Introduction

SQUARE ENIX Manga & Books, in partnership with Penguin Random House, announced the launch of Comic Partner, a new retailer support initiative to promote adoption of more manga in comic bookstores nationwide. Starting April 2025, retailers enrolled in the Penguin Random House Direct Partnership Program will have access to the Square Enix Comic Partner initiative, which includes store manager education, in-store promotional materials, early access to select new manga, and more.

The Industry

According to Grand View Research, in 2025 the US manga market is on track to surpass $1.28 billion in revenue and the industry is expected to exceed $3.73 billion by 2030.

“While we’re seeing significant market growth for manga among western audiences, our retailers have expressed challenges with overwhelming options and knowledge gaps,” said Morgan Perry, Marketing Manager, Square Enix Manga & Books. “With the Comic Partner initiative, our aim is to make it easier for our comic shop partners to unlock the potential of manga sales by curating great content for them, providing marketing support and educating sales associates about this art form – after all, manga are comics.”

Partnership Program

Comic Shop accounts currently enrolled in Penguin Random House’s Direct Market Partnership Program will now also be considered Square Enix Comic Partner stores. As such, they will receive branded, in-store promotional materials, one-on-one manga retailer calls, and free advance galley copies of select upcoming series launches from Square Enix Manga & Books.

“We’re incredibly excited and proud to announce this collaboration with Penguin Random House,” said Perry. “And we’re committed to helping comic shop retailers who are interested in expanding to carry more manga and build those communities in their stores through this partnership.”

What’s Cooking?

To kickstart the initiative, Square Enix Manga & Books announced that Comic Partner retailers will receive the following debut series as free advance galleys:

On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance, Vol. 1 (English Edition)
A lolita boy and a punk girl form a fashion-forward bond without realizing they already know each other from work! Outside the office, coworkers Sotaro Amata and Akira Hanku don outfits that metamorphose them into completely different people. So what happens when they form a connection after hours…without recognizing who the other person is?

On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance, Vol. 1 (ISBN: 9781646093670 | $14.99 USD) is scheduled for release in May 2025 and is available for pre-order from Penguin Random House, other major booksellers, and comic shops. More information: https://sqex.to/Co4Li

Love in the Palm of His Hand, Vol. 1 (English Edition)
Through sign language and acting, two young men seeking their places in the world discover a connection that transcends the spoken word. Fujinaga is a university student who dreams of becoming an actor. When he meets Keito, a fellow student with congenital hearing loss, he’s introduced to the world of sign language. In a place beyond verbal limitations, can two people yearning to be understood forge a bond they never expected?

Love in the Palm of His Hand, Vol. 1 (ISBN: 9781646093649 | $12.99 USD) is scheduled for release in May 2025 and is available for pre-order from Penguin Random House, other major booksellers, and comic shops. More information: https://sqex.to/gEr81

Retailers

Comic Shop Retailers interested in learning more about the Square Enix Comic Partner initiative and Penguin Random House’s Direct Market Partnership Program can contact their Penguin Random House account representative.

Updates

For the latest updates from Square Enix Manga & Books, including preorder notifications, follow on social media or visit: square-enix-books.com

Related Links:

• Official Website: square-enix-books.com
• Twitter: @SquareEnixBooks
• Instagram: @squareenixbooks

*Book cover art not final and subject to change.

—Official Press Release