Category Archives: Technology

Crunchyroll Manga Adds Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You and more on August 10

Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You

On August 10, the Crunchyroll Manga library will expand its 400+ catalog of unique titles with the arrival of Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Bocchi the Rock!, Tougen Anki, and more. Spanning across all genres, from slice-of-life and sports to fantasy and romance, these new entries to Crunchyroll Manga include series with recent and ongoing anime adaptations streaming on Crunchyroll, as well as many other manga additions brought together from multiple publishers available to read all in one place.

See the complete list of new titles coming to Crunchyroll Manga on August 10:

  • At Summer’s End
  • Bocchi the Rock!
  • Demon Lord Exchange!!
  • Don’t Blush, Sekime-san!
  • East, Into The Night
  • From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
  • KoLD8: King of the Living Dead
  • LAND LOCK
  • Magical Girl Tsubame: I Will (Not) Save The World!
  • Nano Hazard
  • Prison School
  • Raius: Master Swordsman Reborn
  • Rugby Rumble
  • Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You
  • Tougen Anki
  • Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun

Featured new titles on Crunchyroll Manga:

Bocchi the Rock! (created by Aki Hamazi) – Things are finally getting serious for Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh and the rest of Kessoku Band. Nijika and Ryou are graduating, Bocchi is finding she’s not quite so alone in class anymore, and Stray Beat is planning to celebrate the release of the gang’s first album with their biggest show yet! What’s more, they’ll be joined in concert by Klimt’s Night-a hit musical duo who pack some real star power. In preparation, Kessoku Band is introduced to the group’s reclusive songwriter, who’s…an even bigger introvert than Bocchi? Can they really make a successful indie debut while juggling two black holes of social anxiety?!

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (written by Shigeru Sagazaki and illustrated by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima) – Middle-aged Beryl Gardinant has only ever accomplished one thing: running a humble sword-fighting dojo in the quiet countryside. But when he’s paid a visit by his former pupil, Allusia, he discovers that she has become an elite commander—and she’s hardly the only ex-student who’s a renowned warrior! Now forced by Allusia to become a special instructor to the strongest order of knights in the kingdom, can Beryl reach his full potential even though he’s an old man?

Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You (created by Jinushi) – At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking-and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can’t find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her. The despondent man thinks he’s made a new smoking buddy in the cool, teasing Tayama, but Sasaki doesn’t realize he already knows her!

Tougen Anki (created by Yura Urushibara) – Shiki Ichinose would have never guessed his adoptive father used to be an Oni-hunting Momotarou, much less that the old man walked away from that life just to raise him despite Shiki’s dangerous Oni blood. After seeing the only parent he ever knew murdered by a Momotarou assassin, Shiki’s blood awakens. Thrust into an ancient conflict between Oni and Momotarou, Shiki will fight to survive, to take his revenge—and to hold back the calamity coursing through his veins…

Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun (created by Osamu Nishi) – Hopeless pushover Iruma Suzuki has found himself in a devil of a predicament… His trashy parents have sold off his soul, and he now has to live and attend school in the Netherworld. But with his unique survival skills and doting demon grandfather’s support, Iruma will surely make it through this hellish experience. He’ll just need to subjugate rival classmates, summon familiars, and more, all while never revealing that he’s human… Easy as aleph, bet, gimel, right?

BookWalker Expands its Digital Library with Launch of Abrams Books’ Kana imprint

BookWalker Kana

BookWalker has added Abrams Books‘ Kana imprint to its digital platform. Readers worldwide can now access and read Kana’s acclaimed lineup of graphic novels and manga directly through BookWalker’s web browser and mobile apps.

Known for high-quality production and compelling international storytelling, Kana brings a fresh wave of rich narratives and stunning artwork to BookWalker’s vast catalog of over 79,000 digital titles.

Now Available on BookWalker

The following Kana titles are live and available for purchase now, with even more releases from Kana’s growing catalog scheduled to join the BookWalker platform in the coming months.

