Beyond the Beyond (manga)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Beyond the Beyond


caption = Cover of the original Japanese release of the first volume "Beyond the Beyond"
ja_name = その向こうの向こう側
ja_name_trans = Sono Mukō no Mukōgawa
genre = Adventure, FantasyInfobox animanga/Manga
author = Yoshitomo Watanabe
publisher = flagicon|Japan Mag Garden
publisher_en = flagicon|USA Tokyopop flagicon|Singapore Chuang Yi
publisher_other = flagicon|Germany Tokyopop Germany
magazine = Comic Blade
first = March 2004
last = February 2008
volumes = 6
demographic = Shōnen

nihongo|"Beyond the Beyond"|その向こうの向こう側|Sono Mukō no Mukōgawa| is a manga series written Yoshitomo Watanabe in which young Futaba Kudo is pulled into a strange world when he rescues a girl named Kiara, a powerful girl whom many people wish to capture or kill. Futaba pledges to protect Kiara from her pursuers and help her find her missing master. The series first premiered in Japan in the monthly shōnen magazine "Comic Blade" in 2004. Mag Garden has published the individual chapters in five collected volumes.

Tokyopop licensed the series for an English language release in North America and has currently released four of the five volumes.

Plot

Futaba Kudo a 6th grade student in modern Japan is walking home with his friends one day when a strange girls falls from the sky and mistakes Futaba for her master. While Futaba is still in shock, another woman appears trying to kill the first. The girl, Kiara, realizes Futaba is not her master and flees for her life. Futaba can't sit by while she is in danger, so he runs with her. The go to a bridge where Kiara drops Futaba's cell phone into the river, which opens a portal until another world. Futaba jumps into the portal with Kiara to escape the other woman trying to kill Kiara. In the new world, Futaba begins a journey to help Kiara find her master while pledging to protect her, and hopes to eventually find a way to return to his own world.

Characters

;Futaba Kudo:Futaba is in the sixth grade and is quite short (much to his unhappiness). He has three older siblings who are extremely overprotective. One day, a girl comes out of the sky and proclaims him her "master". The two are promptly attacked by a monster before Kiara, the girl that came from the sky realizes that Futaba is not her master. They use Futaba's cellphone to escape and are thrown into a fantasy world where they meet Bel-Bel-san (Lady Belbel in the English adaption) and Prince Virid. From there on they continue their quest to find Kiara's true master. His motto is, "Everything will work out...Probably!"

;Kiara:Kiara is the "Amaranthine", a flower with incredible power and is intent on finding her master. She does not know much about the world and so she may seem slow at times. She wears a light pink dress and has pink hair. Kiara cannot use her power without her master, so she relies a lot of Futaba, Bel-Bel, and Virid. She also says "Probably" often, something she picked up from Futaba. Being a flower herself, she can communicate and understand all plant life.

;Bel-Bel:A rabbit-like magician who travels with Futaba and co. She hates being called a rabbit. She seems to be a very powerful magic user (noted by Futaba) but is extremely greedy over money and rare items. She is the master of Gurijio, who once was a cat but gained a human body through his Elturi, Keeya. Tokyopop changed translators for volumes three and four, resulting in a change in Belbel's gender.

;Virid Visette Viridian:"Mad" Prince Virid is the younger of Viridian's twin princes. After birth he was locked up in a cell by his mother. His mother "has no need for two princes" and does not care for Virid at all. His mother sent hitmen after Virid, but he killed them all, which makes people very afraid of him. When the twin princes in Viridian turn thirteen, they must have a fight to the death to decide who is the next king. His older twin brother, also named Virid, occasionally visited him in his cell and later came with a message from their mother: "If you find the Amaranthine and bring it to me, you can both live." So he sets out to find the Amaranthine and meets Futaba. He joins Futaba and Kiara in their quest to find Kiara's master, thus he is traveling with the Amaranthine throughout the story. His personality takes a massive turn, from mass murderer to clingy happy person. He seems to have a rather unnatural attraction to Futaba.

Media

"Beyond the Beyond" was written by Yoshitomo Watanabe. It premiered in the monthly shōnen magazine in 2004. The thirty-fifth, and final, chapter was published in the February 2008 issue. The individual chapters have been published in five collected volumes by Mag Garden so far, with the first volume published in April 2004 and the final volume expected to be released in 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-01-04/beyond-the-beyond-manga-ends-in-japan-at-end-of-january |title=Beyond the Beyond Manga Ends in Japan at End of January |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2008-01-04 |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] Each volume was also released in in limited edition versions that featured different covers and additional items, such as CDs. [cite web |url=http://amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/250-5893345-3465852?__mk_ja_JP=%83J%83%5E%83J%83i&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=%82%BB%82%CC%8C%FC%82%B1%82%A4%82%CC%8C%FC%82%B1%82%A4%91%A4&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go |title=Search results for "Beyond the Beyond" |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-04-15 ]

