Marvel and Kadokawa Launch New Spider-Man Manga Set in Shibuya

Marvel is moving again in Japan, and this time it comes with Kadokawa. The new partnership will create original manga based on Marvel characters, with new stories and a very clear twist: these heroes are landing in Japanese settings. Sí, así mero, the idea is not small.

One of the first revealed projects is Spider-Man of Shibuya, a manga by tokitokoro, known for works like Lynx, River in Me, and Jeff the Land Shark. The creator also shared character designs for Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Punisher, teasing a version of Marvel that feels much closer to Tokyo streets than New York rooftops.

The new Marvel manga plan starts with familiar heroes

The rollout is expected to begin before the end of the year. Reports tied to the announcement say the collaboration will include five original manga volumes. That is a serious launch, not a one-shot experiment. Va con todo.

The pitch itself already grabbed attention: a Spider-Man born in Shibuya, a Daredevil in Shinjuku, and even a yakuza-style Punisher. That kind of setting shift gives Marvel a new angle without changing the names fans already know.

Spider-Gwen also joins the lineup

The project is not stopping with Spider-Man. Another planned series will focus on Spider-Gwen, and that manga will be handled by Ryūsei Yamada, known for the Revenger manga adaptation and Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Manga—Anthology.

Putting two known manga creators on major Marvel characters is a direct signal. This is not a random crossover done al suave. It looks like a structured publishing move built for the manga market.

A big change after Marvel's previous manga deals end

The timing matters. On July 1, Shueisha announced that its contract with Walt Disney Japan to publish manga adaptations of Marvel characters will end on September 30. Because of that, five manga titles are being removed from digital storefronts between September 28 and 30.

Those titles are Marvel x Shonen Jump+ Super Collaboration, Secret Reverse, Spider-Man: Octo-Girl, Spider-Man: Kizuna, and Deadpool: Samurai. Physical volume sales are also ending. All five series had already finished serialization, but the exit still marks a major reset.

There is more. Sho-Pro Books, also known as Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, saw its contract to publish Marvel Comics titles in Japanese end earlier this year on March 31. So yes, several doors were closing, and now another one opens. Cosas del negocio, pues.

Marvel is also reshuffling its editorial side

This manga move arrives while Marvel adjusts its internal leadership. On July 16, Marvel announced that C.B. Cebulski will leave the Editor-in-Chief role and become editor of Asia Originals. Meanwhile, Stephen Wacker will take over as the new Editor-in-Chief.

That change matters because it puts more focus on Asian-market publishing at a key moment. If Marvel is building original manga with Kadokawa while also assigning a major editor to Asia Originals, the pattern is easy to see. Esto no cayó del cielo.

What this means for Marvel manga in Japan

The headline is simple: Marvel is starting a new manga phase in Japan. New partner, new creators, new city-based spins on iconic heroes. And after the end of earlier publishing agreements, the company now looks ready to rebuild that space with a different strategy.

For manga readers, the most eye-catching part is the setting. Spider-Man in Shibuya is not just a costume swap. It changes the vibe, the streets, the culture, and the kind of daily chaos the hero faces. And let’s be honest, a yakuza-flavored Punisher sounds like the kind of idea that makes you say, “Bueno, vaya pues, let him cook.”

If the plan stays on schedule, fans should see the first serialization begin before 2026 ends.