Explore the full Kana Collection on BookWalker:

  • Leviathan Vol. 1–3
  • Manhole Vol. 1–3
  • Blades of the Guardians Vol. 1–2
  • City Hunger Vol. 1–3
  • Cat’s Eye Vol. 1–3
  • My Life in 24 Frames per Second
  • Scars Vol. 1–3
  • Space Punch Vol. 1-5
  • Eden of Witches Vol. 1-7
  • Silence Vol. 1-4
  • Billy Bat

To explore the newly launched Kana catalog, visit www.bookwalker.com or download the BookWalker app on iOS and Android.

Gen Con 2026: Free League Unbound Brings Official Games and Digital Tools Together

Developed by the creators of D&D Beyond, Free League Unbound is an official digital platform built for Free League’s tabletop roleplaying games. It gives players access to official game content and searchable rules across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Early Access is available now at freeleagueunbound.com. The initial release includes a digital reader and game compendia for four game lines:

  • The One Ring
  • ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game Evolved Edition
  • Coriolis: The Great Dark
  • Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying

During Early Access, players can test new features and share feedback that will help shape the platform. Character creation and progression tools are planned for later this year, with more Free League games joining the platform in the months ahead.

SDCC 2026: Scott’s Collectables joins Neon Ichiban for Commissionable Remarques

Just days after launching Neon Ichiban 2.5 and introducing Commissionable Remarques, Neon Ichiban has announced a long-term partnership with Scott’s Collectables, bringing the agency’s acclaimed roster of comic creators—including available today Björn Barends, Chris Condon, Adam Gorham, Martin Simmonds, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Werther Dell’Edera with more to come—to the platform’s new digital commissions program.

To celebrate the partnership, Neon Ichiban will host Scott’s Collectables at Booth #2314 during San Diego Comic-Con, where fans can meet some of comics’ most celebrated creators across four days of signings while getting an early look at the future of creator commissions.

The partnership marks Neon Ichiban’s first agreement with a creator representative for Commissionable Remarques, extending one of comics’ most personal traditions beyond the convention floor. Fans can commission authenticated digital signatures and original sketches directly from creators through Neon Ichiban, creating a new year-round way for creators and fans to connect while opening an entirely new revenue stream for artists.

Neon Ichiban 2.5 Arrives

Neon Ichiban 2.5

Just eight weeks after launching Neon Ichiban 2.0, Neon Ichiban has released Neon Ichiban 2.5, introducing Commissionable Remarques, new community features, redesigned series pages, the public Android beta, and an alpha version of its Mac desktop app.

Built directly from customer feedback, Neon Ichiban 2.5 introduces new ways for creators to earn revenue, for fans to discover their next favorite comics, and for creators and fans to connect like never before.

Neon Ichiban 2.5 also introduces one of the platform’s most anticipated features: Commissionable Remarques. Fans can now commission digital signatures and original sketches directly from participating creators, creating a new always-on revenue stream while making one of comics’ most personal experiences accessible without the limitations of convention schedules or geography.

WHAT’S NEW IN NEON ICHIBAN 2.5

Creator Commissions Are Here

The end-to-end creator portal is now live, allowing fans to commission digital signatures and original sketches directly from participating creators. Payments flow directly into creators’ wallets, creating an entirely new revenue stream.

Community Profiles, Reviews & Reading Lists

Neon Ichiban 2.5 introduces a new community built around comics. Fans can create public profiles, build custom reading lists, review books, showcase their collections, and discover what fellow fans are reading, collecting, and recommending—including digital Remarques and the creators behind them.

Your profile, your featured collection, your lists, and your reviews live alongside the books themselves—making it easier to discover your next obsession, share your favorite stories, and connect with fellow fans who love comics as much as you do.

Redesigned Series Pages

A streamlined reading experience makes it easier than ever to jump into a new series, with single issues and collected editions clearly organized so fans always know where to begin.

Android App Now Available in Public Beta

Following a successful private beta, the Neon Ichiban Android app is now available to everyone, bringing fast, native reading to even more fans.

Early Access: Mac Desktop Alpha

The first alpha version of the Neon Ichiban Mac desktop app is almost here. Sign up now to gain access in the coming weeks. Once invited, you’ll be able to browse, read, and sync your library across devices. PDF support is available now, with CBR/CBZ support coming soon. Join the waitlist today.