The series was licensed for an English language release in North America by Tokyopop in 2005. [cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-12-16/new-tokyopop-manga |title=New Tokyopop Manga |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2005-12-16 |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] The first volume was released in January 2006, and four of the five volumes have been released so far. [cite web |url=http://www.tokyopop.com/shop/1579/BeyondtheBeyond/1.html |title=Beyond the Beyond |publisher=Tokyopop |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] The fifth English volume was solicited for release in September 2008, [cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-5-Yoshitomo-Watanabe/dp/1427812802/ |title=Beyond the Beyond Volume 5 |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] but its release was canceled in July 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-11/adv-tokyopop-discontinues-dvd-print-titles |title=ADV, Tokyopop Discontinue DVD, Print Title |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2008-07-11 |accessdate=2008-07-11 ] . It is unknown if Tokyopop has canceled the release of the series as part of its announced cutting back of series releases, or if the title will be resolicited for a later release date. The series is being released in English in Singapore by Chuang Yi, which has released five volumes as of June 2008 under the title "There, Beyond the Beyond".cite web |url=http://www.chuangyi.com.sg/new/ecatalogtitle.php?title=There%2C+Beyond+The+Beyond |title=Available Issues for There, Beyond The Beyond |publisher=Chuang Yi |accessdate=2008-04-15 ] Tokyopop's German division is publishing the series in Germany under the name "Futabas (höchst) seltsame Reise". [cite web |url=http://www.tokyopop.de/buecher/manga/futabas_hsr/index.php |title=Futabas (höchst) seltsame Reise |language=German |publisher=Tokyopop |accessdate=2008-07-11 ]

Volume list

Graphic novel list/header
Language = Japan
SecondLanguage = English: North America/SingaporeGraphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 1
OriginalRelDate = April 10, 2004cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4861270383/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 1 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-07-11 |language=Japanese ]
OriginalISBN = 978-4861270383
LicensedRelDate = June 13, 2006cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com//dp/159816371X/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 1 |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=2008-07-11 ]

LicensedISBN = 978-1-59816-371-1
ISBN 981-260-233-X
ChapterList =
* Chapter 1: The Way Back Home to Where You Fell From
* Chapter 2: A Shortcut for the Long Way
* Chapter 3: Birds That Won't Fly / Birds That Can't Fly
* Chapter 4: The House Deep Inside the Forest
* Chapter 5: Those Who Pick the Flowers
VolumeExtras = Cover character:

* Kiara
Summary =Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 2
OriginalRelDate = October 9, 2004cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4861270839/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 2 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-07-11 |language=Japanese ]
OriginalISBN = 978-4861270833
LicensedRelDate = October 3, 2006cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com//dp/1598163728/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 2 |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=2008-07-11 ]

LicensedISBN = 978-1-59816-372-8
ISBN 981-260-361-1
ChapterList =
* Chapter 6: Temptation
* Chapter 7: The City That Reflects on the Surface of the Water
* Chapter 8: Pottage of Lentils
* Chapter 9: Even If It Is a Little Flower, It Is Still a Flower
* Chapter 10: What a Little Light Wishes For
* Chapter 11: After the Dream
VolumeExtras = Cover character:

* Futaba Kudo
Summary =Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 3
OriginalRelDate = July 8, 2005cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4861271630/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 3 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-07-11 |language=Japanese ]
OriginalISBN = 978-4861271632
LicensedRelDate = February 6, 2007cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com//dp/1598168576/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 3 |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=2008-07-11 ]

LicensedISBN = 978-1-59816-857-0
ISBN 981-260-783-8
ChapterList =
* Chapter 12: The Me That I Don't Know Is Me
* Chapter 13: It Is Impossible To Fly
* Chapter 14: Red Thunder
* Chapter 15: Wizard's Apprentice
* Chapter 16: Those Who Drown
* Chapter 17: In the Mist
* Chapter 18: Heart-hugging
* Extra Chapters
VolumeExtras = Cover character:

* Virid Visette Viridian
Summary =Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 4
OriginalRelDate = October 10, 2005cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4861273161/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 4 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-07-11 |language=Japanese ]
OriginalISBN = 978-4861273162
LicensedRelDate = August 14, 2007cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com//dp/1427804524/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 4 |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=2008-07-11 ]

LicensedISBN = 978-1-4278-0452-5
ISBN 981-269-589-3
ChapterList =
* Chapter 19: Tears
* Chapter 20: The Other Side
* Chapter 21: Colorful forest
* Chapter 22: Dream I Had a Long Time Ago
* Chapter 23: Happy Item
* Chapter 24: The Wing's Whereabouts
* Chapter 25: You on the Other Side
VolumeExtras = Cover character:

* Kiara
Summary =Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 5
OriginalRelDate = October 10, 2007cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4861274389/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 5 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-07-11 |language=Japanese ]
OriginalISBN = 978-4861274381
LicensedRelDate = Cancelled
June 24, 2008
LicensedISBN = 978-1-4278-1280-3
ISBN 978-981-276-479-9
ChapterList =
*
VolumeExtras = Cover character:

* Virid Visette Viridian
Summary =Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 6
OriginalRelDate = June 10, 2008cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4861275067/ |title=Beyond the Beyond, Volume 6 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |accessdate=2008-07-11 |language=Japanese ]
OriginalISBN = 978-4861275067
LicensedRelDate =
LicensedISBN =
ChapterList =
VolumeExtras = Cover character:

* Futaba Kudo
Summary =

References

External links

* [http://www.tokyopop.com/shop/1579/BeyondtheBeyond/1.html Official Tokyopop "Beyond the Beyond" manga website]
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