Attack on Titan: No Regrets Caused Magazine to Increase Print Run 10 Times Than Usual

Kodansha decided to increase the print run of the January 2014 issue of the ARIA magazine 10 times more copies than usual because of the "Attack on Titan: No Regrets" manga by Hikaru Suruga and Gan Sunaaku.

It was previously reported that the first printing of this issue was five times greater than the magazine's usual print run. The second printing of this issue will be released around December 16. In addition, the February issue of ARIA magazine, which will be released this December 28 will once again feature Levi on the cover.

Attack on Titan: No Regrets is focused on Captain Levi's past, which includes his first encounter with Commander Erwin and how he joined the Survey Corps.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Attack on Titan Creator Abandoned Original Planned Ending

Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isaya revealed in an interview with White-Screen.jp that he's been evolving his manga, which includes adding new elements.

Part of this change is that he abandoned his plans for his series with a traumatizing ending. He had been thinking about something along the lines of the Frank Darabont's adaptation Stephen King's The Mist.

But because of the response to the manga and anime series, he has left him unable to take that path and a bit lost. Because of the support the series is getting, he doesn't want to slap the fans with a traumatic conclusion.

[Source: Crunchyroll News]

Fairy Tail & The Seven Deadly Sins Manga Crossover Announced

The second 2014 issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine announced that Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail will have a crossover with Nakaba Suzuki's The Seven Deadly Sins manga.

This 17-page crossover chapter will be released in the combined fourth and fifth issue of the magazine, which will be shipped on December 25. The issue will feature both authors drawing images from each others' works, and will bundle a calendar featuring images from both series.

[Source: Anime News Network]

"Shocking" New Fairy Tail Project Launching Next Year

The first 2014 issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine announced that Fairy Tail will have a "shocking" new project launching next spring.

Details about the new project is not yet revealed in the issue. It was previously reported that the relaunch of the Fairy Tail TV anime series is already on the works.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Masashi Kishimoto: Naruto Manga is Now On Its Final Phase

Naruto author Masashi Kishimoto revealed in the Japanese TV show, Sakiyomoi Jan BANG that the Naruto manga series is now in its final phase.

He revealed:

The battle of Naruto and his comrades is in its final phase, in the truest sense of the term. About the Ten Tails, about Madara, and then, about Sasuke... I will continue to raise the tension without restraint, in every way I can! Please follow this story of a boy named Naruto a little while longer, I will greatly appreciate it.

Last year, the author also mentioned that the series is now reaching its climax. For those who are not aware about the manga's recent events, the Ten-Tailed Beast is now unleashed and Naruto must make Obito realize that he is still the same man he used to be.

[Source: Saiyan Island]

Souta Fukushi Stars in Takashi Miike's Kami-sama no Iu Toori Live-Action Film

Souta Fukushi (Kamen Rider Fourze) stars in Takashi Miike's (Ace Attorney, Ninja Kids) latest project, a live-action film adaptation of Noboru Takahashi's Kami-sama no Iu Toori (As the Gods Will) manga.

This horror-survival story begins when strange and frightening things start to happening at Shun Takahata's (played by Fukushi) high school. After his teacher is killed, he and his classmates must play horrifying games in order to avoid death.

Pictured: Souta Fukushi, Hirona Yamazaki and Ryunosuke Kamiki

Also part of the casts are Hirona Yamazaki (Lesson of the Evil) as Shun's childhood friend Ichika Akimoto and Ryunosuke Kamiki (Summer Wars, Howl's Moving Castle) as Shun's violence-loving classmate Takeru Amaya.

The film's script is written by Hiroyuki Yatsu (Hanzawa Naoki, Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit) and will film the movie between June-October 2014. The film premieres in Fall 2015.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Attack on Titan Vol. 13 to Include Original Anime DVD

Japanese retailers listed that the limited edition bundle of Attack on Titan Vol. 13 manga will include a new original anime DVD (OAD). This volume will be released on April 9, 2014.

The new manga will depict another story about the 104th Training Corps. It was previously reported that the first Attack on Titan OAD will be released next month. Entitled "Ilse's Journal", this prologue story is about a Survey Corps member.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Golgo 13 Creator Discusses Manga's Possible Ending

Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito revealed that even though the series has been running for 45 years now, turns out that he already has plans for the ending of the series.

He revealed it when he was asked when the manga will end. But because the manga is running for years now, he commented that it is "no longer the property of the author; it belongs to readers."

He also added, "The ending and even its panel layout are all inside my head. And that's fine, but I'm going to do my best until the 200th volume." Sadly, he didn't reveal any details about the planned ending.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Over 50 Manga & Cover Artists Pay Tribute to Golgo 13's 45th Anniversary

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the long-running Golgo 13 manga by Takao Saito, and in this year's 22nd issue of Big Comic magazine, it will feature tribute illustrations coming from over 50 manga and cover artists.

