The North American comic industry continues to recognize Japan’s overwhelming dominance. The organizing committee of the prestigious Harvey Awards has released its official list of nominees for this year, making it clear that Japanese franchises are the true heavyweights of the season. The winners of these awards, chosen exclusively by industry professionals, will be revealed on October 9th during the New York Comic Con.

In the coveted Best Manga category, this year’s contest features literary gems. Legendary Naoki Urasawa appears alongside Takashi Nagasaki with their acclaimed work Billy Bat, facing off against Kazumi Yamashita’s Land, Fumiko Takano’s Miss Ruki, Iijima Ichiro’s My Gorilla Family, and closing with My Life in 24 Frames per Second by Rintarō. The nominees face immense pressure, as last year’s trophy was claimed by the popular Delicious in Dungeon, and in previous editions, the Chainsaw Man franchise dominated by winning three years consecutively.

The real excitement lies in the Best Adaptation of a Comic or Graphic Novel category, where Asian contenders threaten to sweep past Western giants. On the animated and live-action side, we have titans like the highly anticipated film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, the first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Akaza Sairai trilogy, the final season of My Hero Academia, the second installment of the live-action One Piece, and even the impeccable Korean film Your Letter. This squad aims to snatch the award from major Hollywood productions like the fifth season of The Boys, the brutal fourth season of Invincible, and the second season of Peacemaker.

Given the absurd level of popularity and box office revenue the upcoming Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man films will likely generate, do you think Japanese animation can crush Western superhero adaptations at this year’s awards?