Welcome to our seventh VIZ Originals Creator newsletter! We hope you’ve enjoyed the interviews, commentary, and comics we’ve featured so far.

For our final issue of 2025, we’d like to do something different from our usual format and spotlight the incredible one-shots published by VIZ Originals this year. These stories were edited by VIZ Originals one-shots editor Hisashi SASAKI and VIZ Originals editor Julia Patrick, and lettered by Shonen Jump all-stars Annaliese “Ace” Christman and Mark McMurray. These one-shots run the gamut, covering everything from heartwarming tales of friendship to impossibly haunted rectums. We are very proud of what our creators have brought to life, and it’s been a joy to share them with you all.

We can’t wait to bring you even more great stories in 2026!

CONTENTS: 
Our 2025 In Review
Upcoming Portfolio Reviews!
Dr. Mashirito’s Ultimate Manga Techniques

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Our 2025 In Review

A.E.B - “21st Century Witch”
(lettering by Mark McMurray)

We interviewed A.E.B about “21st Century Witch” in the fifth edition of this newsletter, available here. At the time, much of the discussion centered on the differences between Adam and Marline, the two main characters. Adam is a witch who uses his powers to get tedious work done faster. Marline is under a curse that makes her look young forever. She would do anything, including paying 50 million dollars, to get someone to lift the curse.

These are two very different characters with two very different approaches to life. The way their lives intertwine over the course of the story forces them to clash with each other, but also to compromise and discover places where they fit together. No-one in this story is just one thing, or a stereotype. Adam is very motivated by the idea of having fifty million bucks, for instance, but he also shows genuine sympathy when Marline explains the curse—and is honest about his limitations. Marline, for her part, keeps secrets but is also open and friendly, charming Adam enough to move in with him without him complaining too much.

These little character-driven twists and turns make “21st Century Witch” a very nice read—a pleasant and comforting yarn for a quiet afternoon. It's a little bit funny, a little bit melancholic, and very, very well conceived.

Bogi - “Whale Plague”
(lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman)

VIZ Originals one-shots editor Hisashi SASAKI praises Bogi’s humanistic streak in his introduction to “Whale Plague.” You can see that tendency reflected throughout the story. In this world, the titular plague turns humans into whales and vice versa, creating hybrid beings known as “whalemen.” Every whaleman falls under the military’s jurisdiction, and every whale-to-human hybrid is subject to being killed and harvested on-sight. Humans who are transforming into whales are captured instead.

The opening features a “whaleman”—a creature that is neither whale nor human but something in-between— as it leaves the ocean for a beach, only to be caught, sedated, and immediately dissected. Lieutenant Fletcher oversees this grisly work and serves as our point-of-view character. The audience can see the toll that his job takes on him thanks to his heavy-lidded eyes and flat demeanor. His coworkers and superiors are happy with his performance, but something isn’t sitting right. He’s deeply uncomfortable, and the edges of his careful facade are starting to fray.

By the end of “Whale Plague,” Fletcher has been pushed further than he ever has before, and the truth of his life and work lies bare before him and the audience. “Whale Plague” is chilling, to say the least—a stark, thought-provoking dive into what separates us from our humanity.

hakei - “DeadAss”
hakei’s “DeadAss” caused a stir around the VIZ Originals bullpen the moment it came in. A beautifully drawn comic about…that? Hilarious jokes about…those? But sure enough, in hakei’s story, James visits the doctor to get his hemorrhoids checked out and finds out that he is in fact being haunted by a ghost…back there.

All jokes aside, this odd couple is one of the funniest you’ll see this year. James is middle-aged and in constant pain, while the ghost, Kristi, is dead but desperate to give birth to her child so she can move on to the next world. This only-in-manga premise has a heartfelt core nestled underneath its comedic exterior, too. James recognizes the pain Kristi is going through as it mirrors his own, and Kristi, in turn, finds a kindred spirit in James.

