KATOU SHINKICHI IS BACK! Actually, this is a belated remark, considering he spent the past 9 years working on Planet of Sutakola, which just wrapped up in 2015 with its 5th volume, but it's still worth celebrating since Katou Shinkichi is very sparse with his manga output. As a big fan of him, I've been waiting for ages to read this, so I'm doubly excited to start translating it, thanks to Habanero scans providing me with raws and Kennit with cleaning/typesetting. The first volume is merely the opening act to this SF-fantasy tale, so it brings up a lot of questions that'll only be answered in the subsequent volumes, which is when the plot will really begin to take shape. I'll release v2 sometime this winter.
But really, Katou's artwork is so superb that even if you can't follow the story, the manga's still a joy to look at. As a mangaka who started drawing manga in a simple and deformed artstyle, Katou's one of those few artists that knows when to be detailed and when to be simple, leading to an art style that's not trying to be some bland attempt at realism nor a cookie-cutter manga aesthetic.
In other news, I'll be starting up translations for
Kaneko Atsushi's Soil this September for those of you who've been dying for years to see how that mystery wraps up. Finally the frogs won't be the only one who can read the ending.
Download:
Planet of Sutakola v01: Mega
Thank you for picking this up! Been keeping an eye on it for a while now.
ReplyDeleteAs for news on Soil... Well, that just made my day.
Many many many thanks for picking Soil up... Such a great and unique manga that was left in Kotonoha's limbo.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm salivating at the visual feast that lay before me; thank you so much! The prospects of Soil returning have put a big smile on my face as well.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I've been waiting for this manga for years. Thank you so much for picking up this gem. Really made my day!
ReplyDeleteMan that was an incredible experience, bu i have one question, is the kid really his kid? or an attached being like the Jelly boys?
ReplyDeleteAlso getting some Soil could perfectly be one of the best news of this year, thanks a lot for picking it up!
I don't think he's his actual son, but I don't think he's some sort of programmable jelly boy pet either. I haven't read any of the other volumes yet, to be honest.
DeleteBased Hox.
ReplyDeleteHi, I may be a little late but are you considering finishing it someday? The art looks outstanding
ReplyDeleteYes most definitely. I feel really bad for delaying it as long as I have already. I'll try my best to get v2 done this year.
DeleteThank you for your hard work!!! I hope that it's done this year.
DeleteHi, not going to ask if you still plan on going forward with the translation, but I'd like to know if you have any info on the Kato situation in Japan. Has he been working on anything? Any reason why Sutakola isn't available from Kodansha anymore? Thanks, have a great one!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your work on this - I look forward to your return in the distant future with volume 2!
ReplyDelete