Zack Davisson

A new manga adaptation of the only H.P. Lovecraft story published as a book during his lifetime, by modern horror master Gou Tanabe In the winter of 1927-28, the isolated coastal settlement of Innsmouth, Massachusetts was assaulted by U.S. government agents--its waterfront burned and dynamited, its people taken away to internment camps. Yet that was neither the beginning nor the end of the horror uncovered by a young antiquarian who traveled to Innsmouth in search of rumors from the town's dead past, only to find them still very much alive...and find truths lying under water deeper and colder than any earthly grave This book includes a tip-in title page in silver ink and 12 pages in full color "I love H.P. Lovecraft...It would be great to adapt him as a serialized manga, but I actually saw Gou Tanabe create a great adaption of H.P. Lovecraft's stories. Afterwards, I ended up not doing it because I thought I wouldn't be as good as Gou's version."--Junji Ito (Uzumaki, Venus in the Blind Spot)

Gods, myths, and magic on the streets of Tokyo, collected in its entirety for the first time in this new compendium! Rori Lane is trying to start a new life when she reunites with her mother in Japan, but ancient creatures lurking in the shadows sense something hidden deep within her, threatening everything she holds dear. Can she unlock the secrets of her power before it’s too late? Jim Zub (Conan the Barbarian) and Steven Cummings (Star Wars: Hidden Empire) unleashed a supernatural spectacle set against Japan's engaging culture and mythic monsters, and the story is now collected in a single stellar volume along with insightful cultural essays by Zack Davisson (Ultimate X-Men) and other development work and pin-ups by the creative team. Collects WAYWARD #1-30.

Japanese video game designer and artist Takaya Imamura's (F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask) debut manga OMEGA 6 comes to print in English for the first time After awakening from a rejuvenating months-long stasis, bounty-hunting androids Thunder and Kyla are ready to spring back into action With the aid of some peculiar magic fruits, the pair are able to enter a nearly invincible berserker state, but with a catch--once the effect wears off, they will age rapidly and become feeble until they can return to their recovery pods. Their current target, an assassin named Petrogaze, carries an appealing 300 million credit bounty on his head and the job seems like an easy task. The duo plans to power up, bag the bad guy, and be home before dinner...but Petrogaze is much tougher than anticipated and the fight goes awry. Forced to consume their fruits early, the bounty hunters are suddenly on a life-or-death timer. Looks like dinner's gonna have to wait Including a cast of unique and colorful characters, OMEGA 6 is Nintendo veteran Takaya Imamura's debut manga based on his video game, OMEGA 6: The Triangle Stars. This story is complete in one volume and is perfect for fans of Star Fox, Cyborg 009, tokusatsu, and Saturday-morning cartoons.

Manga has taken the world by storm. A richly diverse medium, the Japanese comics phenomenon has something for everyone--fantasy, horror, thrillers, romance, history, biography, sport, business, and even school textbooks. Manga A Visual History chronicles the evolution of manga from its samurai-era beginnings, through its post-WWII surge in popularity, to its meteoric rise overseas. The book explores the key writers and artists who have shaped an entire culture with their visions and stylings, the iconic characters now recognized worldwide, and manga's impact on anime and live-action film and TV. From classic favorites to lesser-known gems, Manga A Visual History is the definitive guide to Japanese comics. Featuring incisive insights from preeminent manga experts, this lavishly illustrated coffee-table compendium is a must for diehard otaku as well as the growing ranks of manga converts, who will treasure it for years to come.

Yokai Bestiary is an illustrated compendium of the beastly ghosts and supernatural animals that stalk the folklore of Japan. Tales of their often humorous antics as well as the horror they wreak on humanity are recounted by folklorist Zack Davisson and gorgeously illustrated with twenty original woodcut prints by Liv Rainey-Smith. Rainey-Smith uses traditional Japanese artist's representations as her inspiration, but interprets the creatures anew, in her own masterful woodcut style. This beautiful book presents ancient art and folklore as seen through a modern, yet historically informed, artist's lens. A gorgeous art book that will appeal to anyone interested in luscious art books, traditional woodcut art, supernatural animals and Japanese folklore.

With a "ghostly torch" passed down from Lafcadio Hearn, Davisson, accomplished author, translator, and folklorist delves into the depths of Japanese folklore to unearth 100 of the most bizarre and haunting creatures to ever grace myth and legend.In this book you'll encounter a vast range of mysterious beings, from malevolent demons and chilling monsters to spectral ghosts and enchanted beasts. Davisson skillfully navigates the elusive realm of Yokai, shedding light on their mysteries and revealing their significance to the cultural tapestry of Japan.Featuring iconic Yokai such as the enigmatic Amabie, the endearing Tofu Kozo, and the pitiful Kyokotsu, alongside lesser-known entities like the repulsive Akaname and the never before catalogued Kaiju, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of Japan's supernatural pantheon.Modern Yokai art by esteemed artists such as Lili Chin, Emi Lenox, and Peach Momoko breathe new life into the age-old legends shared within. Illustrated with over 250 color woodblock prints and paintings, and packed with interesting facts and entertaining stories, this book transports readers into a realm where the line between myth and reality blurs."A modern day Lafcadio Hearn is picking up his ghostly torch. Zack Davisson is the author, translator, and folklorist following in Hearn's footsteps." —tofugu.com

