Announcing…The Nominees for the 2024 American Manga Awards

For the 2024 American Manga Awards, we received over 200 entries from 29 manga publishers, big, small, and everything in between. Our judges for the manga, translation, lettering and publication design categories have selected the nominees.

Winners will be announced at the American Manga Awards ceremony on August 22, 2024 at the Japan Society in New York City.

Here are the nominees for the first-ever American Manga Awards:

BEST NEW MANGA	BEST NEW CONTINUING SERIES
BEST NEW EDITION OF CLASSIC MANGA	BEST TRANSLATION
BEST LETTERING	BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN

BEST NEW MANGA

Best New Manga celebrates the most notable new manga series or one-shots that debuted in English (print or digital) between August 1, 2023 – July 30, 2024.

Nominating judges:
Brigid Alverson, Lynzee Loveridge, Minovsky, Renee Scott, Shaenon Garrity

Comments from the judges:

“There were so many fantastic new manga nominees this year. I was thrilled to see a plethora of art styles, from Sakamoto’s darkly beautiful #DRCL to Yoshimura’s purposeful use of color.”
-Lynzee Loveridge

“Seeing all of these stories made it so hard to choose the best of the best. I got to read and advocate for some titles that were barely on the radar, which was a crime against so many of the submissions. I’m so honored and grateful to be part of this amazing journey.”
-Renee Scott

The Darwin Incident

by Shun Umezawa
Kodansha
Editor: Daniel Joseph
Translator: Cat Anderson
Production: Grace Lu, Pei Ann and Eve Grandt

Judges’ comments:
“A sort of super-hero story looking to challenge humans’ presumption they are special and the world owes them fealty.”
-Lynzee Loveridge

“Well-drawn science fiction about big ideas on a human (or transhuman) level.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“Charlie the Humanzee’s design is captivating. The way his stylistic simplicity visually contrasts with the realism and brutality of his surroundings immediately drew my eye to him in every panel.”
-Minovsky

The Darwin Incident © Shun Umezawa/Kodansha Ltd.

#DRCL midnight children

by Shin’ichi Sakamoto, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula
VIZ Media
Editor: Andrew Kuhre Bartosh
Translator: Caleb Cook
Lettering and touch-up: Brendon Hull

Judges’ comments:

“Another beautiful take on the Dracula lore, but yet creates a new story to rival the original.”
-Renee Scott

“A twisty Dracula retelling with jaw-dropping art. Sakamoto ingeniously adapts some of the visual language of modern horror films into comics form.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“Shin-ichi Sakamoto was born to illustrate gothic literature. Any doubts you may have about the need for another adaptation of Dracula will turn to ash as soon as you lay your eyes on the art within.”
-Minovsky

Just Like Mona Lisa

by Tsumuji Yoshimura
Square Enix Manga & Books
Editor: Jennifer Sherman
Translator: Leo McDonagh
Lettering: Asher Caswell

Judges’ comments:

“Yoshimura takes a turn to grapple with a protagonist living as a nonbinary teen in a time when humanity chooses its gender. Hinase struggles to define themselves when confronted by societal expectations. Delicate and thought-provoking.”
-Lynzee Loveridge

“A beautiful drawn story centering on a nonbinary lead, who has been drawn into a love triangle while trying to discover their identity. The ending may stir controversy, but still a fascinating read.”
-Renee Scott

Mothers

by Umi Kusahara
Glacier Bay Books
Editor: emuh ruh
Translator: Jocelyne Allen
Lettering: Tim Sun

Judges’ comments:
“Beautifully drawn, touching short stories.”
-Brigid Alverson

“I did not expect this anthology to rip my heart out, tear it apart, and put it back into my chest.”
-Renee Scott

Soara and the House of Monsters

Hidenori Yamaji
Seven Seas Entertainment
Editor: Shanti Whitesides
Translator: Ben Trethewey
Lettering: Mercedes McGarry

Judges’ comments:

“An imaginative twist on the ‘what do we do when the wars are over’ genre of fantasy manga with amazingly original art.”
-Brigid Alverson

“My ten-year-old fell instantly in love with this and told me to nominate it, and he’s usually right.”
-Shaenon Garrity

BACK TO AWARD CATEGORIES

BEST CONTINUING MANGA SERIES

Best Continuing Manga Series spotlights the best ongoing manga published in English that have had at least one new volume (print or digital) released between August 1, 2023 – July 30, 2024.

