Question for Harlock/Matsumoto Leiji fans

I just recently started watching some of the Matsumoto Leiji stuff that's been released in the US on DVD. What i have so far is Arcadia of My Youth (or My Youth in Arcadia), Gun Frontier and Cosmo Warrior Zero. Both series were pretty good, though CWZ seemed rushed and not animated that well. Still wasn't a bad show. GF was good, I just wish it had a better ending, but I guess the point is that Harlock's journey is never ending. Arcadia was a DAMN fine movie, even with very little in the way of my knowing the background.

So anyway, my question is what Anime done in the Harlock universe is available in the US? I know Star Blazers, but I am hoping more for the Japanese stuff subbed. I'm also really only looking for DVDs. I know the oringal Space Battleship Yamato is not on DVD. Are there DVDs of the original even available (R1/R2)?

Anyway, if someone can list what is available in the US on DVD, I would greatly appreciate it, along with any thoughts you may have on any given series.

Interstella 5555. Well, the characters were designed by him and it's an awesome animated musical. Galaxy Express 999 was also nice. I recall watching it on the Sci-Fi channel a few years ago.

Let The Mercenary "Crossbones" (X) 99 answer that note Slerch! As being the Mastumoto-Harlockian nut case I unleash the info... Let's see:

Currently available in USA:

Arcadia of my Youth (DVD)
Matel Legend (DVD)
Queen Emeraldas (DVD)
D.N.A. Sights 999.9 (VHS Only *Urban Video)
Cosmo Warrior Zero (DVD)
Galaxy Express 999 (VHS Only *VIZ Video)
Adieu Galaxy Express 999 (VHS Only *VIZ Video)
The Cockpit (VHS Only *Urban Video)
Harlock Saga (DVD)
Gun Frontier (DVD)


Unfortunately that's about it for Matsumoto stuff (excluding Space Battle Ship Yamato of course). I've been waiting for GE 999 and the others mentioned above as VHS ONLY to make the jump to DVD format though. ---Apparently there's a new series being produced by Matsumoto surrounding Captain Harlock, but I don't have much info on that. What's still needs to be brough Stateside however is the following...

Queen Milliennia (TV-series from early 80's)
Space Pirate Captain Harlock (42 episode TV-series /1978)
Galaxy Express 999 TV-Series
Galaxy Express: Eternal Wanderer EMERALDAS Xmas Special
MYIA: "Endless Road SSX" (TV-series w. plotline after Arcadia movie).
Shin Ginga Tetsudo 999 (OAV Series)


This is all the information that I'm aware of, but I know there's a few more. I'm hoping Matsumoto's stuff is making enough money that'll warrant companies to release his "OLDER" stuff here as well, and not have to rely on badly aged fan subbed stuff on VHS or HK DVD "Boots".

Hope this helps you out man.

Mercenary X99

Thanks for the replies! Somehow I knew the Mercenary would be putting some input on this one!

As far as Interstella 5555, I'm not a DAft Punk fan, but I may check it out anyway.

According to Mercenary X99, I still need to pick up the following:

Matel Legend (DVD)
Queen Emeraldas (DVD)
D.N.A. Sights 999.9 (VHS Only *Urban Video)
Galaxy Express 999 (VHS Only *VIZ Video)
Adieu Galaxy Express 999 (VHS Only *VIZ Video)
The Cockpit (VHS Only *Urban Video)
Harlock Saga (DVD)

I may wait for DVDs on the VHS stuff. If I remember correctly, Viz was supposed to release the Harlock stuff they had on DVD sometime... though it was a LONG time ago that I saw that, so maybe that's changed?

I've already preordered the first 2 Captain Herlock (not sure why the name changed, but whatever) that are set to release starting in February, is this the Harlock Saga? You can see what I am talking about here.

Thanks again guys for the info!

slerch666 said:

I've already preordered the first 2 Captain Herlock (not sure why the name changed, but whatever) that are set to release starting in February, is this the Harlock Saga? You can see what I am talking about here.

