Azuki has announced that it is adding six new titles from Japanese publisher YUZU Comics and independent Star Fruit Books for release in May 2024.
The new titles consist of four comic series from YUZU Comics and two one-shot manga from Star Fruit Books, with the latter two titles being Azuki digital exclusives as part of the company’s partnership with the independent publisher. The six comics series are now available worldwide on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps, with select free chapters available to read now.
The new series include The Light Conjurer, Loving You When the World Ended, Three Seconds After Our Eyes Met, Confessions of a 35 Year Old, Handyman Quincy, and To White.
Here are the full details for Azuki’s latest series:
The Light Conjurer
Story and Art: Gene
Gene is a comic artist and illustrator who was born and raised in Tainan, Taiwan. She was the bronze prize winner in the BL category at the first Ever Glory Original Comic Competition. She has been an active figure in various doujin communities and her work is well regarded for its diverse styles and touch of humor.
Her work “Wanted Magic Girl!” was selected to the 10th Golden Comic Best New Artist Award in 2019 and she also has won two top prizes at the 2020 Kyoto International Manga Anime Awards.
Synopsis:
A seemingly useless summoner whose conjuring attempts are comically futile, secretly dreams of defeating a dragon. Fate has a sense of humor when Robin summons a mysterious prince who coerces him into going to an abandoned castle… where a dragon lives. Can a useless conjurer face the challenge of confronting a legendary beast?
Loving You When the World Ended
Story and Art: Gene
Synopsis:
An apocalyptic event forces two strangers to navigate a world where the old order is shattered. Is it survival of the fittest or survival of the richest? Spoiled Nuowan can’t stay alive in this new reality without the help of skilled hotel worker Yu Seng, whom he met only moments before the world ended. Yu’s former military training comes in handy but is kissing out of the blue a survival tactic?
Three Seconds After Our Eyes Met
Story and Art: Rancha
Rancha was a Gold Prize-winner in the BL category at the second Ever Glory Original Comic Competition. He is one of Taiwan’s most popular BL comic creators who is renowned for his delicate storytelling and for realistically presenting the emotions of his characters.
Synopsis:
The friendly, kind Student Union Event Division President Hezhan has a carefully maintained image but when fellow student Shunwen witnesses Hezhan’s outburst in a meeting room, he inadvertently becomes the keeper of Hezhan’s hidden side. Worried his secret will be revealed, Hezhan approaches Shunwen but every time their eyes lock, it feels like Shunwen sees right through him and he must “never lock eyes for more than three seconds.” Will Hezhan be able to protect his secret or will Shunwen reshape Hezhan’s life and his own?
Confessions of a 35 Year Old
Story and Art: TEI
Synopsis:
Thirty-five-year-old, single office worker Jason normally finds love to be elusive. He doesn’t give much thought to his new coworker Frank when he joins the company. But when a chance encounter evolves into a series of shared moments, an unanticipated twist in their relationship finds Jason and Frank being roommates. Will Jason find his new normal is love?
Handyman Quincy
Story: Stephan Lapin
Art: Naoto Tsushima
Synopsis:
Quincy, a boy with prosthetic limbs, starts as a handyman to support his family. But buying a second-hand phone from a thrift shop accidentally connects him to hitman requests. Can the kind-hearted Quincy fulfill these requests for murder?
To White
Story and Art: Dei Saito
Synopsis:
A young girl living in a strange black-and-white world fights her way past a creature guarding a door that leads to somewhere else.
Source: press release