Masami Yuki, the original manga artist behind the beloved Mobile Police Patlabor franchise, has released the first new one-shot manga in the series in 32 years, marking a major moment for fans of the classic mecha franchise.
The one-shot, titled Mobile Police Patlabor 2026, was published in the 25th issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine on May 18, 2026, featuring a color opening page. The announcement was first made in the magazine's 24th issue on May 11.
"I'm not confident at all!" — Masami Yuki on returning to Patlabor after 32 years, as reported by Oricon News
A Long-Awaited Return
Yuki originally drew the Patlabor manga in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday from 1988 to 1994, compiled in 22 volumes. Viz Media released the first two volumes in English in 1998. Yuki was a key member of the Headgear creative collective — alongside Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell), Kazunori Ito, and Yutaka Izubuchi — that originally conceptualized the franchise.
Patlabor EZY Anime on the Horizon
The one-shot arrives alongside a broader franchise revival. The new anime project Patlabor EZY consists of eight episodes debuting theatrically as three films. "File 1" premiered on May 15, 2026, followed by "File 2" on August 14, 2026, and "File 3" in March 2027.
Sources: Anime News Network | Crunchyroll News