Nominating judges:
Brigid Alverson, Lynzee Loveridge, Minovsky, Renee Scott, Shaenon Garrity

Comments from the judges:

“Thanks to judging this award, I got to catch up on some excellent manga and discovered that some titles just keep getting better as they go.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“The submissions pool was deep and contained many surprises. I discovered several titles that were completely new to me through the judging process and that I plan to continue reading long after this competition is over. The future of manga is bright.”
-Minovsky

Blood on the Tracks

by Shuzo Oshimi
Kodansha / Vertical
Editor: Daniel Joseph
Translator: Daniel Komen
Production: Risa Cho, Pei Ann Yeap, Evan Hayden

Judges’ comments:

“From beginning to end, this series continues to be an engaging mindtrip, especially witnessing how far this toxic mother-son relationship continues to shape everyone involved which makes it harder to turn away.”
-Renee Scott

“Characteristically unsettling psychological horror from Oshimi that doesn’t stop where most thrillers would, but keeps going deeper, forcing readers to witness the lasting damage of cruelty and cowardice.”
-Shaenon Garrity

Blood on the Tracks © Shuzo OSHIMI

Delicious in Dungeon

by Ryoko Kui
Yen Press
Editors: Abigail Blackman, Thomas McAlister
Translator: Taylor Engel
Lettering: Abigail Blackman

Judges’ comments:

“How does a goofy fantasy sendup about cooking and eating D&D monsters develop into a complex, moving, character-based saga…that’s still fundamentally about cooking and eating and D&D monsters? Mad genius.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“Ryoko Kui’s worldbuilding and masterful sense of humor continues in this penultimate volume.”
-Lynzee Loveridge

Dinosaur Sanctuary

by Itaru Kinoshita
Seven Seas Entertainment
Editor: Linda Lombardi
Translation: John Neal
Lettering: JM Iitomi Crandall

Judges’ comments:

“Set in an underfunded city zoo largely getting by on the passion of its staff in a world where the awe factor of dinosaurs being brought back to life wore off a long time ago, Dinosaur Sanctuary is the most thoughtful pitch anyone has had for how to carry the Jurassic Park concept forward since 1993. Well-researched, entertainingly presented, tenderly considerate of dinosaurs as actual animals instead of mindless man-eating monsters, and sure to delight paleontology fans of all ages.”
-Minovsky

“Think Jurassic Park, without the runaway, murderous T-Rex, but learning about adorable dinosaurs that get their own birthday parties.”
~Renee Scott

“I cannot resist a good edutainment manga, and Dinosaur Sanctuary continues to make the most of its brilliant premise of “Jurassic Park, but run responsibly.”
-Shaenon Garrity

Dinosaur Sanctuary vol. 4: © Itaru Kinoshita 2021 / SHINCHOSHA Publishing Co., Ltd.

She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat

by Sakomi Yuzaki
Yen Press
Editors: Won Young Seo, Carl Li, Shalini Arimilli
Translator: Caleb Cook
Lettering: Phil Christie

Judges’ comments:

“This utterly charming romance/cooking manga gets bonus points for going beyond typical yuri and dealing realistically (but still rosily) with two women exploring lesbian feelings.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“I’m a sucker for romantic notions about the simple yet profound pleasures of preparing and sharing meals with someone you care about. She Loves To Cook & She Loves to Eat represents a new high watermark for culinary love stories.”
-Minovsky

The Summer Hikaru Died

by mokumokuren
Yen Press
Editors: Fortune Soleil, JuYoun Lee, Abigail Blackman
Translator: Ajani Oloye
Lettering: Abigail Blackman

Judges’ comments:

“The Summer Hikaru Died taps into the profound fear of not just losing someone close to you, but the willingness to accept a facsimile if only to deny they ever died at all.”
-Lynzee Loveridge

“BL-themed atmospheric folk horror/body horror–this manga has everything I need.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“A horror, body snatchers-influenced BL that will make the reader wonder how far they will go to keep the one they care for most.”
-Renee Scott

BACK TO AWARD CATEGORIES

BEST NEW EDITION OF CLASSIC MANGA

Best New Edition of Classic Manga pays tribute to older manga series or one-shot stories that were originally published in Japan 20 or more years ago (prior to December 31, 2004), and have had at least one new volume in English published between August 1, 2023 – July 30, 2024.