Thanks again guys for the info!

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#1> HERLOCK is the way most of the Japanese "Roman Album" Mooks are listed, I don't know why, but I own most of them, including THE COCKPIT and it's an ongoing thing. Even my Funky Pose Captain Harlock figure from Toei-Doga *78 (RARE!) says "Herlock".

#2> Dude I'm so glad you posted that link. THAT IS THE NEW HARLOCK SERIES I was talking about!. ---No it's not "Harlock Saga"... that's a seperate series that once again brings up many questions about the differing "realities" in what I call The Matsumoto-verse, that according to him, before he dies all of his many origins of Harlock, and the many deaths of Tochiro will make perfect sense. ---I believe we will see it to be amongst the Buddhist concept of KUON GANJO (The Time Without Begining) but I might be mistaken on that. From the synopsis, and a Japanese website entirely in Kanji I came across last week, with some familiar faces (pics)... it looks as if the Captain Herlock series you gave the link to is a re-telling of his original 1978 television series where he fought the Mazone Empire (not the Illmidas), and flew around in the Blue Arcaida (actually "The Death Shadow" according to Harlock Saga!), and mixed it with some new elements of more contemporary understanding. THIS IS GREAT NEWS! I'm gonna' pre-order this sucka' tonight!

{Mercenary X99 holds up wine filled glass to Slerch666}

"GOHRAAM!"

Thanks for making this thread slerch666. It reminds me that I wanted to pick up a copy of THIS game. It is a pachinko game, but damn the license is freaking cool. How sweet would that be to show to people when they come over and ask what you have to play I don't know that I will be shelling out $60 bucks for it, but when the price drops, I'm there!

Q-

Had I done a search, I would have realized that THIS was the Harlock Saga you were speaking of. I saw it the other day on Rightstuf's site but forgot about it until you pointed out my mistake.

The Herlock series from Geneon (Pioneer) is a 4 disc set total when all is said and done. I'm not sure if they'll be offerring a special box for them or not, but I'm hoping they do... 1 every other month means it'll finish in August if they stick to the release schedule.

If that Pachinko game was cheaper, I'd pick it up (I need to buy a modded PS2 or an import one, but whatever ). Too bad it's only 2 "tables." Seems like a rip off for $53, though the license IS cool

Would you guys recommend watching/buying Star Blazers? I'm not a big fan of dubbed Anime, but it may be the only way (other than bootlegs) to be able to watch the Space Battleship Yamato series.

And you're welcome for the link, MercenaryX99!

slerch666 said:

Would you guys recommend watching/buying Star Blazers? I'm not a big fan of dubbed Anime, but it may be the only way (other than bootlegs) to be able to watch the Space Battleship Yamato series.

And you're welcome for the link, MercenaryX99!

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Though I generally loathe Dubbing... yeah, Star Blazers freackin' OWNZ. I haven't seen the whole thing yet, just up into the middle of the second series arc after "Quest for Iscandar", but it's a nice diversion from the series. ***Now here's something you may or may not know, but originally it was planned to have Derek Wildstar's thought to be dead/missing brother from the ISCANDAR portion, turn out to be none other than "Captain Harlock", but it didn't go through. I'm forever going batty with all of the differing times that Harlock shows up, and how that facial scar HAS TO BE genetically passed down since all of the Herlock's have it.

But yeah man... STAR BLAZERS all the way.

"We're off to outer space, we're leaving mother Earth
to Saaave the Human race.... OUR STAR BLAZERS!
"Heading off for a distant star, heading off to Iscandar,
leaving all we leave behind... Who knows what danger we'll
find. WE MUST BE STRONG AND BRAAAAAAAVE. OUR HOME
WE'VE GOT TO SAAAAAAAVE. {Now I love this line}

"If we don't it just ONE YEAR, MOTHER EARTH WILL DISAPPEAR!
Fighting with the Gamilon, we won't stop until we've won, then
we'll return and when we arrive. THE Earth will survive with our
STAR BLAZERS!"