The magazine is on sale last weekend and here are the contributors:

1. Osamu Akimoto (KochiKame)
2. Mitsuru Adachi (Cross Game)
3. Yaro Abe (Shinya Shokudou)
4. Ryoichi Ikegami (Crying Freeman)
5. Shinichi Ishizuka (Gaku)
6. Keisuke Itagaki (Grappler Baki)
7. Junji Itou (Uzumaki)
8. Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk)
9. Naoki Urasawa (Monster)





10. Eiichiro Oda (One Piece)
11. Eiji Kazama (Kaze no Daichi)
12. Nampei Kaneko (cover caricature artist)
13. Kaiji Kawaguchi (Eagle: Making of an Asian American President)
14. Kenichi Kitami & Juzou Yamasaki
15. Hiroshi Kurogane
16. Yoshiie Gouda (Happily Ever After)
17. Yuu Koyama (Azumi)
18. Ryouhei Saigan (San Chōme no Yūhi)
19. Reiko Saibara (Mainichi Kaasan )
20. Kei Sadayasu (Ah -- Harima-nada)
21. Kenichirou Takai (Soumubu Soumuka Yamaguchi Roppeita)
22. Shin Takahashi (Saikano)
23. Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma 1/2)
24. Jiro Taniguchi (A Distant Neighborhood)
25. Hideki Tamei (cover caricature artist)
26. Abe Yarou (Yamamoto Mimikaki-Ten)
27. Midori Natsu (Juui Dolittle)
28. Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe)
29. Yukata Toudou (S - Saigo no Keikan)
30. Tsuyoshi Nakaima (Ucchare Goshogawara)
31. Mariko Nakamura (Gal Boy!)
32. Moto Hagio (Drunken Dream)
33. Mitsuo Hashimoto (Tsukiji Uogashi Sandaime)
34. Shinji Hikino (Big Wing)
35. Kenshi Hirokane (Human Crossing)
    
    
    
    
    
36. Nobuyuki Fukumoto (Akagi, Kaiji)
37. Fujio Fujiko (A) (Doraemon)
38. Yukinobu Hoshino (2001 Nights)
39. Fujihiko Hosono (Crusher Joe)
40. Taiyou Matsumoto (Tekkon Kinkreet)
41. Shigeru Mizuki (Gegege No Kitaro)
42. Shinji Mizushima (Yakyū-kyō no Uta)
43. Norifusa Mita (Dragon Zakura)
44. Motoka Murakami (Jin)
45. Makoto Muramatsu(cover artist)
46. Hiroshi Motomiya (Golden Boy)
47. Shinri Mori (Denden Yumiko)
48. Keisuke Yamashina (Sengoku)
49. Osamu Yamamoto (Harukanaru Koushien)
50. Mari Yamazaki (Thermae Romae)
51. Satoshi Yoshida (Shonan Bakusozoku)
52. Sensha Yoshia (Utsurun Desu)

Golgo 13 is a series about an assassin only known as Duke Togo, an assassin with a 100% accuracy rate when it comes to killing his targets. No one knows his past or his true name and until now, it still remains a mystery.

The series was adapted into two live-action movies, one of which starred Sonny Chiba, an animated film called "Golgo 13: The Professional", an OVA called "Golgo 13: The Queen Bee" and a 50-episode anime series of the same name.

Last month, the landmark 140th manga volume was released.

[Source: Crunchyroll News]

Attack on Titan: No Regrets Caused Magazine to Increase Print Run to 500%

Kodansha will increase the print run of the ARIA magazine for 500% thanks to the lunch of the Attack on Titan manga spin-off entitled "Attack on Titan: No Regrets" by Hikaru Suruga and Gan Sunaaku.

The series starts in the January issue of the magazine, which will be released on November 28th with a color opening page. That issue will also have the said title on the cover and a clear file with exclusive art by Suruga. In addition, the first compiled book volume will ship next April.

Attack on Titan: No Regrets is focused on Captain Levi's past, which includes his first encounter with Commander Erwin and how he joined the Survey Corps.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Attack on Titan Vol. 5 Blu-ray/DVD to Bundle Full-Color Manga

The December issue of Bessatsu Shonen Magazine revealed that the fifth Attack on Titan Blu-ray/DVD volume will bundle a full-color manga.

The Blu-ray/DVD contains episodes 11-13 and the 88-page manga, which is a full-color version of the original manga chapters that the said episodes are based on.

In addition, the volume will also have a separate 12-page full-color booklet, end card illustrations, a sleeve case designed by character designer Kyoji Asano, and Digipak packaging. The volume will be released on November 20 in Japan and costs 7,875 yen for the Blu-ray and 6,825 yen for the DVD.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Hunter x Hunter Manga Returns this December?

A leaked scan for the latest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump is announcing something related to Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter manga, which is currently on a hiatus.

According to the scan, Hunter x Hunter returns this December. The current story arc in the manga is the Dark Continent Expedition Arc, which starts at the manga's 340th chapter.

