“This emotional manhua about the anxieties and exhilarations of making art in the midst of self-discovery is perfect for readers who enjoyed Naoshi Arawakan’s Your Lie in April or Makoto.” —Booklist
NOV. 3, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — Take “a little step” into 2000s-era Hong Kong with Yu-kiu and Ho-yuet, two teens who find each other, and themselves, through creativity and friendship…
From Mad Cave Studios imprint Nakama Press, this tender slice-of-life debut, A LITTLE STEP VOL. 1 by Mimi Szeto captures the delicate, transformative moment between hesitation and hope. Sometimes, all it takes is a little courage, a shared melody, and one small step to change everything… .
Yu-kiu Lau, a fifth-year student, had always dreamed of studying at a foreign art university. However, because she feared others’ critiques of her work, she couldn’t find it within herself to submit any of her creations. One day, while Yu-kiu was in the art room, she heard a beautiful guitar sound from downstairs. It turned out to be played by Ho-yuet Lee, a classmate with a questionable reputation…
A deeply heartfelt and artistically mature debut based on the author’s own life, A Little Step Vol. 1 hits shelves November 4, 2025. Preorder now through your local comic shop or favorite bookstore!
Nakama Press is Mad Cave Studios’ imprint dedicated to publishing boundary-pushing manga-inspired work from around the globe.
Stay up to date with the latest from Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints, Nakama Press, Maverick, and Papercutz—to explore the full lineup of new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.