Mercenary X99

Is there any plans to bring over the third installment of Galaxy Express 999? I have the translated manga, and I've seen the bootlegged anime at conventions. I hope they import that along with DVD versions of the other two installments.

GE 999 has been my favorite anime since I was like 8.

You do know that the Yamato movies are all available subtitled, all have been released on VHS, and I think 4 of the 5 (with the fifth coming) have been released on DVD.

As for the original Yamato, the only hope of getting it, is to buy a bootleg. I'm tempted, I already have seasons 1 & 2 of Star Blazers, and Season 3 is not far behind.

Speaking of the Galaxy Express 999 TV Series, how many episodes of this are there, and was this not once played in the US dubbed? I don't know why, but I swear that this was dubbed in the early 80s.

Scary enough, I have Arcadia of my Youth on LD! I got it from Ken Cranes when they were blowing them out!

As for Harlock in Yamato, that was who they were to meet on Pluto (And, if I remember correctly, there is still some evidence of that in the animation). Also, Season 3 of Star Blazers was suppose to be 52 epidoes, MUCH longer and MUCH deeper than it was. Somewhere I have an outline of the 52 episode story arc. After all, I had the first Star Blazers web page on the internet in the mid 90s, (I can provide an archive.org link if anyone really cares).

Damn Mouse_Master, that's pretty damn hard core!

I guess I'll have to check out Star Blazers on DVD. I wish Voyager stuff would go on sale at Rightstuf, but oh well, what can you do?

Anyone know where I can pick up the series on DVD the cheapest? Non-bootleg please.

slerch666 said:

Damn Mouse_Master, that's pretty damn hard core!

I guess I'll have to check out Star Blazers on DVD. I wish Voyager stuff would go on sale at Rightstuf, but oh well, what can you do?

Anyone know where I can pick up the series on DVD the cheapest? Non-bootleg please.

Click to expand...

http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/dvd.cfm?itemid=PME009991&promotion=y

Thats the cheapest I have seen, unless you want the VHS tapes.

I think the Star Blazers charm is the fact that the story was not crusified too much (although, a lot is cut because of the rules for kids shows of the time), and it has that great 'cheesy disco' music.

1st season is the best, the second year is good, but the movie version is better (in my opinion, but it has been a while since I watched either), and I have yet to watch the third season, but hear very little positive about it, especially since there is a different voice cast for it.

The first movie exists dubbed, but I do not believe it was ever released. I have heard that a German dub of the first movie is the superior version. The second movie exists dubbed as well, and was released on VHS at some point, had some cuts, but it was a good job.

Mouse_Master said:

Speaking of the Galaxy Express 999 TV Series, how many episodes of this are there, and was this not once played in the US dubbed? I don't know why, but I swear that this was dubbed in the early 80s.

As for Harlock in Yamato, that was who they were to meet on Pluto (And, if I remember correctly, there is still some evidence of that in the animation). Also, Season 3 of Star Blazers was suppose to be 52 epidoes, MUCH longer and MUCH deeper than it was. Somewhere I have an outline of the 52 episode story arc. After all, I had the first Star Blazers web page on the internet in the mid 90s, (I can provide an archive.org link if anyone really cares).

Click to expand...

#1> I'm just glad to see I'm not really "all alone" in my love for Reiji/Leiji Matsumoto's works (especially Captain Harlock). *Just another reason I love the Internet, AND THIS COMMUNITY. The surprises just never stop. ---Most of my friends who either got me into Japanimation/Anime back in the late 80's / Early 90's never really appreciated Matsumoto's stuff, and the guys I know who are into ANIME these days, focus on the flashier mecha based stuff, or the cutesy Bi-Shojo junk that everyone clamors to. So it's good to see some love for Matsumoto's stuff from all around the globe. *I just wish that petiton I signed for the original 1978 Space Pirate Captain Harlock series (Since the original was horribly chopped up and dubbed by ZIV International and later re-edited by Harmony Gold and turned into Captain Harlock & The Queen of a Thousand Years, which was Queen Milliennia) would be taken a bit more seriously by ANIMEIGO to do a special DVD re-masterd BOX Set.