Ignition Press launches digital comics on Sweet Shop

Ignition Press

Ignition Press has announced their comics are now available digitally on Sweet Shop. This marks the first digital comics platform the publisher has partnered with to provide a wider reach for more fans to discover their catalog of comics.

Ignition Press comics are available on the platform for readers to purchase, giving fans access to over 15 series including The Beauty (the inspiration for Ryan Murphy’s FX television series), Roots of Madness (from the recently announced Eisner Award nominated writer Stephanie Williams), Tyler Rake: An Extraction Story (the prequel series to the Netflix Extraction movies), and many more. The entirety of the Ignition Press’s published catalog, totaling over 50 comics, is available on Sweet Shop for immediate purchase.

Sweet Shop is the all-new digital comic and manga store brought to you by Sweet, a software company for comic folk. Sweet Shop brings readers direct to their favorite comics and manga on Android and iOS worldwide with features like in app purchase, PDF backups (per-publisher), and a hassle-free comic reading experience. Dedicated to the craft of comics, its community, and human-powered creativity, Sweet Shop is firm in their stance against VC investors, crappy AI tools, and crappy AI-generated comics.

Stan Lee’s Voice and Likeness are Coming to AI Slop

Stan Lee at the Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Via Gage Skidmore Flickr
Stan Lee at the Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, Arizona. Via Gage Skidmore Flickr

We apparently can’t let the dead rest and AI will superpower the exploitation of them for years to come. ElevenLabs has acquired the rights to Stan Lee‘s voice and likeness to be used to narrate books in the Eleven Reader App.

Under a deal with Stan Lee Universe, the Stan Lee Book of the Month Club will debut with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. An additional 11 books will be adapted over the year.

The tech uses professional recordings with Lee’s voice available on ElevenLabs’ Iconic Voice Marketplace and his likeness available on ElevenLabs Image & Video Marketplace. Music inspired by the “aesthetic and energy” of Lee’s imagination has also been created.

Stan Lee passed away in 2018 at the age of 95. There are claims of abuse that began in his last few years, leading to an individual charged, and it’s been a topic of discussion in the years since his passing. Stan Lee Universe has had no issues slapping the iconic Lee’s name and visage on to products over the years and soon it’ll be virtually.

Crunchyroll Adds Kodansha Titles to the Crunchyroll Manga Library

Crunchyroll is turning a new page in collaboration with Kodansha USA Publishing by bringing some of the most iconic manga franchises to Crunchyroll Manga. This marks a major step in Crunchyroll’s commitment to anime fans around the world as the ultimate destination for anime and manga fandom.

Starting on May 18, the Kodansha titles joining the Crunchyroll Manga catalog will include Attack on Titan, Fire Force, Tokyo Revengers, Your Lie in April, The Seven Deadly Sins, BAKEMONOGATARI, Chihayafuru, with more Kodansha titles to follow. These landmark series, many of which have defined anime, demonstrate Crunchyroll’s growing investment in premium entertainment.

Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll Manga reflect a seamless experience where fans can toggle from page to series with ease in a unified platform where discovery, storytelling, and fandom connect. Kodansha builds on Crunchyroll Manga’s growing roster of premier publishing partners, including AlphaPolis, COMPASS, MobileBook.jp, Shueisha, Square Enix, Titan Manga, VIZ Media, and Yen Press. Together, they reinforce Crunchyroll Manga as a single, seamless destination to fall in love with manga.

See the complete list of titles from Kodansha coming to Crunchyroll Manga on May 18:

  • Attack on Titan
  • Attack on Titan: Before the Fall 
  • BAKEMONOGATARI
  • Beck
  • Chihayafuru
  • DAYS
  • Domestic Girlfriend
  • Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro
  • Fire Force
  • Kiss Him, Not Me
  • My Boss’s Kitten
  • Nodame Cantabile
  • Parasyte
  • Peach Girl
  • Say I Love You.
  • School Rumble
  • The Fable
  • The Seven Deadly Sins
  • Tokyo Revengers
  • Tsuredure Children
  • Vampire Dormitory
  • Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse
  • Your Lie in April

