The manga industry is mourning the loss of Youko Umezu, the artist best known for illustrating the fantasy series Vermeil in Gold (Kinsou no Vermeil). The editorial department of Monthly Shounen Gangan announced that Umezu passed away on July 7 following a cerebral infarction. A private funeral service has already been held by her family.
Umezu began her collaboration with author Kouta Amana in August 2018, launching their school-fantasy series in the pages of Monthly Shounen Gangan. The manga recently reached its conclusion with its 41st chapter, published in the magazine's July issue on June 12. Square Enix, the publisher of the series, released the 11th compiled volume just one day prior to the final chapter's debut. Editorial staff expressed their deep gratitude for her contributions to the medium and extended their condolences to her loved ones.
The success of the manga led to a 12-episode anime adaptation by studio Staple Entertainment during the Summer 2022 season. The series, which gained recognition for its blend of magical academy tropes and high-stakes supernatural combat, was licensed by Sentai Filmworks and made available to international audiences via the HIDIVE streaming platform. While the manga has concluded, the editorial team noted that further details regarding the release of remaining collected volumes will be shared at a later date.