Nominating judges:
Brigid Alverson, Lynzee Loveridge, Minovsky, Renee Scott, Shaenon Garrity

Comments from the judges:

“We had a good pool to draw from, and reading so many in such a short time made me feel more optimistic about the medium as a whole.”
-Brigid Alverson

Minami’s Lover

by Shungiku Uchida
Fantagraphics
Editor: Kristy Valenti
Translator: H. Paige
Production: C. Hwang, Paul Baresh

Judges’ comments:

“Charming, sweet, sad story about love in a strange situation. “
-Brigid Alverson

“Uchida takes a concept that could be the premise of a Shonen Jump romcom and turns it into a fable about romantic commitment that’s alternately funny, cute, smutty, and sad.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“A weird, cute, sad love story that I really did not expect to enjoy. Very different from anything I’ve read in the past.”
-Renee Scott

My Name is Shingo

by Kazuo Umezz
VIZ Media
Editor: Joel Enos
Translator: Jocelyne Allen
Adaptation: Molly Tanzer
Lettering: Evan Waldinger

Judges’ comments:

“Umezz’s foray into science fiction is as weird and unsettling as his straight-up horror manga, but it’s also a story about the effects of mechanization on ordinary life that feels as relevant today as it did when it first ran in the 1980s.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“No one working in any other medium has an imagination remotely tuned to the same alien frequency as Umezz. Umezz makes extensive use of grid patterns, dot matrices, and other visual artifacts of early computing to tremendous effect throughout My Name is Shingo.”
-Minovsky

Neighborhood Story

by Ai Yazawa
VIZ Media
Editor: Karla Clark
Translator: Andria McKnight
Touch-up art / lettering: Michelle Pang

Judges’ comments:

“Yazawa fans who have spent years waiting for her first major series to make it to translation will not be disappointed: this is a smart, funny, irrepressibly charming soap about offbeat art students in love. Yazawa’s art is amazing from the start.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“I once thought we’d never get this seminal shojo in print in the U.S., and I’m elated that Yazawa’s pre-Paradise Kiss series is as gorgeous as ever.”
-Lynzee Loveridge

Okinawa

by Susumu Higa
Fantagraphics
Editor: Andrew Woodrow-Butcher
Translator: Jocelyne Allen
Lettering: Patrick Crotty, Kayla E.

Judges’ comments:

“Together, Higa’s decades of stories set in his home island form a portrait of a unique rural culture warped and darkened by the constant shadow of military occupation.”
-Shaenon Garrity

UFO Mushroom Invasion

by Marina Shirakawa
Living the Line / Smudge
Editor and Translator: Ryan Holmberg
Lettering by Ozzy Von Eschen with Sean Michael Robinson
Essay by Takeo Udagawa

Judges’ comments:

“Reminiscent of sci-fi horror from the 1950s with all the campy charm it entails”
-Lynzee Loveridge

“Dark, weird, mycology-obsessed old horror manga. Read it and know what has been missing from your manga life.”
-Shaenon Garrity

“UFO Mushroom Invasion flew in from somewhere completely off my radar and I’m glad it did. I feel lucky to exist in a galaxy where there are still sublimely strange classic horror comics like this one waiting to be discovered.”
-Minovsky

Copyright 2024 © estate of Shirakawa Marina
Originally published as Shinryaku enban kinokoga, 1976

BACK TO AWARD CATEGORIES

BEST TRANSLATION

Best Translation celebrates exceptional Japanese-to-English translation and localization work in a new or continuing manga series or one-shot, published between August 1, 2023 – July 30, 2024.