#2> Yes Galaxy Express 999 TV-Series was shown on American television around the time that the whole FORCE FIVE (bastardizations of GETTAR ROBO "G", Mazinger Z, UFO ROBOT Grendizer and some others... Including Matsumoto's own Danguard ACE!) thing was being played on the USA Channel, right after Hanna Barbera's Sport's Billy went off. ---Not too many people remember it, but I do too. At that time however, I was more into Grendizer and Space Pirate Captain Harlock (the one before it got even more chopped up into CP & The Queen of a Thousand Years). The TV-Series of GE 999 didn't get the ratings the network expected so it was canceled half way through it's run, but I know the theatrical movie is still shown on cable from time to time, dubbed and with Harlock sounding like John Wayne, called of all things... Captain Warlock!

#3> I had no idea you were so involved into Star Blazers or anything Matsumoto Mouse Master, so I'd be very interested in seeing that website of yours or anything archived you might have. Space Battleship Yamato / Star Blazers is the one series I don't know as much about as I do most of the other stuff. So as Judge Mills lane would say... "Let's Get It On!"

...I'll post my entire Matsumoto collection later, since this thread has got me to pull out everything I own and evaluate once again, the greatness of Matsumoto-san's works. Anyone else who wants to do the same, should throw down and represent proper!

Mercenary X99

*sniff* I'm relatively new to the Matsumoto Leiji so I don't have much of a collection to show off. *sniff*

A bit off topic, but I sort of remember the bastardization of Mazinger Z that is Tranzor Z. The only thing I can remember, since I was REALLY young at the time, maybe 5, was "yes sir ma'am."

Mazinger Z is one bootleg I am tempted to buy, since I don't want to spend $1000 on the R2 DVDs when my Japanese ability isn't great enough to understand it...

slerch666 said:

*sniff* I'm relatively new to the Matsumoto Leiji so I don't have much of a collection to show off. *sniff*

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Don't worry about it man... it's all good. I'm sure you've got other Anime goods up the wazoo. I'm going to start a thread later to post up your collections (Pics) of anime related whatever. Represent what you got homie... I've got some stuff, even some old AREA 88 33's that I want to get rid of that'll be pictured. I'd be interested in what you've amassed myself, being one of the more Japanimation orientated ppl on these boards that I know of.

Mercenary X99

Mercenary X99 said:

Don't worry about it man... it's all good. I'm sure you've got other Anime goods up the wazoo. I'm going to start a thread later to post up your collections (Pics) of anime related whatever. Represent what you got homie... I've got some stuff, even some old AREA 88 33's that I want to get rid of that'll be pictured. I'd be interested in what you've amassed myself, being one of the more Japanimation orientated ppl on these boards that I know of.

Mercenary X99

Click to expand...

Most of what I have are DVDs, since I didn't REALLY get into Anime until 96-97. I had amassed a few VHS tapes, but have since "upgraded" that collection to DVD (assuming their are DVDs out) and sold the majority of that at a loss. I have quite a few of the US Manga releases, over 1165 DVDs, a few artbooks and a lot of the little weird collectable things they stick with DVD special editions.

I'll definitely post my pics, but I probably won't have a chance to take them until this weekend sometime (unless I get another do off due to snow ).

Well, here is the title page which does not display right in modern browsers....

http://web.archive.org/web/20000815203134/http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~scroggkw/Yamato/yamato.html

Here you can access the root directory of the site, all content is caches, as the site was up for about 7 years:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010509204103/http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~scroggkw/Yamato/

Here is an article of interest:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010415...n.edu/~scroggkw/Yamato/articles/sbcensor.html

While I know I might be stepping on toes saying this, but the reason Matsumoto's work is underloved is because most of what he has done is VERY strongly character driven. Now, that was not a problem in Japan, but in the US, we go for flash and action, and cater less and less to something being character driven. Hell, turn on network TV, and look at the drivel they show. And people wonder why shows like The Sopranos, The Shield, etc, are popular with a certain crowd.