“Deceptively heartfelt” is a perfect way to describe “DeadAss.” So is “knock-down, drag-out funny.” hakei’s one-shot has it all, from top to bottom. It’ll make you laugh, groan, and feel, and if you’re lucky, you may even go “bleah” before you laugh out loud. Check out hakei’s promo video for “DeadAss” too!

Crystal Jayme - “The Death God”
One part of the beauty of comics is in their immediacy. It often takes just a moment for a comic to spark interest in a reader, and sometimes, readers are lucky enough to find a comic that they fall in love with from page one, panel one. Crystal Jayme’s “The Death God” is one of those stories. Where to begin when describing the appeal?

The title page is a color illustration featuring a person in a purple cloak striding from grass into a thick layer of snow. The palette is wintry, with cool purples and blue/red gradients. There’s a sword stuck in a tree in the background, and the person looks back at the foreground. What're they thinking about? Whose sword is that? The atmosphere is inviting and sparks an interested curiosity, too. What're they nervous about? This illustration created a strong compulsion to find out.

It takes no time at all for “The Death God” to pique someone’s interest, and the crisp tones and vibrantly expressive faces mean that the story pages are just as interesting to read as the opening illustration. The opening illustration is an invitation, the perfect opening salvo in a story that’s beautifully told. “The Death God” is a manga that invites and then rewards your close attention.

Jonathan Lareva - “Deep Sea Destiny”
(lettering by Mark McMurray)

Family can be a doozy. Even the most loving, perfect families have their own share of complications and troubles, and in Jonathan Lareva’s “Deep Sea Destiny,” things are very complicated indeed. A cave system at the bottom of the ocean holds ore of incredible value, and the Napoli family have come to the Athena Passage in order to make their living mining it.

Lily Napoli, the daughter, has a mechanical left arm which she uses for mining underwater, helping her mother do quick repairs, or fighting against anyone who’d threaten her family…or so she hopes. Her father, a champion boxer, thinks she needs more practice. Her brother Nico is a jerk, and frequently blames her for the family needing to mine ore.

When things go wrong and her family comes under threat, will Nico have Lily’s back? She’s eager to do whatever it takes for her family, but if a member of her own family resents her, can she really trust them? “Deep Sea Destiny” plumbs the depths of family drama, unearthing difficult questions and scenarios like these—and the journey is well worth taking.

Manane - “Desert Rumble”
(lettering by Mark McMurray)

Skittish. Nervous. Cowardly. These are not words often used to describe heroes, but they perfectly suit Rayr, the main character of "Desert Rumble.” Where your traditional hero stands strong in the face of fear and is willing to give their own lives to save others, Rayr is a magician’s apprentice who falls far short of that model. He doesn’t think too highly of himself, either. He’ll do whatever he needs in order to protect his own life…but is that really so bad? If someone expects you to die for them, it's only fair to ask “Why,” right?

“Desert Rumble” pairs Rayr with a powerful demon who sees him for what he is, and that recognition changes his life. Anger, pain, and fear are all valid motivations, and can be valuable in the right situation. But what if there was something more, something to give focus to that anger? This demon holds a secret for the ages, and Rayr may just be the right coward at the right time.

Nunu - “Cosplay Cop”
(lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman) 

We all hide great depths beneath our still surfaces, and keep certain personal feelings or experiences buried even deeper still. This is a natural part of being human, but this also sometimes means that people form the wrong impression about a person solely based on what they see on the surface.

Uchi, the star of Nunu’s one-shot “Cosplay Cop,” knows all about surface-level judgments. He’s a prospective member of the Anti-Goblin Police Force, a unit that takes on monsters that threaten human beings and disturb the peace. They kill goblins when they see them, and Uchi is currently attempting to pass the test that will make him a full member. He's a great student but can't quite seem to pass the examination.

Is Uchi just a goofball, or is there something deeper going on? Maybe he’s both. Nunu’s story gives us a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of someone who genuinely wants to protect others but doesn’t quite agree with the way he’s being told to do it. It’s thought-provoking and funny—honestly, who can resist that combination?

