2024 is a great year for Blue Lock fans. Aside from the upcoming second season, fans can also look forward to the Blue Lock: Before the Fight prequel novel, which is set to release this July.
This new novel should be of particular interest to many series fans, especially as it lets three supporting characters shine. In that sense, it’s akin to the Episode Nagi movie, which was released recently in Japan.
Blue Lock Prequel Novel Puts the Spotlight on Three Supporting Characters
While Blue Lock: Episode Nagi follows the fan-favorite Seishiro Nagi before the events of the main series, this new prequel novel instead puts the spotlight on three characters.
To start, the stylish and long-haired center-back Jyubei Aryu is one of the main characters in this novel.
He is joined by Shoei Baro, a memorable character in the first season thanks to his selfish and arrogant play that led him to become one of the project’s top players.
Finally, the last of the main trio in the novel is Kenyu Yukimiya, a character who stands out thanks to his charisma and easygoing personality.
He still has confidence in his abilities, even though he suffers from optic neuropathy.
Blue Lock: Before the Fight is written by Momo Moegi alongside the manga’s illustrator Yusuke Nomura. It will also feature illustrations made just for the new story.
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Blue Lock: Before the Fight Novel Gets July Release Date
Fans in Japan won’t have to wait much longer before this novel gets released. As spotted by Anime News Network, the novel is now listed on Amazon Japan with a July 17 release date.
From the looks of it, this upcoming light novel will be a one-off instead of a light novel series, though fans will need to wait for more info, as there may be plans for more volumes.
Blue Lock is not the only series to get a light novel prequel or spinoff. After all, other popular titles such as Jujutsu Kaisen have gotten one.
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Will the Blue Lock Prequel Novel Get an English Release in the US? Our Prediction
Thanks in part to the 2022 World Cup, Blue Lock has become hugely popular in Japan and internationally. Given this, even other spinoff projects like the World Champion smartphone game got an English release.
Based on the series’ popularity, it’s likely that this light novel will be picked up and published by Kodansha USA.
It might take a while before it gets released though, as it often takes months to years before manga or light novel volumes come out in the US.
Which other character in the series do you want to star in a prequel novel or manga? Let us know in the comments below.
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