Nominating judges:
Matt Alt, Hiroko Yoda

Comments from the judges:

“Translators work with one foot in the spotlight and the other in the shadows. Their efforts represent one of the most forward-facing aspects of manga abroad. Yet their role isn’t to shine, but rather to reflect the quality of the original writing. This makes it easy to underestimate how important their role is in the process of bringing manga to the world. Manga is a dynamic medium fueled by the diversity of its creative voices; its translation requires an equally dynamic and diverse approach. I hope the multifaceted talent on display here serves as a wake-up call to those who think translators can be replaced with machines.”
-Matt Alt

“When we judged the candidates, we paid particular attention to factors including challenge level (the complexity of the original work); characterization (capturing unique voices); and cultural nuances (concepts that are difficult to translate directly). Overall, the single most critical job of a manga translator is to faithfully capture the unique personality of every work. It isn’t about following the Japanese slavishly. It’s about having the skill to process the meaning internally, and the courage to write English that captures the essence of what the creator is trying to convey, even if it deviates from textbook definitions. That is localization, and it is something that requires a human touch.”
-Hiroko Yoda

Stephen Paul

translation for Akane-banashi
by Yuki Suenaga and Takamasa Moue
VIZ Media
Editor: Rae First

Judges Comments:

“The drama and humor of rakugo, traditional spoken-word storytelling, is extremely hard to capture in English, so the translator really had their work cut out for them. Their handling of the wordplay really shines.”
-Matt Alt

“I was very impressed with the effort and skill the translator put into the sango-jigo structure of the jokes. They really pulled it off, from the beginning all the way through the improv skit at the end.”
-Hiroko Yoda

John Neal

translation for Bocchi the Rock!
by Aki Hamaji
Yen Press
Editor: Thomas McAlister

Judges Comments:

“A real test of a translator’s skills – urban legends, traditional curses, and verse that needs to rhyme and be funny at same time.”
-Matt Alt

“Challenging content that made me laugh twice, first in Japanese – and again in translation. The song lyrics stood out as well.”
-Hiroko Yoda

David Evelyn

translation for Doll-Kara
by Kazuyoshi Ishii, Hanamura, and Kei Ryuzoji
J-Novel Club
Editor: Zubonjin

Judges Comments:

“A variety of voices, from non-native speakers to regional accents, gave this title its challenges. But the translator navigated them with aplomb.”
-Matt Alt

“This manga features a dramatic tonal shift between the street brawlers and the company employees planning the bouts. Capturing that nuance is key to making this fun to read in English.”
-Hiroko Yoda

Kevin Steinbach

translation for Issak
by Shinji Makari and DOUBLE–S
Kodansha
Editor: Sage Einarsen

Issak © Shinji Makari, DOUBLE-S/Kodansha Ltd.

Judges Comments:

“Complex content, with a lot of historical references. The translator rode with it, and did a good job capturing the different voices of each character along the way.”
-Matt Alt

“A good job handling varied character voices, and I was particularly struck by how smoothly the translator dealt with very cultural concepts such as on and ongaeshi.”
-Hiroko Yoda

Issak © Shinji Makari, DOUBLE-S/Kodansha Ltd.

Stephen Kohler

translation for Witch Hat Atelier
by Kamome Shirahama
Kodansha
Editor: Haruko Hashimoto

Witch Hat Atelier © Kamome Shirahama/Kodansha Ltd.

Judges Comments:

“Excellent use of archaic (or archaic-sounding) phrasing to capture the tone of the original.”
-Matt Alt

“The English translation not only captured the meaning, but the feel of the Japanese original.”
-Hiroko Yoda

Witch Hat Atelier © Kamome Shirahama/Kodansha Ltd.

BACK TO AWARD CATEGORIES

BEST LETTERING

Best Lettering award recognizes creative excellence in manga lettering in a new or continuing manga series or one-shot published between August 1, 2023 – July 30, 2024.