Queenie Chan - “The Mystery Cases of Sister Holmes”
(lettering by Mark McMurray)

Detective stories offer a particularly satisfying experience for readers. The stories unfold in ways that reward careful and attentive readers, and often feature characters who may be ultra-intelligent in enviable ways, but also socially awkward in many situations. Charm and extreme competence are hallmarks of the genre, and Queenie Chan’s “The Mystery Cases of Sister Holmes” is overflowing with both.

Sister Holmes (a Magdalena nun from the Order of the Three Marys) is short of stature and a genius when it comes to solving mysteries. She’s observant, bold, and patient, and her square-framed glasses and nun’s habit make her a sight to behold. She is a firecracker on her own, and when that isn’t enough, Father John Watson, a Thomasite Anglican Priest, is tall, dark, handsome, and has a Bible with two iron plates under the covers. This pious tool is perfect when he needs to defend Sister Holmes from a violent miscreant with a severe bonk on the head.

Watching Sister Holmes flit around the 60-plus pages of this story, interviewing suspects, making pronouncements, and figuring things out, is great. Queenie Chan’s grasp of body language and facial expressions is second-to-none, and even simple question-and-answer sessions are elevated into something much more tense and stressful to read. In the space of a few panels, we watch things like characters breaking down in tears, with each successive panel increasing the emotional intensity of the moment. It’s simply beautiful storytelling. That mild, constant tension is exactly what makes the story such a joy.

Cassio Ribeiro & Josh Tierney - “Sunset Card Battler”
(lettering by Mark McMurray)

The one-shot “Sunset Card Battler,” from Cassio Ribeiro & Josh Tierney, plays a new game. This story is an episode of Sunset Card Battler, a hit television show about a trio of fighters for justice. As the theme song goes: Who dares stop the loathsome Monsun? Sunset! Card! Battlers!

“Sunset Card Battler” is their take on tokusatsu, a category of Japanese special-effects-driven movies and TV shows like Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers or Kamen Rider. Rather than using a special belt or device, the Sunset Card Battlers wield cards infused with “sunset” energy into battle. The mechanics of the world will make sense to anyone who’s played a collectible card game or RPG. The cards, when played, unlock abilities that will hopefully help save the day.

A crystal-clear introduction to a new world, an enticing battle system, a cast that ranges from super confident to in-over-their-heads, and villains with classic designs…Cassio Ribeiro & Tierney swung for the fences with this one! There’s a lot going on, giving the one-shot a satisfyingly dense feel, but it still maintains a keen sense of humor. “Sunset Card Battlers” reads like a proper episode of TV, and it’s an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

William Roth - “Hindsight/Foresight”
(lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman)

Movies use special effects and camera tricks—like forced perspective—to deliver their story. Many of those tools translate well to manga, and artists can often come up with exciting alternatives to achieve similar effects for those that don’t. One thing manga does well is using the art style itself as a storytelling tool. This is clear as day in the first four pages of William Roth's “Hindsight/Foresight,” a story about a normal man with a boring future who has a chance encounter with something fantastic.

The first page is rendered with a dream-like pencil aesthetic, the suggest of a torn page at the lower right corner further emphasizing the rough, out-of-place feel of this first moment. Page two opens with a goofy reaction face before establishing the look of the “real world” of this story. Then, at the bottom of the third page, the scratchy visual style returns, suggesting the horrific and sudden nature of the main character’s dreams.

On the fourth page, Roth delivers a remarkably pretty drawing of a campfire, this time trading the chunky lines for more subdued rendering and realistic detail. The previous moments in this scene felt tense, but this one changes things around a bit. It feels peaceful, and there’s an air of sadness, too. It suggests that something has been lost here, behind all the horror and fear.

“Hindsight/Foresight” is funny and poignant, and Roth demonstrates an equally firm grasp of comedic timing and heightened drama. Roth has created an interesting, memorable story, with an intriguing grasp of emotional resonance.

Kura Santo - “Calypso”
(lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman)

Embrace fate, or run from it? Many of the best stories involve a character walking proudly toward their destiny, but predestination is messy business. Kura Santo's "Calypso" juxtaposes the total control of an authoritarian regime with the idea of inescapable fate.