The first season of Star Blazers basically portrays a huge struggle, and it shows (Japan)/earth raising up to meet the challenge (with the raising of the battleship Yamato, but that is cut from the US version, but is a strong show of pride). As the crew of the Argo/Yamato travel on the mission, they all grow and develop. They meet many obsticles on the way. Star Blazers is much more preachy than any of the other series, I think, but I have not seen everything.

Now, GE999 has no chance of success in the US. It is more of a story about life, growing up, and using the time you have for good deeds, at least that is what I draw out from the two Viz releases. I would love to see more, of course subbed bootlegs are the only choice for it right now. Did thw whole TV series (isn't like 110 episodes?) get dubbed? Hopefully I did not skew the whole plot to this.

Arcadia of my Youth, I could not even begin to tell you what the movie was about, but I just remember thinking 'wow' after I watched it, which was about 8 years ago.

DNA Sights 999 seemed unimpressive to me, but maybe I missed the point. I think the Yamato, and Harlock do make an appearance (they also appear in the GE999 manga I believe).

I keep meaning to pick up Cosmo Warrior Zero, which is in a box set now, and I have yet to watch Queen Emeraldas.

I wonder if the 'Herlock' series sells well for Pioneer (or whatever their name is now) if they will go and release more of it. I know, it looks doubtful, since people onlly want the new stuff, and not anything 'old' but Pioneer did release Lupin, and it is doing well for them. Now, if they could get Harlock onto Cartoon Network.....

It's great to see so many other Matsumoto fans here. I've been a huge Leiji Matsumoto fan since a friend showed me an unsubtitled (he narrated what people were saying) My Youth in Arcadia, back when I was a youngster around '84 or so... That, along with the the original Galaxy Express comic, remain my favorites.

Is anyone familliar with http://www.webshincho.com/comics_e/ ? It was a page put up by Matsumoto with the online comic version of what became Harlock Saga, but muuuuuch better (obviously). They even had an English translation! Unfortunately, I noticed the page went down recently... does anyone know what happened to it or if it moved? At least I got the first 10 or so chapters printed out... Any information appreciated...

Mouse_Master said:

While I know I might be stepping on toes saying this, but the reason Matsumoto's work is underloved is because most of what he has done is VERY strongly character driven. Now, that was not a problem in Japan, but in the US, we go for flash and action, and cater less and less to something being character driven. Hell, turn on network TV, and look at the drivel they show. And people wonder why shows like The Sopranos, The Shield, etc, are popular with a certain crowd.

Click to expand...

Naaah, you're not stepping on any toes man, that's the "Ground Zero Truth" about it in a nutshell. ---I like my fair share of mindless drivel, but while it would sound like ridiculous banter to anyone who's mainstream... I would say that Matsumoto's stories (especially the character of Harlock) always gave me something to look forward to. I'd be depressed then watch these beautiful stories of MEN (and women) of VALOR, who's situation is often times worse than anything we have to endure, and they grit their teeth, take a swig of wine, and smirk... and are ready to meet the challenge head on. Once you get enraptured up in the stories and the haunting orchestral scores move you, for forget these are non living characters and that it's not real, because you (if you're open minded) identify with them, or at least what it is that the creator is trying to represent. For those interested, I will type verbatim (word for word) the Interview Leiji Matsumoto gave ANIMAG way back when ... picture below. He has quite an interesting way of looking at things, concerning his character AND life overall. I will be checking over your website links tonight, ... thanks for the linkage! Below are some pics from my beloved "Collection" of Matsumoto's stuff over the last 14 years.


