Manga Up! Global Adds Three New Series to Its Library: Slasher Maidens and More Now Available in English
Square Enix's international manga platform Manga Up! Global continues to expand its library with exciting new titles. As of last Saturday, the platform released three new series in English, including Inuta: My Canine Classmate. Among these new additions are Slasher Maidens, highly anticipated by dark fantasy fans, and It's Not Easy Being Cute, which questions societal beauty standards.
One of the most notable titles in this announcement is undoubtedly Slasher Maidens (known in Japanese as Kaijin Reijou). Written by Tetsuya Tashiro, known as the artist of the legendary Akame ga Kill! series, this manga combines action and horror elements. The series, which began publication in Monthly Gangan Joker magazine in 2018, centers on a world where people who reach the peak of mental stress transform into monsters called "Kaijin." Tashiro's unique, gritty, and detailed art style has made this one of the most anticipated titles on the platform.
Another new series, It's Not Easy Being Cute ("Kawaii" wa, Tokidoki Kurushii.) by Sho Asahina, offers a profound story dealing with lookism and self-esteem issues in the modern world. The series, which tells the story of a girl who has undergone plastic surgery crossing paths with another girl who looks like a "princess" but is interested in cute fashion, first gained popularity on Twitter before being serialized in Gangan Pixiv. Mo-suke Mattaku's Inuta: My Canine Classmate (Inuta-kun) promises a fun school life story with a lighter tone, focusing on a classmate with dog-like characteristics.
Launched in the global market in 2022 and surpassing 5 million downloads by the end of 2025, Manga Up! plays a critical role in the industry by bringing Square Enix's massive archive directly to Western readers. The platform aims to reduce illegal manga consumption and support artists by offering simultaneous (simulpub) releases with Japan. Readers can immediately check out the first chapters of these new series using the daily free "UP" points provided by the platform. This move by Square Enix once again proves the importance it places on both the works of popular artists and new talents with social themes.
