March 1990 Pt.5b Manga

What's Michael?. Written and illustrated by Makoto Kobayashi. published by Eclipse Books (Eclipse International) with translation by Dana Lewis & Toren Smith of Studio Proteus, Sold as a single issue Graphic Album (about 110 pages), March 1990 . Originally serialized in Comic Morning Magazine and published by Kodansha Ltd. From 1985 to 1990 (Nine Volumes were published over this time.

“ The cat comic that exploded onto the bestseller lists in Japan is now available in America”

AWHAT'S MICHAEL? Is a collection short stories set in a multiverse about Michael the cat, and his interactions with food providers\owners as well as in an anthropomorphic Cat Vs Dogs world.

Toren Smith of Studio Proteus, said “it's a very funny comic.”

“WHAT'S MICHAEL? Explores the foilbies and follies of cat-fanciers, and cats, from every walk of life.!”

Toren Smith was asked by Eclipse International to try and get the rights WHAT'S MICHAEL? From Kodansha Ltd. he very sceptical as they where a huge company and that they already had a relationship with a major American Comic-book publisher, Marvel. But they turned out to be very approachable and professional. 

 

[Note: on the inside page of the Album there is printed “Special thanks to Kodansha liaison Yuda Ando.”]

At the time it was a big gamble for Eclipse and Studio Proteus to sell though a chain of book stores in the USA a funny comic-book about a cat, when one of those book store chains only bought 50 copies initially, then only a few months later ordered 500! So volume was also in the running, and all before these cute cats on the internet too!

[Note: The above information about Studio Proteus involvement was gleaned from an Interview published in Issue 22 of 'The Rose' July 1990, Anime Hasshin's club-zine – Lorraine Savage interviewed Toren Smith.]

[Note: it took some considerable time to pinpoint the month of this album's printing.]

February 1990 Pt1.

Now moving into February bringing 'EastCon 90' that little bit closer, and with it putting faces to names.

In my quest to find more information I did write to the Embassy of Japan in London (I thought that this was quit brave of me at the time, as I was only a young Gaijin), and the reply was very quick, I found the three company addresses they did find for me was a start, but for the error of my gender in the letter, it was most satisfactory.

[Note: Getting a reply in six days from an Embassy was good going, of course now a days Internet search-engines get you more detailed information in six seconds! you lucky sods!!]

Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co.

Was one of the biggest entertainment publishers in the late 80's, with magazines such like 'Animage' & 'PC Engine Fan' which were known to me.

[Note: It has come to my attention that they were the parent company of an animation studio 'Studio Ghibli' quite well known in the West now.]

Kodansha

Is consider to be the largest publisher in Japan. In its repertoire of magazines, books, and Manga, many of the novels and manga published by Kodansha have gone on to be adapted to Animé.

Bandai

Now considered to be the third largest toy maker in the World, with toys, model kits, and Video games, as well as a producer (capital funding) and sponsor of Anime.

[Note: I remember it being said “that every household in Japan has at least one 'Gundam' model kit”, way to go Bandai.]

[Note: The power of such a large toy manufacture when sponsoring the production of an Anime series, point in case “Aura Battler Dunbine”.  Mecha (Giant robots) were added in to a fantasy setting, so toys and model kits could be sold as merchandise.]

I have yet to find any old letters to these companies, or their replies, but you never know what you might find in the bottom of a box.

Manga in the 80's Pt. 18

AKIRA. Written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo. published by Epic Comics ( a division of Marvel Comics) in a monthly format in colourised version, with a total of 38 issues, from August\October 1988 to  1995 . The manga was originally published between 1984 and 1989 by Kodansha Ltd. & MASH ROOM Co. Ltd.

A first to recognise the market in the readership of High School and College students, Otomo's AKIRA taped in to a arts and entertainment well informed audience hankering for something new that they could relate to. At the heart of this is Otomo's storytelling and artwork, no CUTE teenage school girls in uniform are to be found, with some critics saying that the female characters are even ugly! 

 

Visually rich (and lucky for us in the West colourised with love and care) and a gripping narrative AKIRA should not need an introduction.

