Deadpool and Marvel Manga Set to Vanish Soon

It looks like there’s been a split between one of Japan’s major media players and Disney: Shueisha and Walt Disney Japan have ended their partnership that allowed Shueisha to publish manga featuring Marvel characters. The contract will officially expire on September 30, and Shueisha plans to phase out its Marvel-related content from digital platforms between September 28 and 30, while also halting physical sales. Although the publishing deal was terminated months ago, this is the first update on how the separation will unfold.

The manga affected by this decision includes titles like Deadpool: Samurai (four volumes), Spider-Man: Kizuna (four volumes), Spider-Man: Octo Girl (four volumes), Secret Reverse, and Marvel x Shonen Jump Plus Super Collaboration. These titles will still be available in stores until supplies run out, and those who have already purchased them can download them from digital storefronts, but they will soon be inaccessible for new readers.

All the mentioned series have wrapped up their stories, with Deadpool: Samurai being the last to conclude. This manga follows the mercenary as he takes on a job from Tony Stark that leads him to Tokyo, where he teams up with Sakura Spider, a girl transformed by a radioactive spider bite, and Neiro Aratabi, an idol with a symbiote. True to Deadpool’s meta nature, the series is packed with references to Shueisha’s popular titles, including Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Dragon Ball, Fire Punch, Goodbye, Eri, and more. The character has even made nods to other Shonen Jump series outside of this run, like when he asked if someone had seen Chainsaw Man before pulling off Aki’s signature move. He also appears in Arc System Works’ anime-inspired Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, where he strikes the iconic Jack-O pose.

Spider-Man: Kizuna offers a twist on the classic henshin hero trope, following Yu, a boy from Ohakama City, who merges with Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Octo-Girl features a wild premise: after a clash with Spider-Man leaves Doctor Octopus in a coma, he wakes up in the body of a middle school girl from Tokyo, reminiscent of many isekai stories. Secret Reverse is a more straightforward tale, showcasing Spider-Man and Iron Man at a gaming convention in Japan. Finally, Marvel x Shonen Jump Plus Super Collaboration is a collection of short stories penned by authors from Shonen Jump Plus.

Distribution in the U.S. was managed by Viz Media, and most of these series (except for Marvel x Shonen Jump Plus Super Collaboration and Spider-Man: Kizuna) can be accessed through Viz’s digital subscription service.

This isn’t the first time Marvel has crossed paths with the manga world. Notable artist Tsutomu Nihei (known for Blame! and Tower Dungeon) created a five-issue series called Wolverine: Snikt! back in 2003. The reason this title wasn’t pulled along with the others is likely due to it being published directly by Marvel Comics rather than Shueisha. Additionally, Kamome Shirahama, the talented artist behind Witch Hat Atelier, has contributed significantly to illustration and concept work for Marvel Comics over the years.

While Shueisha hasn’t disclosed the reasons behind the termination of its contract with Marvel, fans looking to dive into Deadpool’s overseas escapades should act fast, as time is running out.