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Zelda Comics and Manga... the not-so-canon offspring of the Zelda franchise. These comics/manga are officially published (none of them are Doujinshi or Fan-Comics. These will be located in Crafts.) These comics are semi-loosely based off of actual games, yet they add interesting characters along the way that were not originally in the series.
I'll also note that many of these comics are fully online thanks to Melora of History of Hyrule! (I donated scans of most of my collection!) If you want to read any of the books found in my collection - you can find full scans of most of them for free on her site! ;)
My collection of comics and manga will be listed from oldest to newest.
I'll also note that many of these comics are fully online thanks to Melora of History of Hyrule! (I donated scans of most of my collection!) If you want to read any of the books found in my collection - you can find full scans of most of them for free on her site! ;)
My collection of comics and manga will be listed from oldest to newest.
Valiant Comics (Series 1)- The Legend of Zelda
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda
- Publisher: Valiant Comics
- Author(s): George Caragonne (18) and potentially Bryan D. Leys (2)
- Editor(s): Jim Shooter (Editor-In-Chief) and potentially Janet C. Jackson (1)
- Artist(s): Jade Moede (15), The Gradations (6), Don Hudson (5), P. Zorito (7), Ken Lopez (Letterer) (4), Art Nichols (4), Ken Penders (4), Christiaan (3), Mark Pacella (3), Richard Rockwell (3), Kingman Huie (2), Bryan D. Leys (2), Andy Mushynsky (2), Rodney Ramos (Penciler) (2), The V-8's (2), Kathryn Balinger (1), Dan Barry (1), Andrea Brooks (1), Heather Eatman (1), Janet C. Jackson (1), Martin King (1), Shanna Layton (1), Meridee Mandio (1), Mike Manley (1), Rudy Nebres (Inker) (1), Rod Ollerenshaw (1), Howie Perlin (1), Mickey Ritter (1), Giselle Sarli (1), and Ricardo Villegram (1).
- Country of Origin: USA
- Language: English
- Length: Roughly 34 Pages Each
- Year: 1990
- Featured at History of Hyrule
- Read No. 1 here: http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/comic_valiant1/
- Read No. 2 here: http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/comic_valiant2/
- Read No. 3 here: http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/comic_valiant3/
- Read No. 4 here: http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/comic_valiant4/
- Read No. 5 here: http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/comic_valiant5/
- Other Info: Author and artist credits did not denote the tasks assigned to the staff, making it difficult to tell who did what.
- This is the first release of the Valiant Zelda Comics. These issues are distinguished by their card stock covers (sometimes referred as the "hard cover" edition) and thicker pages as well as showcasing the short stories in a different order from the second set. The first run also only have five issues, where as the second has six books.
- I have two versions of the first issue from this print run. The first one only reads "No. 1" in the upper right corner. The second one has the issue as well as the US price of $1.95 and Canadian price of $2.50 in the corner like the rest of the collection.
- Fun Fact: There is an ad at the end of the first issue for the upcoming second issue. This ad featuring the cover art of No. 2, however shows a blue background rather than a white background that was actually published for No. 2 (1st Print Run) and May No. 4 (2nd Print Run.)
Valiant Comics (Series 2) - The Legend of Zelda
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda
- Publisher: Valiant Comics
- Author(s): George Caragonne (18) and potentially Bryan D. Leys (1)
- Editor(s): Jim Shooter (Editor-In-Chief) and potentially Janet C. Jackson (1)
- Artist(s): Jade Moede (13), The Gradations (8), Ken Lopez (Letterer) (6), Don Hudson (5), P. Zorito (5), Art Nichols (4), Rodney Ramos (Penciler) (4), Richard Rockwell (3), Christiaan (2), Andy Mushynsky (2), Mark Pacella (2), Ken Penders (2), The V-8's (2), Kathryn Balinger (1), Dan Barry (1), Andrea Brooks (1), Paris Cullins (1), Heather Eatman (1), Kingman Huie (1), Janet C. Jackson (1), Martin King (1), Shanna Layton (1), Bryan D. Leys (1), Meridee Mandio (1), Mike Manley (1), Rudy Nebres (Inker) (1), Rod Ollerenshaw (1), Dan Panosian (1), Don Perlin (1), Mickey Ritter (1), Joe Rubinstein (1), and Giselle Sarli (1)
- Country of Origin: USA
- Language: English
- Length: Roughly 34 Pages Each
- Year: 1991
- Other Info: A second release of the Valiant Zelda Comics, these issues are distinguished by monthly dated issues/prices as well as showcasing the short stories in a different order from the original set. There are also new stories included, as well as a never seen before 7th book. The second series does not have a 6th book in it's installments, however. It was skipped to create a "missing edition" theory as a publicity stunt. Valiant Firsts has the missing comic listed as the Unpublished 7th Comic. This copy was to feature these stories: "Small Problem", "The Fortress", "It's Good to be the King", "Kiss Me, Princess", "Point of View", "Another Point of View", and "Trust Me".
- Similar to how the second print of comics rehashed stories from the first run, the second print used the covers from the first run, but in a different order.
