For those eager to read the final chapters in volume format, the sixth and last volume of Astro Royale is scheduled to be released in Japan on July 4th. This final volume will also include a special treat for readers: 19 pages of extra content that takes place after the main storyline concludes, offering a bit more closure to the series.
Good news for English-speaking manga fans! VIZ Media is bringing Astro Royale to the West. They are currently publishing the series as a simulpub, meaning new chapters are released digitally at the same time as they come out in Japan. The first collected volume in English is also on its way and is set to be released this August, making it easier for readers to catch up on the beginning of the story.
What is Astro Royale all about? The official description gives us a glimpse into the superpowered yakuza world:
The story centers around Hibaru Yotsurugi, who is the only biological child in the Yotsurugi yakuza family. He finds himself in a complicated battle for power with his adopted siblings. They are all vying for the position of the next family boss. However, their internal gang conflict takes a dramatic turn when a meteorite suddenly crashes into Tokyo. This celestial event causes some people, including Hibaru and his siblings, to develop incredible and mysterious abilities called Astros.
The meteorite’s impact throws Tokyo into chaos, and the city becomes divided into different groups and territories. Amidst this upheaval, Hibaru must learn to control and use his new Astro powers to protect his community. The challenge is even greater because some of the threats he faces come from within his own family. His adopted siblings have their own ambitions and are using their newfound powers to try and seize control of the Yotsurugi family for themselves. This sets the stage for a thrilling and action-packed manga where family drama meets superpower battles.
Astro Royale offered a unique blend of yakuza themes with a modern superpower twist, coming from the creative mind of Ken Wakui, who is well-known for his time-traveling gang manga, Tokyo Revengers. While Tokyo Revengers became a massive global phenomenon, captivating audiences with its intricate plot and compelling characters, Astro Royale, though shorter-lived, explored different themes within a similar action-oriented framework.
For fans of Wakui’s work, Astro Royale provided another opportunity to experience his dynamic storytelling and character designs. The premise of yakuza families battling for power while wielding extraordinary abilities presented an interesting and fresh concept within the shonen manga landscape. The combination of gang warfare with supernatural powers promised high-stakes action and dramatic conflicts, appealing to readers who enjoy series with both intense battles and complex family relationships.
Although Astro Royale is concluding after a year, the complete story will be available in six collected volumes, making it a manageable series for new readers to pick up and enjoy. The bonus material in the final volume suggests that Wakui aimed to provide a satisfying conclusion to the narrative, ensuring fans get a proper send-off for the characters and the world he created. The upcoming English release by VIZ Media will also allow a wider audience to experience Astro Royale and see Wakui’s storytelling in a new light, separate from the time-traveling adventures of Tokyo Revengers.
The manga industry is constantly evolving, with series starting and ending on a regular basis. The conclusion of Astro Royale after a year of serialization is not uncommon, especially in the competitive environment of Weekly Shonen Jump. However, for fans who were invested in the series, it marks the end of a chapter and the anticipation for Wakui’s next project. Whether he will return to the world of Tokyo Revengers with spin-offs or sequels, or embark on a completely new manga adventure, remains to be seen, but his fanbase will undoubtedly be eager to see what he creates next. In the meantime, readers can look forward to experiencing the complete story of Astro Royale in its collected volumes and delve into the world where yakuza power struggles collide with incredible superpowers.
For those who are curious to see what Astro Royale offered when it first launched, there are resources available online that provide initial impressions and reviews from when the series began in April 2024. These can offer further insight into the manga’s early reception and what readers can expect from the series as a whole. As VIZ Media prepares to release the English volumes, now is a good time for manga enthusiasts to discover Astro Royale and experience this unique blend of yakuza action and superpower battles from the creator of Tokyo Revengers.