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Spider-Man has a long history of being associated with Japan, and that connection is taking a big leap forward in the newest Spider-Man manga, entitled “Shadow Warrior.” The new manga has revealed its cover art exclusively for Screen Rant, and it’s already looking quite good.

The first Spider-Man manga was appropriately known as “Spider-Man: The Manga,” and ran from 1970-1971, making it one of the earliest Japanese adaptations of a Western superhero to manga form. Since then, there have been several other attempts at bringing the world of Spider-Man to life in manga form, such as Spider-Man J and the Marvel Mangaverse version of the character. While many of these weren’t particularly well-received, Spider-Man Manga: Shadow Warrior is looking to buck this trend and tell a story worthy of the webhead’s legacy.

Spider-Man Faces Kingpin and Venom in a New Setting

Spider-Man Takes on Edo-Period Japan Alongside the Two Villains

The new cover depicts Spider-Man staring down Kingpin, while a mysterious figure in the front dons the Venom symbiote, looking like he might be a problem for both of them. Spider-Man has a distinctly anime-esque style to his design here, while Kingpin looks as menacing as ever. Kingpin appears to be wearing some traditional Japanese garb, while Spider-Man seems to have some sort of armor over his left arm. The art and story are both by Shogo Aoki, and the manga is due for release on September 16, 2025.

The story focuses on versions of Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Gwen Stacy who have followed Kingpin back in time to 19th-century Japan, where the criminal mastermind has set himself up as the governor of Edo. However, Kingpin didn’t travel through time empty-handed. He brings with him a mysterious symbiote, which soon attaches itself to a young man named Hyo, turning him into a new iteration of the super-villain Venom. This brings chaos to the already difficult situation in which the Spider-Men (and Spider-Gwen) find themselves, giving them two foes to deal with.

Spider-Man Teams Up With His Counterparts

The New Manga Brings Over Popular Spider-verse Characters like Spider-Gwen

A team-up between Parker’s Spider-Man, Morales’ Spider-Man, and Gwen Stacy’s Ghost Spider is already an appealing prospect, and this unusual setting adds a number of new threats for the team to face. Kingpin has legions of samurai warriors at his disposal, in addition to the Venom symbiote. The preview pages provided with the cover art reveal the trio’s teamwork, as Peter is injured and the other two must step in to distract Kingpin while they make their escape. The other preview page offers a classic manga full-page spread, depicting the new Venom character atop a pole.

It’s certainly fun to see new interpretations of a classic character like Spider-Man, and adding two of his most popular counterparts to the mix ensures that the story will remain entertaining. If you’re keen to see how Spider-Man stops Kingpin and Venom and sets the timeline right once again, be sure to check out Spider-Man Manga: Shadow Warrior when it hits shelves on September 16, 2025.

“}]] Spider-Man gets a manga makeover in an exciting new story.  Read More  

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