Acky Bright, the artist behind the GalaXic Baseball League manga, opened up about the MLB-backed baseball manga in a new interview at NYCC 2026 — and revealed the series could run far beyond its current tournament arc. Bright told Anime Herald he foresees the tournament lasting about five volumes, calling it just “season one” of a much bigger story.
GalaXic Baseball League (Credit: Anime Herald)
The interview sheds light on one of the most unusual manga projects in recent years: a baseball manga that actually began as an idea from the MLB Players Association, which wanted to build its IP in the manga space. According to Bright, it took roughly two years of contract work before the manga could launch, but the wait paid off with a series designed to appeal to die-hard baseball fans and complete newcomers alike.
Five Volumes for Season One, More to Come
When asked how long the series might run, Bright explained that the current tournament arc should fill about five volumes — but that is only the beginning. Once the story moves past the tournament and into the league itself, he sees the potential for “season two and season three.” His only condition: “If people keep buying it, I will keep writing it.”
The manga follows team GAIA, who start out as rundown underdogs before a character named Luna arrives to give the squad a full refresh — a detail that even shows up in the art, with the crisp GAIA logo on the renovated uniforms contrasting with the handwritten tournament poster.
No Ohtani as a Star — Every Game Has a New Hero
Perhaps the most interesting creative choice is how Bright handles Shohei Ohtani. Despite the global baseball icon’s popularity, Bright treats every player equally: “It’s baseball, it’s a team sport. Naturally, from game to game, the hero of each game is going to change. Everyone gets to be a main character.”
The players wear powered suits that grant special abilities during games, with José Ramírez the first to unlock his. Bright admits even he does not always know what happens next: “Once these characters start moving, they take on their personality and tell me what the story is.” As of the latest chapters, team GAIA is down by ten runs — and Bright insists he is as surprised as the audience about how they will escape.
For now, Bright’s message to readers is simple: even if you have never watched a baseball game in your life, this manga was made for you — and for kids who love the sport.
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Source: Anime Herald — read the full story there.
