Bungeishunjū published a re-release of the manga classic Fire! for the first time in 23 years last Friday. The release was compiled in two volumes, each containing a previously unreleased short story in tankōbon form: “Pink Floyd” in the first volume and “Keith Jarrett” in the second.
At the venerable age of 83, Mizuno drew brand new covers for the reprint and posted them on Twitter:
My representative work “Fire!” will be published for the first time in 23 years. Bungei Shunjusha Volume 2, 2,200 each + tax Scheduled to be released on January 27. Please read it. “Reprint Fire!” Top https://t.co/KGydamGwRW “Reprint Fire!” Bottom https://t.co/o2fpLMLsBF pic.twitter.com/H5fKv9ONGy
— Hideko Mizuno (@MizunoHideko) January 10, 2023
The manga’s story is set in 1960s America. Aaron, a poor but serious young man, is mistaken for a criminal and sent to a juvenile prison. There, he meets Fire Wolf and is captivated by the music he hears. After the Fire Wolf’s untimely death, Aaron was released from prison and took the Fire Wolf’s guitar with him. He formed the band Fire with his friends. Gradually, Aaron’s talent blossomed and Fire became a popular band.
Mizuno launched the manga in Shueisha’s Seventeen fashion magazine in 1969 and ended it in 1971. The series won the 15th Shogakukan Manga Award in 1970.
The press release describes Fire! as a manga of historical significance that helped define the hitherto nonexistent shoujo manga genre in the 1960s. In interviews, Mizuno has said that she was inspired by the anti-popular movement Vietnam War and civil rights protests in the United States. Aaron’s character is based on Scott Walker, the lead singer of the Walker Brothers.
Also known for creating the classic shoujo manga Honey Honey no Suteki na Bōken, Hideko Mizuno won the Literary Giant Award at the 39th Japan Animation Awards. She is a resident of Tokiwasō. , an apartment building famous for being the residence of some of Japan’s most famous early manga artists, including Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy), Fujio Akatsuka (Tensai Bakabon), Fujiko Fujio (Doraemon), and Shotaro Ishinomori (Kamen Rider).
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