Spider-Man: The Manga
Encyclopedia
Spider-Man: The Manga is a Japan
ese manga
illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami
which retold the story of Spider-Man
in a Japanese setting. It was originally published in Japan from January 1970 to September 1971 in Monthly Shōnen Magazine.
. Yu faces Japanese versions of villains such as Electro
, the Lizard
, and the Kangaroo
. The series also featured counterparts of Aunt May
, named "Mei", and J. Jonah Jameson
, who is the publisher of the newspaper Yu works at.
Initially, Kōsei Ono wrote the stories. On completion of the sixth story, Kazumasa Hirai
became the writer. Ikegami continued to provide the art. The first few stories featured analogues to several of Spider-Man's villains and supporting cast, while maintaining an altogether more moody atmosphere. The later Hirai-written stories deviated further from the source material and included scenes of sexual and gruesome imagery of a kind not seen in the original U.S. Spider-Man comics. The later stories involved less comedy, were more dramatic, and had more realistic art, reflecting Ikegami's later style.
In 1996, the books were reprinted in their original format, with the original Japanese text. The covers were updated, with all of them featuring a picture of Spider-Man holding a flower. A number on a bottom-left of the cover indicated the story arc reprinted within.
The English-language version of the series was reprinted by Marvel Comics
across thirty-one issues from December 1997 to April 1999. Eight out of the thirteen Japanese stories in total were fully translated, with several edits to remove some of the violent scenes. The final issue, #31, began the translation of the ninth story and was left incomplete due to the title's cancellation.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami
Ryoichi Ikegami
is a manga artist. He was assistant to manga artist Shigeru Mizuki in 1966. In 2001, he won the Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga as the artist of Heat. He became a professor at Osaka University of Arts in 2005...
which retold the story of Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
in a Japanese setting. It was originally published in Japan from January 1970 to September 1971 in Monthly Shōnen Magazine.
Publication history
A junior high school student named is bitten by a radioactive spider, which gave him spider-like powers like the U.S. Spider-Man, Peter ParkerSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. Yu faces Japanese versions of villains such as Electro
Electro (comics)
Electro is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a supervillain and an enemy of Spider-Man who gained the ability to control electricity after being struck by lightning while working on a power line. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, he first...
, the Lizard
Lizard (comics)
The Lizard is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe and enemy of Spider-Man. The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 , and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko...
, and the Kangaroo
Kangaroo (comics)
The Kangaroo is the alias of two fictional Spider-Man villains in the Marvel Universe. The first was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #81 in 1970; the second was first seen in Cage #13 in 1993 and made his debut in The Spectacular Spider-Man #242 in 1997...
. The series also featured counterparts of Aunt May
Aunt May
May Reilly Parker-Jameson, commonly known as Aunt May, is a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared as May Parker in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, named "Mei", and J. Jonah Jameson
J. Jonah Jameson
John Jonah Jameson Junior is a supporting character of Spider-Man in the .Jameson is usually the publisher or editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, a fictional New York newspaper and now serves as the mayor of New York City...
, who is the publisher of the newspaper Yu works at.
Initially, Kōsei Ono wrote the stories. On completion of the sixth story, Kazumasa Hirai
Kazumasa Hirai (author)
is a Japanese novelist from Yokosuka, Kanagawa. He graduated from Yokosuka Industrial High School and the law department of Chuo University. Hirai is well known for his SF-manga work...
became the writer. Ikegami continued to provide the art. The first few stories featured analogues to several of Spider-Man's villains and supporting cast, while maintaining an altogether more moody atmosphere. The later Hirai-written stories deviated further from the source material and included scenes of sexual and gruesome imagery of a kind not seen in the original U.S. Spider-Man comics. The later stories involved less comedy, were more dramatic, and had more realistic art, reflecting Ikegami's later style.
In 1996, the books were reprinted in their original format, with the original Japanese text. The covers were updated, with all of them featuring a picture of Spider-Man holding a flower. A number on a bottom-left of the cover indicated the story arc reprinted within.
The English-language version of the series was reprinted by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
across thirty-one issues from December 1997 to April 1999. Eight out of the thirteen Japanese stories in total were fully translated, with several edits to remove some of the violent scenes. The final issue, #31, began the translation of the ninth story and was left incomplete due to the title's cancellation.
Stories
- "The Birth of Spider-Man" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #1-3)
- "The Transformation of Doctor Inumaru" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #4-6)
- "Too Strong a Hero" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #7-9)
- "The False Spider-Man" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #10-15)
- "Yu Under Suspicion" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #16-18)
- "Summer of Insanity" (reprinted Spider-Man: The Manga #19-21)
- "What is My Destination!"
- "Woman of Winter" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #22-24)
- "Strangers" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #31)
- "The Mania Demon"
- "Shadow of Spider-Man" (reprinted in Spider-Man: The Manga #25-30)
- "Witch of the Golden Eye"
- "The Woman Who Raises the Tiger"
External links
See also
- Hulk: The MangaHulk: The MangaHulk: The Manga is a Japanese manga re-telling of The Incredible Hulk within a Japanese setting. It was originally published in Japan in 1970 in Weekly Bokura Magazine and written by Kazuo Koike of Lone Wolf and Cub fame, with art by Yoshihiro Moritou and Kosei Saigou...
- X-Men: The MangaX-Men: The MangaX-Men: The Manga , is a manga by Bamboo Comics/Marvel Comics Group inspired by its American counterpart produced for a Japanese audience. Marvel used this title as another attempt to break into the Japanese comic market...
- Spider-Man JSpider-Man Jis a manga by Yamanaka Akira. It ran in the shōnen magazine, Comic Bom Bom, from November 9, 2004 to May 11, 2005. The manga is in no way connected to Ryoichi Ikegami's Spider-Man: The Manga.-Plot:...