Vertical Inc. News

Decades ago, Osamu Tezuka changed the way people read comics. His unique cast of characters and a limitless imagination became the genesis for hundreds of stories that helped create a manga industry and defined a social climate for a generation of Japanese readers. Titles like Astro Boy, Dororo, Black Jack, and Buddha have touched countless lives. And now with an increasing number of his titles becoming available worldwide, Tezuka is making an impact on a new, increasingly globalized generation of comics enthusiasts.

And as our lives become increasingly digitized and mobile, Tezuka Productions have devised a way to provide the best of Tezuka to readers on-the-go. While nothing will ever replace the experience of reading a manga on paper, Weekly Astro Boy Magazine will provide an opportunity for readers to enjoy Osamu Tezuka’s works wherever and whenever, as long as they have access to their iPhones. With little more than a couple of taps of a quick finger flick, the pages of Tezuka’s most popular titles come to life guiding readers through the godfather of manga’s beautifully-illustrated worlds.

Now available for download on the iTunes App Store, Weekly Astro Boy Magazine combines easy-to-use iPhone touchscreen technology with Osamu Tezuka’s award-winning comics to create a functional and enjoyable reading experience. Every week, for a mere 99 cents, readers can download up to 100 pages of officially translated Tezuka works. Along with the three to four chapters of comics, Weekly Astro Boy also provides Tezuka-related event information, publisher news, and more. The first issue features two Vertical translations—Black Jack and Dororo—and is free of charge for iPhone and iPod Touch owners in North America. The app will be available in English-speaking European markets in 2010.

Tags: digital, manga, osamu tezuka