Kadokawa Corporation has officially launched a groundbreaking collaboration with Marvel Comics titled MARVEL | KADOKAWA, introducing a slate of original manga projects spearheaded by iconic heroes such as Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen. The initiative will kick off its rollout with five distinct titles, all slated to begin serialization on Kadokawa's Kadokomi web manga platform throughout 2026.
The announcement was initially unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con during the Marvel Fanfare panel, featuring C.B. Cebulski, former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief and current Marvel Asia editorial director. The project aims to blend Marvel's legendary comic book mythos with distinct Japanese manga storytelling traditions, offering fresh perspectives on globally recognized characters.
The first wave of manga centers heavily on Tokyo-set narratives and localized character reinterpretations. The untitled Spider-Man manga features a high school student named Haruto Hachidori living in Shibuya, who suddenly acquires mysterious arachnid abilities and swings across the city while confronting underlying urban shadows. The series is illustrated by tokitokoro, known for work on Jeff The Land Shark.
Meanwhile, the untitled Spider-Gwen project follows Gwen Stacy, an ordinary high schooler and drummer for the band The Mary Janes, who gains superhuman abilities after an encounter with a genetically altered spider in a laboratory. Illustrated by Ryusei Yamada, recognized for artwork in the Marvel Swimsuit Special featuring Captain Marvel, the story explores the heavy responsibilities and internal conflicts Gwen faces as she embraces her role as Spider-Woman.
Following their digital serialization on Kadokomi in 2026, collected tankobon volumes will be published physically. This cross-cultural venture promises an intriguing synthesis of American superhero aesthetics and Japanese comic craftsmanship, designed to appeal equally to longtime Marvel enthusiasts and domestic manga readers.
