Anime Zen Blog

On December 5th Geneon will release Hellsing Ultimate VOL1 First in a series of OVAs (original video animation) based on Kouta Hirano’s popular Hellsing manga, which features the charismatic vampire-hunting vampire Alucard (”Dracula” spelled backwards).  Gonzo produced a 13-episode Hellsing TV anime series in 2001 (which Geneon also released in the U.S starting in 2002), but the plot of the TV anime differed in some important regards from Hirano’s manga. The new OVA, produced by Satelight, hews very closely to the plot of the first volume of the manga series, and has been eagerly awaited by U.S. anime fans.  

The 50-minute Hellsing Ultimate Vol. 1 will retail for $24.98, with a limited edition version available for $44.98.  Geneon has brought back the English dub cast of the Gonzo series to voice the new Hellsing Ultimate OVA.  A second volume in the OVA series was released in Japan in August and should be available in the U.S. in the spring of 2007.

 

Geneon has not announced any TV showings of the new Hellsing Ultimate OVAs.  Starz/Encore Action Channel did show the 13-episode Gonzo Hellsing series in late 2003.

 

The Hellsing manga (published by Dark Horse in the U.S.) and the original Hellsing anime were both very popular here in the States — in fact the seven volumes of Hellsing manga remain among the steadiest backlist sellers of all manga titles.  The release of the Hellsing OVA in December should stimulate additional sales of the manga, especially the first volume, and retailers should expect a renewed interest in this property that should continue through the release of subsequent volumes of the Hellsing Ultimate series. An eighth volume of Hirano’s on-going Hellsing manga is already out in Japan and a spokesman for Dark Horse told ICv2 that the Dark Horse is currently working on the translation and plans on publishing the eighth volume of the manga in the spring of 2007.

Dark Horse plans to launch one new licensed manga title, a new OEL manga title, a great background book, and several manga repackages for early 2007.  The new manga title is Tanpenshu, a two-volume series collecting shorter works by Eden creator Hiroki Endo. 

 

  

The first Tanpenshu volume, which will street in January, will collect three short stories with mature themes.  The three storylines concern a doomed yakuza outcast, a group of school kids with one about to boil over, and the members of an experimental theater troupe.  

 

The 232-page manga-size trade paperback will be shrink-wrapped, carry an 18+ content advisory, and retail for $12.95. 

 

Red String Vol. 1

The shojo-inspired Red String Volume 1 will be a 184-page collection of the Red String Webcomic by Gina Biggs.  The storylines deal with “all forms of love” and star a freshman high school student whose parents are arranging a marriage for her.  MSRP will be $12.95. 

 

In February, Dark Horse will publish Akira Club, a 256-page 8″ x 11″ color hardcover companion volume to the Akira volumes by Katsuhiro Otomo.  The collection includes over 100 title-page illos created for the original serialization but not included with the manga volumes, alternate art, preliminary drawings, production sketches, posters, ads, and products, all with commentary by Otomo himself.  

 

 

The 16+ Akira Club volume will retail for $29.95.

 

 

Dark Horse is also planning to repackage some previously published work in new manga formats.  Throughout 2007, the company plans to release new, non-westernized versions of Shirow Masumune’s Dominion, Dominion Conflict 1, Orion, Appleseed, and Black Magic.  

 

First of the Shirow repackages is Dominion, which will street in January in its new right-to-left format.  It will be 224 pages for $14.95.  In February, a 160-page, right-to-left Dominion:  Conflict 1 volume will be released at $14.95.  Orion 2nd Edition will street in March, and Appleseed Book 1:  The Promethean Challenge will street in April.  

 

Dark Horse is also pursuing the omnibus trend to help keep its Gunsmith Cats series on increasingly crowded retailer shelves.  The Gunsmith Cats Omnibus Volume 1, a 464-page, $16.95 value package, will be released in February.  This will be the first release of this work in the States in right-to-left format.  Gunsmith Cats is an 18+, shrinkwrapped product.    

 

And in a new strategy for Gunsmith Cats, Dark Horse will release Gunsmith Cats:  Burst Volume 1, the first North American appearance of this Gunsmith Cats series, in a right-to-left 192-page manga volume for $10.95 in April.