Barrage (manga)
BARRAGE (戦星のバルジ, Sensei no Baruji, lit. Barrage on the Battle Star) is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi, creator of Oumagadoki Zoo and My Hero Academia. 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. The series was originally published in 2011 as a one-shot manga in the seasonally published Jump NEXT!, before beginning serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump from May to September 2012.
| Barrage | |
 First volume of Barrage, featuring two of the main characters, Astro and Tiamat. | |
| 戦星のバルジ (Sensei no Baruji) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Adventure, fantasy[1] |
| 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 |
The series was published in North America for an English-language release under the name Barrage through Viz Media's digital manga anthology, Weekly Shonen Jump (formerly known as Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha) beginning in June 2012. The series was compiled into two tankōbon volumes released in Japan by Shueisha in October and November 2012. Viz Media released the first volume of the series in English in March and April 2013.
Plot
On 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
- Astro (アストロ, Asutoro)
- The main character of the series. 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.
Manga
Barrage 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] The serialized manga started in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump on May 21, 2012,[3] and was published until September 10, 2012.[4] Shueisha compiled the individual chapters into two tankōbon volumes published on October 4 and November 2, 2012.[5][6]
The series was published in North America for an English-language release under the name through Viz Media's digital manga anthology, 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] Both volumes have also been released in English by Viz Media on March 5 and April 2, 2013.[8][9]
| 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
- "The Official Website for Barrage". Viz Media. 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". Natalie (in Japanese). August 12, 2011. 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". Natalie (in Japanese). May 21, 2012. 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". Natalie (in Japanese). September 10, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- 戦星のバルジ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- 戦星のバルジ 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- "Shonen Jump Alpha Adds Kōhei Horikoshi's Barrage Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
- "Barrage 1". Viz Media. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
- "Barrage 2". Viz Media. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
External links
- Barrage at Anime News Network's encyclopedia