July 1990 Pt.9 Manga Round-up overview

We still had a few on-going Manga comic-books and Anime based comic-books that still could be found “On the racks” in your local independent Comic-Book shop or store, in July of 1990.  

Such as:-

#22 of 'AKIRA' (1-38)

#35 of 'Lone Wolf and Cub' (1-40)

from First comics,

#19of Outlanders. (1-33)

from Dark Horse Comics.

#1 of 2001 Nights (1-10)

#6 of COBRA (1-12)

#8 of 'Baoh', (End of 1-8)

#5 of HOROBI: Part One (1-6)

from Viz Comics.

GRAPHIC-NOVELS ON SALE IN THIS MONTH:

The Legend of Kamui – the Island of Sugaru #1

from Viz Comics.

GRAPHIC-NOVELS STILL ON SALE IN THIS MONTH:

What's Michael?

Appleseed Book #1

Dirty Pair – Biohazards

from Eclipse Comics

LUM Vol #1

The Legend of Kamui – the Island of Sugaru 1 of 2.

from Viz Comics.

[Note: You still had Issues of Lensman (now Galactic Patrol #1 July 1990 (1-5) , 'Leiji Matsumoto's Captain Harlock', 'Robotech II – The Sentinels Book One'  (1-16), Robotech II The Sentinels The Malcontent Uprisings (1-12)  from Eternity Comics. on the shelves as the printing and overseas delivery were not always every month.]

[Note: Was there any more issues of Shuriken Cold Steel after  issues 1 to 6 by Reggie Byers & Neil Vokes (Kyoko Shidara ?) that finished in February of 1990 from Eternity Comics?]

Manga in the 80's Pt. 14

The Legend of Kamui. Written and illustrated by Sanpei Shirato (by Akame Productions). Eclipse Comics with Viz Comics published 37 issues in a Biweekly format from May 1987 to November 1988, spanning 13 chapters taken from the original books published by Shogakukan Inc. that ran from 1982 to 1987. - English Translation by Toren Smith & Satori Fuji.

Rivalling “Lone Wolf and Cub” for the historical manga crown, for its scope and scale of storytelling, and art style (new to a Western reader) “The Legend of Kamui” is a powerful story that draws the reader in to the outlaw world of the underclass removed from the restrictions of the Bushido code, where a young man's desire for revenge threatens to overtake pursuit for freedom from the Ninja clans, and live as a free-man.

Kamui introduces himself as a “Nukenin” (a runaway shinobi) who can never return to his village now that he has left, he is alone. Encountering many souls on his journey, many of these regarding him as a renegade ninja thus fights to the death ensue.

The historical richness of this era, adding to this the explications of fighting styles and weapons used bring the myth and legends of the Ninja to a harsh reality for the mature reader.

[Note: Two stories were printed “The Island Of Sugaru” who's 6 chapters ran from issue 1 to issue 13, and “The Sword Wind” story who's 7 chapters ran from issue 14 to issue 37.]

 

[Note: In 1990 when Viz Comics had the rights to print (dairy format) “The Island Of Sugaru”, volume one had chapters 1 to 4, and with a 2 page introduction by American Manga aficionado Frederik Schodt, and it also had a 2 page Glossary at the back.]

[Note: Quoting the American scholar 'Hart Larrabee' “the Manga of Shirato Sanpei, they are what distinguishes literature from the simple story”.]

[UPDATE: Collection of issues 1 to 37 all but complete.]

The Legend of Kamui.

Issues 1 to 37 (7 & 8 missing).

The Legend of Kamui - “The Island Of Sugaru”.

Volumes ONE and TWO.

[NOTE: A feature length animated film based on the characters, entitled "The Dagger of KAMUI" 1985.]  

[NOTE: A live action feature was also filmed based on the Manga and its characters, entitled "Kamui: The Lone Ninja (Kamui Gaiden) 2008.] 

[What follows, are snap-shots of the Japanese Volume, taken at the  Kyoto Manga Museum  on Saturday 20th. June 2026.]

[Translations, may be of interest... ]