Xenon (manga)

Xenon
First tankōbon volume cover
重機甲兵ゼノン
(Jūki Kōhē Zenon)
GenreAction, science fiction[1]
Manga
Written byMasaomi Kanzaki
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
MagazineShōnen Big Comic
DemographicShōnen
Original run1986 – 1987
Volumes4
Manga
Xenon: 199X R
Written byMasaomi Kanzaki
Published byTokuma Shoten
MagazineMonthly Comic Ryū
DemographicSeinen
Original run2006 – 2011
Volumes8

Xenon, also known as Heavy Metal Warrior Xenon (Japanese: 重機甲兵ゼノン, Hepburn: Jūki Kōhē Zenon), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masaomi Kanzaki. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Big Comic from 1986 to 1987, before being canceled abruptly. Its chapters were collected in four tankōbon volumes. In North America, the manga was published by Viz Communications in partnership with Eclipse Comics, with 23 issues released in comic book format from 1987 to 1988. Viz later released the four volumes from 1991 to 1992. A sequel to the series, titled Xenon: 199X R, started in Tokuma Shoten's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Ryū in 2006.

Story

Publication

Written and illustrated by Masaomi Kanzaki, Xenon was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Shōnen Big Comic from 1986 to 1987, before being canceled abruptly.[2][1] Shogakukan collected its chapters in four tankōbon volumes, released from June 1986 to June 1987.[3][4] Kodansha republished the series in four volumes from November 19, 2000,[5] to April 9, 2001.[6]

In North America, the manga was published by Viz Communications in partnership with Eclipse Comics starting in 1987. 23 issues were released in a comic book format until November 1, 1988.[7] Viz later released the four volumes from 1991 to 1992.[8][9]

A sequel, titled Xenon: 199X R, started in Tokuma Shoten's seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Ryū in 2006.[1] Tokuma Shoten released the first tankōbon volume on September 20, 2007.[10] The eighth and latest volume was released on July 4, 2011.[11]

Reception

The French website Manga News regarded the first volume as "a good action manga if you like the author or the genre, but dispensable for others".[12] While praising the art, the Manga News reviewer felt the story was unoriginal.[13] He felt that the "non-stop action" prevented the series from sinking into caricatures,[14] and noted that the popularity of the manga kept the manga going into a fourth volume, and found the last volume "most interesting".[15]

References

  1. ^ a b c Thompson, Jason (October 9, 2007). Manga: The Complete Guide. Del Rey Books. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-345-48590-8.
  2. ^ Kanzaki, Masaomi. マ ン ガ. masaomi-kanzaki.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 18, 2001.
  3. ^ 重機甲兵ゼノン. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  4. ^ 重機甲兵ゼノン 4. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jyukikohei Xenon (1)". Kodansha. Archived from the original on September 4, 2002.
  6. ^ "Jyukikohei Xenon (4)". Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 4, 2002.
  7. ^ "Eclipse: Viz Collaboration Expires; Reprints; Graphic Novels Galore". Amazing Heroes (151). Fantagraphics Books: 11. October 15, 1988. ISSN 0745-6506.
  8. ^ Kanzaki, Masaomi. スペシャルサンクス企画. masaomi-kanzaki.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 17, 2004.
  9. ^ Rothschild, D. Aviva (April 15, 1995). Graphic Novels: A Bibliographic Guide to Book-Length Comics. Libraries Unlimited. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-56308-086-9.
  10. ^ "XENON-199X・R- 1" (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  11. ^ 【7月4日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 4, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bio Xenon Vol.1" (in French). manga-news.com. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  13. ^ "Bio Xenon Vol.2" (in French). manga-news.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  14. ^ "Bio Xenon Vol.3" (in French). manga-news.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  15. ^ "Bio Xenon Vol.4" (in French). manga-news.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2010.