In the days leading up to San Diego Comic-Con 2012, Archaia Entertainment announced that they would be releasing a new graphic novel based on Cyborg 009, Shotaro Ishinomori's classic Cold War science-fiction/adventure story about a mismatched band of humans-turned into super-powered cyborgs against their wills.
Scheduled for a Summer 2013 release, this new version of Cyborg 009 is being developed in partnership with Ishimori Productions (the Japanese production company that represents Ishinomori's body of work) and is written by film producer / writer F.J. DeSanto (Producer, The Spirit, and writer, Immortals: Gods and Heroes) and Bradley Cramp (Gattaca and Lord of War). The artwork, (which has a definite Western flair) will be drawn by Marcus To (The Huntress, Red Robin).
With 009 Re:Cyborg, a new animated feature film based on Cyborg 009 due out in Japan in Fall 2012 (which is not related to this graphic novel project), and a live-action movie in the works, it seems like there's a new wave of interest in Ishinomori's sci-fi/action series. But why create a 'Westernized' version of this classic shonen manga series? I asked this question to F.J. DeSanto, and he explained the how's and why's of this new graphic novel revamp, and his long-time love affair with the manga of Shotaro Ishinomori.
Check out my interview with F.J. DeSanto, and see why a Cold War-era story is finding relevance with contemporary fans, his plans for even more Ishinomori-inspired projects in the near future, and why he's determined to see that this manga doesn't get a botched Hollywood movie makeover ala Dragon Ball Evolution.
Now that you've heard about this new graphic novel version of Cyborg 009, what do you think? Is the world ready for a new, westernized version of this story? Add your comments below!
Image credits: © Ishimori Productions
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