Takumigraphics — an imprint of Fantagraphics specializing in East Asian comics — will debut the first volume of Yudori’s Lovers of the Empire in a new full-color graphic novel on August 18, 2026. It is the first work to be published under the publisher’s newest imprint and will be released in a 224-page hardcover format.
An exclusive preview of the manhwa’s first volume was provided to Anime Trending.
The first volume was initially scheduled for an English release on June 23, 2026. A second volume is set to be published on April 27, 2027.
Yudori began releasing the Lovers of the Empire series in 2024 and also worked on another series titled Raging Clouds in the same year.
Takumigraphics describes the first volume of Lovers of the Empire as:
Lovers of the Empire follows two teenagers from different social strata who are thrown together. Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is the most eligible bachelorette in all of Gyeongsung (the capital city). With her Western dresses, movie star hairstyle, and assertive attitude, she embodies bold “Modern” values. Jun Seomoon is her opposite, a young man from the countryside deeply rooted in tradition. When Arisa’s father tasks Jun with escorting her to the big city, their personalities clash and sparks fly. Their unlikely connection opens these teenagers’ eyes to new perspectives amidst the rapidly changing world they find themselves in. On the surface a sweet and funny “will they, won’t they” romance, this story garners depth from its depiction of Korea at a crossroads: a city occupied by Japan, molded by Western influences, and facing a modernity that stirs inner conflicts within its citizens. Rendered in gorgeous full color, this period piece portrays a fascinating city in a tumultuous time, with two winsome characters at its heart.
Other titles that will be published under Fantagraphics’ Takumigraphics imprint later this year include Marina Lisa Komiya’s On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides, Takako Shimura’s Wandering Son, Akane Torikai’s Wandering Cat’s Cage, and Shintaro Kago’s The Ultra Power Mongol Invasion.
Source: Email correspondence