Featured titles from Kodansha:

Attack on Titan (created by Hajime Isayama) – A century ago, the grotesque giants known as Titans appeared and consumed all but a few thousand humans. The survivors took refuge behind giant walls. Today, the threat of the Titans is a distant memory, and a boy named Eren yearns to explore the world beyond Wall Maria. But what began as a childish dream will become an all-too-real nightmare when the Titans return and humanity is once again on the brink of extinction…

Fire Force (created by Atsushi Ohkubo) – The city of Tokyo is plagued by a deadly phenomenon: spontaneous human combustion! Luckily, a special team is there to quench the inferno: The Fire Force! The fire soldiers at Special Fire Cathedral 8 are about to get a unique addition. Enter Shinra, a boy who possesses the power to run at the speed of a rocket, leaving behind the famous “devil’s footprints” (and destroying his shoes in the process). Can Shinra and his colleagues discover the source of this strange epidemic before the city burns to ashes?

Tokyo Revengers (created by Ken Wakui) – Watching the news, Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his girlfriend from way back in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, has died. The only girlfriend he ever had was just killed by a villainous group known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. He lives in a crappy apartment with thin walls, and his six-years-younger boss treats him like an idiot. Plus, he’s a complete and total virgin… At the height of his rock-bottom life, he suddenly time-leaps 12 years back to his middle school days!! To save Hinata, and change the life he spent running away, hopeless part-timer Takemichi must aim for the top of Kanto’s most sinister delinquent gang!!

Parasyte (created by Hitoshi Iwaaki) – They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade—and take control of—a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret—except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?

The Seven Deadly Sins (created by Nakaba Suzuki) – When they were accused of trying to overthrow the monarchy, the feared warriors the Seven Deadly Sins were sent into exile. Princess Elizabeth discovers the truth—the Sins were framed by the king’s guard, the Holy Knights—too late to prevent them from assassinating her father and seizing the throne! Now the princess is on the run, seeking the Sins to help her reclaim the kingdom. But the first Sin she meets, Meliodas, is a little innkeeper with a talking pig. He doesn’t even have a real sword! Have the legends of the Sins’ strength been exaggerated…? Prepare to get swept away by an epic fantasy story and colorful cast of characters that will rewrite the history of manga as we know it!

Your Lie in April (created by Naoshi Arakawa) – Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she bring Kosei back to music, and back to life?

BAKEMONOGATARI (written by NISIOISIN and illustrated Oh!Great) – One day, high-school student Koyomi Araragi catches a girl named Hitagi Senjougahara when she trips. But-much to his surprise-she doesn’t weigh anything. At all. She says an encounter with a so-called “crab” took away all her weight… Monsters have been here since the beginning. Always. Everywhere.

Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro (created by Nanashi) – Nagatoro is a freshman in high school who loves teasing and torturing her older male classmate! What’s her motivation and why does Senpai put up with her? Does Nagatoro just want to create misery for Senpai? Or maybe she secretly likes him?

Chihayafuru (created by Yuki Suetsugu) – Chihaya is a girl in the sixth grade, still not old enough to even know the meaning of the word zeal. But one day, she meets Arata, a transfer student from rural Fukui prefecture. Though docile and quiet, he has an unexpected skill: his ability to play competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. Chihaya is struck by his obsession with the game, along with his ability to pick out the right card and swipe it away before any of his opponents. However, Arata is transfixed by her as well, all because of her unbelievable natural talent for the game.

Additionally, a new title from Shueisha, Dricam!!, created by You Chiba, will also be added to Crunchyroll Manga on May 18. 

Neon Ichiban 2.0 Arrives Six Months After the Platform Comes Out of Beta

Neon Ichiban

Six months after launching the platform, Neon Ichiban is entering its next era. The digital comics platform has launched Neon Ichiban 2.0, a major platform evolution that expands how fans read, collect, and connect with comics and manga across iOS, Android, desktop, and entirely new immersive environments.

Neon Ichiban was built to be the global home for digital comics and manga: one destination to read, collect, discover, and connect with stories and creators. With 2.0, that vision accelerates.

