Top Shelf publishes "AX Volume 1: Alternative Manga" this month

by Chris MaGee

Here's a new book that fans of Japanese film will definitely want to check out, especially seeing that every other film being relased by Japanese studios on the past 15-years has been based on, inspired by or been a reimagining of a manga. Top Shelf Productions will be releasing "AX Volume 1: Alternative Manga", a collection of indpependent, open and experimental manga, this month. The title of the book comes from AX, the premier Japanese magazine for alternative comics, that is pu8blished in Japan bi-monthly. Compiled by Mitsuhiro Asakawa and edited by Sean Michael Wilson the commpendium of stories from AX's 12-year history includes some of the biggest names in alternative manga - King Terry, Kazuichi Hanawa, Shin'ichi Abe, Yusaku Hanakuma, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Mimiyo Tomozawa and the list goes on and on. Also artist and animator (and good friend of the J-Film Pow-Wow) Akino Kondoh has one of her gorgeous images gracing the cover and inside manga fans will find the first English translation of her manga work.

"AX Volume 1: Alternative Manga" is ready to be pre-ordered and here's hoping Top Shelf will follow up its publication with a Volume 2... and a Volume 3... and so on.