Nominating judges:
Nate Piekos, Tom Orzechowski

Comments from the judges:

“The sheer amount of touch-up work expected of English translators of manga is deeply underappreciated and their ability to seamlessly redesign new sound effects based on the originals is no small feat. I was looking for the letterer’s ability to subtly work hand-in-hand with the art within these submissions–in order to find the best of the best.”
-Nate Piekos

Phil Christie

Lettering and retouch for Search & Destroy Vol. 1
by Atsushi Kaneko, based on Dororo by Osamu Tezuka
Fantagraphics
Editors: Christopher Woodrow-Butcher, Eric Reynolds

Judges Comments:

“A great understanding of how to graphically complement the artwork.”
-Nate Piekos

“Insightful work.”
-Tom Orzechowski

Vadim K.

Lettering for They’ll Make a Man Out of You
By Shiwasu no Okina
J18 Publishing
Editors: Dave Adams, David Goldberg

Judges Comments:

“A ton of really well designed sound effects.”
-Nate Piekos

“YES!”
-Tom Orzechowski

Illustrations ©2003-2023 Hit Publishing Co., Ltd.
Layout and text © 2023 J18
These pages were edited for use for the American Manga Awards. The j18 pages are uncensored.

Rebecca Sze

Lettering for Tokyo Interstellar Immigration Vol. 3
by Mado Guchimoto
VAST Visual
Editors: Dave Adams, David Goldberg

Judges Comments:

“Yes. Nice sound effects!.”
-Nate Piekos

Tomoko Saito

Lettering for Blade of the Immortal Deluxe Edition Volume 10
by Hiroaki Samura
Dark Horse
Editor: Philip R. Simon
Deluxe Edition Associate Editor: Judy Khuu

Judges Comments:

“Brilliant & beautiful. Outstanding sound effects.”
-Nate Piekos

“Master class.”
-Tom Orzechowski

Lys Blakeslee

Lettering for Witch Hat Atelier
by Kamome Shirahama
Kodansha
Editor: Haruko Hashimoto

Judges Comments:

“Does a great job of complementing the art.”
-Nate Piekos

BACK TO AWARD CATEGORIES

BEST PUBLICATION DESIGN

The Best Publication Design award spotlights the best print/digital design work in adapting or creating new covers, title lettering, logos, boxed sets, and more for a new or continuing manga series or one-shot published between August 1, 2023 – July 30, 2024.

Nominating judges:
Sasha Head, Shigekazu Watanabe

Comments from the judges:

“It is a great honor to serve as a judge for the Best Publication Design category at the inaugural 2024 American Manga Awards. I would like to once again express my gratitude for this valuable opportunity. Selecting the nominated works was a challenging process due to the many compelling entries. However, with the expert opinions of Sasha E. Head, a professional in graphic design and production, I, as a bookseller, chose the nominated works with the aim of ensuring this newly established award reaches as many people as possible and showcases the appeal of manga.

Publication Design is a crucial element for manga as it is often the first thing that catches the eye. It involves various aspects such as the selection of paper, format, printing techniques, illustrations, lettering, and coloring. Although some works unfortunately did not make the cut this time, I would like to extend my respect to everyone involved in Publication Design. I also hope that manga fans will come to appreciate the unique appeal of Publication Design in print manga.”
Shigekazu Watanabe
East Coast Regional Manager
Kinokuniya Bookstores

“I was, and am, so incredibly thrilled and honored to participate as a judge for the Publication Design Award within the American Manga Awards. As a graphic designer and general print media enthusiast, I often do not look just for print quality, but overall understanding of how design can further elevate an entire story; not just in the money put into its production value, but as a tailored container for all of the parts therein. In other words: a book can be printed on the cheapest paper available, but with a strong design voice that is squarely in line with its contents, it will outshine an expensive hardcover without its own special identity any day of the week in my eyes. This is, to me, the heart of publication design: understanding your parameters, limits, and contents, and creating something memorable anyway.

