Tezuka Osamu Missing Pieces: Rittorsha Unveils Lost Layouts This November
In a compelling announcement for manga historians and fans of Osamu Tezuka, publisher Rittorsha revealed today that it will release a new volume entitled Tezuka Osamu Missing Pieces on November 14. The book is set to gather previously unreleased layouts, drafts, and other archival materials from the “God of Manga,” culled from discoveries made by Tezuka Productions this past summer.
According to the announcement, Tezuka Productions recently uncovered layout sheets and early draft materials that had never before been published. Among them are layout sketches for three separate manga works, along with other ancillary materials such as notes, pencil drafts, and perhaps unused panels or storyboard fragments.
These newly surfaced artifacts promise to shed light on Tezuka’s creative process, offering glimpses of scenes he may have refined or abandoned, and showing how he constructed narrative flow, character staging, and visual pacing at early draft stages.
Though the announcement doesn't yet specify which three manga will be represented, fans may hope that some iconic names or lesser-known works will appear. Tezuka is known to have left behind a vast archive of unpublished fragments, and this volume may open further portals into his working methods.
Context in the “Missing Pieces” Series
This forthcoming book appears to continue a series of similarly themed volumes that collect rare or hard-to-find materials from Tezuka’s oeuvre. For example, past releases in the “Missing Pieces” line have covered titles like Black Jack and Ribbon no Kishi, bringing to light early versions and alternate drafts.
This time, the first issue was also primarily based on the live manuscript of "Mansion OBA" (a series serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from March to June 1972). It's a taste that allows you to enjoy Osamu Tezuka's splendid editing techniques while reading and comparing. In addition, rare drawings from various Tezuka works, such as manuscripts of previously unpublished names discovered in recent years, names that have only been included in mook and bonus books until now, and character sketches, are summarized in this book. This is valuable content coveted by enthusiasts and an engaging collection of works that can be played by those new to Tezuka's works.
"OBA Apartment (Lion Books Series)" #1
"OBA Apartment" Weekly Shonen Jump, March 20, 1972 issue #2
"The Color of Haru Ranman's Flowers" Weekly Shonen Jump, April 17, 1972 issue #3
"Ear Crow" Weekly Shonen Jump, May 15, 1972 issue #4
"Dendekoden" Weekly Shonen Jump, June 19, 1972 issue "Vulgar Angel" Weekly Shonen Jump, May 12, 1975 issue
●The manuscript of the single-book version and the name or unused manuscript (some) are also included
"Gucchan and Paico-san" "Antenna Family" "Komako Pumpkin Creek" "Alabaster" "Kirihito Hymn" "Micloid S" "Doronko-sensei" (prototype) "MW" "Future Man Chaos" "Dotsukire" "Tree in the Sun" "Seven Colors" "Prime Rose" "Goblin Marquis" "Firebird (Taiyo Edition)" others
