Manga in the 80's Pt. 15

Cyber 7. Written and illustrated by Shuho Itahashi. Eclipse Comics with Studio Proteus published 17 issues in a monthly format from March 1989 to Autumn 1990 spanning the 2 original books.

The manga was originally published by Hakusensha in the mid to late 80's.

Our young protagonist Tatsuki finds a photograph that shows a group of organic androids helping people after a vehicle accident, this he then sells to a tabloid newspaper, making it public knowledge 14 years after the accident and exposing their secret existence, and putting himself and those now teenagers and the scientist in great danger!

The secret of the 7 organic androids is that they are self-aware and make their own choices, and need a convincing discussion before undertaking any new obligation, and up until now have been kept a secret.

The threat to all, is a 7 foot tall anthropomorphic Rabbit who's technology is way-ahead of this Earth's time, not to mention his organisation's foot soldiers!

[Note: The artwork has a distinctive European feel to it, but the story is one truly from a Japanese prospective.]

[Note: I only have a smattering of the comic-books, so it is difficult to do it justice.  UPDATE; With a complete set I now can take the time to try to understand the themes of the the story, and review the translated manga.]

[Note: For many weeks now I have been ranking my brain with the notion that “Cyber 7” is not translated from the original Japanese title..... but I as yet can not find any proof of this!!  UPDATE; it is called the Bridge. ]

[UPDATE: Collection of issues 1 to 17 now complete. (27/08/2022).]

Cyber 7 BOOK ONE.

Issues 1 to 7.

Cyber 7 BOOK TWO.

Issues 1 to 10.

Manga in the 80's Pt. 13

Outlanders. Written and illustrated by Johji Manabe. Dark Horse Comics with Studio Proteus published 33 issues in a monthly format, from December 1988 to September 1991 . The manga was originally published by Hakusensha in Comicomi magazine in the mid to late 1980's.

A favourite manga of mine with an engrossing story and appealing art with its character design and organic integrated technology all wrapped up in a space opera.

The invasion of Earth by the galaxy spanning Santovasku Empire's immense living battleships and terrifying ground troops and war beasts, our reluctant hero a Tokyo News Photographer by the name of Tetsuya Wakatsuki is taken as a prisoner by the beautiful (but deadly with a sword) Princess Kahm who has such lovely horns befitting one of Royal blood is the daughter to the Santovasku Emperor!

For a start humans are seen as vermin on this sacred planet and battle fleets of star-ships have been given orders to exterminate the infestation! With such a large Empire of many bipedal races (much like inhabitance of moons of the planet Mongo!) some fish-like (Royal Servant Nao ), and some the pinnacle of feline (Lady Battia) and canine (General Geobalai) evolution I think.

Tetsuya persuades Kahm to save the Earth and all its Human inhabitance and she promises to marry him and take on her father, but others are plotting against her, add to this confrontations between Lady Battia and General Geobalai and family of Royal Servants loyal to the princess you have a space opera with style!

[Note. Toren Smith of Studio Proteus sold the translated manga of Outlanders to the fledgling comic-book company Dark Horse, thus gave them their first manga title and a foot-hold in the newfound market. Such was its importance!]

[Note. 8 Volumes were printed by Dark Horse covering the entire series (of 33) & the one-off specials (dates to be confirmed).]

[UPDATE: Collection of issues 1 to 33 now complete. Plus specials.]

OUTLANDERS.

Issues 1 to 12.

OUTLANDERS.

Issues 13 to 24.

OUTLANDERS.

Issues 25 to 28.

OUTLANDERS.

Issues 29 to 32.

OUTLANDERS.

Issue 33.

Special issues. 

OUTLANDERS.

Volumes One to Eight.

LETTERS PAGE.

Gallery.

Gallery.

Gallery.

Gallery.

Gallery.

Manga in the 80's Pt. 9

Dominion. Written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. Published by Eclipse International & Studio Proteus in 6 issues in a Monthly format from December 1989 to May 1990. The manga was originally published by Hakusensha 1986.

We follow our heroin Leona Ozaki in her day to day job, protecting the citizens of the megalopolis, a city engulfed in a deadly bacterial smog (were the mask you wear saves your life!), and crime is dealt with the deadly force of the Tank S.W.A.T. Police (urban pacification that is outrageous!). In this futuristic world of bio-technology & cyber-technolgy and the use of tanks in a city Leona a girl who loves her little tank (named Bonaparte) struggles to be taken seriously as the male members of the Tank S.W.A.T. Police have the much bigger military tanks!

Shirow is know for his meta detailed city landscapes and cybernetics tech illustrations to flesh out his Worlds, and added to this is a wit and humour of the absurd with depiction of SD characters (super deformed – an art style).
A highly enjoyable Science Fiction comedy!

[Note. Like so many translated manga of its time only a short number of issues where produced to show the verity and style form Japan, and then where gone! Easily missed at your local comic-book store.]

 [Note. So popular was this series that over the years, 3 sets of OVAs have been animated (Dominion Tank Police, New Dominion Tank, and TANK S.W.A.T. 01).]

[Note. Masamune Shirow is best known in the West by his seminal work “Appleseed”.]

                                    

   [UPDATE: Collection of issues 1 to 6 now complete]

  

Dominion #1 to #6   from Eclipse Comics.

[NOTE: When I was missing issues 4,5, & 6, at the time I also missed out on adverts and articles too.]

Appleseed  BOOK ONE 

The Promethean Challenge.

Letters page.

Letters page.

Dirty Pair BOOK ONE.

What's Michael?

Graphic Album

Black Magic Written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow.

Shipping in Spring of 1990.

Appleseed Poster, from ECLIPSE.

[UPDATE: From Dark Horse comics; Collection of 7 manga comic books would be printed in 1996 (March to August, and  ) 'Masamune Shirow's DOMINION Conflict 1 - No more noise' #1 to #6.

#1to #3

#4 to #6

 

[NOTE: these last 7 manga comic-books were added to my collection, in April of 2021.]