Summary
Scholastic is expanding its manga catalog with new titles like Hikaru in the Light & Mecha-Ude: MECHANICAL ARMS. Both new manga will span four volumes, be published in full color, and will retain the traditional right-to-left format. Hikaru in the Light explores the world of idols, while “Mecha-Ude” is an action series tied to a growing franchise.
Beloved publisher Scholastic is publishing two new manga titles, Hikaru in the light And Mecha-Ude: MECHANICAL WEAPON. These two manga come on the heels of Scholastic's successful adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Unico, proving that the popular all-ages publisher is increasingly investing in manga. With titles as diverse as Unico, Hikaru, and Mecha-Ude, Scholastic is clearly showing its commitment to manga that resonates with readers of all ages.
Printed by Graphix and in collaboration with manga publisher Azuki, Scholastic will publish Hikaru in the Light volume 1 by Mai Matsuda in March 2025, followed by Mecha-Ude: MECHANICAL ARMS volume 1 by Yoshino Koyoka and TriF in April 2025.Each series will last four volumes, be published every four months, and be published in full color but still retain the traditional right-to-left writing style found in most manga series.
The manga is being published in partnership with digital manga publisher Azuki, meaning fans will be able to get their hands on the new titles in both physical and digital editions through Azuki. To celebrate the announcement of these two great manga, Scholastic has shared a series of teaser pages from both new series that give some insight into what these new series will look like.
Hikaru In The Light is an insight into what it takes to be a pop idol
The manga would be a good starting point for fans interested in Pop-Idols
Following the fascinating world of idols, Hikaru in the Light follows a girl named Hikaru who is famous for her singing ability. Hikaru's world is turned upside down when a friend who is a former member of an idol group invites Hikaru to attend an idol survival camp that will truly test her. In preview pages provided by Scholastic, readers see Hikaru uncertain about herself when asked to answer a job application questionnaire, hinting that Hikaru may have been unsure of herself before being given the opportunity to attend the survival camp.
Idol anime is a huge market, with the best idol anime portraying the fun and empowering side of being a pop phenomenon. With this, the idol genre could only move into the world of manga, and Hikaru in the Light seems like a great starting point for readers who are passionate about singing, dancing, and manga..
Mecha-Ude Brings a Growing Brand to the Manga World in a Great Way
Manga Launches as Expected for Anime to Be Built
Based on the Mecha-Ude: MECHANICAL ARMS series that began with a Kickstarter Campaign, the manga will follow a young boy (also named Hikaru, ironically) who gains the powers of an amnesiac mechanical creature called a Mecha-Ude. Named Alma, the mechanical arm works with Hikaru to uncover the mysteries of its past and prevent other Mecha-Ude from being used for evil.
Unlike Hikaru in Light, Mecha-Ude looks to be a high-speed action series that wouldn't be out of place among a classic shounen series.. The Mecha-Ude series will get its first full-length anime series in October 2024, meaning fans looking forward to more of the series should look forward to the manga release in April 2025. Any reader looking for a thrilling story and creative use of power should check out Mecha-Ude.
It's easy to see the appeal of both Hikaru in the Light and Mecha-Ude to older readers, with interesting premises and characters that appeal to a wide range of readers.
With the best-selling manga of 2024 easily reaching at least a million copies in sales, it makes sense for Scholastic to invest more in manga. The medium is huge and would certainly be a huge success for an already successful publisher like Scholastic. While they are certainly aimed at younger readers, it's easy to see the appeal of both Hikaru in the Light and Mecha-Ude to older readers as well, with interesting premises and characters that appeal to a wide audience outside of what might be considered their target audience. Readers can look forward to Scholastic and Azuki publishing volume 1 of Hikaru in the light in March 2025 and episode 1 of Mecha-Ude: MECHANICAL WEAPON in April 2025.