Like a binary star the two protagonists Kaneda Shotaro and Tetsuo Shima two friends in a juvenile biker gang get mixed-up in secret Government experiments, political & military power struggles, religious and anti-government groups all set in the year 2030 in Neo-Tokyo, and they even have time for the societal pressures of relationships, school and the odd scrap with rival biker gangs, and like all teenagers feel alienated and disillusioned with modern society and the adults who run things.

In this lush back drop of a CyberPunk like world in the year 2002 where scientists have nurtured and enhanced children's psychic abilities (because they can!) to catastrophic magnitude in one or two cases of their test group, and by 2030 the decay had set in to this utopian city no more a scientists dream of a better tomorrow! Like “10 degrees of separation” all the supporting characters are in some way intertwined and have their own story arc and considerable time in the limelight too.

This Manga is one that we all should have on our shelf at home, and for some it was their first introduction to a much wider World of this Japanese phenomenon of comic-books.

[Note: Quoting Archie Goodwin - Otomo personally chose Steve Oliff as colourist (America had the most advanced computer colouring system at that time) for the English translated manga and furnished him with colour guides each step of the way. Studio MASH ROOM Co. Ltd. Also adjusted the artwork for the western comic-book format.]

[Note: When the first volume was released in Japan in September 1984 the print run shot up from an estimated 30,000 to nearly 300,000 and became a best seller. The cover had the author’s name in English as well as the title, a bold break with Japanese manga tradition.]

[NOTE: The American Print run from 'Epic' (a subsidiary of MARVEL COMICS) of AKIRA's 38 issues over the span of 1989 to 1996, has a few breaks in the run - from July 1989 to August 1990, to the 4 issue run in 1991 (April to July), and 3 issues in 1992, then the final 5 issues from November 1995 to February 1996. Should correspond with some promotional advertising? - yet to be found from Epic comics (as of December 2022).]

Newly created tile page... in Black & White.

Taken from 'Young Magazine' to be used as colour cover art for the Epic comic editions.

"Otomo's many other virtues, as artist-creator" - "We've taken panels from up and coming issues that provide impressive examples of his approach to architecture and technical design."

Otomo's technical design, and architecture.

Otomo's technical design, and architecture.

THE MAKING OF THE EPIC COMIC.

THE MAKING OF THE EPIC COMIC.

THE MAKING OF THE EPIC COMIC.

THE MAKING OF THE EPIC COMIC.

THE MAKING OF THE EPIC COMIC.

THE MAKING OF THE EPIC COMIC.

Artwork book.

Artwork book.

As of December 2022 I now have a Full set of all 38 issues of Eipc's AKIRA.

[NOTE: Caveat emptor, or "Buyer be where", collecting these issues of AKIRA has been long and at most, a fun hunt from the start, but moving into the issues numbering from 30 and beyond costs do get high, from the £5.99 to £7.99 of the pre-twenties, to an increase to £15.00 to £24.99 for the pre-thirties, to £70.00 to £120.00 for the late 30's (e-bay an other auctions sites can see issues sky-rocket to $160.00 to $290.00 for issues 37 & 38 as of December 2022).]

Advertising the Monthly issues that are in bookshelf format (Squarebound Paperback), and Colourised Issues in 1989.

[NOTE: veteran colourist Steve Oliff was personally selected to collaborate with Katsuhiro Otomo, and in bringing the USA's top Computer Colouring tools in a 'step-by-step' process (Otomo singing-off on each stage) helped the Manga comic of the East come to the comic-book lovers of the West.]

Otomo_s trip to 'Point Arena' California 1989 

(© Steve Oliff \fleix Comic Art\Katsuhiro Otomo)

Felix Comic Art - STEVE OLIFF: Coloring AKIRA with KATSUHIRO OTOMO

The collaboration with Katsuhiro Otomo and Steve Oliff. 

AKIRA The Movie...

US-Renditions (Books Nippan USA) 

MOVIE SOUND TRACK. 

Streamline Pictures.

USA's cinematic release of AKIRA.

[NOTE: Acting as a platform to promote the move from Comics\Manga to a feature length animated film, and the North American (USA) cinematic releases of the movie "AKIRA" , the monthly issues publicised the places and dates for the USA.  Something here in the England (the United Kingdom) we did not have that support for the cinematic release!]

Advertising the TPB of AKIRA (Trade Paper Back, known by the Press as a Graphic Novel),

Quarterly OR Monthly issues starting in March 1990 to 1993.  

