Warning : The following post contains nudity/adult content.
GANTZ/OSAKA is a comic by Japanese manga artist Hiroya Oku, creator of the hugely popular Gantz franchise, which includes the manga and anime series, as well as 2 live-action and a full CG film ( Gantz:O, of which is based on this comic ). GANTZ/OSAKA falls under Phase 2 ( Katastrophe ) of the comic series and details the missions of the Osaka team as they face off with the Nurarihyon Alien.
I see used copies of this comic at BookOff ( a big used bookstore chain in Tokyo ) quite often and browse them from time to time, but my interest was recently piqued again with the release of the full CG film Gantz:O, which I really liked. The stories in both the comic and film are by and large similar, with the same characters and monsters/aliens, but the latter is more a streamlined, abridged version of the manga.
The comic has copious amounts of violence and nudity, so it’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy inventive monster designs ( based off demons and “yurei” from Japanese mythology ) and intense fight scenes then you will likely find it interesting.
Above – some of the most powerful Aliens in the Osaka arc – The Nurarihyon ( top left ), Tengu ( bottom left ) and Inugami ( right ), all based off yokais and spirits found in Japanese mythology.
The full Nurarihyon Alien arc is collected in this 3 tankobon volumes. The print size is pretty big for a manga which makes for very comfortable reading, and the details on the drawings looks amazing too.
If you’ve yet to see the full CG Gantz:O film ( based on this comic ), I highly recommend it.
GANTZ/OSAKA – 3 Volume Manga コミック 全3巻 完結セット details :
– 10.7 x 9 x 4.4 inches
– 3 soft cover volumes
– Monochrome, in Japanese language
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October 22nd, 2017 at 4:03 am
I do remember watching the whole series; I think it was the familiar Asian-esque urban setting mixed w/ Alien-like sci-fi that piqued the most interest. Turns out stimulation & plot wise the whole franchise is successful for a B-rank pulp fiction.
Regardless despite it being adult fiction & the drawings being very high quality I’d say as a reader it stays at that level, since besides the actions it’s filled w/ women w/ gigantic boobs and morphological creatures & manslaughter than containing any complex story line lol.
October 22nd, 2017 at 10:09 am
This manga has such masterful designs and story. Must say that we loved the GANTZ:0 movie directed by Keiichi Sato and Yasushi Kawamura, it is simply spectacular, can’t tell you how many times watch this! They did it justice.
October 23rd, 2017 at 2:57 am
star – You’re likely on point about the lack of any complex storyline. I’m actually not very familiar with the entire franchise having only seen the live-action movies, Gantz:O and this particular manga. The biggest draw for me were the interesting creature designs and fight scenes featured in the Gantz:O film.
DISTRAKT – I really like it too, for the above mentioned reasons. :]
October 24th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Very cool. I wasn’t aware of this prior to seeing your posting. I collected the entire US run of the Gantz manga, though I haven’t finished it yet (I still haven’t unpacked my boxes of manga since I moved). His art, especially how he arranges characters in each panels, is really interesting (some of the action shots in Gantz seemed to almost like they were a single frame taken from a violent action sequence in a film — with characters caught in surprising bodily poses.
What I have read of his new series, Inuyashiki, has also been very good. It really turns the superhero convention on its head.
October 24th, 2017 at 3:14 pm
CE – Glad you found this of interest ! I’ve been meaning to pick up Inuyashiki as well, it’s doing well in Japan too.