Barrage (Japanese: 戦星のバルジ, Hepburn: Sensei no Baruji, lit. Barrage on the Battle Star) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi. It was first published in 2011 as a one-shot manga in Shueisha's Jump Next!, before being serialized Weekly Shōnen Jump from May to September 2012, with its chapters collected in two tankōbon volumes. The story follows Astro, a dim-witted but kind young man from the slums, on a journey across the planet of Industria. He meets the prince, who looks and sounds like him, and, following a certain incident, ends up becoming the prince who defends Industria with his weapon called the Org.
| Barrage | |
 First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Astro (right) and Tiamat (left) | |
| 戦星のバルジ (Sensei no Baruji) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Kōhei Horikoshi |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Jump Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
| English magazine | |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Original run | May 21, 2012 – September 10, 2012 |
| Volumes | 2 |
In North America, the series was licensed for English release by Viz Media, who published it on the digital manga anthology, Weekly Shonen Jump, and released its two volumes in print in March and April 2013.
Plot
editOn the planet of Industria where aliens fight with humans, a young slum dweller Astro works tirelessly to feed his adopted brothers and sisters. One day, after an argument with his boss, Astro saves him from the alien Archduke of Endra. Despite this, Astro is fired. Distraught, he accidentally meets his doppelganger, the runaway Prince Barrage of Industria, who wants Astro to act as his substitute. Astro decides to assume the role of the prince of Industria to prevent arousing suspicion from enemy aliens and protect his beloved "family".
Characters
edit- Astro (アストロ, Asutoro)
- Growing up in the slums of the capital as an orphan, Astro is extremely dedicated to his adopted family, working long hours for food and shelter. He believes so strongly in the value of family that he is willing to help any family member in need, at times forgetting his assumed identity as the Prince much to Tiamat's displeasure. Astro is a capable wielder of the Org (王具（オーグ）, Ōgu, lit. "King's Device"; translated by Viz Media as both The Royal Relic and the Orgue), a mysterious weapon said to control the planet of Industria. He later finds out that he is the true Prince Barrage.
- Tiamat (ティアマト, Tiamato)
- The loyal vice-captain of the military forces under the Planetary King of Industria. He becomes Astro's companion and personally trains him in swordsmanship throughout their journey. Tiamat harbors a severe phobia of women, going to great lengths to avoid them.
- Prince Barrage (バルジ, Baruji)
- The son of the Planetary King of Industria and the prince of Industria. He very closely resembles Astro down to the same hair color, height, and voice, yet both have different personalities. Unlike Astro, Prince Barrage is arrogant, spoiled, and abusive to his own servants, such as Jino. He was killed instantly by a laser when a mysterious sniper thought he was Astro, not seeing the resemblance at all, who was going to do whatever he wanted free of all responsibilities. It is later revealed that he is an evil twin or dark energy counterpart of Astro, who is the true Prince Barrage.
- The Planetary King of Industria (インダストリアの星王, Indasutoria no Seiō)
- The current ruler of Industria and the former wielder of the Org.
- Tico (ティコ, Tiko)
- A young girl who seeks revenge for her adoptive mother's death at the hands of aliens. She lives in Masayle, a place of strategic importance to the capital of Industria.
Publication
editBarrage is written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi. The series was originally published on August 12, 2011, as a one-shot manga in the seasonally published Jump Next!.[2] It was then serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from May 21 to September 10, 2012,[3][4] Shueisha compiled the individual chapters in two tankōbon volumes published on October 4 and November 2, 2012.[5][6]
In North America, the series was published in English by Viz Media on its digital manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump (formerly known as Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha) beginning on June 4, 2012, with chapters being released two weeks behind the Japanese publication.[7] The volumes of the series were released on March 5 and April 2, 2013.[8][9]
Volumes
edit| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 4, 2012[5] | 978-4-08-870583-5 | October 4, 2012 (Digital)[8] March 5, 2013 (Print)[8] | 978-1421552750 | ||
| ||||||
| 2 | November 2, 2012[6] | 978-4-08-870584-2 | November 13, 2012 (Digital)[9] April 2, 2013 (Print)[9] | 978-1421555713 | ||
| ||||||
References
edit- ^ a b "The Official Website for Barrage". Viz Media. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ^ 「ネウロ」松井優征の新作読み切りがジャンプNEXT！に. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ 堀越耕平のジャンプ新連載はスペースバトルファンタジー. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 21, 2012. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ ジャンプのギャグ新連載、伊達政宗に憧れ抱く先輩が大暴れ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 10, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ a b 戦星のバルジ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ a b 戦星のバルジ 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ Loo, Egan (May 26, 2012). "Shonen Jump Alpha Adds Kōhei Horikoshi's Barrage Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Barrage 1". Viz Media. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Barrage 2". Viz Media. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
External links
edit- Barrage at Anime News Network's encyclopedia