manga library z shut down
Image via Manga Library Z

Manga Library Z to Shut Down in November 2024

After 14 years, Manga Library Z will shut down its online services on November 26, 2024. According to the announcement, this is due to the site having trouble with credit card companies and the like these past few years.

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Manga Library Z was an online service that allowed people to read out-of-print manga series, while also providing income to the original artists in the form of ad revenue. Some of the series that Manga Library Z are exceptionally rare, or are now only available in digital format. Ken Akamatsu, the creator of series like Love Hina and now a Japanese politician, created Manga Library Z (then J-Comi) back in 2010. At the time, online manga libraries were quite rare. But Manga Library Z managed to survive even with more competition than ever.

The announcement then gives more details on why the site has to go down. This is due to payment services like credit card companies cutting off ties with them. Since this would lead to a loss of income, Manga Library Z tried to protest this, but the companies didn’t budge on this decision. Without money, the site can’t give any profits back to the authors and so it decided to shut down the site instead of betraying the artists’ or fans’ trust. It apologizes for this decision. This isn’t the end of Manga Library Z though, and the site is looking for different ways to start it up again. Some possibilities include crowdfunding or becoming a non-profit.

Manga Library Z will shut down on November 26, 2024.


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Stephanie Liu
Stephanie is a senior writer who has been writing for games journalism and translating since 2020. After graduating with a BA in English and a Certificate in Creative Writing, she spent a few years teaching English and history before fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a writer. In terms of games, she loves RPGs, action-adventure, and visual novels. Aside from writing for Siliconera and Crunchyroll, she translates light novels, manga, and video games.