Exciting News for Fans of Mamoru Nagano and The Five Star Stories

Science fantasy manga The Five Star Stories has been a beloved series since its debut in 1986, and now, fans worldwide have a reason to celebrate!

Manga Coming to English in 2026

During the recent Anime Expo, a panel from Newtype announced that The Five Star Stories will be officially released in English starting March 2026. This is fantastic news for those eager to dive into Nagano's intricate universe!

Image via Amazon

A Series with a Rich History

Launched in 1986 in Kadokawa's Newtype magazine.
The series has been intermittently published over the years.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2011, Kadokawa reissued the manga volumes with unpublished artwork.
The manga experienced hiatuses in 2006 and 2014 but resumed in 2016.
The latest volume, Volume 18, was released on March 10, 2023.

The Story and Its Unique Universe

Set thousands of years in the future, the story unfolds in the Joker Galaxy, home to five star systems. A long-standing war rages as the god of light, Amaterasu, seeks to unite the galaxy.

Pilots called Headdliners fight in giant mechs known as Mortar Headds.
These pilots are trained from birth for combat.
They are often accompanied by female humanlike computers called Fatimas.

Manga's Impact and Adaptations

Most of Nagano's manga has been published in English by Toyspress, Inc.. Additionally, the 1989 anime film adaptation was released in North America by ADV Films.

In 2006, Nagano also directed the film Gothicmade, which he wrote, designed, and storyboarded himself. The film premiered in Japan in 2012.

Visuals and Credits

Source: Newtype panel at Anime Expo (Lynzee Loveridge)