We learned earlier this year that the Shaman King manga is getting a new “complete” anime adaptation that will follow the source material closely. The problem is that the manga wasn’t exactly complete here. The original work was created by Hiroyuki Takei which ran for 35 volumes and spawned a TV series back in 2001.
Kodansha Comics revealed earlier this month that they’ve set things with ComiXology to bring it out as one of their projects there with the final three unreleased volumes also being included in the run in English for the first time. Unfortunately, plans to have the series out soon digitally have fallen through and the August debut is not going to happen. This has also impacted the digital release of Shaman King Zero, Shaman King: Flowers, Shaman King: Super Star, and Shaman King: Red Crimson, all of which are now paused since they wanted to have everything out for fans as close as possible.
No new dates are set for the main series and spinoffs yet but they intend to update as soon as possible on it. This delay does not impact the physical print releases that are scheduled for 2021 and 2022.
When released, they’ll be available digitally through Kindle as well as Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited as ComiXology is owned by Amazon.
Viz Media originally licensed and released the manga in North America but Kodansha Comics holds that one now.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: A battle is about to begin in Tokyo: the Shaman Fight, a tournament held every five hundred years where shaman—those who can command spirits—confront each other in combat. The victor of this contest becomes the Shaman King and the only one who is able to contact and control the Great Spirit, allowing them to reshape the world as they please through its immense power.
During a late night walk, Manta Oyamada runs into his classmate, the carefree You Asakura, who invites him to come stargazing with some friends, who, to Manta’s horror, turn out to be ghosts from a local cemetery! However, the knowledge that Manta possesses—a rare sixth sense that allows Manta to see these spirits—endears the boy to You. So when You finds out that his new comrade has been beaten up by a local gang, he decides to avenge him with the help of Amidamaru, a samurai ghost whose tomb was broken by the gang leader.
Soon Manta uncovers more about the world of spirits, including the Shaman Fight, in which his new friend You aims to claim victory.
