Original artwork from Captain Harlock: Deathshadow Rising #6, pg.25, published by Eternity / Malibu Comics in 1991. Art by Tim Eldred, based on the universe created by legendary Japanese mangaka Leiji Matsumoto. An excellent ensemble page featuring the crew aboard the Arcadia, combined with large action-packed panels. The page is a particularly good example of Eldred's attempt to preserve the distinctive character designs and atmosphere of Matsumoto's original manga and anime while working within the format of an American comic book. Captain Harlock is one of the great icons of Japanese science-fiction manga. Created by Leiji Matsumoto, Harlock reached his definitive form in the 1977–79 manga and became internationally famous through the 1978 anime adaptation. In France and Belgium, the character became Albator, one of the defining heroes of the first great wave of Japanese animation on European television. Albator 78 was broadcast on Antenne 2 in Récré A2 from 1980, placing Harlock alongside Goldorak, Capitaine Flam, Cobra, Ulysse 31, Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya in the popularisation of anime in the French-speaking world. The American Captain Harlock comics published by Eternity / Malibu are particularly interesting because they were not translations of Japanese manga. They were newly created American comics based on Matsumoto's universe, produced at a time when manga and anime were still far from mainstream in the United States. Tim Eldred became the principal artist of this American Harlock universe, drawing 17 Captain Harlock comics, 3 issues of The Pirate Queen Emeraldas and six Star Blazers / Space Battleship Yamato comics. His work is an early example of what would later be called Amerimanga, combining American comic-book production with the visual language of Japanese manga and anime. Eldred's wider career strengthened that connection with Japanese animation through work related to Armored Trooper VOTOMS, M.D. Geist, Project A-ko and Cyber City Oedo 808. A rare piece of published Western Captain Harlock / Albator artwork from the early period of manga's expansion outside Japan. While our new gallery will not be open before October, we've been unboxing and rediscovering items along the way. This auction brings together a carefully curated selection of manga and anime art, featuring gallery finds, almost forgotten pieces, and works rediscovered during the unpacking, now offered to collectors via Catawiki. Explore all our items and combine purchases to save on shipping, or collect your winnings at our new location in Ghent (Belgium) — open by appointment only.