The Pictures a bit fuzzy but here's what is there
from top left to right:
My Youth In Arcadia "Memorial Collection" Hardback Mook,
Captain Herlock Roman Album, Queen Milliennia Roman Album,
The Cockpit Roman Album, Animenonimeous Issue talking about
Captain Harlock: "Looking for a Place to Die" ---Covers the 1978
TV-Series. TOEI-DOGA Export *Teaser Book, ANIMAG 1990 issue
w. Interview with Matsumoto. Proto Culture Addicts w. coverage
on THE COCKPIT... Animerica (what ANIMAG became) Issue w.
coverage on Harlock Saga... Antartic Press Maganzine w.
misc. coverage over the various Harlocks. ---Four Anime-To-Manga
compiler novels on the 1978 TV-Series.


From Top left to right...
Complete 13 Issue Ben Dunn w. Robert W. Gibson edition of
CAPTAIN HARLOCK Manga. *Complete 7 Issue Tim Eldred edition
of DEATH SHADOW RISING.


From Top left to right...
*Complete 4-Part Mini Manga Serials "Harlock & The Fall Of The
Empire" by Tim Eldred & Robet W. Gibson. **Complete 4-Part mini
series (before the legality issues arose with Toei about American
Manga produced based on Leiji's work, that is a long story within
itself about copyrights) CAPTAIN HARLOCK Vs. THE MACHINE PPL.
4-Part Mini-Series spin off of Ben Dunn's edition of the Harlock
stories with EMERALDAS.


I have everything released stateside except the Gun
Frontier OAVs and Captain Herlock.


From top right to left...
Queen Emeraldas Ship, Captain Harlock, Emeraldas w. Tochiro,
Death Shadow "First Arcadia"... '78 FUNKY POSE Herlock.

I also have several soundtracks on CD usually released by Columbia Records, but I didn't picture them. THIS is what 14 years of searching high and low will manifest.

SouthtownKid said:

It's great to see so many other Matsumoto fans here. I've been a huge Leiji Matsumoto fan since a friend showed me an unsubtitled (he narrated what people were saying) My Youth in Arcadia, back when I was a youngster around '84 or so... That, along with the the original Galaxy Express comic, remain my favorites.

Is anyone familliar with http://www.webshincho.com/comics_e/ ? It was a page put up by Matsumoto with the online comic version of what became Harlock Saga, but muuuuuch better (obviously). They even had an English translation! Unfortunately, I noticed the page went down recently... does anyone know what happened to it or if it moved? At least I got the first 10 or so chapters printed out... Any information appreciated...

Click to expand...

Yeah, I remember that website too. On my old (1st Computer) I had most of that Web Manga saved on the Harddrive, but then it got corrupted. It was indeed better, and made more sense than the HARLOCK SAGA OAVS... but what can you do? *As far as I know Leiji took the site down sometime ago, but it's rumored that CD-JAPAN might have it available as apart of their online Manga thing... though I've never bothered to look further into it.

Mercenary X99

Mouse Master... Duuuuuuuuude! http://web.archive.org/web/20000815...ato/yamato.html, is the site I once visited waaay back when. At least that logo and the backgrounds look darned familiar. *I'd have never guessed that I'd be at a NEO:GEO forum talking to the guy about "Star Blazers" and Yamato all these years later. I used to visit that website about the time I launched this now defunct "Beat" Takeshi Kitano website on Geocities, when I was known as SLEDGE

http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/trailer/4902/okuyama.html

... I have a feeling I'll be re-reading alot of that stuff all over again now that SLERCH666 went and got me all pumped up with this thread. Props to you sir! Thanx for the links again.

Mercenary X99

Mercenary X99 said:

Below are some pics from my beloved "Collection" of Matsumoto's stuff over the last 14 years.

From Top left to right...
*Complete 4-Part Mini Manga Serials "Harlock & The Fall Of The
Empire" by Tim Eldred & Robet W. Gibson. **Complete 4-Part mini
series (before the legality issues arose with Toei about American
Manga produced based on Leiji's work, that is a long story within
itself about copyrights) CAPTAIN HARLOCK Vs. THE MACHINE PPL.
4-Part Mini-Series spin off of Ben Dunn's edition of the Harlock
stories with EMERALDAS.


