Saint Seiya Tenkai-hen Manga Part 4 Launches December 18

Masami Kurumada will publish the fourth chapter of his Saint Seiya Tenkai-hen manga on December 18. The installment, titled "Saint Seiya Tenkai-hen Then IV," is scheduled for the February issue of Akita Publishing's Champion RED magazine, according to an announcement from the magazine.

A discrepancy appeared in the initial social media post, which listed a December 16 date, but the official announcement image confirms the release as December 18. This new series is positioned as the official sequel to both the original Saint Seiya manga and the Saint Seiya: Next Dimension - The Myth of Hades series.

The "Then" Series Continuation

The upcoming "Then IV" continues a specific line of sequels. Kurumada published the first part, "Saint Seiya Then: Haikyō no Hana" (Flowers of Ruin), in Weekly Shōnen Champion in November 2024. The second part, "Saint Seiya Then II: Shimei" (Mission), followed in Champion RED on December 19 of that year. The author then launched the third part of this "Saint Seiya Then" manga on May 14, 2026.

Legacy of the Saint Seiya Franchise

Kurumada's original Saint Seiya manga was serialized from 1986 to 1990. The franchise it spawned is vast, including multiple anime adaptations, films, and spinoff manga. The original series has 35 million copies in print. The direct predecessor to the new Tenkai-hen story, Saint Seiya: Next Dimension - The Myth of Hades, began in 2006 and concluded in July 2024.

International Releases and Adaptations

The property has a long history in English-language markets. Viz Media published the original manga under the title Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac. Several companies have handled the anime, with ADV Films releasing Toei Animation's dubbed version as Knights of the Zodiac and later an unedited Saint Seiya release.

More recent adaptations include a CG anime remake. Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya debuted globally in July 2019. Its second season, Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac - Battle for Sanctuary -, premiered in July 2021, with Part 2 following in April 2024. A live-action film titled Knights of the Zodiac opened in 2023.

Kurumada's Legal Action

Separately, Kurumada announced a significant lawsuit on September 2, 2026. In a Tokyo press conference, he stated he has filed suit against a former board director and others from three of his companies. He alleges they misappropriated funds without authorization. The creator is seeking an estimated 2.8 billion yen, or about US$18 million, in damages.