Masami Kurumada's iconic masterpiece, "Saint Seiya," is a classic for many, with its 40th anniversary just around the corner. Its numerous manga spin-offs are practically countless.
Yesterday (January 6), Akita Shoten's "Monthly Princess" February issue dropped a brand-new serialization: "Saint Seiya: Mariya." Penned by Masami Kurumada as the original creator and illustrated by Seira Shimotsuki, this fresh chapter of the Saint Seiya saga centers on a female protagonist, Mariya Tachibana.
What makes "Saint Seiya: Mariya" particularly noteworthy is that it's the first "Saint Seiya" spin-off ever to be serialized in a shojo (girls') manga publication. "Monthly Princess" is also home to the renowned series "Ouke no Monshou."
You might be thinking of "Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho," which also featured a female lead, but that one ran in "Monthly Champion RED," a magazine primarily for young men.
The story is set decades after the original "Saint Seiya" main series. The protagonist, Mariya Tachibana, is a "good Samaritan" type who can't stand by when others are in trouble and always lends a hand. On the day of her academy's entrance ceremony, as a student plays the harp, an anomaly erupts within the auditorium... and thus, the story begins. The magazine cover shows Mariya standing alongside Seiya.
According to the end of the first chapter, Kiki, the Gold Saint of Aries, has become the Pope (Grand Pope/Patriarch). Japanese netizens speculate this places the timeline roughly 20 years or more after the conclusion of the original "Saint Seiya" series.
This new entry is considered a "Saint Seiya" side story, but with a fresh shojo twist. Many long-time fans are undoubtedly eager to see what kind of narrative Masami Kurumada will "cook up" this time!