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.] 

[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... ]

Manga in the 80's Pt. 8

Lum. Written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Comics published 9 issues in a Monthly format in 1989, taken from serialized manga in Weekly Shonen Sunday spanning from 1978 to 1987.

Known as Urusei Yatsura (Those Obnoxious Aliens) in Japan this is a fanciful comedy following Ataru and his girlfriend Shinobu, who have relationship troubles like most young couples, but things are going to get a little bit more complicated, as Ataru has been randomly selected (by computer of course) to stop an Alien Invasion in proudly representing Earth as its champion in a competition of 'Tag'..! 

Faced with the world resting on his shoulders, and running out of time to tag the very cute Alien Lum (who could fly) Ataru only manages to grab hold of (and keep) Lum's bikini-top, his new found motivation of his girlfriend's offer to marry him if he wins, gets misunderstood by Lum as a marriage proposal! Now life for Ataru Moroboshi is all kinds of weird, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[Note: In the back cover of Issue 1, a small Biography is printed “She attended a woman's college in Tokyo where she began studying comics with 'Kazuo Koike” (the writer of 'Lone Wolf and Cub', and Crying Freeman). By the late1980's Rumiko Takahashi was the most popular comic-book writer in Japan!]

[We in the West have come to know this female Manga artist and writer Rumiko Takahashi and her many works, both comedic and supernatural from 'Ranma ½' to the Mermaid Saga!]

[With a recognisable supporting cast of characters that rivals 'The Simpsons' in number, Lum (aka Urusei Yatsura) is a Japanese phenominum that is hard to miss, and even harder not to like.]

Manga in the 80's Pt. 7

Justy (Cosmo Police). Written and illustrated by Tsuguo Okazaki. Viz published 9 issues in a biweekly format, from December 13, 1988 and April 4, 1989.and with Dave Smeds was the English rewriter, and Translated by Satoru Fujii. Originally published by Shogakukan. Inc.

These tales of science fiction feature 'Justy Kaizard', a guardian of the innocent and pursuer of the guilty, who as a member of the Galactic patrol hunting down criminal Espers (those with extraordinary psychic powers). He himself has such formidable powers that he wears a head-band to focus and control his abilities as well as limit them!

A Super-human in a futuristic World is a Japanese archetype seen often in Manga and rivals any Marvel or DC cop in Western comic-books!

[Note: in Issue 7 that has a letters page: “after 3 years of running as a monthly manga, it was made into 5 volumes”, and its target audience was 6 to 11 year olds ( Junior High school). Dave Smeds the english rewriter made a few name changes such as Jerna's Japanese surname “Flarestar” inverted to “Starflare”.]

[Note: I am a big fan of the OVA (animé) of Cosmo Police Justy (released in Japan1985) luky I had a synopsis to read at the time.]

[Even such a short run of only 9 issues, but by issue 2 fans were encouraged to write-in and suggest a name for the 'Letters Column', and winning title was “Brain Waves”.]

Manga in the 80's Pt. 6

Fist of the North Star. Written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, published by Viz Comics from April 1989 to December 1989 (that was taken from a serialized Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1988), initially ran for 8 monthly Issues covering the first 16 chapters (out of a possible 245 chapters).  Then from November 1995 to July 1997, with the additional 20 issues. 

Set in a post-apocalyptic world not unlike the1981 film 'Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior' where order and civilisation have broken down and Warlords and their gangs prey on the weak in a fast nuclear wasteland! Two schools of rival Marshal-arts the Southern Star & the Northern Star emerge and our hero Kenshiro is trained in this most lethal fighting style of the Northen Star overloading your opponent's body's own chi when attacking its acupressure points with the result being incredibly violent and gory with organs, muscles, and bone exploding, bodies splitting apart!

Kenshiro champinions the weak, as he walks the wasteland taking-out one Warlord and their gangs one after the other!  

Writer; Buronson 

Illustrator; Tetsuo Hara

In 1989 the 8 issues of FIST of the NORTH STAR.

[NOTE: This closing letter from the Editor "Viz, however, is committed to giving the English reader a taste of as many different manga as is possible, and, unfortunately, our production schedule can only support a few titles at any one time.", Little did they know at the time that it would be not until November of 1995 when Ken's story would continue!  Being a hiatus of  62 Months between chapters, the longest in Viz comics history.]

Still in 1989, making use to promote a Nintendo game released in the USA.

Fist of the North Star by TAXAN for NINTENDO

Fist Of The North Star, 

by 'ELECTRO BRAIN', for the Nintendo GAME BOY.

I only ever picked up 2 issues of the comic-book back in the day, but I do still love the animated movie!

1989 

Issues 1 TO 8.

Part TWO  1995\1996 

Issues 1 TO 8.

Part THREE 1996 

Issues 1 TO 5.

Part FOUR 1996 

Issues 1 TO 7.

