Fans of sports manga have something big to look forward to: Nakama Press, an imprint of Mad Cave Studios, has announced that Yūji Terajima’s acclaimed baseball series, Ace of the Diamond, is getting an English 3-in-1 omnibus release. The very first omnibus volume is scheduled to hit shelves on March 23, 2027.
The English release features a dedicated creative team, with Abby Lehrke translating the first 24 volumes, Devon Corwin handling volumes 25 through 47, and lettering by Chas! Pangburn.
The Story
For those new to the series, Ace of the Diamond follows Eijun Sawamura. After suffering a heartbreaking defeat in his final middle school baseball tournament, Sawamura is recruited by Seidou High, home to one of the most prestigious and competitive baseball programs in Japan. Plunged into an elite environment alongside a talented prodigy catcher and intense rival pitchers, Sawamura must fight tooth and nail for a chance to stand on the pitcher’s mound. Driven by grueling practices and fierce competition, he begins his uphill battle to become the team’s ultimate ace.
Publication History
Yūji Terajima originally serialized the first part of Ace of the Diamond in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 2006 until January 2015, spanning 47 compiled volumes.
Following the original series, Terajima launched the sequel, Ace of Diamond Act II, in August 2015, which ran until October 2022 and was collected into 34 volumes.
The original manga won the prestigious shōnen category at the 34th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2010. While Kodansha USA previously brought the series to digital platforms in 2017 and K MANGA currently serializes the sequel, this upcoming omnibus release marks a major milestone for physical collectors.
Beyond the Page
Ace of the Diamond has grown into a massive media franchise over the years:
- Anime Adaptations: The original manga inspired a 75-episode television anime in 2013, followed by a 51-episode second season in 2015, both streamed globally by Crunchyroll.
- Sequels: Ace of Diamond Act II received a 52-episode anime adaptation in 2019. Furthermore, Ace of Diamond Act II Second Season is slated to premiere in October across networks like TV Tokyo and AT-X.
- Stage Adaptations: The beloved franchise has also been adapted into a series of live-stage plays in Japan.