Digital Manga, Inc. has launched a project on Kickstarter to translate and publish the two volumes of Osamu Tezuka’s Captain Ken manga in English for the first time.

From June 3 until July 3, 2014, fans will be able to pledge for publication of the books and receive Kickstarter exclusive rewards including early release copies of both volumes, the digital companion with featured translation notes, decals, bandanas, messenger bags, and a handmade plush of Captain Ken’s horse, Arrow.

If fans pledge a total of $13,000 or more by the deadline, both volumes of Captain Ken will be released simultaneously for Kickstarter backers to receive in February of 2015, before hitting bookstore shelves in March of 2015, through DMI’s Platinum manga classics imprint.

In this young adult manga, Tezuka pays homage to some of the most prominent historical moments such as the Gold Rush in the West, colonization, genocide, and nuclear warfare.

“Tezuka’s experiences during WWII really colored his perception of the possibilities of peaceful co-existence and he explores that theme again and again in works like Captain Ken, Zero Men, Adventure of Rock, and, of course, Astro Boy,” explains Greg Baker, creator and author of the fan website Tezuka in English. “I’ve long thought that Tezuka’s classic shonen adventure stories have been largely overlooked by English publishers. It’s such a big part of his library too.”

Captain Ken is the first of the 250 titles in Tezuka’s manga backlist to be published in English by DMI.

Source: ANN

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