[Manga] Konjiki no Gash!! Complete Edition
-
Story and Art by Makoto Raiku
Previously published by Shogakukan
Status: 33 Volumes (Complete)Currently published by Kraken
Status: 16 Volumes (Complete)Synopsis:
Kiyomaro Takamine, genius middle schooler, is greeted one morning by Gash Bell, a boy with a mysterious red book. Tasked by his father to decipher it, Kiyomaro soon learns Gash is no ordinary boy. Able to shoot lightning from his mouth at the chant of a word, Gash is a demon child—one apart of a war that takes place every 1000 years to decide the Demon King. With Kiyomaro being the only one who can read Gash's book, the duty of partner is thrust on him in this exciting tale of friendship, determination, and melons...?
(Source: MAL)It's been years since the original run of Zatch Bell and from what I know - the licensing rights have been finnicky ever since the author filed a lawsuit against his original publisher due to their misplacement of the original artwork. Because of the lawsuit, the original English run of the Zatch Bell manga and anime were suddenly cut short and it's been years since overseas fans (like myself) could enjoy the series. In recent years, the manga was digitally republished including the 'Complete Edition' moniker with some new cover art and shorts which would eventually see a physical re-release only in Japan. Of course, this is under a new publisher that the author had selected, himself. That being said, there has yet to be a complete and proper English release and I would love to see it here. It's a series that has a lot of heart; it'll make you laugh and it'll make you cry. It truly is one of the more unique shounen mangas that deviates from simply going on one battle to the next. Obligatory melon reference.