An expertly crafted, full-color, oversized volume showcasing the creative forces behind the hotly anticipated animated series Star Wars: Visions offers extraordinary new perspectives on a galaxy far, far away--all through a series of visionary animated short films. The world's most daring anime studios have come together to showcase bold new tales of wandering strangers, daring adventurers, cunning outlaws, and powerful villains--all inspired by the beloved mythology of Star Wars. This lovingly assembled tome celebrates the talent and tenacity involved in bringing each of these unique episodes to life, exploring the art with insightful commentary and unparalleled detail. Dark Horse Books and Lucasfilm present this sleek deluxe edition hardcover, which includes an exclusive slipcase and a folio containing a triptych of archive-quality lithographs with stills from each episode.

An in-depth exploration of the sometimes charming, sometimes gruesome feline creatures and ghosts of Japan. Davisson illuminates the vast realm of kaibyo, or supernatural cats, with historical and modern cultural context. Lushly illustrated in full color with dozens of ukiyo-e prints and drawings. A must-have book for the Japanophile and cat-lover alike! This second edition includes a gatefold reproduction of Takashi Murakami’s 10-meter “Japan Supernatural” painting featuring a supernatural cat and an updated introduction from Davisson.

Shigeru Mizuki Japan s grand master of yokai comics adapts one of the most important works of supernatural literature into comic book form. The cultural equivalent of Brothers Grimm s fairy tales, Tono Monogatari is a defining text of Japanese folklore and one of the country s most important works of literature. This graphic novel was created during the later stage of Mizuki s career, after he had retired from the daily grind of commercial comics to create personal, lasting works of art. Originally written in 1910 by folklorists and field researchers Kunio Yanagita and Kizen Sasaki, Tono Monogatari celebrates and archives legends from the Tono region. These stories were recorded as Japan s rapid modernization led to the disappearance of traditional culture. This adaptation mingles the original text with autobiography: Mizuki attempts to retrace Yanagita and Sasaki s path, but finds his old body is not quite up to the challenge of following in their footsteps. As Mizuki wanders through Tono he retells some of the most famous legends, manifesting a host of monsters, dragons, and foxes. In the finale, Mizuki meets Yanagita himself and the two sit down to discuss their works. Translated with additional essays by Mizuki scholar and English-language translator Zack Davisson, Tono Monogatari displays Mizuki at his finest, exploring the world he most cherished.

"I lived in a haunted apartment." Davisson opens this definitive work on Japan's ghosts, or yurei, with a personal tale about the spirit world. Shifting from anecdotes to deep research to translation of ancient ghost stories, he explores the persistence of yurei in modern Japan and their continued popularity throughout the West. Color images of yurei appear throughout the book.

A delightfully creepy telling of Japanese ghost stories.Japanese folklore is abundant with tales of ghostly creatures and the supernatural. In Haunted Japan, author Catrien Ross reveals the legends that have been passed down for generations and continue to terrify us today. To research this book on the country's ghosts, demons and paranormal phenomena, Ross collected accounts from across Japan including:Sacred Mount Osore, a Japanese gateway to the land of the dead, where people gather to contact those who have passed onThe Tokyo grave of the samurai Taira no Masakado, where passersby regularly witnessed his ghost until prayers finally laid him to restThe mummified remains of the monk Tetsumonkai at the Churenji Temple on Mount Yudono—a place where bizarre happenings are commonThe ruins of Hachioji Castle in Tokyo, which was abandoned for many years because of its many hauntingsThe result is an unparalleled insight into the dark corners of the Japanese psyche—a world filled with horrifying creatures including Oni (demons with fierce and ghastly appearances), Yurei (Japanese ghosts who inhabit the world of the living), and Yokai (supernatural monsters). The book also includes several traditional Japanese legends, concluding with two of the most famous ghost stories—that of the wronged wife Oiwa and the tale of the Peony Lantern.This book is richly illustrated with 32 pages of full-color prints of frightening ghosts and legendary creatures from Japan's shadowy past. Haunted Japan is the ideal book for anyone interested in exploring the darker side of Japanese history.

In the seventh volume of Shigeru Mizuki s defining series, our beloved hero Kitaro stands accused of beating up his fellow yokai to protect the human populace. He is put on trial for crimes against Yokai. Witnesses are called from both sides, but when Nezumi Otoko takes the stand, all bets are off. Will Nezumi Otoko be for Kitaro or against him? Only the biggest bribe will tell! The Trial of Kitaro features five bizarre and amusing adventures. In every story, Kitaro has his hands full. He faces off against Kasha, a vicious demon cat; tries to quell a magical cooking pot; battles a sea monster; and solves the mystery of a three-eyed bird. This volume features comics from the golden age of Gegege no Kitaro - the late 1960s. These stories appear in English for the first time in a kidfriendly edition, with translations by Mizuki scholar and series translator Zack Davisson. The Trial of Kitaro also concludes Davisson s History of Kitaro essay and offers another round of Yokai Files, which introduce the folklore of Japan s monsters and supernatural beings. This final volume of Shigeru Mizuki s renowned Kitaro series is not to be missed!