Matsumoto Reiji 松本零士

Matsumoto's art might take some getting used to, but he is renowned for coming up with great stories and brilliant new concepts. Debuting in 1953 with a 16 page manga "Mitsubachi no Bouken" in Manga Shounen, he has authored nearly thirty manga series.

His big break came in 1971, in the years between 53 and 71 he mostly produced Shoujo manga, much to his displeasure. In the late '70s and the early '80s, there was a big Matsumoto-boom when he drew his best known series. After that, things became more quiet around him, but the late '90s show a revival.

The trademarks of Matsumoto are his unusual artstyle, the space opera and the manly romance stories.

In 1997, Matsumoto began to create new adventures of Captain Harlock which can be admired on the Web in Japanese and in English.

One of Matsumoto Reiji's former assistants is Sen'nou Knife 千之ナイフ, who was also an assistant of Maki Miyako 宗美智子. He went solo in the mid-80s and enjoyed modest success with Yami no Silhouette 闇のシルエット (published by Akita Shoten, 1987-92, 4 volumes @ Y390).

His real name is Matsumoto Akira. Reiji is a pseudonym and means something like "Zero Warrior". His name is often rendered in roomaji as "Matsumoto Leiji". Matsumoto is married with Maki Miyako.

Uchuu Senkan Yamato [Space Cruiser Yamato, aka Star Blazers]
宇宙戦艦ヤマト
serialized on Akita Shoten Sunday,
3 volumes @ Y350
[ 01:7507| 02:7904| 03:8004]
published by Akita Shoten,
2 volumes @ Y1100
[ 01:____| 02:____]

The hulk of an ancient battleship, Yamato, is rebuilt as a space warship to defend the earth from alien forces. Became the catalyst for a major animation boom in the mid-70s, being made into several movies, all theatrical releases. The TV series was hacked up and dubbed into English, and became one of the few Japanese TV animes that achieved some recognition with Western audiences, joining Jungle Emperor (aka Kimba), Speed Racer, and Macross (aka Robotech).

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Ginga Tetsudou 999 [Galaxy Express 999]
銀河鉄道999
published by Shougakukan, 1977-
wide-ban 10 volumes @ Y1200
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[ 10:____]
republished by Shougakukan,
20 volumes @ Y552
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A classic, regarded as Reiji Matsumoto's master work. Matsumoto's message of "the strength of the human spirit" comes through strongest in Galaxy Express 999 than in any of his other works. The artwork may seem too loose and sloppy to some but it's a stylistic thing; it grows on you. Check out his mecha though--really amazing. This and Space Cruiser Yamato (also by Matsumoto) are probably the major factors behind the SF-boom (still ongoing) of the early 80's.

The series introduces us to the young orphan Hoshino Tetsuro and the sage, though mysterious Maetel. Travelling together through space in what looks like an old steam train called 999, they undertake a big journey to Great Andromeda where Tetsuro hopes to find eternal life. The many adventures learn Tetsuro the value of being mortal.

The original series has been republished and Matsumoto restarted drawing a sequel to the Galaxy Express series which began serializing in Big Gold from September 1996 onwards. In this series, Tetsuro and Maetel go on a journey again, but this time there is no return to earth as she is destroyed after a short while.

See also:
<http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/rei/MANGA/999.html>

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Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Harlock [Space Pirate Captain Harlock, aka Albator]
キャプテンハーロック
serialized on Akita Shoten Sunday, 1977-80
5 volumes @ Y350
[ 01:7711| 02:7801| 03:7805| 04:7811| 05:7910]
aizouban 3 volumes @ Y1200
[ 01:9208| 02:9208| 03:9208]
bunko 3 volumes

Albator is the name under which the anime-series is known in France. Harlock is the personification of the space opera hero. He has become an archetypical character, a superman who fights with morals rather than with physical strength. The Captain frequently appears in other manga series by Matsumoto. In this series, he fights against the corrupt earth and the Mazone race (aliens, all female).

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Muo no Hosomichi
夢奥の細道
published by Shougakukan, 1991
1 volume @ Y500
[ 01:____]

No Synopsis.

