Most readers are struck by Kouga’s artwork. It will come as no surprise to those that have seen her comics that she also does a great deal of work illustrating, designing characters for video games, etc. Unfortunately, her writing is nowhere near as good as her art. I personally find her premises ludicrous and and her story presentation inept.
Of course, you may not agree, and her comics are worth a look for the art alone. But in my opinion your money would probably be better spent on one of her illustration collections!
Kiga Ichizoku
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| ISBN-10:4-05-600065-4, 02/1994 | |||||||||
Other Works:
Kouga has done a number of other girls’ comics, though none seem to be considered horror or mystery. Her debut work was a rendition of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Wakakusa Monogatari (若草物語), published in three editions by Gakken: first under Hi Comics*, then Gakken Mook, and finally under Pichi Comics. Recently, Gakken also published Hapipuri: Happy na Pretty-chan* (はぴぷり はっぴーなぷりてぃちゃん) under Pichi Comics Deluxe.
Most of Kouga’s more well-known works were published by Shinshokan (新書館) under Wings Comics:
- Earthian 1-5
Earthian was also made into a drama CD series by Pioneer and a four-part animated video series by Toshiba EMI (東芝ＥＭＩ). The animation was translated into English by Media Blasters; the comic was released in English by BLU Manga. Sobisha (創美社), a division of Shueisha, has released the compilation Earthian Kanketsuban (アーシアン 完結版) 1-3, the Earthian Kanketsuban Betsukan: Himitsu no Hanazono (アーシアン 完結版 別巻 秘密の花園), and a bunko-ban edition of the series in five volumes. - Genji (源氏) 1-8
Genji also had a drama CD release. Natsuki Ayano (綾乃なつき) wrote a novelization in two volumes, published by Shueisha (集英社), and illustrated by Kouga. It was also animated in two volumes by Sohbi Kikaku (創美企画). - Saffron Zero Beat (サフラン・ ゼロ・ ビート)
From Akita Shoten (秋田書店) under Princess Comics and Princess Comics Deluxe came:
- Yajou Teikoku (夜嬢帝国) 1
- Ren-Ai (ＲＥＮ−ＡＩ 恋愛) 1-3
Translated into English by I.C. Entertainment. - Lolacizer (ローラカイザー) 1-4
The related novel Majuu no Kuru Yoru (魔獣の来る夜) was written by Kaoru Kurimoto (栗本薫), published by Anzu Dou (あんず堂), and, of course, illustrated by Kouga. - La Vie en Rose 1-2
Kouga has also published a number of boys’ comics. B-gata Doumei (Ｂ型同盟) was published by Kadokawa Shoten (角川書店) under NewType 100% Comics. A drama CD was released by King Records. Kodansha (講談社) published You’re My Only Shinin’ Star: Kimi wa Boku no Kagayakeru Hoshi* (You’re My Only Shinin’ Star 君はぼくの輝ける星) three times, first under Morning Mook, then under Kodansha Comics Party, and most recently under Kodansha Manga Bunko (講談社漫画文庫). Yousei Jiken (妖精事件) was also published by Kodansha, in five volumes under Kodansha Comics Afternoon Deluxe, and four volumes under Kodansha Manga Bunko.
Choujuu Densetsu Gestalt* (超獣伝説ゲシュタルト) was released as eight volumes of GanGan Fantasy Comics, two CD’s, a postcard book, and two novels by Chitsuru Yoshikawa (吉川千鶴), all published by Enix (エニックス). It was rereleased by Ichijinsha (一迅社), formerly Issaisha (一賽舎), under Zero-Sum Comics, also in eight volumes. It was also made into a two-part animated video series by Sony Music Entertainment. VIZ released Gestalt in English translation. Another GanGan Fantasy Comics title was Chronicle* (クロニクル).
Kouga’s ladies’ comics include Mind Size* (マインドサイズ) and Arisu in Wonderland* (ありす ｉｎ ｗｏｎｄｅｒｌａｎｄ) 1-2, both published by Kobunsha (光文社) under VAL Comics. Mind Size* was also released as a drama CD by King Records. She also did one ladies’ horror title, Kodomo-tachi wa Yoru no Juunin (子供たちは夜の住人) 1-2, published once under Tairiku Shobo (大陸書房)’s Menuett Comics, and once under Akita Ladies’ Comics Deluxe, and as a drama CD by King Records. Sobisha published Ren-Ai: Crown (恋愛 Ｃｒｏｗｎ) 1-4 under the Crimson Comics banner. This series is being released in English by VIZ under the title Crown of Love. Loveless 1-10 has been released by Ichijinsha (一迅社), formerly Issaisha, in both a regular and special limited edition, and partially released in English by TokyoPop. Loveless has also been novelized by Aya Natsui (夏居あや) and made into an animated TV series.
And, finally, an anthology of Kouga’s early comics was included in Futabasha (双葉社)’s Nihon Mangaka Taizen* (日本漫画家大全) series under the title Kouga Yun Shoki Kessakushuu (高河ゆん初期傑作集).
Of course she has had several art books published:
- Love Songs (ラブソングズ), from Shinshokan
- SSS Special (エスエスエススペシャル), also from Shinshokan
- Cycland: Yun Kouga Review Catalogue, from BNN (ビー・ エヌ・ エヌ)
- Kouga Yun Gengaten ’93: Asia 4 Gengashuu (高河ゆん原画展 ｀９３ Ａｓｉａ４原画集), from Club Y Club* (クラブワイクラブ)
- Your Eyes Only, from Ichijinsha
She has had illustrations included in a number of miscellaneous anthologies, and she has illustrated a number of other authors’ works. In addition to novelizations of her comics, Shueisha published Charles ni Sasageru Yasoukyoku* (シャルルに捧げる夜想曲) 1-3 by Hitomi Fujimoto (藤本ひとみ), and the High School Aura Buster* (ハイスクール・ オーラバスター) series by Mio Wakagi (若木未生), all under Cobalt Bunko (コバルト文庫). King Records released a three-part High School Aura Buster: Hikari no Tanjou* (ハイスクール・ オーラバスター 光の誕生) animated video series using Kouga’s character designs.
Kouga also illustrated Fushigi no Kuni kara Kita Shoujo (不思議の国からきた少女) by Hiroshi Tsutsui (筒井広志) and Cat Boy* (キャット・ ボーイ) 1-2 by Kei Zushi (図子慧), both published by Kadokawa Shoten. She also did the art for at least part of the Makenden (魔剣伝) series by Seika Nagare (流星香), published by Shinchosha (新潮社), as well as the Mind Screen series by Sei Yuuki (結城惺), published by Shinshokan.
She did the character designs for the video games Bloody Bride: Imadoki no Vampire (BLOODY BRIDE いまどきのバンパイア), Shinou Densetsu Crystania* (神王伝説クリスタニア), and Amusing Dream* (アミュージング・ ドリーム). There was also an Imadoki no Vampire: Kouga Yun + Oonuki Kenichi Settei Gengashuu (いまどきのバンパイア 高河ゆん＋大貫健一設定原画集) art book from Wani Books (ワニブックス). She was the character designer for the animated video CAROL and its associated "visual book," both from CBS/Sony, and for the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (機動戦士ガンダム００) TV series and related media books. She also illustrated Mobile Suit Gundam 00: In Those Days (機動戦士ガンダム００ ｉｎ ｔｈｏｓｅ ｄａｙｓ), published by Kadokawa Shoten.