October 1990 Pt. 8a Manga

 Lost Continent.  Written and illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. Eclipse International , published in a monthly format for a total of 1 - 6 issues, from October 1990 to April 1991, English adaptation (Studio Proteus) Translated by Alan Gleason and Toren Smith ; lettered and retouched by Tom Orzechowski ; edited by Greg S. Baisden.  Originally published as 'The Last Continent' copyright 1990 Akihiro Yamada and Tokyo Sanseisha.

From issue 1.

I am only guessing here, but when it comes to style and art, many of Akihiro Yamada's panels look as thou they have had the help of Edge Detection software, either Prewitt, or Sobel (a common filter\effect found, that you can apply to scanned photographs), possibly running on a Silicon Graphics (SGI) Visual Workstation (I think at the time it may have been either a IRIS Power Series or a Professional IRIS series computer, as that would fit the bill for the early late 80's, early 90's)

This actually helps with the 1950's style and look that the story flows through.

It all starts with the discovery of an abandoned Sea-plane, a year after its Polar Expedition, a newspaper reporter, and a mysterious woman... Find it and read on...!

From issue 1.

From issue 1.

From issue 1.

From issue 2.

From issue 3.

From issue 4

From issue 5.

From issue 6.

[NOTE: Nobu Shirase (a army reserve lieutenant) privately funded the first expedition by a non-European nation to the Antarctic 1910–12 (Antarctic, the South Pole); Japan commenced its scientific activities in Antarctica in 1956, which was marked by the voyage of “Soya” with the 1st Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) on board. Shirase Glacier 1957–62 and Shirase Coast 1961 - thus two subsequent Japanese icebreakers were named Shirase In 1990 'The Shirase Antarctic Expedition Memorial Museum' was opened in Nikaho, Akita Prefecture, Tohoku, Japan.]

[NOTE: The author Jules Verne had written about a 'Hollow Earth' in his 1864 novel 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth', and other fictional writers such as Edgar Rice Burroughs were writing from 1914\1922 with 'At the Earth's Core' the first of his set of seven novels located in the land of Pellucidar, the last novel being 'Savage Pellucidar' printed in 1963.]

[NOTE: The 1942 horror film produced for RKO by Val Lewton, with the French director Jacques Tourneur 'CAT PEOPLE', may have been an inspiration to the manga, but that is conjecture on my part.]

From issue 1.

Ad. taken from Mangajin.

[No more details have come to light regarding its serialised Japanese publication origins.]

September 1990 Pt.4 Anime Hasshin

 “The Rose” the Newsletter of Anime Hasshin number 23, and what follows is a brief overview,  Special Features 
Nadia's Mysterious Ocean [aka Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water],
Lehend of Syrius, Shuna's Journey, Interview with Toren Smith (studio Proteus) Part 2, AnimEigo, Gundam book review.

What arrived next by post from the USA was my membership Newsletter of Anime Hasshin “The Rose”.

Cover  artist Dennis Richards

Special Features 

Nadia's Mysterious Ocean [aka Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water],

Lehend of Syrius, Shuna's Journey, Interview with Toren Smith (studio Proteus) Part 2, AnimEigo, Gundam book review.

 Editor's notes by Lorraine Savage.

 Editor's notes by Lorraine Savage.

Part two of the Toren Smith interview by Lorraine Savage.

 NEWS, Comics, OVAs, Series, Laser Disks.

 Misc Movie News, Misc News,

Club News.

 CONVENTION REPORT;

PROJECT A-KON '90,

SAN DIEGO COMICON (August 2-5 1990).

SAN DIEGO COMICON (August 2-5 1990) 

 Fanzine Reviews.

  Fanzine Reviews.

Clubs, Fanzines, Conventions, Merchandise.

 Computer Bulletin Boards,

Miscellaneous, Classifieds. 

Members List.

[I am still in touch with Pen-Pals, 2 in England and 1 from Italy].

July 1990 Pt.5 Anime Hasshin

Anime Hasshin's 'The Rose' Volume 4 No.22 Published Bimonthly by Anime Hasshin. 20 pages $2.50 (6 for $12) Editor Lorraine Savage.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Interview with Toren Smith (Studio Proteus),

Boah,

Horobi,

Orange Road,

Megazone 23 & Mellowlink songs,

anime in Britain

Published Bimonthly, so that is roughly 8 weeks between one issue falling from our post-box at home to the next exciting issue (being overseas, you could add a few days to the arrival).

