The New Episode of the "Galaxy Express 999" Manga is Illustrated by Leiji Matsumoto

A new addition is confirmed for the upcoming memorial book for Leiji Matsumoto’s 80th anniversary from Shogakukan, “Matsumoto Leiji Mugen Souzou Kidou: 80th ANNIVERSARY Chronicle.” It is a newly-drawn episode of Leiji Matsumoto’s long-running sci-fi fantasy manga series “Galaxy Express 999” and it is titled “Dream Black Hole.”

With 32 pages, the new episodes story takes focus Tetsuro and Matael and “the beginning of the never-ending journey” they will take as they board the Galaxy Express 999 to seek the mysterious “Dark Tunnel” appears in the galaxy. More than the two characters and 999’s Conductor, the two main characters of Matsumoto’s manga world, Captain Harlock and Queen Emeraldas also join the story.

According to Matsumoto, “This episode is packed with dreams and hopes that have been kept in my heart since my childhood.” He had wanted to express the beginning of a new journey by drawing Maetel, Harlock, and Emeraldas, who were born from one story and heading towards an unknown world together.

It was 11 years since the last release of the manga’s last episode. Published in the publisher’s Big Comic in March 2007, it was titled "The Witch of the Planet Tunnel.”

“Galaxy Express 999” first came out in January 1977 under the publication of Shogakukan. Written and drawn by Leiji Matsumoto the manga series had around 18 volumes released before ending it’s first manga series in November 1981.

Following the manga series, different anime and anime films and over time the series has earned a Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen in 1978 for its manga work and the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1981 for it’s anime work.

Set in a spacefaring, high-tech future, the story of the series tells of a world where humans have practically achieved immortality by learning how to transfer their minds and emotions with perfect fidelity into mechanical bodies. The focus for this story of Tetsuro Hoshino and his journey of gaining a mechanical body.

For the memorial book which will be shipping out on February 28, it will be highlighting the life and career of creator. This includes his time drawing dōjinshi; a round table talk with manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, voice actress Masako Nozawa, and actress Shoko Ikeda; and interviews with singer Isao Sasaki and voice actress Youko Asagami.

On another note, it was announced by manga artist Yuzuru Shimazaki on her official Twitter that a new spin-off manga "Galaxy Express 999 Another Story: Ultimate Journey” will be making its debut in the next May 2018 issue of Akita Shoten’s Champion RED to be released on March 19.

The upcoming work is meant to be based on Masaki Wachi’s two-volume novel "Galaxy Express 999 Ultimate Journey” and tells the sequel story to the 1998 film “Galaxy Express 999: Eternal Fantasy.”

Source: Crunchyroll News