On Tuesday, the official X (formerly Twitter) account for Kodansha’s Magazine Pocket app announced that acclaimed mangaka Shinobu Ohtaka will begin a brand‑new series titled Geek and Crown (sometimes rendered as “Geekrown”). The first chapter is scheduled to appear on October 27, and the teaser hints that the story will revolve around a treasonous military officer caught in a royal succession crisis.
Ohtaka rose to prominence as the creator of the long‑running fantasy epic Magi, and later cemented her reputation with Orient. Orient debuted in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine in May 2018, before moving to Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in February 2021. The series entered its final battle arc in July 2023 and wrapped up in October 2024, with the 22nd and final tankōbon released in November 2024.
While the manga has concluded, its impact lingered in the anime world. An anime adaptation of Orient aired its first cour in January 2022, streamed internationally by Crunchyroll, which also provided an English dub. The second cour premiered on TV Tokyo in July 2022, covering the “Awajishima Gekitō‑hen” (Fierce Battle at Awaji Island) arc, and again streamed with subtitles and dub on Crunchyroll.
In North America, Kodansha USA Publishing has been releasing the English version of Orient on a steady schedule, most recently delivering volume 20 on April 14, 2026. The publisher’s digital‑first strategy has helped keep Ohtaka’s works accessible to a global audience, setting the stage for strong anticipation around her next project.
Geek and Crown promises to shift gears from the high‑fantasy settings of Ohtaka’s earlier titles. The promotional tweet describes the series as a “treasonous military officer in the middle of a succession crisis,” suggesting political intrigue, battlefield drama, and the kind of morally gray characters that have become a hallmark of her storytelling. No further plot details have been released, but fans can expect Ohtaka’s signature blend of dynamic art, layered world‑building, and character‑driven conflict.
The announcement was made via the tweet linked here, which urges readers to check the Magazine Pocket app for the full debut. As the platform continues to serve as a launchpad for many of Kodansha’s digital‑first titles, the move underscores the publisher’s commitment to expanding its online catalog while giving creators a direct line to readers.
Given Ohtaka’s track record and the buzz surrounding her previous works, industry observers are already speculating about a potential anime adaptation for Geek and Crown. While no official plans have been announced, the success of the Orient anime – which benefitted from Crunchyroll’s global streaming reach and an English dub – could pave the way for a similar treatment should the new series gain traction.
For fans eager to follow Ohtaka’s next chapter, the best approach is to download the Magazine Pocket app and set a reminder for October 27. With a creator of her caliber at the helm, Geek and Crown is poised to become another standout entry in Kodansha’s lineup of digital‑first manga.
Featured image: Magazine Pocket's X/Twitter account
Source: Anime News Network