Neon Ichiban 2.0 is a full-scale expansion of the platform, introducing new native apps, deeper reading experiences, community-driven features, and new tools for fans and creators.

Neon Ichiban was launched in June 2025 and quickly announced a flurry of publishers joining the platform. Founded by comiXology and DSTLRY co-founder David Steinberger and DSTLRY co-founder and comic vet Chip Mosher, the platform added unique aspects like digital remarques and moved out of its Beta in November 2025. It launched on iOS in January 2026 and added more intriguing features including pre-order rewards and recently announced a “review and earn” program.

WHAT’S NEW IN NEON ICHIBAN 2.0

iOS App 2.0 — Rebuilt From the Ground Up: A fully native iOS experience designed for speed, flexibility, and immersion. More reading modes, more customization, and a smoother, faster library.

Android Beta — Native and Built for Android Readers: Built from the ground up for Android users, with a fast, native reading experience. Sign up here.

Apple Vision Pro App Beta — Comics at a New Scale: Step inside the stories. Make your comics story-tall on your wall. Open multiple books at once. Read like you’re inside the page. Get the beta here.

Creator Hub — Get Verified, Start Earning: Creators take control of their Neon Ichiban page, sell digital comics as a verified creator, and offer Remarques — digital signatures, sketches, and soon, custom commissions — directly to fans. Set your own prices and sign Remarques live at conventions. Online commissions are coming soon.

Community — Review Comics. Earn Rewards. Post your thoughts, share your knowledge, and connect with other fans. Rate, review, and earn rewards for reviews, lists, and discussions. We’re creating the best comics and manga community on earth, built by the people who actually read them. 

Watchlist — Never Miss a Drop. Track what you love. Get notified on price drops and releases. Build your list and stay ahead of the next must-read.

Custom Lists — Built by You. Create customized lists of your reading and shopping picks.  Get notifications on price drops, marketplace listings, as well as new items in the series.

Print Pre-Order Rewards — Buy Print. Unlock Digital. Pre-order print comics at your local shop before Final Order Cutoff, upload proof, pick up your book, and get digital credit for each title. The weekly ritual, rewarded.

Valiant launching an App?

Valiant Logo

Valiant has had a rough couple of years. Once a popular publisher, the company has switched leadership and direction and in June 2023 it was announced that Alien Books would be handling the imprint. Since then, the releases have been sporadic and not captured readers like the line has done in the past and not without controversy. Alien Books too is figuring things out and signed a publishing deal with IDW in March 2025.

This year, Alien Books launched a Kickstarter for an omnibus of classic Harbinger comics, raising $104,622 from 901 backers. But, when it comes to publishing and releases for stores, things have been rather quiet with the last preview we ran for All-New Harbinger #5 in March.

Alien Books has also been part of the fight over consigned goods and Diamond, which has impacted numerous publishers.

This evening, we received the below email with a from email address as hello@valiantapp.io and a Valiant logo at the top.

You know who we are. We know you’re the first ones. The real OGs.

You’re the insiders.

Aric of Dacia is 1,600 years from home in living alien armor and pretending he’s fine. Bloodshot is running on nanite blood and borrowed memories. And Punk Mambo is in a Louisiana swamp arguing with the ghost of Sid Vicious about which voodoo magic will cause the most chaos.

They’ve been quiet for a minute, but I think you know what that means. Something big is coming. And when they show up it’s the real deal.

This is not for everybody. This is for the insiders who get it.

No one here is stuck in board meetings and earnings calls, and maybe the world feels like a dumpster fire right now, so screw it let’s break free. Join the crew and raise the pirate flag.

You in?

BE FIRST →

-The Valiant Team

(Still in the bunker. Send snacks.)

The email is clearly for a soon to be launching app focused on Valiant.

But…

When it comes to information in the contact the email address is listed for valiant.com which then forwards to trackforce.com and the phone number is 555-123-4567, clearly fake.

What we do know:

So, expect a new Valiant digital platform doing who knows what launching at some point… You can sign up to be notified when it launches.

« Older Entries Recent Entries »