- Issue Feb No. 1 Cover (Unchanged Artwork)
- Issue Mar No. 2 Cover (Originally Cover #4)
- Issue Apr No. 3 (Unchanged Artwork, Added Text "A Special Full-Length Adventure "Power" and "Price"!")
- Issue May No. 4 (Originally Cover #2)
- Issue Jun No. 5 (Unchanged Artwork)
- Issue Aug No. 7 (All New Artwork)
- Author and artist credits did not denote the tasks assigned to the staff, making it difficult to tell who did what.
- Featured at History of Hyrule (Under "Comics"): http://historyofhyrule.com/index.php?frame=index_library.php
Nintendo Comic System - No. 1
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda
- Publisher: Valiant Comics
- Author(s): George Cagaronne
- Editor(s): n/a
- Artist(s):
- Country of Origin: USA
- Language: English
- Length:
- Year: 1990
- Other Info: The Zelda comics that are featured in this compilation book are reprints the series of Valiant Zelda Comics. The stories included are: "The Legend of Zelda", "Assault", and "Choices".
Nintendo Comic System - No. 2
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda
- Publisher: Valiant Comics
- Author(s): George Cagaronne
- Editor(s): n/a
- Artist(s):
- Country of Origin: USA
- Language: English
- Length:
- Year: 1990
- Other Info: The Zelda comics that are featured in this compilation book are reprints the series of Valiant Zelda Comics. The stories included are: "The Legend of Zelda" and "Queen of Hearts".
The Best of the Nintendo Comics System
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda
- Publisher: Valiant Comics
- Author(s): George Cagaronne
- Editor(s): Laura Hitchcock
- Artist(s):
- Country of Origin: USA
- Language: English
- Length:
- Year: 1990
- Other Info: The Zelda comics that are featured in this compilation book are reprints from the series of Valiant Zelda Comics. The stories included are: "The Legend of Zelda", "Missing in Action", "Secrets of the Triforce", "Trust Me", "Thief in the Night", "Zelda's Consumer Tips", "The Power", "The Price", and "The Compleat Hero".
Legend of Zelda 4 Koma Enix Series
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Legend of Zelda 4 Koma Series
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A Link to the Past Graphic Novel
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda
- Publisher: Nintendo Power
- Author(s): Shotaro Ishinomori
- Editor(s): n/a
- Artist(s): Shotaro Ishinomori
- Country of Origin: USA
- Language: English
- Length:
- Year: 1993
- Other Info: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a comic book miniseries by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori based on the game of the same name. It appeared in Nintendo Power beginning in January 1992 and ran for 12 issues, ending in December 1992. It was later published as a graphic novel in 1993. Many portions of the game were omitted, and several new story segments were added to "preserve the elements of surprise and add to the dramatic flow. Several new characters are introduced, most prominently Roam, Epheremelda, the librarian of Kakariko, and an unnamed boy who is friends with Sahasrahla.
In this alternate version of the events in A Link to the Past, Link is beckoned telepathically by Princess Zelda to rescue her from Agahnim's clutches, and eventually from Turtle Rock in the Dark World. Although Link starts out as a simple, bumbling kid, he gradually grows more confident about his abilities and succeeds in rescuing the princess with the help of the friends he makes along his adventure. In the comic, Link and Zelda have a close bond with one another, even going as far as sharing a dream together.
Although often considered to be a manga, the comic was originally published in English in America by Nintendo Power. By modern day standards, it can be considered to be an original English-language manga, although that term did not exist when the comic was originally published. A Japanese edition was later released retaining the left-to-right formatting of the original American edition. In the Japanese edition, the text is oriented horizontally in a left-to-right format as well and the original sound effects are left untranslated. - Featured at History of Hyrule: http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/manga_lttp_np/index.html
The Legend of Zelda - Manga Series
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda Series
- Publisher:
- Author(s): Akira Himekawa
- Editor(s): n/a
- Artist(s):
- Country of Origin:
- Language: English
- Length:
- Year:
- Other Info: Like traditional manga, this series reads from right to left. The English translated edition of Skyward Sword was added to the English edition of Hyrule Historia, rather than having its own printing like its Japanese counterpart.
- Japanese versions are featured on History of Hyrule (Under "Manga"): http://historyofhyrule.com/index.php?frame=index_library.php
Penny Arcade Presents: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Publisher: Penny Arcade Presents
- Author(s): Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik
- Editor(s): n/a
- Artist(s): Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik
- Country of Origin: United States
- Language: English
- Length: 5 pages
- Year: 2011
- Other Info: It was initially released as a free web comic to promote The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
Nintendo (Hong Kong) Limited Promotional Abridged Ocarina of Time 3D Manga and Mini Guide
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Information
- Game Title: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Author(s): Akira Himekawa
- Editor(s): n/a
- Artist(s):
- Country of Origin: Home Kong
- Language: Chinese (and some English. English Translation scans by Zeldanime)
- Length: 23 pages
- Year: 2012
- Other Info: 7 pages are dedicated to character information and a mini guide on how to play Ocarina of Time 3D on a 3DS. The remainder of the manga includes an abridged version of Akira Himaekawa's Ocarina of Time manga, in beautifully full-color detail. You can view the manga with its original text here or see the English translated pages (thanks to Zeldanime) here!
