Kūbo Ibuki Series Gets New Manga on February 25

Kaiji Kawaguchi's Kūbo Ibuki series will continue with a third manga in the fifth 2026 issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine on February 25, 2026. Kūbo Ibuki new manga announcement marks the continuation of this acclaimed military thriller franchise, bringing fans another chapter in the saga of the aircraft carrier Ibuki and its role in modern geopolitical conflicts. Kawaguchi's Kūbo Ibuki Great Game (Aircraft Carrier Ibuki Great Game) manga ended on December 26, 2025, concluding its serialization run. The manga's 18th and final compiled book volume will ship on January 30, 2026, providing readers with the complete second series. Kūbo Ibuki Great Game conclusion brings the total collected saga to 31 volumes across the first two series, establishing a substantial body of work that explores modern maritime warfare and geopolitical tensions. The story takes place some time after the battle of Senkaku. The battle is a "great game" where the great powers compete for sovereignty, exploring themes of territorial disputes, maritime resources, and international relations. Kūbo Ibuki Great Game narrative framework examines how global powers navigate complex geopolitical challenges, creating a compelling military drama that resonates with contemporary issues. The series launched in Big Comic magazine in December 2019, establishing itself as a sequel to the original Kūbo Ibuki manga. Shogakukan published the 17th volume on September 30, 2025, demonstrating the series' consistent publication schedule and reader engagement. The magazine's 19th issue previously stated the manga would have 19 volumes, though the series concluded with 18 volumes, reflecting the natural conclusion of the narrative arc. The original Kūbo Ibuki manga ended in December 2019, completing its initial run. The manga's 13th and final compiled book volume shipped in June 2020, bringing the first series to a close. Kawaguchi launched the series in collaboration with journalist Osamu Eya in Big Comic in 2014, combining manga storytelling with journalistic insights into military and political affairs. Kūbo Ibuki original series established the foundation for the franchise, introducing readers to the world of modern naval warfare and Japan's evolving self-defense policies. The manga won the Best General Manga award at the 63rd Shogakukan Manga Awards in January 2018, recognizing Kawaguchi's exceptional storytelling and the series' impact on the manga industry. The series' volumes have more than 3 million copies in print, demonstrating its commercial success and widespread appeal. The manga inspired a live-action film adaptation in 2019, directed by Setsurō Wakamatsu and starring Hidetoshi Nishijima and Kuranosuke Sasaki, bringing the story to a wider audience through cinematic adaptation. Kawaguchi ended his Zipang: Shinsō Kairyū manga in November 2019, concluding another of his military-themed works. The manga is unrelated to his earlier time-traveling war manga Zipang, which he drew in Kodansha's Morning magazine until 2009. Kūbo Ibuki creator Kaiji Kawaguchi has established himself as a master of military and political manga, creating works that explore complex geopolitical themes through compelling narrative storytelling. Viz Media published Kawaguchi's political manga Eagle in North America, introducing international audiences to his work. Central Park Media released the naval anime special The Silent Service inspired by Kawaguchi's manga, and Geneon Entertainment released the Zipang television anime, demonstrating the cross-media appeal of his stories. The Silent Service manga also inspired two live-action films. The first film premiered in Japan in 2023, and the second film opened on September 26, 2025. The film's live-action series sequel titled Chinmoku no Kantai Season 1: Tokyowan Daikaisen (Silent Service Season 1: The Battle of Tokyo Bay) premiered on Amazon Prime in February 2024, expanding the franchise's reach to streaming audiences. Kūbo Ibuki February 2026 new manga launch represents an exciting continuation of this acclaimed series, offering fans another chapter in the ongoing saga. With the conclusion of Great Game and the upcoming third series, readers can look forward to new developments in the story while reflecting on the substantial narrative that has been built across 31 volumes. Kawaguchi's masterful storytelling, combined with the series' exploration of modern military and political themes, ensures that this new installment will continue to engage and challenge readers.