MLB Players, Inc. and OneTeam Partners team up with renowned manga artist Acky Bright and Viz Media to launch new baseball sci-fi epic manga: GalaXic Baseball League.
A Historic Collaboration: MLB Legends Meet Shonen Jump Legacy
A brand-new galaxy is launching in 2026! Marking a historic partnership that bridges Japanese pop culture, professional sports and international storytelling, MLB Players, Inc., OneTeam Partners, and Acky Bright’s BW NYC Studios, Inc. have announced the launch of a new sci-fi manga: GalaXic Baseball League.
The manga will be published by Viz Media, the world’s leading manga publisher.
The Story of GalaXic Baseball League: Interplanetary High-Stakes Competition
The Story
“In the distant future, baseball has rocketed into the cosmos. What was once America’s pastime is now a high-stakes interplanetary competition in which teams from every corner of the universe battle for glory. Amid a sinister plot to wreak havoc on the galaxy, legendary baseball players team up with two unlikely heroes in their quest to save Earth – and the heart and soul of baseball.”
The First Original Manga IP Featuring Active Professional Athletes
GalaXic Baseball League holds the title of the world’s first original manga IP that includes active baseball players, with the story and artwork created exclusively by Acky Bright. A world-renowned Japanese visual artist and mangaka, Acky Bright is known for his iconic “WcDonald’s” campaign and critically acclaimed work with DC Comics and Marvel.
GXBL Volume 1 Cover
Acky Bright’s thoughts on creating the manga series:
“As I watched the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, I kept seeing people saying, ‘Reality just outdid manga!’ That became the seed for this entire story,’’ Bright said.
“At the time, I never imagined that my dream of creating a baseball manga would one day become reality – together with MLB Players, Inc. Now, I’m excited to finally be able to share this story with everyone. I hope readers can escape into an epic that brings the heart and soul of baseball to life in another galaxy.”
Having witnessed Bright’s ‘borderless’ energy firsthand during his massive live-drawing showcase at New York Comic Con, it is clear his improvisational style is the perfect engine for a high-stakes cosmic odyssey. Revisit our exclusive press coverage of his creative process here: NYCC 2025 Retrospective: Press, Purpose, and the Path of an East Asian Media Outlet.
How to Read GalaXic Baseball League: Release Schedule and Platforms
The First Pitch
The saga begins this summer.
· Digital Serialization: July 2, 2026, exclusively on the VIZ Manga app.
· Print Release: Volume 1 to follow in October.
As the first chapter of this new journey unfolds, GalaXic Baseball League marks the beginning of a journey sure to captivate the hearts and minds of baseball fans and sci-fi readers across the world.
Welcome to GXBL.
The Creative Vision: From the World Baseball Classic to the Galaxy
Conceived as a sprawling new saga, GalaXic Baseball League ventures into a new frontier of baseball and entertainment, drawing on the worldwide influence of manga and anime storytelling.
Acky Bright’s influence in 2026 extends far beyond the page; the visionary artist was recently named the Grand Marshal for the upcoming Japan Parade in New York City. Get the full details on where to see him live in our event guide: Japan Parade & Street Fair Returns to Central Park in May 2026: Applications Now Open.
Editorial Leadership: Former Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Hisashi Sasaki
Guiding the editorial development of the series is Hisashi SASAKI of VIZ Media, the former editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump. The legendary manga magazine is home to cultural phenomena such as One Piece, Naruto, and Demon Slayer.
“When Acky shared his idea of fusing the global language of manga with the global passion for baseball, it ignited a spark in my manga editor’s soul,’’ said Hisashi SASAKI.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this project and to have the opportunity to deliver this story to a global manga audience. It’s an honor to be involved in such a remarkable endeavor.”
This historic collaboration with MLB Players, Inc. provides a unique and groundbreaking opportunity for VIZ Media to develop an original manga series that honors the beloved game while exploring a bold and futuristic frontier.
Keep up with the latest news on GalaXic Baseball League and more from VIZ Media by following their social media platforms on X, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Note: The information above was sourced from a press release.
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