Manga Etched in Stone

Mangalith is a production studio and publishing house dedicated to bringing classic manga to Western readers with care, precision, and a reverence for the original work.

The studio handles production, lettering, and design for some of the most ambitious manga restoration projects currently in print, including Drawn & Quarterly’s English-language release of Shirato Sanpei’s landmark Kamui series and the Smudge line of historic horror manga from Living the Line, including works by Koga Shinichi and Bonten Taro. Both series have recently been nominated for the 2025 American Manga Awards.

Founded and operated by artists and publishers Tom Kaczynski (Uncivilized Books) and Sean Michael Robinson (Living the Line, Smudge), Mangalith exists at the intersection of artistry and preservation.

The studio combines innovative production techniques with a deep respect for the source material, ensuring every book feels as vital and immediate as the day it was drawn—no matter its age or origin.

In addition to studio collaborations, Mangalith plans to publish a line of carefully selected works, with a focus on essential, overlooked, or underrepresented titles. Each project is chosen not just for its historical significance, but for its continued ability to move, surprise, and resonate with contemporary readers.

Whether stone-carved, or brush-inked, Mangalith’s mission is to honor manga as both artifact and living art.