MADARA[a] is a Japanese manga series written by Eiji Ōtsuka and illustrated by Shou Tajima. Originally published from 1987 to 1994,[1] it is set in a mythological era in Japan and tells the story of Madara, a goodhearted teenage boy who uses fantastic prosthetic limbs called "gimmicks" and a legendary sword to fight his own father, the evil overlord Miroku.[2] The franchise has also spawned video games and a two-part OVA.

MADARA
Cover of the English-translated first volume of the manga, featuring Madara
魍魎戦記MADARA
(Mōryō Senki MADARA)
GenreAdventure, Supernatural
Manga
Written byEiji Otsuka
Illustrated byShōu Tajima
Published byKadokawa Shoten
English publisher
MagazineMarukatsu Famicom (1987 - 1990)
Marukatsu Super Famicom (1990 - 1992)
Dengeki Super Famicom 1992 - 1994)
DemographicSeinen
Original run19871994
Volumes10
Manga parts
  1. Mōryō Senki MADARA (1987 - 1990, 4 volumes)
  2. Mōryō Senki MADARA: BASARA (1990 - 1992, 3 volumes)
  3. Mōryō Senki MADARA: LASA (1992 - 1994, 3 volumes)
Manga
MADARA: Tensei-hen
Written byEiji Otsuka
Illustrated byShōu Tajima
Published byMediaWorks
Original run19901991
Volumes1
Game
Mōryō Senki MADARA
DeveloperKonami
PublisherKonami
GenreRole-playing video game
PlatformFamicom
ReleasedMarch 30, 1990
Original video animation
Directed byYuji Moriyama
Produced byAyumitsu Enomoto
Haruki Kadokawa
Kazuhiko Ikeguchi
Ken Takano
Minoru Takanashi
Nagateru Kato
Written byAkinori Endo
Music byKaoru Wada
StudioStudio Fantasia
Licensed by
Released March 21, 1991 December 20, 1991
Runtime70 minutes (each)
Episodes2
Game
Mōryō Senki MADARA 2
DeveloperKonami
PublisherKonami
GenreRole-playing video game
PlatformSuper Famicom
ReleasedJuly 16, 1993
Game
Mōryō Senki Madara: Daikongō Rinhen
DeveloperKogado Studio
PublisherKogado Studio
GenreRole-playing video game
PlatformNEC PC-9821
ReleasedSeptember 10, 1993
Game
Madara Saga: Yōchien Senki MADARA
DeveloperDatam Polystar
PublisherDatam Polystar
GenreRole-playing video game
PlatformSuper Famicom
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1996

Media edit

Anime edit

A two-episode OVA directed by Yuji Moriyama was released in 1991.[3]

Video games edit

The Famicom video game Mōryō Senki MADARA was a Konami 1990 release that was never localized. It was large for its time at 4 megabits, and used the "VRC6" sound enhancement mapper chip that was also used in Akumajō Densetsu, the Japanese version of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. It differed from the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest RPGs of the time in that it had movement around battlefields rather than stationary turn-by-turn movements. An orchestrated soundtrack was released by Konami's KuKeiHa CLUB on April 21, 1990.[4]

A sequel to the Famicom Madara, Mōryō Senki MADARA 2, was released for the Super Famicom in 1993. It was released on a 12-megabit cartridge.

Also in 1993, the PC-98 title Mōryō Senki Madara: Daikongō Rinhen was developed and published by Kogado Studio.[5]

Finally, the spin-off RPG game Madara Saga: Yōchien Senki Madara was released for the Super Famicom by Datam Polystar in 1996. It is a comedic adaptation that portrays the heroes as kindergarteners.[6]

Volumes edit

Mōryō Senki MADARA edit

Original release edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 August 16, 19899784049260120
02 August 16, 19899784049260137
03 February 21, 19909784049260182
04 June 28, 19909784049260212

1993 - 1994 Re-Release edit

Released as MADARA One[b]

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 August 25, 19939784073002512
02 August 25, 19939784073002680
03 June 27, 19949784073016878
04 June 27, 19949784073016939

1996 Re-Release edit

No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
01 August 28, 19969784047131521November 1, 20049781401205294
02 August 28, 19969784047131538February 1, 20059781401205300
03 September 27, 19969784047131545May 1, 20059781401205317
04 September 27, 19969784047131552August 1, 20059781401205324
05 October 29, 19969784047131569November 1, 20059781401205331

Mōryō Senki MADARA: BASARA edit

Originally serialized as Mōryō Senki MADARA 2[c]

Original Release edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01(05) March 11, 19919784049260250
02(06) December 5, 19919784049260328
03(07) May 25, 19929784049260342

1997 Re-Release edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 April 7, 19979784047131613
02 May 28, 19979784047131620
03 May 28, 19979784047131637

Mōryō Senki MADARA: LASA edit

Original Release edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 May 26, 19939784073000969
02 March 25, 19949784073008835
03 September 9, 19949784073019022

1996 - 1997 Re-Release edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 October 29, 19969784047131576
02 January 29, 19979784047131583
03 January 29, 19979784047131590

MADARA: Tensei-Hen edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 October 10, 19949784073020509

1997 Re-Release edit

No. Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
01 April 7, 19979784047131606

Notes edit

  1. ^ Japanese: 魍魎戦記MADARA, Hepburn: Mōryō Senki MADARA, "Demons and Monsters War Chronicle: Madara"
  2. ^ MADARA壱, MADARA Ichi
  3. ^ 魍魎戦記MADARA摩陀羅弐, Mōryō Senki MADARA Ni

References edit

  1. ^ "Madara (Manga)". TV Tropes.
  2. ^ "The Vault of Error: Madara". Otaku USA Magazine. June 17, 2014.
  3. ^ "Madara (OAV)". Anime News Network.
  4. ^ "Chudah's Corner - Mouryousenki Madara". Archived from the original on May 23, 2012.
  5. ^ "Mōryō Senki Madara: Daikongō Rinhen". MobyGames.
  6. ^ "Madara Saga: Youchien Senki Madara". Giant Bomb.

External links edit