books

Manga’s First Century coming soon outside North America

/ ahorbinski
A book cover with three comics images horizontal, a boy and Betty Boop, a girl and boy looking scared, and an adult man being harassed by an old-fashioned telephone.

First things first: the rest-of-world publication date for Manga’s First Century is now 13 January 2026. Which means that you still have time to preorder your copy from your favorite bookstore, including from Bookshop UK (which has the ebook available!), or request that your library purchase a copy. I’ve updated the book page with a few more links.

Back in North America, thank you to everyone who has already purchased a copy! As always, if you are able to leave a positive review of the book online, especially Amazon and Goodreads, these help the book be more readily “seen” by various shopping algorithms.

Finally, there’s been some more press about the book lately. I did a Q&A for the UC Press blog about the book and the availability of some of the manga I talk about in it in English, and Manga’s First Century was also reviewed (favorably!) in Buzz magazine Wales.

Manga’s First Century available worldwide!

/ ahorbinski
A book cover with three comics images horizontal, a boy and Betty Boop, a girl and boy looking scared, and an adult man being harassed by an old-fashioned telephone.

Manga’s First Century is now available worldwide! If you haven’t gotten yours yet, you can order a copy at any bookstore, large or small; if you purchase through the UC Press website (via indiepubs.com), use code HOLIDAY30 for 30% off in the United States and Canada–ebook and print for the States, print only for Canada. 

Thank you to everyone who’s already bought a copy. If you liked the book, it would be a great help if you leave a review online–more reviews helps the book be more visible to the algorithm and thus to more readers who might enjoy it. And it’s always a great time to request that your local library purchase a copy.

See you on Discord for my CasaCon talk tomorrow!

Manga’s First Century available now in North America

/ ahorbinski
A book cover with three comics images horizontal, a boy and Betty Boop, a girl and boy looking scared, and an adult man being harassed by an old-fashioned telephone.

Today is publication day for Manga’s First Century! Thank you to everyone who’s already preordered. You can order a copy at any bookstore, large or small; if you purchase through the UC Press website (via indiepubs.com), use code EMAIL30 for 30% off in the United States and Canada–ebook and print for the States, print only for Canada. For those outside North America, you can still preorder in advance of the book’s international release on 28 November, and it’s always a good time to request that your local library purchase a copy.

Thank you again to my editor, Enrique Ochoa-Kaup, and everyone at UC Press who worked on the book. And thanks again to everyone who has told me they’d be interested in reading this book over the years. Now’s your chance.

See you at the AMA tomorrow!

Manga’s First Century preorders available now!

/ ahorbinski

I’m delighted to announce that Manga’s First Century: How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics, 1905-1989 is now available for preorder at retailers worldwide! It’s available in paperback, ebook, and hardcover, although the hardcover is priced (and intended) for academic libraries. The paperback first printing also includes 12 pages of full-color images, which will probably never be reprinted again.

New book: Manga’s First Century

/ ahorbinski

I’m thrilled to announce at long last that I have signed a book contract and MANGA’S FIRST CENTURY: HOW CREATORS AND FANS MADE JAPANESE COMICS, 1905-1989 is now officially under contract to the University of California Press. At present it’s planned to be released in 2025. Stay tuned for more about it as release gets nearer!