Much like Persona 4, Persona 5 has managed to expand far beyond its original release over the years, spawning an anime, a dancing-focused spin-off, and tons of merchandise. It also received a tie-in manga titled Persona 5: Mementos Mission in Japan. The graphic novel told a new story set in the game's universe, however, it never received an English translation.
It seems that's about to change, with a new announcement from Udon Entertainment revealing that the Persona 5 tie-in will be officially released in the west later this year. According to a press release on the publisher's site, it's teaming with Barnes and Noble to release the manga on December 7, 2021, with pre-orders opening today.
Those interested will be able to get Volume 1 in one of two covers. A standard copy with Joker and Morgana taking center stage, and an exclusive Barnes and Noble cover that features Joker, Morgana, and Futaba on the front. The latter will also come with a mini fold-out poster featuring stylized artwork of Joker, Ryuji, Goro Akechi, and Yusuke playing cards. There's currently no word on the release schedule of future volumes, of which there were three in Japan.
For those unfamiliar with the manga's story, it sees the Phantom Thieves solve an all-new mystery. Udon Entertainment teases it'll feature assassination attempts, shady doctors' clinics, and strange job requests at the back-street military shop, and that it will reunite the entire Persona 5 cast, including master detective Goro Akechi. It's worth noting that it's separate from the standard Persona 5 manga, which is a straight retelling of the game's main storyline. It's likely to be another solid addition to the game's overarching narrative, offering fans more time with the Phantom Thieves and additional adventures in the Metaverse.
It isn't the only addition to the Persona 5 canon that made its way to the west this year, with Persona 5 Strikers launching worldwide back in February. The game took place directly after the events of the original game, seeing Joker and Morgana return to Tokyo to join the Phantom Thieves on a Summer vacation. The group is quickly launched into a new mystery, as a mysterious app winds up transporting them into the Metaverse where they're forced to take on a dangerous new enemy.
The sequel was a success, with its global release garnering strong reviews and being hailed as a fun spin-off from the acclaimed JRPG. Persona fans can look forward to diving into Atlus' latest game at the tail-end of this year, with Shin Megami Tensei 5 slated to launch in November.
Persona 5: Mementos Mission's English localization will debut on December 7, 2021.
Source: Udon Entertainment, Barnes and Noble