Submissions had to arrive before the 2^nd. Friday of the month (being the odd numbered month) before the next issue, Friday the 8^th. June was this issue's deadline, and September 14^th for the next. In addition to this the post could take 7 Business days, but more likely 2 to 3 weeks for overseas.

[NOTE: That's 80,640 minutes or 1,344 hours or about 56 days = 2 Months. How's that for an Internet speed!]

Front cover art by John Lam

Editor's Notes by Lorraine Savage

Editor's Notes by Lorraine Savage

Anime Hasshin's 'The Rose' was always eagerly awaited, and much loved whenever it arrived through the letterbox. It was a hub of information, and a big part of the Anime & Manga Pen-Pals that corresponded though it, more like a family than just a paper-based network.

 NEWS OVAs and Translated Manga and Anime releases and Anime clubs.

 NEWS OVAs and Translated Manga and Anime releases and Anime clubs.

 Part one of the Toren Smith interview by Lorraine Savage.

Amine in Britain & UK fans meet at Eastcon '90 in Liverpool by
 Carlo Bernhardi 

(One of the very few times that I am in print. 

It truly was exciting times.)

[NOTE:APA stands for Amateur Press Association a compilation of fiction, and at times help guides on art and writing by fans that is put together and printed (Before the World Wide Web, before bulletin boards, and affordable self-publishing, before Blogs) then mailed (posted) out to all those that contributed pages.]

[NOTE: “Endless Road Apa” the new APA for all things animated was started this July (1990), and looked after by Dan Kellaway being the central mailer.]  

[NOTE: Page 20's Personals Ads. featured the UK's Helen McCarthy asking “American anime fans who want British pen pals should write.” She will print your name and address in a British anime zine.]

[NOTE: contents; page 1, Front cover art by John Lam; pages 2-3, Editor's Notes by Lorraine Savage; page 4, Article on BAOH by Dan Durkin; pages 5-6, NEWS OVAs and Translated Manga and Anime releases and Anime clubs; page 7, Part one of the Toren Smith interview by Lorraine Savage; page 8, Comic review on HOROBI by Lester Swint; page 9, Manga review Alien Crash & Lucky Route Runaway by John Ott; page 10, Amine in Britain & UK fans meet at Eastcon '90 in Liverpool by Carlo Bernhardi; page 11, Review of the Orange Road Movie by Tsao Sheng-Te;

page 14, Song Lyrics – translated by Steve Chaney & Maria Mutsuko-Warner; page 15, BOOK Review – Inside the Robot Kingdom by Lorraine Savage; page 16, Mini Synopses – from the Laser Disc Trading Organisation ( ) ; page 17, Game Review – Anime: The Arcade Game by David Moisan; page 18, New Member (10) List & Membership Update (2) list; page 19, List of Fanzines & member's Birthdays; page 20, Classifieds & Personals Ads. And Clubs.]

Post 77 American Fandom

And now another break from the chronology of the past.

I thought you would all like to know that with a road-trip up to Sheffield Arena on Saturday 13^th. Of August 2016 I attended the “FILM & COMIC CON Sheffield” run by Showmasters, just on the off chance of picking up some old Translated manga from the 80's and 90's (they are in the same format & style as any American imported comic-books, not like modern Manga that is in the Diary format).!

Out of the six or so stalls that sold manly DC & MARVEL comic-books, one would have ten random issues of manga, and one of those was now to replace a lost comic-book that many a UK Anime and Manga fan would have read back in 1989, if remembering it for its 'Letters Page'.

Appleseed

Book3 Volume 2, September,1989

American Appleseed Cover painting by Adam Warren

American Appleseed Logo designed by Tom Orzechowski

Editor Fred Burke

Editor-in-Chief Catherine Yronode

Publisher Dean Mullaney

English translation by Studio Proteus

The Letters Page.

For what I am so thankful for is a comic-book fan Dan White writting to the Editor Fred Burke, and that his letter about the cost of Anime (on VHS) was published in the Letters Page.

  

[NOTE: The reply was signed Toren Sez, with the tone of someone who knew the industry in Japan, could this have been Toren Smith founder of Studio Proteus and supporter of Comic-Con giving his insight?]

[NOTE: These two American Anime Fan Clubs (Earth Defence Command, Anime Hasshin) would be an early part of my own Nexus into a wider Fandom, linking me with other Fans in the UK and forever changing my life.]

