Fans of alternative and literary manga rejoice! The venerable publisher Fanfare/Ponent Mon announced that several works by the late creator Jiro Taniguchi and other creators will see reprint later this year. The European publisher has long been the English language home to Taniguchi, who passed away in 2017.
To coincide with the anniversary of the first recorded ascent of Mount Everest, Summit of the Gods is returning to print in mid July. The five volume series follows a mountain climber who believes he’s found a camera from mountaineer George Mallory, who went missing on his attempt to become the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The series was originally serialized from 2000 to 2003 and even has a live action film adaptation.
Additionally two other works by Taniguchi will also be reprinted. The first, The Quest for the Missing Girl, is a mystery story that also involves a mountain climber. The stories’s climax, where the lead free climbs an office building, certainly ranks as one of Taniguchi’s most draw dropping sequences. The second collection, The Ice Wanderer and Other Stories, centers around short stories where humans face the hardships of the natural world.
Also being reprinted is Disappearance Diary by Hideo Azmua. This autobiographical manga follows the author during his battles with alcoholism and periods of homelessness. As depressing as it sounds, Azuma handles it with a light, comedic touch. Finally, Fanfare/Ponent Mon are reprinting the obsessive romantic manga Blue by the late Kiriko Nananan.
Other than Summit of the Gods, no release date has been set for the other works. Once release dates have been set, the Beat will be sure to update.