Mercenary X99

Click to expand...

What's scary is that I drew the covers for 2 of those comics, waaaaay back in the day -- #1 and #3 of Machine People (first and third in the middle row). I cringe when I look at those, but then I remind myself that I was going to school full time and had another part-time job...and I was young, etc. etc.... I also did the covers for Malibu Comics' Harlock VHS releases (all 2 of them), which I think came out a lot better. Unforunately, the dub/edit job of the episodes on the tapes is a freaking travesty.

SouthtownKid said:

What's scary is that I drew the covers for 2 of those comics, waaaaay back in the day -- #1 and #3 of Machine People (first and third in the middle row). I cringe when I look at those, but then I remind myself that I was going to school full time and had another part-time job...and I was young, etc. etc.... I also did the covers for Malibu Comics' Harlock VHS releases (all 2 of them), which I think came out a lot better. Unforunately, the dub/edit job of the episodes on the tapes is a freaking travesty.

Click to expand...

WOW! the surprises just keep on comming. I'm email "friends" with Tim Eldred who did the later comics (he helped get me into VOTOMS) and now to know someone who also worked on some of the Americanized Manga is just *Cool. To be honest I never cared for the cover of Machine People #1 but I LOVED the cover for #3, and originally used it minus the text for my then dubbed copy of Galaxy Express 999 ---The one from 1979, not the VIZ version. I thought you did a VERY good rendition then and even now. So don't be too hard on yourself man. The Malibu Comics releases of the original CAPTAIN HARLOCK weren't bad either dawg... I actually liked the minimalist style you used. And yeah, the dubbing on that was horrible, but the Malibu version you did cover art for was missing the original opening credits with the "Disco Harlock" song "I'll be your Captain!". I made VCDs of the malibu release using the opening Disco version from VHS copies I had made off original ZIV INTERNATIONAL copies Blockbuster Video used to rent before Japanimation went mainstream.

So do you still work in the comic industry Southtown Kid? Or is that apart of your past now??? ---Still I think you're too hard on yourself. If I could draw better I'd be making Underground Comic done in the realistic Manga style, but that'll never happen.

Mercenary X99

Mercenary X99 said:

So do you still work in the comic industry Southtown Kid? Or is that apart of your past now??? ---Still I think you're too hard on yourself. If I could draw better I'd be making Underground Comic done in the realistic Manga style, but that'll never happen.

Mercenary X99

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Yeah, I'm still working in comics off and on now. For about 6 1/2 years up until last July, I was working at Comicraft doing comic lettering for Marvel, DC etc. while doing freelance illustration. I also drew some of the Robotech comics during the early-mid '90s when Academy Comics picked up the license from Malibu. Like a lot of people, I was drawing for the love of it, because there's absolutely no money in it from the smaller companies, and I had another full time job to pay the bills (and was still finishing school). The quality of the issues goes wildly up and down, depending on how close to finals/how busy the other job was. Shameless plug: the latest comic work I did was a 17-page story called "Dogby Walks Alone", which was printed in a comic anthology called (even more shamelessly) "Rising Stars of Manga volume 2", from Tokyopop, and just came out this month. It's a mystery starring a guy who works as a theme park mascott.

It's funny about the Harlock stuff, I felt kind of weird about doing it. For me it was the equivalent of doing a cover for a "Charles Schultz's Peanuts" comic. Matsumoto was still alive, and his vision is so unique, I always thought they should have just translated his comics. I never felt anyone, including myself, could ever capture the full Matsumoto atmosphere -- it would always be a few degrees off. I liked Eldred's stuff more than Dunn's though, because his love for the material shows (even though Dunn tried to ape some of Matsumoto's layouts). I have most of Eldred's Star Blazers stuff. Strangely enough, since I was working freelance for Malibu, I only met him once years later, since he was a friend of a friend who worked at Comicraft with me.

And now that I've bored the shit out of everybody else...