May 1990 Pt.2b Special Correspondence

By the end of May, once again a thrust for knowledge, and the feeling to connect with a force that for Me drove part of Anime & Manga Fandom especially from over here in England (UK), it was a delight to receive a letter from 'Studio Proteus' sign by Toren Smith.

For those of a later generation of Fans Toren Smith of 'Studio Proteus' scouted Manga in Japan for a north American English speaking audience back in the 80's and 90's, His company translated the Manga and then in conjugation with comic-book publishers & distributors brought them to a wider western market. Companies like 'Dark Horse', 'Eclipse Comics', and 'Viz International'

Having someone hand pick a wide selection of Manga gave us the mark to set other manga by, and by chance or design many of them were made in to Anime OVAs and films too (greatly helped viewing all those raw Un-subtitled Japanimations that we all had acquired!

 

[NOTE: 'The Venus Wars' was published from April 1991 – May 1992 The Venus Wars issues 1 – 14 and The Venus Wars II 1 – 15 from June 1992 to August 1993.]

[NOTE: 'Lost Continent' was published I believe from September 1991 over to May 1992 - Lost Continent #1-6 , but I would need copies of these comic-books\manga to prove these dates.]

[NOTE: 'Dirty pair – A Plague of Angels' was published was published I believe trimonthly from August 1990 to August 1991 Dirty Pair III A Plague of Angels 1-5 but I would need copies of these comic-books\manga to prove these dates.]

[Special Note: Does anyone know of the projects in England that Studio Proteus was involved in?]

Having the power of the Pen has given Me another unique memento that I will always treasure, and even thou I never met him Toren is sorely missed from over this side of the pond.

TorenSmith (April 12, 1960 to March 4, 2013)

April 1990 Pt.5 Protoculture Addicts 7.

  One of the most iconic front covers of the 90's

Issue 7 of 'Protoculture Addicts' which at that time was the official Fanzine for Robotech, (produced and printed in Canada in the Spring of 1990 - April 1990).

The 36 pages where taken up with a varied contents, and in this issue there was very heart felt Editorial, showing solidarity with those remembering the14 victims of violence on the 6^th. Of December 1989 at Ecole Polytechnic (part of the University of Montreal - Canada).

With such regular features as “The voice of the Freedom Fighters” (the Fan letters page) proving that the fanzine did indeed publish letter the criticised the publication, “The shaping of Protoculture” (feed-back to readers including :- addresses for Pen Pals, retail stores that do mail-order, and other Fan clubs), even song lyrics taken from three Robotech stories.

The main articles that are displayed on the front cover were very interesting, a 4 page Interview with Toren Smith (of Studio Proteus) by Alain Dubreuil, an introduction to Katsuhiro Otomo's film AKIRA by Emro Townsend also 4 pages, some beautifully detailed art from the Anime “Megazone 23 - part 3. we also find some optional rules for the 'Robotech' Role Plating Game of 'Southern Cross' too.

The “News & Reviews” page focussed on available translated Manga, Anime magazines, Fanzines, and fan clubs too).

I can do justice of how important 'Protoculture Addicts' was in informing fans and creating a sense of comradery in the era prier to the Internet's World Wide Web.

An interview by Fred Patten, with Claude J. Pelletier (Editor in Chief) in October 2004. (The article was published in Comics Buyer's Guide #1601.) can be found at...HistoricalNotes

Well worth a read.

 Back cover, Add for "Gubuster" & Dangaio" dated January 1990.

To get your own copy either electronic or printed of the Protoculture Addicts magazine please go to 

protoculture Addicts Catalog.

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.]

Comic-books in the 80's Pt. 20

Dirty Pair. Written by Toren Smith & Adam Warren and illustrated by Adam Warren - (based on characters and situations created by Haruka Takachiho). Eclipse Comics published in a monthly format for a total of 15 issues, from June 1989 to March 1990 .

The first 4 novels where originally published between 1980 and 1993 in SF Magajin by Tor Books.

[Note:Dirty Pair #1-5 (June 1989 to October 1989) - Dirty Pair II #1-5 (November 1989 to March 1990) - The Dirty Pair (III) #1-5 (April? to August? 1990 ).]

[Note:Dirty Pair book One: Biohazards (a collection collection of the first series), Dirty Pair book Two: dangerous acquaintances (a collection collection of the second series), The Dirty Pair (III): A Plague of Angels (a collection collection of the third series 1990).]

