Big news coming from manga creator, Takehiko Inoue. Inoue took to Social Media recently to announce that his iconic sports manga, Slam Dunk would be taking the leap onto Digital Platforms for the first time, starting on June 2nd. Marking a huge milestone for this beloved Basketball manga.
While he did share this monumental announcement on Twitter, there is a catch, it will only be available on Shueisha’s reading platforms, I emailed Viz Media to see if they would also be releasing Slam Dunk digitally or perhaps reprinting the physical volumes, but Viz provided no comment at this time (UPDATE: Viz Responded to the email in regard to the possible digital release for English Audiences, and said that the International Digital Pub Rights are not yet available to acquire). He also shared insight into his original artwork, noting that one advantage of the digital version is the ability to see the inner binding area, which is typically harder to view in physical books.
“As a side note, I drew the original manuscripts on B4-sized Kent paper. For double-page spreads, I used horizontally placed B3-sized sheets. Since the series was created for print, it was designed with two-page layouts in mind. Reading it on a large tablet in spread view might be the closest to the original and easiest to read.”
Takehiko Inoue
Inoue’s work being available in a Digital format is a rarity, his wheelchair basketball-themed manga, REAL was the first to be released in an e-book format in 2019, which marked his first debut in the digital era, SLAM DUNK follows as his second series to receive a digital release. Viz Media reprinted his other series, Vagabond in a new Definitive Edition, and REAL’s publishing schedule became more consistent, it is a good year for fans of Inoue’s work.
Available Now on Blu-ray: The First Slam Dunk
SLAM DUNK was a Sports Manga ahead of its time, it had dynamic basketball action and emotionally driven characters, capturing the hearts of millions and becoming insanely popular. Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1990 to 1996 for a total of 31 volumes, Viz Media purchased the license to publish the manga for North American audiences in 2007. The manga inspired a television anime in 1993, video game adaptations, and several anime film adaptations, including its most recent film, The First Slam Dunk. The First Slam Dunk was first released on December 3, 2022, earning 15.73 billion yen (US$117.35 million) during its long run, becoming the 7th highest-grossing anime film of all time in its home country. In March 2023, it won the prestigious Animation of The Year Award at the 46th Annual Japan Academy Film Prize Awards. The film also made its debut in North America in July 2023, raking in over $600k, and debuted in the top fifteen at No. 11.
Hanamichi Sakuragi’s got no game with girls–none at all! It doesn’t help that he’s known for throwing down at a moment’s notice and always coming out on top. A hopeless bruiser, he’s been rejected by 50 girls in a row! All that changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she’s actually not afraid of him! When she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever…
Source: Takehiko Inoue, Oricon
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