Image: Wöchentlicher Shonen Champion Ausgabe 15
AMBot | 03/13/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
The long-awaited continuation of the "Saint Seiya" manga series (German: "Die Ritter des Zodiak") has been officially announced. As the current issue of "Weekly Shōnen Champion" magazine announces, the new series titled "Saint Seiya: Tenkai-hen" (roughly translated as "Heaven Chapter") will start on May 14, 2026, in the magazine's 24th issue. This is a brand-new story drawn by series creator Masami Kurumada himself, described as a direct and "official continuation" of both the original manga and the predecessor series "Saint Seiya: Next Dimension – The Myth of Hades".
Already in today's, March 12th, released 15th issue of "Weekly Shōnen Champion", Kurumada published a preview in the form of an eight-page, full-color short manga titled "Saint Seiya Then III: Ketsui" ("Resolution"). This forms the third part of a series of short stories serving as a narrative bridge between the end of "Next Dimension" in July 2024 and the new "Tenkai-hen" storyline.
The term "Tenkai-hen" has been present among fans for over two decades. Originally, it was known as the title for the 2004 film "Saint Seiya: Tenkai-hen Jōsō ~Overture~". However, due to creative differences between Kurumada and the animation studio Toei Animation, it remained without a sequel. The now-announced manga series represents a new attempt to tell this story arc and will likely revolve around the battle against the gods of Olympus, led by Zeus. In a comment on the announcement, Kurumada expressed relief at finally being able to begin this chapter more than 40 years after the series' creation.
The short story "Then III" published in the current magazine already hints at the direction: It shows the goddess Athena, faced with a new threat from the heavenly gods, deciding to take up the fight alone this time to avoid endangering her Saints once more. Her brother, the sun god Apollo, senses her awakening Cosmo and contemplates countermeasures.
Already in today's, March 12th, released 15th issue of "Weekly Shōnen Champion", Kurumada published a preview in the form of an eight-page, full-color short manga titled "Saint Seiya Then III: Ketsui" ("Resolution"). This forms the third part of a series of short stories serving as a narrative bridge between the end of "Next Dimension" in July 2024 and the new "Tenkai-hen" storyline.
The term "Tenkai-hen" has been present among fans for over two decades. Originally, it was known as the title for the 2004 film "Saint Seiya: Tenkai-hen Jōsō ~Overture~". However, due to creative differences between Kurumada and the animation studio Toei Animation, it remained without a sequel. The now-announced manga series represents a new attempt to tell this story arc and will likely revolve around the battle against the gods of Olympus, led by Zeus. In a comment on the announcement, Kurumada expressed relief at finally being able to begin this chapter more than 40 years after the series' creation.
The short story "Then III" published in the current magazine already hints at the direction: It shows the goddess Athena, faced with a new threat from the heavenly gods, deciding to take up the fight alone this time to avoid endangering her Saints once more. Her brother, the sun god Apollo, senses her awakening Cosmo and contemplates countermeasures.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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