During Yen Press’s industry panel at Anime NYC, Ize Press revealed a slate of four upcoming projects. Highlights from the announcement include the celebrated historical webtoon Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid alongside several fresh additions to the ever-expanding Solo Leveling franchise.
Penned by Yoonhee Na, Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid is a poignant romance set against the backdrop of 1926 Korea under Japanese colonial rule. The narrative centers on Sooah, a young housemaid whose life changes forever when she encounters and shelters Uihyeon, an injured independence fighter hiding from the authorities. Originally serialized on WEBTOON, the complete six-volume series has drawn over 13 million readers, earned the prestigious 2021 Korea Content Grand Prize Presidential Award, and is currently slated for a live-action television adaptation.
Readers looking to explore the series digitally can find the English edition on WEBTOON.
In addition, Ize Press is broadening the reach of the original Solo Leveling franchise by launching a comprehensive Spanish-language edition encompassing comic, novel, and audiobook formats. While the print comic and novel releases will be distributed across the U.S. and Canada, the audiobook will see a global rollout.
The publisher’s lineup also welcomes the sequel novel series Solo Leveling: Ragnarok by author Daul. This follow-up shifts the focus to Sooho Sung—the son of the original protagonist, Jinwoo Sung—as he navigates the perilous realm of hunters and monsters. Ize Press previously brought the print comic adaptation of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok to shelves this past July.
Fans eager to dive into the story ahead of time can access the English web novel version via Tapas.
Rounding out the announcements is Solo Leveling: The Board Game, a cooperative, tactical tabletop experience designed for one to four players. The game lets participants engage with familiar characters, formidable monsters, and iconic bosses from the universe. Ize Press plans to offer both Standard and Ultimate editions, with the latter bundled with exclusive collectibles, including a plushie of Beru.
Specific launch dates, retail pricing, and further specifics regarding these new properties will be unveiled by Ize Press at a later date.
Sources: Press release
ANN’s coverage of Anime NYC 2026 is proudly sponsored by Yen Press. Whether you are hunting for light novels, manga, or manhwa, Yen Press has something waiting for your collection. Stop by Booth #1701 or head over to YenPress.com to discover more!