News

Shaman King Manga's New Ending Anticipated in 2009

The Japanese publisher Shueisha has officially announced the schedule of Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang (Shaman King Kanzen-Ban or Perfect Edition), the reprinting of Hiroyuki Takei's supernatural manga that will include the never-before-published "true ending." Two large-format volumes will ship every month, with the first two arriving on March 4. With 27 planned volumes, the last volume should appear in Spring of 2009. That last volume will include Shaman King's new final chapter, which Takei will draw specifically for this edition. (The manga's original run abruptly ended in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2004.)

The new printing will be Shueisha's first Kanzen-Ban to include transparent plastic slipcovers (nicknamed "Oversoul covers," a reference to a key element in the story). Takei will draw new color illustrations for both the actual covers and the Oversoul covers. Viz Media is currently publishing the 32 regular volumes of Shaman King in North America on a bimonthly schedule, with 14 completed so far.

Thank you to Andrew Cunningham for the news tip.

Image © Hiroyuki Takei/Shueisha, Inc.