Swallowing the Earth Preview

Previously reported over a year ago, the official English release of Osamu Tezuka's manga "Swallowing the Earth" is finally on its way next month via Digital Manga Publishing.

Thanks to our friends at Tezuka in English, you can read an awesome 25 page preview of this thrilling English-edition manga release.

A quick warning before you start reading. Swallowing the Earth is one of Tezuka's more adult works, and is for mature audiences only.

A full press release about the Swallowing the Earth Manga and the 25 page page preview is available on Anime News Network or by clicking the link below for an archived version.

May 28, 2009 – TezukaInEnglish.com and Digital Manga Publishing are proud to announce an exclusive sneak peek of the "god of manga" Osamu Tezuka's SWALLOWING THE EARTH. This free online preview contains the first 25 pages of the upcoming DMP PLATINUM release, and can be accessed here:

http://www.tezukaenfrancais.com/ste/

SWALLOWING THE EARTH depicts the mysterious beauty, Zephyrus, and her quest to avenge the wrongs done to women by men over the course of human history. The story represents a turning point in the content of Tezuka's manga, marking a decidedly more adult approach in terms of satiric social commentary and human psychology. Originally written in 1968, SWALLOWING THE EARTH is an important and provocative tale in Tezuka's catalog of work.

Usually released in two volumes, this DMP PLATINUM edition presents the entire manga in one volume. Retailing for $24.95, SWALLOWING THE EARTH will be available for the first time in English in the United States. Also included is an introduction by Tezuka's personal friend and translator, Fred Schodt, author of The Astro Boy Essays.

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SWALLOWING THE EARTH- RATED YA+ (for ages 16+), MSRP: $24.95 US, 520 pages, softcover. Available: June 24, 2009

HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED.

Amidst the chaos of World War II, two Japanese soldiers hear of Zephyrus, an utterly captivating woman rumored to exist on an island in the South Pacific. The tales of this bold enchantress seducing men to their dooms are both chilling and fascinating. Over twenty years pass, and Zephyrus resurfaces in Japan, seemingly unchanged, to wield her mysterious power over men once more.

The one man immune to Zephyrus' charms is simple drunkard, Gohonmatsu Seki, son of one of the wartime soldiers. Employed to spy on Zephyrus, what will Gohonmatsu uncover about her ultimate plot to create international discord and consume the world of men? What brought this woman to conspire for decades against patriarchal society-against an entire gender-and can anything be done to stop her plans?

OSAMU TEZUKA (Astro Boy, Buddha, Black Jack) is recognized as the father of Japanese manga. For over forty years, his creative and prolific output entertained generations of readers and continues to do so twenty years after his death. A provocative and socially conscious artist, Tezuka's themes remain relevant to this day. Worldwide, his works have been published in numerous languages and adapted in countless media, extending Tezuka's influence far beyond the shores of his homeland.
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ABOUT DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING: Located in Gardena, CA, Digital Manga Publishing is one of the industry's most unconventional and innovative companies, specializing in building corporate and cultural bridges from Japan to the Western Hemisphere - specifically through the licensing, importation and preparation of anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comic books) and related merchandise for the North American mainstream and subculture markets. In this capacity, DMI serves as a catalyst for the expansion of Japanese pop culture institutions into global arenas. The company's imprint line includes DMP: its mainstream imprint, DMP PLATINUM: its classic manga imprint, JUNE´: its boys love imprint, 801 MEDIA: its adult boys love imprint, and DokiDoki: its exclusive co-publishing imprint with Shinshokan Publishing.

For more information about Digital Manga Publishing, visit www.digitalmanga.com

ABOUT TEZUKA IN ENGLISH: Tezuka InEnglish (www.TezukaInEnglish.com) is an online index to the works of Osamu Tezuka, covering original works, new adaptations, fan activities and translations in English and other European languages. It began as a fan site but has since worked with numerous American publishers of Tezuka's works to support and promote English Tezuka releases. Since Tezuka Productions took down the English Language version of their official website, TezukaInEnglish.com has been working in partnership with them as the primary English language online resource for Tezuka's works until the new official page (http://tezukaosamu.net/) finishes constructing its English language version.