UPDATE (11/7/13): The 50th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump doesn't feature the alleged announcement of Hunter x Hunter's return this December.

[Source: Crunchyroll News]

GTO: The Early Years Sequel "Shonan Seven" Announced

A sequel to Tohru Fujisawa's GTO: The Early Years (Shonan Junai-gumi) called "Shonan Seven" is announced in the December issue of Month Shonen Champion.

The new series is illustrated by Shinsuke Takahashi (Duel Masters Rev.)and is written by Tohru Fujisawa. This new series will premiere in the February issue of the magazine set to be released on January 6.

For those who are living under the rock, GTO: The Early Years is the prequel to the GTO manga and follows Eikichi Onizuka and Ryuji Danma's adventures when they were younger.

[Source: Anime News Network]

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle PS3 Game Part 1-3 Highlights Trailer

Namco Bandai Games posted the first trailer JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle's Western release. The trailer highlights the first three parts of the original manga/anime series.

The trailer features the game's recreation of some key highlights that take place in Part 1: Phantom Blood, Part 2: Battle Tendency and Part 3: Stardust Crusaders.


As we have previously reported, the game will have some name changes in its Western release to prevent copyright issues and to match the names of the eventual Western release of the 2012 anime.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle is planned for a Spring 2014 release in the West.

Over 20 Million D.Gray-man Manga Copies Now in Circulation!

The 24th volume of the D.Gray-man manga announced that the series now has over 20 million copies in circulation!

This on-going manga takes place in an alternate 20th century and it revolves around Allen Walker, an exorcist working for the Black Order. His mission is to protect mankind from the evil Millennium Earl.

[Source: Anime News Network]

2nd BBC's Sherlock Manga Adaptation Announced

Pictured: The manga adaptation of "A Study in Pink"

The December issue of Young Ace magazine announced that the manga adaptation of BBC's popular drama, Sherlock will return to the said magazine.

Jay. is once again drawing the manga, which will come back in the next issue on December 4. The new run is based on the first season's second episode called "The Blind Banker", which is about a secret cipher that portends death.

Sherlock is a modern interpretation of the classic Sherlock Holmes books and short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Batman Manga Japanese 3-Volume Box Set Now Released in Japan

Shogakukan Creative has just published the first Japanese three-volume box set of the Batman manga written and illustrated by Jiro Kuwata (8 Man). The set costs 7,980 yen.

The manga is based on DC Comics' popular superhero of the same name and features the adventures of Batman and his partner, Robin as they fight villains such as Lord Death-Man.

The new box set contains all 53 chapters of the manga, including the color pages from the magazine serialization. It also has Kuwata's essay on his Batman memories and commentary by manga critic Kōsei Ono.

Some chapters coming from the original serialization of the manga were compiled and published in Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan by Chip Kidd. Plans for an English release of the three-volume box set is still unknown as of this writing.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Crunchyroll to Distribute Kondansha Manga Titles Digitally via Crunchyroll Manga

Starting on October 30, Crunchyroll will begin the digital distribution of 12 Kondansha manga titles via a new service called Crunchyroll Manga! This new service will release up to date manga chapters in 170 countries the same day as it is release in Japan.

This new service will be available to both free and paid users. Free users will only be able to read the latest chapters with ads until the next chapter is simulpubbed. Paid users will have access to all manga including catalog titles.

The first 12 titles that will be available in the launch are: Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, Space Brothers, UQ Holder!, Mysterious Girlfriend X, A Town Where You Live, Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, As the Gods Will - The Second Series, My Wife is Wagatsuma-san, Fort of Apocalypse, COPPELION and The Seven Deadly Sins.

This service will be available on your desktop/laptop computers, as well as in your iOS and Android devices.

Flame of Recca/MÄR's Nobuyuki Anzai's New Manga: Nobuyuki Anzai's Steel Diary

The December issue of Manga Cub Original magazine announced that manga creator Nobuyuki Anzai of Flame of Recca and MÄR fame will launch a new manga series!

The name of the new series is entitled "Nobuyuki Anzai's Steel Diary" and will launch in the January issue of the magazine, which will be released on November 22 with a color opening page.

[Source: Anime News Network]

Oku-sama Guten Tag!, A Manga Created by a German Published by Shueisha

The first volume of Oku-sama Guten Tag!, a comic created by German artist Carolin Eckhardt was published by Shueisha. Shueisha serializes Eckhardt's comic in its "Tonari no Young Jump" online magazine.

The story is about newlyweds, Julia and Takayuki. Julia is a German while Takayuki is a Japanese bank employee. The volume includes the comic itself, recipes for German food appearing in the series and Eckhardt's commentaries on German culture.

This is not the first time works made by foreign artists are published in Japan. The assistants of Takeshi Konomi's New Prince of Tennis manga are Peepo Choo manga creator Felipe Smith and American artist Jamie Lano.

[Source: Anime News Network]