The cry of “It's not our fault!” as the impact of Manga and Japanese cartoons gained a foothold in the US of A, Toren Smith founder and translator at ' Studio Proteus' acquired rights to create comic-book versions of The Dirty Pair in a joint project with Adam Warren who wrote and drew the comic-books (quoting Fred Burke).

This very popular Space Opera that takes place after the year 2138 and follows Two "trouble consultants" agents of the 3WA (World Welfare Works Association), and their fierce cat-like being “Mughi” (an electronics expert among other-things), Kei and Yuri codenamed the “Lovely Angels”, but more commonly referred to as the “Dirty Pair” due to the destruction left in there wake (Some times on a Planetary scale, such is other people's misfortune) after completing their mission.

A fun read!

[Note: they are the creations of Haruka Takachiho, who brought us “Crusher Joe” and in the books at least they are all in the same universe.]

Manga in the 80's Pt. 19

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Written and illustrated by Hayao Miyazaki . Viz Comics published in a monthly format broken down in to 5 parts with a total of 28 issues, from November 1988 to February 1996 . The manga was originally published between 1982 and 1994 by Tokuma Shoten. 

[Note: Toren Smith of Studio Proteus was credited as translator as a footnote for parts one and two, but not for parts three and four.]

Hear we see “the Valley of the Wind” a Kingdom of roughly 500 subjects untouched by the ever encroaching jungle forest of giant poisonous Fungi known as the “Sea of Corruption”. Its frailty only supported by the coastal sea breeze protecting the lush farmland and the people's way of life.

War rages between the Torumekla Empire and the Dorok Empire which threatens to spillover and remove the Valley of the Wind's autonomy, our virtuous and fearless Princess Nausicaä will discover that doing what is right thing evolves into, what is right for the 'Valley of the Wind', what is right for the Human race, what is right for the Ohmu (the giant insects that protect the earth's jungle forest), and what is right for the Planet. A warrior of great compassion, a warrior for peace!

Nausicaä is an epic story weaving Science Fiction with an ecological message set in a post apocalyptic world with ancient high technology, truly a masterpiece of literature that has a cinematic quality rarely seen.

This is an exceptional comic-book and one I always made a point of getting my hands on the next issue, even when it was that the months turned in to years of waiting!!

[Note: It was serialized sporadically and intermittently between Miyazaki's animated films from 1982 to 1994 in Japan.]

[Note: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Part One: #1-7 (Nov1988-May1989); Part Two: #1-4 (Sep 1989-Dec 1989); Part Three: #1-3 (Dec1992-Feb1992); Part Four: #1-5 (Jun1994- Oct 1994 ), Part 5: #1-8 (Jul 1995-Feb 1996.]

[Note: Viz Issue 1 had an exclusive fold-out Poster by French illustrator and comic-book writer Moebius, as well as a two page dialogue between Moebius and Miyazaki.]

[Note: Viz Issue 3 had a two page article written by Hayao Miyazaki on the character of Princess Nausicaä, translated from the Japanese magazine “Animage”.]

[Note: Viz Issue 7 had full two page article by Toren Smith entitled “ Nausicaä a labor of love” - To quote “The whole thing began when Yoshiko Saito of 'Starlog' magazine in Japan printed an article I'd written about the terrible English version of the animated Nausicaä movie. Miyazaki happened to read it and contacted the well-known Science Fiction translator Mikru Abo, asking him to bring me around for a talk”.]

[Note: by Viz Part two (issue 1) Jerry A. Novick had printed 2 fan letters under the title of “Out of the Miasma” such was the overwhelming positive correspondence for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.]

[Note: When the Japanese manga was printed in book form, it was done so in Sepia to give it a more dream-like tone – the cover that was for Part 1 #3 (Viz comics) was the water colour print used for the free poster in Japanese Book 1 release.] 

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind;

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind, 

Part ONE, issues 1 to 7

From November 1988 to May 1989.

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind, 

Part TWO, issues 1 to 4

From September 1989 to December 1989.

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind, 

Part THREE, issues 1 to 3

From December 1992 to February 1993.

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind, 

Part FOUR, issues 1 to 5

From June 1994 to October 1994.

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind, 

Part FIVE, issues 1 to 8

From July 1995 to February 1996.

English translation printed in a total 5 parts, and 28 issues from 1988 to 1996.

English translation printing of TPB's (graphic novels) is still in SIX Volumes in B&W.

Japanese printing of TPB's (graphic novels) is in FOUR Volumes in Sepia .