The story takes place in a kingdom under the control of a brutal regime, and as the story begins, the Royal Guards are going from house to house, seeking anyone and anything that feels even remotely suspicious. Truth is whatever they say it is, because they have the numbers, the weapons, and the authority to enforce it.

Dr. Goff, who runs a small clinic, has no choice but to tolerate their bullying when they arrive at his house. But Dr. Goff is hiding a secret of his own. His secret may be more dangerous than the Royal Guard. It may even be bigger than the kingdom itself. If what's going to happen was always destined to happen, does Dr. Goff truly have any choice in the matter? Or can being a good person tip the scales of fate a bit? Kura Santo digs deep into the dilemma of fate, complete with beautifully detailed and grounded art to make sure that you feel every cruel twist of fate's knife.

Valentin Serber - “Mogallana”
(lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman)

Imagine it: something you’ve never seen before. You can’t, right? Part of the joy of reading manga is to be exposed to ideas, concepts, and most especially drawings of things we never could’ve imagined on our own. The best manga fully welcomes you into someone else’s world, and Valentin Serber’s “Mogallana” more than fits the bill.

One year after the death of his mother, Arty takes a job at Mogallana, the largest supermarket in the region. They aren’t kidding about being the largest, either. Arty spends much of his time hopelessly lost, and a coworker cautions him not to stay in the store alone after sunset. A mysterious supermarket is already a unique story hook, but Serber’s cartooning takes the idea even further than words can convey.

The things—and beings—that Arty encounters are enormous and grotesque, warped out of proportion as if we’re viewing them from the wrong perspective. It’s delightfully creepy, and in very short order establishes what kind of world Serber is depicting. “Mogallana” sticks the emotional landing in addition to delivering a visual feast; its wild, supernatural world is perfectly realized and populated with charming characters.

SK6 Vice - “Finding My Voice”

Can you feel it? The weight of the expectations that have been placed on you? Our parents, our friends, our neighborhood, our culture, they all expect things of us. Sometimes those expectations are rooted in good, warm feelings, and they expect the best for us. Sometimes, those expectations undercut and underate the people we would one day like to be. Good or bad, it’s very easy to find ourselves trapped under the weight of the expectations of others, and become lost trying to navigate a path we never intended to walk down.

At one point in  “Finding My Voice” by SK6 Vice, Aria, a young musician, says, “Genuine doesn't sell. But I write it anyway.” She sees reality clearly. You can follow someone else’s path or you can walk your own, and for her, walking her own path is the most important thing in the world.

If that’s the kind of idea that appeals to you, “Finding My Voice” is a must-read. You don’t have to take our word for it. D. Morris of Comics Beat reviewed “Finding My Voice” and said, “Vice beautifully portrays the tentativeness that comes with exploring a friendship, making art and being true to oneself.”

Tikklil - “Sky Full of Stars: Drifting into Summer Story”
(lettering by Mark McMurray)

"Sky Full of Stars: Drifting into Summer Story” is a sequel to last year’s one-shot “Drifting Into Summer,” a swimming manga from Tikklil. VIZ Originals one-shots editor Hisashi SASAKI described Tikklil’s work on “Drifting Into Summer” as “both stunning and expressive,” and it’s plain to see why. “Sky Full of Stars” was published almost a year after the original story, and being able to see this artist grow has been a delight.

That stunning and expressive artwork is the perfect complement to another of Tikklil’s strengths: top-tier character work. Anna and Madeline, after breaking the ice in the first story, continue their journey together. Anna’s fears and worries are front and center in this chapter, and Tikklil’s expert and lively drawing ensures that those emotions come across crystal clear.

“Sky Full of Stars” is a sports manga, and passion is part of the joy of sports. That passion and other strong feelings are reflected well in Tikklil’s art. There are characters who pull excited faces, and other times when characters slump in such a way that their deep sadness is palpable.

This one-shot, like the one before it, is a delight to read: a fast-paced tour through awkward emotions and explosive feelings. If your heart needs a little thrill, this is the story for you.

