Mode describes the story:

Ninja...Ninja were...merciless demi-gods, ruling Japan with their karate in the age of ninja tranquility. But, “some” committed a forbidden form of hara-kiri storing their souls at Kinkaku Temple for future resurrection. Their lost history was falsified and concealed and the truth about these ninja was long forgotten. Now, in the future where the universalization of cybernetic technology and electronic networks are God, suddenly, sinister ninja souls, resurrected from thousands of years past are unleashed on the dark shadows of Neo-Saitama. Fujikido Kenji, is a salaryman whose wife and child were killed in a ninja turf war. In a brush with his own death, Fujikido is possessed by an enigmatic ninja soul. Fujikido cheats death and becomes Ninja Slayer. A Grim Reaper destined to kill evil ninja, committed to a personal war of vengeance. Set in the dystopian underworld of Neo-Saitama, Ninja Slayer takes on Soukai Syndicate ninjas in mortal combat.

The manga began serializing in Kadokawa's Comp Ace magazine in 2013, and Vertical will begin publishing it in October. An anime adaptation by the Studio Trigger and director Akira Amamiya is slated for summer.

[Via 「Ushiromiya Lupus」, Linda]