Manga Mavericks Books has appointed Erica Friedman as its new Managing Editor, adding one of the most established voices in Yuri and manga criticism to its publishing team. The North American publisher announced the appointment as it prepares for a major expansion of its catalog following a strong first year of releases.
The company launched its publishing arm in 2025 with a focus on bringing distinctive Japanese comics and underrepresented creators to English-speaking readers. Its recent catalog includes Horon of the Closed Country by Sen and FISHGOD by Chlona, two titles that Manga Mavericks says helped fuel its growth.
Friedman brings more than two decades of experience covering manga, anime and Yuri culture. Her appointment comes as Manga Mavericks Books prepares for an ambitious 2027 publishing slate targeting more than 40 titles across alternative, shojo/josei, LGBTQ+ and classic manga.
Erica Friedman Brings Extensive Manga and Yuri Experience
Friedman holds a Master’s degree in Library Science and a B.A. in Comparative Literature. She has lectured internationally and presented at academic institutions and film festivals, including programs connected to MIT, Harvard University, the University of Illinois, Kanagawa University and Keio University.
Her publishing career includes writing for Eureka, Animerica, Dark Horse, Del Rey, Forbes, Slate, The Huffington Post and other outlets. She has also contributed to Anime News Network and has operated her long-running Yuri-focused blog Okazu since 2002.
Friedman is the author of By Your Side: The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga and contributed to DK’s Manga: A Visual History. Her work has also appeared in Japanese academic publications examining Yuri through queer and feminist perspectives.
Manga Mavericks LLC CEO Varun Gupta said Friedman’s experience and commitment to manga make her a strong addition to the company as it accelerates its publishing plans. Gupta said the publisher expects 2027 to be an
“even more aggressive year of growth,”
with more than 40 planned releases across several genres and categories.
Friedman also expressed enthusiasm about joining the publisher, saying,
“I am incredibly excited to be working with Manga Mavericks.”
She added that the company’s team and books give her the opportunity to contribute to a publisher she believes can have a positive impact on the English-language manga industry.
Manga Mavericks Books was created from nearly a decade of manga podcasting and press coverage. The imprint aims to bring greater attention to Japanese creators and comics that have historically received less recognition in Western markets while maintaining a strong focus on print quality, localization and presentation.
