Anime NYC 2026: Ize Press Unveils Four New Titles, Expanding into Spanish Publishing and Tabletop Gaming
During the “Yen Press Industry Panel” at Anime NYC, Ize Press announced the release of four new titles joining its lineup. The first title revealed was the acclaimed historical fiction webcomic Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid.
Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid
By Yoonhee Na
The year is 1926, a troubling time for Koreans whose country is under a brutal annexation by the Japanese empire. But to Sooah, a teenage servant at a wealthy household, such issues are a faraway concern, and she is content to live in her small corner, like a mermaid who cares little for the world above the surface…That is, until one day, she happens upon the unconscious body of a young man named Uihyeon, a freedom fighter on the run from the Japanese. And just like in a fairy tale, this fateful meeting brings Sooah out of the calming waves into a world filled with turmoil and heartbreak, but also beauty and courage.
Serialized digitally on WEBTOON, Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid is a dramatic historical romance that reimagines The Little Mermaid against the backdrop of Korea under Japanese colonial rule. Complete in six volumes, the series has captivated over 13 million readers with its richly drawn characters and emotional storytelling with various characters’ points of view. Set in the 20th century, Whale Star follows the story of an illiterate, plain-looking young maid. Whale Star also won the 2021 Korea Content Grand Prize Presidential Award and has an upcoming live-action adaptation in the works. This remarkable work of historical fiction blends the emotional resonance of a fairy tale with a deeply human story about a pivotal period in Korean history.
Ize Press is also expanding its Solo Leveling lineup with several new offerings for fans of the worldwide phenomenon, including a Spanish-language edition of Solo Leveling (comic, novel, and audiobook), the Solo Leveling: Ragnarok novel, and Solo Leveling: The Board Game (Standard Edition and Ultimate Edition).
Solo Leveling (Spanish Edition)
By Chugong
Descubre el exitoso cómic de fantasía que arrasó en todo el mundo!
Conocido como el cazador más débil de la humanidad, la contribución de Jinwoo Sung—un cazador de rango E—a las incursiones se limita a intentar no morir en el intento. Por desgracia, entre las facturas médicas de su madre, la matrícula de su hermana, y su propia falta de perspectivas laborales, no le queda más remedio que seguir arriesgando la vida. Así que cuando surge la oportunidad de ganar más dinero, la aprovecha…¡solo para encontrarse cara a cara con un ser cuyo poder supera todo lo que jamás haya visto! Con el líder del grupo habiendo perdido un brazo y la única sanadora paralizada por el miedo, ¿logrará Jinwoo encontrar una salida para todos?
Ize Press is bringing the hit fantasy series to an even wider audience with the publication of a Spanish-language edition of Solo Leveling in comic, novel, and audiobook formats. This New York Times bestselling series received an award-winning anime adaptation that can be streamed on Crunchyroll, with two seasons available as of August 2026. The Solo Leveling (Spanish Edition) comic and novel will only be available in the United States and Canada, while the audiobook will be available worldwide.
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok (novel)
By Daul
THE SEQUEL NOVEL TO HIT FANTASY SERIES SOLO LEVELING!
In a world overrun by gates, monsters, and powerful hunters, Sooho Sung is nothing more than an ordinary college student. His parents disappeared just before the gates began appearing three years ago, and although he sometimes dreams of battling monsters and gaining levels like a character in a video game, there’s nothing particularly remarkable about him. That changes when a monster outbreak erupts on his college campus. With danger closing in, Sooho fights the urge to flee and follows in the footsteps of his police detective father, risking his life to save a classmate. His chances of survival seem slim—until a mysterious message appears: [Congratulations on becoming a Player.]
Ize Press published the first volume of the Solo Leveling: Ragnarok comic in July 2026. The novel expands the Solo Leveling universe beyond Jinwoo’s original journey, introducing readers to a new protagonist while exploring the consequences of the battles and choices that shaped the previous generation. With Sooho stepping into his father’s world, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok (novel) offers longtime fans a fresh perspective on the universe they know and a fresh entry point for new readers.
Solo Leveling: The Board Game (Standard Edition and Ultimate Edition)
Art by DUBU(REDICE STUDIO), Original Story by Chugong
[Congratulations on becoming a Player.]
Step into the shoes of your favorite characters from the bestselling novel and comic, Solo Leveling! Form a party of up to four players and go on an epic campaign to defeat seven iconic boss monsters from the series, with fun twists to keep each round as entertaining as the last. Venturing on a solo quest? Then take up the mantle of the protagonist, Jinwoo Sung himself, in the Solo Leveling campaign mode.
Arise, Hunter, for the fate of humanity is in your hands!
Solo Leveling: The Board Game is a premium tabletop experience that lets fans step into the world of Solo Leveling in a new way. This TRPG is a cooperative tactical board game for one to four players, allowing Solo Leveling fans to take on the roles of hunters from the series to clear dungeons by battling familiar bosses. Each dungeon introduces its own unique mechanics, challenging players to adapt their strategies from one adventure to the next. With multiple playable hunters, each featuring distinct personalities and abilities, every playthrough offers a fresh and dynamic experience. Solo Leveling: The Board Game includes 3D miniature figures for both hunters and monsters, various dungeon boards and boss screens, and other components such as dice, health and mana dials, item cards, tokens, and more! Solo Leveling: The Board Game will have both a Standard Edition as well as an Ultimate Edition, which adds a cute Beru plushie, a Colossus figure, placemats, acrylic standees of the bosses, and other exclusive items. A full list of contents will be available once preorders open.
