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Mazinger Z Interval Peace, Mazinger Z Alter Ignition Manga Launch
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The June issue of Kodansha's Monthly Young Magazine launched the Mazinger Z Interval Peace manga series on Friday. Takahiro Ozawa (Tokyo Toybox, Giga Tokyo Toy Box) is in charge of the manga's scenario, Kaoru Osada (Gunparade March Another Princess) is drawing the manga, and Gō Nagai is credited with the original work.
The manga is a spinoff work of the new anime film based on Nagai's Mazinger Z manga. The manga is the "first youthful group drama" manga in the franchise, and it takes place in a world where the very existence of super robots is questioned. The manga follows former pilot Kōji and his companions and their conflicts. The men that were once called heroes now stand at a crossroad, and must choose. Will the momentary peace be able to become a true peace?
Yū Kinutani (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Shion: Blade of the Minstrel) additionally launched the first chapter of the Mazinger Z Alter Ignition spinoff manga on Dynamic Planning's website on Friday. The manga reimagines the world of the original manga, and features Kōji's first meeting with Mazinger Z.
The new film, tentatively titled Gekijōban Mazinger Z (Mazinger Z The Movie), is commemorating the 45th anniversary of the original Mazinger Z manga and television anime series. Toei Animation is producing the project, and Toei will distribute the film. Nagai will debut footage from the film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June.
Nagai launched the Mazinger Z manga in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1972, and the television anime series premiered at the same time. The anime ran for 92 episodes from 1972-1974, and the anime's 68th episode garnered a 30.4% viewer rating when it aired on March 17, 1974.
The story follows high school boy Kōji Kabuto in his super robot Mazinger Z as he battles Dr. Hell, a mad scientist bent on world domination. The franchise has spawned four television series, at least nine movies, and several original video animation projects.
Discotek Media released the original anime on DVD in North America in 2014.
Source: Comic Natalie
