Comics publisher Ablaze will bring four of manga master Osamu Tezuka’s titles to the English-speaking world via a publishing agreement with DI Books.
The titles include One Hundred Tales, which will arrive in August, as well as Shakespeare Manga Theater, Tomorrow the Birds and Neo Faust.
Sometimes referred to as ‘The Father of Manga” or “The God of Manga,” Tezuka was the creator of numerous manga and anime over the course of his career, including Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Princess Knight, Phoenix and Buddha, just to name a few. Although he passed away in 1989, his works still continued to receive awards, especially in the U.S. where they’ve been translated and reprinted over the years. He was a judge’s choice to enter the Eisner Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Osamu Tezuka is perhaps the most renowned manga creator of all time and his works have been loved by multiple generations of fans for more than 70 years,” said Rich Young, co-founder of Ablaze, in a press release. “We are honored to expand the Ablaze manga catalog with four of his esteemed works
and look forward to comics and manga fans adding to their collections with these new releases.”
Here’s a bit more on each title:
One Hundred Tales – August 2023
An adaptation of the Faust legend as a samurai period piece. Ichirui Hanri is
an ordinary accountant servicing his lord. Though innocent, he is sentenced
to death by hara-kiri after being entangled in a power struggle. A witch
named Sudama appears and offers Hanri three wishes in exchange for his
soul. Hanri accepts. Is it worth it?
Shakespeare Manga Theater – Q4 2023
Over the course of his career, Tezuka adapted many of Shakespeare’s works: Hamlet, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Romeo and
Juliet (featuring Astro Boy!), and The Merchant of Venice.
This book collects them into one volume and is sure to be popular not just with Tezuka fans, but also schools interested in presenting Shakespeare in a format that is easier for readers to engage with.
Tomorrow The Birds – Q2 2024
A science fiction manga depicting a future society in which evolved birds surpass humanity, Tomorrow the Birds is a parable about how we treat those who aren’t like us, and the eventual price that must be paid for
arrogance.
An unforgettable tapestry of seven-page chapters and longer stories.
Neo Faust – Q4 2024
This adaptation of Goethe’s Faust is Tezuka’s third rendering of this classic
and one of the serializations he was working on at the time of his death.
Despite being terminally ill, Tezuka continued to develop his already
legendary storytelling and illustrations and left behind this enthralling take
on a timeless theme.
“Osamu Tezuka lived an extraordinary life. His manga have fascinated me since I was a kid. I’m grateful to Tezuka Productions and Ablaze for this opportunity to help publish more of them in English,” said Iyasu Adair Nagata, translator and co-founder of DI Books. “These works were inspired by Western literature, including science fiction, and I look forward to the conversations they’ll spark.”