Kura Santo - “Ace’s Ransom”
(lettering by Annaliese “Ace” Christman)

The first of our two final one-shots of the year is Kura Santo’s “Ace’s Ransom,” and what a one-shot to go out on! The odds are good that this is the first badminton manga you’ve ever read, and it’s a lovely introduction to the sport. In “Ace’s Ransom,” two players must figure out how to cooperate with each other, if they even can, in order to win the finals of the tournament. One player is ferociously talented and chose his partner intentionally: a less-accomplished player with real potential, but not a lot of confidence.

Standing next to greatness can be as intimidating as standing across from it, as Kura Santo’s story shows. There's a special kind of pressure that comes with needing to perform at the level of someone else, especially if that person is particularly good at what they do. The junior partner has to ask themselves if it’s even possible to rise to the level of their partner, or if that’s what the partner wants in the first place.

That tension lies at the heart of “Ace’s Ransom.” It’s a cool tale to close out our year with, a warm sports manga to carry us into the new year.

A.E.B - “Beast Clinic”

A.E.B of “21st Century Witch” closes our year with “Beast Clinic,” a one-shot that melds the competitive drive and passion we love in manga with the resonant emotional conflict inherent in joining your father’s business. Like “21st Century Witch,” A.E.B’s character work and humor shine throughout the pages of the one-shot.

In “Beast Clinic,” Dr. Anton Johnson has graduated from medical school and is eager to meet his kindly and competitive father with a new challenge. Anton’s father is a great doctor with a great reputation thanks to years of hard work and sleepless nights. Anton respects what his father has done, and just when he’s ready to help shoulder the burden, his father throws a twist into the mix: their family clinic serves human beings and magical beasts as well. Dr. Johnson tried to tell his son the truth several times over the years, but it just never quite sank in for some reason.

As you might be able to guess, “Beast Clinic” has plenty of laughs, many of them coming from Anton's trip through the wilder side of his father’s clinic. But A.E.B is tackling real and important feelings, too. What do you owe the person who did everything they could for you? Can you keep someone’s secret to keep them safe, or do you need to blab to feel good? You’ll have a good time checking in on Anton, his father, and their patients this holiday season.

 
 
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Upcoming One-Shots Portfolio Reviews!

Do you have a clear idea of what you’d like to do in manga? Are you still seeking advice? Do you thrive with feedback? Portfolio reviews are one of the best ways to get feedback from professional editors on your artwork and storytelling, and to begin making connections that will help you in your career.

Make sure to bring complete thumbnails of your manga so that the VIZ Originals One-Shots team can get a crystal clear idea of your approach to manga. Load your portfolio with recent work in addition to work that you’re proud of, and make sure to have a good idea of how long it takes you to finish a page of manga. With all this in hand, you’ll be prepared for a great conversation about your work and ways to help it grow.

Sign-ups for portfolio reviews are open now and close January 19, 2026. Visit this URL for more information, and start sharpening your portfolio now for your review on January 23!

Location: Online!

Time:  January 23, 2026!

 
 
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Dr. Mashirito’s Ultimate Manga Techniques

“What pro manga artists need in addition to talent is stamina and willpower. Therefore, as your stamina and willpower begin to wear away during the process of creating a chapter every week or month, it also puts a strain on your talent. Your ideas, which serve as the basis for your manga, will start to dry up. This is serious, because while stamina and willpower recover with rest, ideas don’t come just because you’ve taken a breather.

And since ideas come from the manga artists themselves, their editors can’t offer support. (However, depending on the editorial department or publisher, there are cases of editors who offer ideas in place of the manga artist.) That is exactly why the ability to constantly come up with new ideas reveals the difference between manga artists who can work on a series for a long time and those who can’t. That difference essentially comes down to who has a healthy curiosity and who doesn’t. Basically, a strong desire to thoroughly pursue whatever interests you or what seems interesting ends up being a source for your ideas.”

 —Kazuhiko Torishima (Dr. Mashirito’s Ultimate Manga Techniques, page 17)

 
 
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