It was so severely difficult to choose for our list, simply because I would say the vast majority had a strong handle on everything I look for in my own collections!”
Sasha Head
Graphic Designer

Phil Balsman

Initial D Omnibus
by Shuichi Shigeno
Kodansha
Editor: Maggie Le
Lettering: Scott O. Brown

Judges Comments:

“It was a pleasant surprise that this work, with nearly 30 years of history, became a hit in 2024. It vividly portrays exhilarating mountain pass races with a sense of presence, maintaining the original Japanese onomatopoeic expressions. You can almost hear the roaring sound of the Hachiroku racing down the pass at tremendous speed.”
-Shigekazu Watanabe

“Gosh, I love the spine design of these books especially! Indeed, this is a beautifully pulled together appreciation for a classic manga. Slick and modern, with tasteful spot gloss that perfectly elevates the design, I adore the texture of the map alongside the tight grid between the comics panels and story summary. I love the way the designer incorporated the original panel artwork with smart design sensibilities, driving this ‘90s story into the current era with zero gimmicks required.”
-Sasha Head

Nicky Lim for Cover Design & Karis Page for Lettering and Interior Design

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness: Special Edition
by Nagata Kabi
Seven Seas Entertainment
Editor: Jenn Grunigen
Translation: Jocelyn Allen

Judges Comments:

“For fans, no explanation is needed: a unique masterpiece makes its return in hardcover. This ambitious work showcases illustrations, panel layout, lettering, color usage, and binding, aiming to expand its fan base beyond manga enthusiasts, a fantastic endeavor.”
-Shigekazu Watanabe

“The highly structured panels with the singular pop of color is such a wonderfully graceful way to contain the inner rollercoaster ride that is this deeply personal and lovely little book. The quality of the cover and the pages makes for a very special edition of a story that, with its Afterword, lands on a precious and hopeful note.”
-Sasha Head

Adam Grano

My Name Is Shingo
By Kazuo Umezz
VIZ Media
Editor: Joel Enos
Lettering: Evan Waldinger

Judges Comments:

“This work, which is an experimental piece for the author, shows a deep respect for the original Japanese version, including its cover design. At the same time, the creators’ enthusiasm and challenge to enhance the appeal of this work through design elements not found in the original version is palpable. The cover design, which adds colorful foil processing to the monochrome illustrations, is truly impressive.”
-Shigekazu Watanabe

“I have never seen a cover gloss treatment quite like this, and I am fully loving it! I so admire the experimentation with treatment layering on the covers of these books. The color-blocking of the design elements proudly display the beautiful black & white lineart without mis-representing the interior in a clever way, and breaking “the rules” on the back cover with the summary text adds a delightful chaos. Volume 2 is especially strong.”
-Sasha Head

Nicky Lim & Sandy Grayson – Box Set Design

Orange Complete Box Set
by Ichigo Takano
Seven Seas Entertainment
Editor: Shannon Fay
Lettering: Lys Blakeslee

Judges Comments:

“The box and the covers of each volume wonderfully maximize the author’s illustrations and the charm of each character. The book size is also compact and affordable, making it easy to pick up. The creators’ ingenuity in delivering a thrilling, bittersweet, and heartwarming story to long-time fans and a wider audience is evident. It is a work that truly deserves to be cherished and kept close at hand.”
-Shigekazu Watanabe

“The interaction of art, English logo, and Japanese logo on the spines across this boxset is unique and graceful. The use of a tasteful and classical serif font, made modern through its letter tracking and strong grasp of size hierarchy, makes it perfectly complementary to Takano-san’s cover artwork. The book design and her illustrative work come together perfectly, evocative of a busy historical street lined with trinkets, nostalgia, and romance.”
-Sasha Head

Andrea Miller

Tokyo Aliens
By Naoe
Square Enix Manga & Books
Editor: Sarah Tangney
Lettering: Bianca Pistillo

Judges Comments:

“The colorful and compact cover design is attractive, making fans want to collect and display it on their bookshelves. It’s clear that this is an excellent commercial work with a clearly defined target audience.”
-Shigekazu Watanabe

“Now THIS is how you do “wild and chaotic” with huge differentiations between volumes while still maintaining a strong brand language. The design and production is consistent with the energy of the story, remaining in sync with the overall tone. A reader can even get the sense of the character displayed on each volume according to how the cover is dressed. WOW! It looks like the designer genuinely had a lot of fun!”
-Sasha Head