Marvel is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Marvel Mangaverse with five weekly one-shots releasing throughout September, bookended by a two-part story from writer Joe Kelly, his son Jack Kelly and artist Kenny Ruiz.
The Mangaverse launched in 2000 as a line of one-shots presenting manga-inspired re-imaginings of Marvel characters, and this anniversary event picks up as if the line had been publishing continuously ever since.
“Every week my dad and I talk for hours about everything that’s happening in our favorite comics and manga, so being asked to do this for Marvel has been an honor,” said Jack Kelly.
The original Mangaverse kicked off with Marvel Mangaverse: New Dawn, written and drawn by Antarctic Press founder Ben Dunn. It introduced a female Iron Man, a kaiju Hulk and President Steve Rogers. A sequel, New Mangaverse, followed in late 2005 and early 2006. The line was a mixed bag, with an ambitious concept but an uneven execution, with its alternate-universe Spider-Man becoming the most enduring character to emerge from it thanks to all the Spider-verse books we’ve had in recent years.
“When Lauren and Mark came to me with the Mangaverse project and specifically offered the opportunity to co-write it with Jack, it was an immediate yes,” Joe Kelly said. “This project is a love letter to manga and anime via the Marvel Mangaverse, brought to stunning life by artist Kenny Ruiz.”
This new event begins Sept. 3 with Marvel Mangaverse: Web of Blood #1, in which Miles Morales, Laura Kinney and Illyana Rasputin face an apocalypse tied to the return of the Phoenix. That will be followed by three one-shots, each with a different creative team:
Iron Knight #1, coming out Sept. 9, is by writer Cody Ziglar and artist Kei Zama. It is set in Chicago and features manga-inspired versions of Ironheart and Moon Knight teaming up.
Arcane Avengers #1, out Sept. 16), is by Ashley Allen and Mirka Andolfo, introduces a team of sorcerers that includes Bucky Barnes, Wiccan and Bloodline fighting demonic yokai.
Ghostlocke #1 comes out Sept. 23 from the team of Alyssa Wong and Michael YG. A Ghost Rider/Psylocke mash-up named Ghostlocke hunts a rampaging Carnage.
The Kellys and Ruiz return for the conclusion, Web of Destiny #1, on Sept. 30. All five covers are by manga artist Yuji Kaku.
“It is a true honor to draw so many Marvel characters that I grew up reading,” Kaku said. “I challenged myself to merge Western comic and Japanese manga styles by capturing the core essence of both. It was a rigorous task, but incredibly exciting. I hope you all enjoy my designs!”
Marvel shared these promotional pieces by Kaku as well, spotlighting the three characters featured in the first one-shot.
Check out the event this September.