Advert taken from another Otomo manga translated and published in April 1992 by Epic Comics entitled 'Farewell to Weapons'. 

LANCE BARNES - Post Nuke Dick

Volume 1. No2.  May 1993

EPIC grams

SPECIALS

"AKIRA TRADE PAPERBACK #8 - Attempts to repel the invaders fail until Tetsuo intervenes!

 His "cold turkey" battle against drugs results in explosions that blast them away.  AKIRA readers will love this beautiful 192-page trade paperback reprinting AKIRA #22-24 by Katsuhiro Otomo. For Mature Readers.

LANCE BARNES - Post Nuke Dick

Volume 1. No4.  July 1995

EPIC grams

PRESS CHECK HECK

May Premieres!

Limited Series

Ongoing Series

"AKIRA #34 - You demanded it:  AKIRA returns on a monthly basis!

In this 64-page bookshelf issue, Kay goes one on one with Tetsuo, until Kaneda, Joker, and RyJ join the fray.  Look for it --- AKIRA's back, and not taking prisoners this time!  By Katsuhiro Otomo, with Jo Duffy. For Mature Readers.

LANCE BARNES - Post Nuke Dick Volume 1. No2.  May 1993 EPIC

&

LANCE BARNES - Post Nuke DickVolume 1. No4.  May 1995 EPIC.

[NOTE: sadly NO full colour page ads.]

AKIRA Book ONE 1990  &  AKIRA Book TWO 1991.

AKIRA Book THREE 1991  &  AKIRA Book FOUR 1992.

AKIRA Book FIVE 1992  &  AKIRA Book SIX 1992.

AKIRA Book SEVEN 1992  &  AKIRA Book EIGHT 1992.

AKIRA Book NINE 1993  &  AKIRA Book TEN 1993.

[NOTE: Only 10 Volumes were published.  The set is to this day remains incomplete stopping at around issue 30. And with two further volumes 11 and 12 would have then been able to finish the collection by Epic.]

Western artists pay TRIBUTE the AKIRA manga;

Dave Gibbons,

More AKIRA TRIBUTES;

Mark Charello,

Moebius,

George Pratt,

Joe Madureira,

John Romita,

Mike Allred,

Alex Toth,

Keven O'Neill,

John Van Fleet.

Epic comics would also translate and publish two more works from Mr. Otomo;

1980 Memories by Katsuhiro Otomo (Epic Comic 1992). 

Katsuhiro Otomo's Farewell to Weapons (Epic Comic, April 1992). 

[NOTE: in 1991 their was a break in the run of AKIRA from July's issue 30, to having only Issues 31 to 33 printed between January and May or 1992, then the final five issues 34 to 38 in October 1995 to February 1996.  Finding Promotional advertising from Epic Comics, from 1992, 1995, and 1996 has been vey difficult.]

Epic Comic's "Metropol A.D." Volume 2, Number 2, Published in November 1992.

 Had this to say in its 'CHECKLIST';

"MEMORIES --- The master of Japanese storytelling does it again!  Three space adventurers on a seemingly innocent mission find themselves in a deadly web of paranormal intrigue!  By acclaimed creator of AKIRA, Katsuhiro Otomo."

[NOTE:The focus of the'CHECKLIST' was not AKIRA, but Ted MMcKeever's 'METROPOL A.D.'; Moebius's 'ONYX OVERLOAD'(AIRTIGHT GARAGE); William Shatner's 'TEK WORLD'; Sergio Aragones's 'GROO THE WANDERER'; Clive Barker's HELLRAISER'; Clive Barker's NIGHTBREED; and Chuck Dixon's 'ALIEN LEGION: GRIMROD.  EDITOR Tom Duning reflects on the Summer's hollywood blockbuster film sequals, of Lethal Weapon III, Aliens III, oh and that Bat Movie.]

[NOTE: It has been very difficult to find write-ups on Otomo's works that Epic Comics published for over 7 years!]

Katsuhiro Otomo's DOMU, A Child's Dream (Dark Horse comics Manga, March 1995) 

ONE OF THREE issues, with about 75+ pages of Manga in each (with other Manga being advertised within its pages).

[NOTE: The Cost to buy on E-bay, as of 2023 is upwards of £48 to £60+ each.]