VIZ Media Debuts Black Torch and GalaXic Baseball League at Anime Expo

VIZ Media made a significant impact at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, unveiling a packed slate of new content and immersive fan experiences. The showcase was highlighted by the world premiere of Black Torch, a new supernatural action series based on the manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki.

Black Torch World Premiere

During a dedicated panel at the convention, fans received an exclusive first look at the premiere episode of the anime adaptation. The event featured appearances by English voice actors AJ Beckles, who voices Jiro, and Keith Silverstein, who voices Rago. The series follows Jiro Azuma, a teenage shinobi, and his uneasy alliance with a powerful mononoke cat named Rago as they navigate a hidden conflict between humans and spirits. The series is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

New Manga and Fan Activations

Beyond the Black Torch anime debut, VIZ Media introduced a new original sci-fi manga titled GalaXic Baseball League. Created by artist Acky Bright with editorial guidance from former Weekly Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Hisashi Sasaki, the story features a high-stakes intergalactic tournament where real-world Major League Baseball stars must compete to save Earth. The manga is currently available to read on the VIZ Manga platform.

The company also expanded its presence on the convention floor with several retail activations. This included the return of the Shonen Jump Pop-Up Shop and the debut of the first-ever official Studio Ghibli Pop-Up Shop in the United States, offering fans access to exclusive merchandise from iconic films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away.

These announcements underscore VIZ Media’s ongoing strategy to bridge the gap between traditional manga publishing and multimedia fan engagement. By combining high-profile anime premieres with interactive retail experiences, the studio continues to solidify its footprint at major industry events like Anime Expo.

Source: Viz Media