Raijin

(Coamix, 2002-2004)
™ and © Coamix

In 1946, television was on the horizon but both radio networks and movie studios dealt with the threat by pretending it didn’t exist. Today, anyone with a pulse can see that we’re one or two price jumps away from the point at which fans will reject the comics pamphlet, a format that gives them so little for so much. We all know what needs to be done: change the format, promote it, give stuff away, but no one wants to upset the status quo—except the Japanese. While Shonen Jump is a half–step in the right direction, Raijin Comics is the genuine article. The features here skew towards action and adventure, but the regular issues of Raijin (which will be twice as big for only $6.95) will literally have something for every manga fan—not to mention contests with big cash prizes. There will be those who will call this venture overly ambitious and doomed to failure—fortunately, they don’t know what they’re talking about.

— S.A. Bennett

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