Volume 1 artwork... "national championships arena"

Amazing artwork by Kamobayashi Sensei!

Volume 1 manga still available HERE!

 

Cover art update!

The cover art has been updated and the title font looks amazing! It's only a month now until the book goes on sale, so hopefully I will be able to post some sample pages soon. The book's Twitter page is also active daily, so have a look! @sonnyleadsmanga
Richard

Cover art has arrived!!!

 

The cover art has arrived! Kamobayashi Sensei has really done an amazing job!

I really love the retro feel of the piece, while also reflecting the modern kumite equipment used in competition.

The building in the background is the Nippon Budokan, and it says Budokan in kanji on the red banner, as that is what the actual entrance looks like.

The kanji on Sonny's uniform says Ogami Dojo, which of course a Japanese reader would understand so I just wanted to share that fact for non-Japanese readers.

Why Ogami dojo? Ah, that comes later.

Is Sonny leaping into the kick, falling from the kick, off balance in the kick, or at the moment to extend further with the kick, it all depends on the viewer.

And um, no, Sonny is not supposed to look like me. For sure similar, but he is a fictional character having some traits of some famous karate athletes.

Again, I love cover, I love how the color really comes off the page, and I can't wait to see how the publisher incorporates this artwork into the actual front cover of the book itself.

Next stage in production is the first few pages of the first chapter...

Rough artwork received!

The production of artwork has officially begun with most of the rough pages being received by Manga University from Kamobayashi Sensei just recently!

These drawings are mainly a simplified summary of the flow of the story from panel to panel - of which it is a little too early to share samples, sorry - but it allows myself and the editing staff to better understand how Sensei is imaging the story in line with how I am as well.

Also, quick thanks to all those people how have sent messages of support for the book, I really appreciate it!

Richard

News! Manga University is the official publisher!

I am proud to announce Japan-based Manga University is the publisher of Sonny Leads! The owners and I have been working on this project for years, slowly cultivating it, and now all their amazing support and expertise is finally resulting in the long-awaited release of the first volume of the story.

Who are Manga University?

Our company motto, "€œEducating With Art," reflects our commitment to creating products that are wholesome, informative and fun. We love manga, and believe it can —€” and should —€” be used for more than just great entertainment.

The educational aspect is very important for the Sonny Leads project because this story uniquely reveals the real world of Japanese karate as it is today.

My tie-up with this great boutique publishing company will make more sense when we release the official description of the Sonny Leads story in a few weeks.

For now,  I leave you with a production meeting photo from last Saturday with the owner's Glenn and Mari, Kamobayashi Sensei and myself. Manga U has a large Japanese 'washitsu' tatami meeting room beside their production offices so it's a great space to use when talking about projects. This is especially true for mine since I need lots of space for jumping around demonstrating how karate points are scored in competition, or even how spectators drop video cameras from being too excited when watching matches.

Much more news to come soon!

Richard

Manga artist announcement! Genshi Kamobayashi Sensei!

I proud to announce that the famous Japanese manga artist, Genshi Kamobayashi Sensei, has been signed to bring to life my Japan karate story through his amazing talents!

Kamobayashi Sensei has had a long career in Japan, and he should be well recognized in the karate community since he creates a new 'Magic' karate manga short-story each month for JKFan karate magazine, which is published here in Tokyo.

The style he will use for Sonny Leads is not the same as what he has used before, but his deep background in karate & other manga productions, plus the fact he is a karate instructor himself with his own dojo, means 'Sonny' is in very talented, knowledge and capable hands.

Much more info coming soon...!