After bemoaning the radio silence about the Digital Manga Publishing's plans for Swallowing the Earth, the Osamu Tezuka manga that they announced last April at New York Comic-Con 2008, I decided to go right to the source to get an update. Michelle Mauk, graphic artist and production designer for DMP confirmed that Swallowing the Earth is still on the 2009 release schedule, and is slated to appear in stores this summer.
According to Mauk, "Swallowing The Earth is scheduled for June 2009." She continued, "We have an updated release schedule (at DMP's newly redesigned website at www.digitalmanga.com) that gets updated frequently. We're up through May at this point, but we put stuff up on a frequent basis."
At this point, new cover art isn't available for Swallowing the Earth, and it hasn't been added to DMP's website yet. However, this information should be updated on their website soon. Mauk described this early grown-up title by Tezuka as "dark and interesting," which seems like a fitting way to describe this story about a femme fatale who uses her seductive skill to avenge the persecution of women over the ages.
Website Tezuka in English offered this description of Swallowing the Earth:
"One of Tezuka's most adult series, Swallowing the Earth treats the use of female sexuality as a weapon, and the abuses of women in human history. The central figure, Zephyrus, is a mysterious, icy seductress who uses her power over men to snare them into aiding her scheme to avenge the wrongs done to womankind over the course of history. The only one immune to her charms is young Seki Gohonmatsu, a Neanderthal-like perpetually-drunken sailor whose only goal is to drink all the liquor in the world, a crass parallel to Zephyrus' schemes to swallow the Earth with her revenge."
It goes on to explain that Swallowing the Earth was created in 1968 (about the same time as Dororo) as a two-volume series, and is an example of a turning point in Tezuka's storytelling, from kid-friendly stories like Astro Boy (Tetsuwan Atom) and Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Taitei) toward more mature themes.
"...(It) marked the beginning of Tezuka's deep interest in the darker side of human psychology.... It is an excellent example of Tezuka exploiting his highly stylized, cartoonish art style to represent extreme figures, in this case the neo-primitive man and the contrasting woman twisted by civilization. It also treats transformation and disguise, questioning how people would behave if they ware capable of disguising themselves freely, one of Tezuka's favorite themes."Well, I'm sold! If it's presented with as much care and attention to detail as their 2008 DMP Platinum hardcover boxed set of Tatsuo Yoshida's Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go manga, Swallowing the Earth is a book well worth looking out for this summer.
Swallowing the Earth is #19 in my list of the Top 20 Most Anticipated Manga of 2009. See the rest of the list and see what's on the horizon for what's already looking like a great year for memorable manga.
© Digital Manga Publishing, © Tezuka Productions
Comments