Today at Anime Expo’s Viz Panel, which is the first panel of the convention, the hosts of the panel announced that the North American publisher, Viz Media, has licensed 2 titles, one light novel and one manga: Yoshiki Tanaka’s Legend of Galactic Heroes (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu) and more of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball in Full Color.
The first acquisition is Yoshiki Tanaka’s (Arslan Senki, Tytania) sci-fi light novel, Legend of Galactic Heroes. It was published from November 30, 1982 to July 31, 1989. It has 14 compiled light novel volumes, four of them are prequel volumes. Viz Media plans to release the first English-translated volume on March 8, 2016.
Legend of Galactic Heroes coming to North America! #VIZpanel #Ax pic.twitter.com/XOul4LjVqV
— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) July 2, 2015
Synopsis of Legend of Galactic Heroes light novel from MAL:
The story is staged in the distant future within our own Milky Way Galaxy, approximately in the 35th century. Unlike other science fiction stories, there are no alien civilizations. A portion of the galaxy is filled with terraformed worlds inhabited by interstellar traveling human beings. For 150 years two mighty space powers have intermittently warred with each other: the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. Within the Galactic Empire, based on 19th century Prussia, an ambitious military genius, Reinhard von Müsel, is rising to power. He is driven by the desire to free his sister Annerose, who was taken by the Kaiser as a concubine. Later, he wants not only to end the corrupt Goldenbaum dynasty but also to defeat the Free Planets Alliance and to unify the whole galaxy under his rule. In the Free Planets Alliance is another genius, Yang Wen-li. He originally aspired to become a historian, and joined the military only because he needed money for tuition. He was rapidly promoted to an admiral because of his demonstrated excellence in military strategy. He becomes the archrival of Reinhard, though they highly respect one another. As a historian, Yang often narrates the rich history of his world and comments on it. One of his famous quotes is: “There are few wars between good and evil; most are between one good and another good.” Besides the two main heroes, the story is full of vivid characters and intricate politics. All types of characters, from high nobility, admirals and politicians, to common soldiers and farmers, are interwoven into the story. There is a third neutral power nominally attached to the Galactic Empire called the Phezzan Dominion, a planet-state (city-state on a galactic scale) which trades with both warring powers. There is also a Terraism cult, which claims that humans should go back to Earth, gaining popularity throughout the galaxy. The story frequently switches away from the main heroes to the Unknown Soldier fighting for his life on the battlefield.
Next is Akira Toriyama’s (Dr. Slump, Neko Majin) Dragon Ball manga in full color. It was printed under Weekly Shounen Jump magazine on November 20, 1984 to May 23, 1995. It 42 compiled manga volumes. The first English-translated volume was released on February 4, 2014. Viz has only released three volumes as of now and plans to continue publishing the said manga.
YOU ASKED FOR IT! More Dragon Ball FULL COLOR!! #AX #VIZpanel pic.twitter.com/3GqQvjTQTw
— VIZ Media (@VIZMedia) July 2, 2015
Synopsis of Dragon Ball manga from MAL:
Dragon Ball follows the adventures of Son Goku from his childhood through adulthood as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven mystical orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which can summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered. Along his journey, Goku makes several friends and battles a wide variety of villains, many of whom also seek the Dragon Balls for their own desires. Along the way becoming the strongest warrior in the universe.
Anime Expo, AX, is an annual American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California, USA. This year, the convention runs for four days from July 2-5, 2015. Visit Anime Expo’s website here.