[NOTE: as of November 2022 I now have a complete set of the 1990's Viz comics of the manga 'Fist of the North Star'.]

Fist of the North Star 1989 to 1997.

VIZ comics, Trade Paper Back (TPB\graphic novel)

 Postcard of the manga of 'Fist Of the North Star' to Promote the animated movie.

Island World Communications LTD. UK 

(1991, 1992 would see a NEW Label called MANGA VIDEO).

Island World Communications LTD. UK 17th. December 1991.

FIST OF THE NORTH STAR (the movie) release date 30 March 1992 

from the NEW Label called MANGA VIDEO.

The year is 1992, and the place is the United Kingdom, 5 months after the Video release of 'AKIRA' (that SOLD 30,000 units) the Newly formed label called "MANGA VIDEO" would release FIST OF THE NORTH STAR (the 1986 animated movie) on the 30th. of March 1992 as their premiere launch title!

"JAPANESE GORETOON"

"A cartoon that is full of explosions, blood, guts and gore"

"Definitely not a cartoon for kids, but following the success of AKIRA this is worth supporting"

REF; VTW 9TH. MARCH 1992

"Mike Preece" (Island World's Sales and Marketing Manager) can be quoted as saying, - "most of the titles are based on best-selling Japanese sci-fi comics."; "The releases are likely to have 15 or 18 ratings because of the violence."

"Manga titles were perfect for video rental because the target audience fitted the typical renter profile of males aged between 18 and 24."

"AKIRA - Released last October (1991), has sold 30,000 units" (as reported in February\March 1992).

[NOTE: 5 months from when AKIRA was released on VHS Video...the NEW label 'Manga Video' was born]

'SONY TELESALES' AND ISLAND WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.

FIST OF THE NORTH STAR

Manga Video 

Running time 112 minutes; [pal VHS]

Certificate 18, 

release date 30 March 1992 

Retail price £12.99 (Dealer price £8.84)

"AN EPIC ASSAULT ON THE SENSES!"

"new label dedicated exclusively to Japanese animation - aimed squarely at the discerning teenage and adult comic fan."

1991's November issue of 'EMPIRE' magazine, writes; "Katsushiro's attention to detail and grasp of human movement is enhanced by his decision to mirror conventional filmmaking's camera angles, use of focus-pulling and editing techniques." - "the animation is some of the most accomplished ever"

TOP VIDEO 1991 Writes; "Manga, the Japanese word for comic, is a publishing phenomenon.   A multibillion dollar industry in Japan, with an estimated circulation of 1.75 billion copies, Manga comics captivate tens of millions of fans."

An "EXTENSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIN"

.Consumer advertising in comic & heavy metal music press,

. Postcard insert in Anime Day March 1992 programme (festival of Japanese animation),

. Extensive P.O.S. including sleeves, A2 posters, full colour window stickers, t-shirts,

.Screening at the prestigious Cardiff International Animation Festival to be held in March,

. Free gift pack available inside each video cassette including transfers and character profiles.

. Editorial coverage and competitions in the specialist video/film/comic/music & style press/national & regional newspapers, tv and radio.

. Features will be running in the comic press announcing the launch of the MANGA label and discussing the unprecedented public demand for Japanese animation. 

1995\1996

Fist of the North Star released on September 25th. 1995, is an American direct-to-video movie.

Directed by Tony Randel (co-script writer), Peter Atkins (co-script writer),

Staring; Gary Daniels, Malcolm McDowell, Chris Penn, Isako Washio and Costas Mandylor.

[NOTE: A Japanese Dub was released in April 21, 1995 (Japan), and the American release was in 

February 2, 1996 (US).]

[NOTE: This live action film can also be found second-hand as a DVD..., as well as on VHS.]

Fist of the North Star USA 1996 90Min.

Exclusively Distributed in CANADA by LIONS GATE Home Entertainment 

Canadian Home Video Rating 'R'

Issue 7, part Four. June '97.

[NOTE: in contrast the Editor's "hiatus" message in June of 1997 was quite short, and "furious fisticuff-filled action", is less fan felt, than the 1989 message that included "For those of you familiar with Ken's world, - you know that there are many tales yet to be told, many evils still to be dealt with."  and   "Hopefully, some-time in the future, we will once again be able to bring you Fist Of The North Star.   Until then stand against evil, wherever you might find it."]

[NOTE: Now, after the second 'hiatus' some 23 years later, Viz Comics (VIZ MEDIA) once again gives fans FIST OF THE NORTH STAR.]

 

Volume ONE  Hardcover – 22 July 2021.

Volume TWO Hardcover –  11 Nov. 2021.

Volume THREE Hardcover –  17 Feb. 2022.

Volume FOUR Hardcover –  12 May 2022.

[NOTE: as of writing 14th. December 2022 the LATEST Volume to be printed is number 6 on the 27th.  October. 2022, with another 4 volumes in 2023.]