Glacier Bay Books, a publisher renowned for its focus on alternative and indie manga, has launched a new Kickstarter campaign this week to fund its Fall 2025 program, introducing five new titles to its growing catalog. The crowdfunding initiative, which went live on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, aims to bring a diverse range of contemporary Japanese comics to English-speaking audiences.
Spotlighting the Fall 2025 Collection
The Fall 2025 lineup from Glacier Bay Books features five distinct works, encompassing a variety of genres and artistic styles that align with the publisher’s mission to present original, thoughtful, and compelling comics. These titles are scheduled for release this fall, with an anticipated shipping window for backers beginning in November 2025.
The new releases include:
True Blue Never Fades by Tada Yumi
This manga tells the story of Bonny and Mickey, a young couple deeply in love, whose relationship is tested by Mickey’s life as a long-haul trucker. Despite having a son, their bond erodes with broken promises and passing years, leaving only mementos and memories. The narrative takes a turn with the introduction of a naive young man into their lives. Shodensha originally published the manga in March 1995.
Universe from the Balcony by Oumi Konomi
A collection of mind-expanding stories, Universe from the Balcony features ethereal beings, mundane yet evocative imagery like goldfish bowls, wordless plant spirits, impossible love, and a mermaid who has forgotten how to swim. Oumi originally released this manga at COMITIA 145 in September 2023.
The Cursed Body by Kawakatsu Tokushige
While details about The Cursed Body are currently less expansive, Glacier Bay Books had initially announced its release in 2022. This title is part of the curated selection focusing on unique and artistic narratives.
Box Garden Beetle by Kondoh Akino
This work by Akino Kondoh is another highly anticipated addition to the fall collection, promising a distinctive artistic vision characteristic of Glacier Bay Books’ selections.
Baku Chan by Jūshichi Masumura
A new manga title, Baku Chan introduces a devastatingly beautiful short comic about an immigrant tapir on Earth. Baku Chan, a young tapir from the distant Star of the Tapirs, finds Tokyo to be a strange, alien, yet familiar world full of surprises. This title includes an interview with the author.
Glacier Bay Books’ Publishing Philosophy
Founded in 2019, Glacier Bay Books has established itself as an Ignatz Award-winning small press specializing in contemporary alternative and indie manga from the Japanese small press scene. The publisher has released over 30 works, focusing on bringing artistic, original, and compelling comics to a broader audience. Their previous successful campaigns have funded titles such as To the Sea, Seaside Beta, One Hundred Views of Reality, and Final Testament to the Moon Volume 2, as well as a reprint of F by Imai Arata and new releases Flash Point and Spring Tides.
The current Kickstarter campaign is crucial for determining the print run sizes and securing the necessary funds for production, as the books are fully prepared for printing. All titles will be produced with high-quality materials, featuring sewn binding and cream interior paper, with specific details like spot color ink for The Cursed Body and Baku Chan, and soft blue ink for Spring Tides (from a previous campaign, but indicative of quality).
The campaign will conclude on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 2:59 PM PDT. Backers can choose from reward tiers for individual titles, “all new books” bundles, and retail tiers for shops and libraries. Additionally, many titles from Glacier Bay Books’ existing catalog are available as add-ons. The success of this campaign is vital for the publisher’s ongoing activities, as independent funding for printing has become challenging.
