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Area 88

    (Eclipse, 1987-1989)
™ and ©1987 Kaoru Shintani/Shogakukan, In.
B&W

Comics in Japan run from science-fiction to adult fiction, and are read by millions of Japanese. According to its editors, Area 88 was the first large scale attempt to bring Japanese comics (“manga”) to the U.S. in a traditional comic book form. In doing so, it helped open the U.S. comic marketplace to the amazing variety of Japanese comic storytelling.

The Area 88 of this series is a battleground in North Africa, right at the front lines of the war between Asran and its enemy. Asran employs a force of mercenaries to do their dirty work, running their air force much like a taxi company. The pilots provide their own planes, pay for their own ammunition and fuel, then receive payment for the kills they make. To survive at this game takes both skill and cunning, a combination which is best found in Shin Kazama, a blonde, Japanese mercenary, and the hero of the series.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    May 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    10 copies from $1.25
  • 1-2
    #1 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing Cover by Kaoru Shintani
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    1 copy for $1.75
  • 2
    #2
    Jun 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani, Wayne Truman
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 2-2
    #2 - 2nd printing
    2nd Printing Cover by Kaoru Shintani
    Jun 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani, Wayne Truman
    1 copy for $3.99
  • 3
    #3
    Jun 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani, Wayne Truman
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 4
    #4
    Jul 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani, Wayne Truman
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 5
    #5
    Jul 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 6
    #6
    Aug 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 7
    #7
    Aug 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    8 copies from $1.25
  • 8
    #8
    Sep 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani, Wayne Truman
    7 copies from $1.25
  • 9
    #9
    Sep 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 10
    #10
    Oct 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    8 copies from $1.00
  • 11
    #11
    Oct 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    5 copies from $1.25
  • 12
    #12
    Nov 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    7 copies from $1.25
  • 13
    #13
    Nov 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 14
    #14
    Dec 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    5 copies from $1.25
  • 15
    #15
    Dec 1987
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    5 copies from $1.25
  • 16
    #16
    Jan 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 17
    #17
    Jan 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 18
    #18
    Feb 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 19
    #19
    Feb 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    6 copies from $1.25
  • 20
    #20
    Mar 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 21
    #21
    Mar 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    5 copies from $1.25
  • 22
    #22
    Apr 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    5 copies from $1.25
  • 23
    #23
    Apr 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 24
    #24
    May 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 25
    #25
    May 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    2 copies from $1.75
  • 26
    #26
    Jun 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    2 copies from $2.50
  • 27
    #27
    Jun 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $1.25
  • 28
    #28
    Jul 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 29
    #29
    Jul 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 30
    #30
    Aug 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $1.25
  • 31
    #31
    Aug 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $1.25
  • 32
    #32
    Sep 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $1.25
  • 33
    #33
    Sep 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    2 copies from $1.25
  • 34
    #34
    Oct 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    2 copies from $2.50
  • 35
    #35
    Oct 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    2 copies from $2.50
  • 36
    #36
    Nov 1988
    Cover: $1.50
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $2.50
  • 37
    #37
    Dec 1988
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    4 copies from $1.25
  • 38
    #38
    Jan 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $2.50
  • 39
    #39
    Photo cover by Kaoru Shintani
    Feb 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Kaoru Shintani, James D. Hudnall, Satoru Fujii  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $2.50
  • 40
    #40
    Mar 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    3 copies from $5.00
  • 41
    #41
    Apr 1989
    Cover: $1.75
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    2 copies from $1.75
  • 42
    #42
    May 1989
    Cover: $2.00
    W: Kaoru Shintani  ·  A: Kaoru Shintani
    Final Issue
    3 copies from $4.50