Sennen Jo'ou [The Millenium Queen, or Queen Millenia]
千年女王
published by Shougakukan,
5 volumes @ Y?
[ 01:____| 02:____| 03:____| 04:____| 05:____]
wide-ban 3 volumes @ Y1200
[ 01:____| 02:____| 03:____]

The planet Lar-Metal is approaching earth. The date of collision will be the ninth September 1999...
Young Amamori Hajime has to live with his uncle at an observatory after his parents died in an explosion. There Hajime meets the beautiful Yukino Yayoi, assistant to his uncle, and he falls in love with her (a kid's love though - he's just about 14). But Yayoi has a very well hidden secret: She is the Queen Millenia, sent from Lar-Metal to build a weapon that will save Lar-Metal with the help of earthian scientists - voluntary or not, and if the earth will be saved too doesn't matter to Lar-Metal as well. This enters the Millenium Thieves who try anything to destroy Lar-Metal's plans and want to save the earth at any costs. Hajime now stands in the center of a war that will decide the fate of earth and Lar-Metal. And what about Yayoi? Based on the ancient sci-fi classic Taketori Monogatari (the first sci-fi ever, written some 1000 years ago), Queen Millenia is a complicated tale with Matsumoto's favourite themes: The question of what makes you human anyway and how strong can the power of love be? Highly recommended. {DHI}


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Queen Emeraldas
クィーンエメラルダス
published by Koudansha, 1978
2 volumes @ Y1000
[ 01:9007| 02:9007]

The female equivalent of Captain Harlock.

Hard Metal
ハードメタル
published by Shougakukan, 1986-89
3 volumes @ Y500
[ 01:____| 02:8711| 03:9005]

No Synopsis.

Hyouryuu Kansen 000 [Castaway Line 000]
漂流幹線０００
published by Taitosha, 1994
2 volumes @ Y900
[ 01:____| 02:____]

A series which features two people (lookalikes of Maetel and Tetsuro) riding a space train.

Sexaroid
serialized on (?), 1968-
bunko 4 volumes @ Y260
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bunko 3 volumes @ Y540
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No Synopsis.

Otoko Oidon [I am a Man]
published in Shounen Magazine, 1971-73
bunko 6 volumes @ Y600
[ 01:____| 02:____| 03:____| 04:____| 05:____| 06:____]

Story about a rounin, named Ooyama, living in a small apartment, trying to survive. Recommended. This series made Matsumoto famous.

Torajima no Miime
トラジマのミーメ
serialized on Princess,
1 volume @ Y390
[ 01:____]

One of those shoujo-manga Matsumoto has done. Possibly the only one which is still available. {DHI}

Wakusei Robo Dangaado A [Planet Robo Danguard A (Ace)]
惑星ロボダンガードＡ
serialized on Akita Shoten Sunday,
2 volumes @ Y350
[ 01:7711| 02:7804]

No Synopsis.
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Za Kokkupitto [The Cockpit]
ザ・コックピット
serialized on Big Comics, 1973-
bunko 8 volumes @ Y?
[ 01:8411| 02:8501| 03:8503| 04:8505| 05:8507| 06:8510| 07:8601| 08:8605]

A collection of short-stories about World War II.
One of Matsumoto's most ambitious works. 3 short-stories were animated. Recommended. {DHI}


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Gin no Tani no Maria [Maria from the silver valley]
銀の谷のマリア
published by Mushi,
1 volume @ Y240
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No Synopsis.

Sei Bonjin Den
聖凡人伝
published by Kiten Tenkai Comics,
9 volumes @ Y480
[ 01:7811| 02:7812| 03:7812| 04:7901| 05:7901| 06:7902| 07:7902| 08:7904| 09:7904]

No Synopsis.

Chou Jikuu Senkan Mahoroba [The Ultimate Time Sweeper Mahoroba]
serialized on Big Comics Gold,
2 volumes @ Y580
[ 01:9805| 02:9808]

Mahoroba is a time-travelling sister-ship to the original Battleship Yamato.

Shin Uchuu Senkan Yamato [New Space Battleship Great Yamato]
serialized on Gotta Comics Monthly, 2000-present
1 volume @ Y476
[ 01:0103]

In the year 3199 A.D., a black hole threatens to envelop the Earth. The descendants of the original Yamato crew from 1,000 years earlier (who happen to look exactly like the old crew and have the same names) gather together to take on a new voyage.