Saint Seiya: Next Dimension
From Seiyapedia
Saint Seiya: Next Dimension - Hades MythologySeinto Seiya: NEXT DIMENSION - Meio Shinwa is an ongoing manga by Masami Kurumada, a prequel as well as a sequel to his famed series, Saint Seiya. The story takes place during the previous Holy War between Hades and Athena in the 18th century. It is published by Akita Shoten in the weekly magazine Shonen Champion at irregular dates.
At the release of the first tankōbon of the series, Next Dimension was confirmed to be canonical within the universe and chronology conceived by Kurumada for Saint Seiya[1].
Contents |
Plot
In the year 1990, in Elysion; the five Bronze Saints of Athena Seiya, Hyōga, Shun, Shiryū and Ikki are locked in deadly combat. Having wreaked havoc in the Underworld's army of Specters and succeeding in resurrecting their armors into "God Cloths", they engage the god Hades in a final duel to the death. During the battle, Hades remembers that he has seen Seiya's face before and comes to the conclusion that he faced him before. He thus starts reminiscing about his previous host body, and the story starts 247 years prior, in the 18th century. The protagonist, the Pegasus Saint of this era, is an orphan who is best friends with a boy named Alone, the host of Hades in this era. Former Bronze Saints Dohko and Shion, two prominent characters in Kurumada's original manga as the sole survivors of the holy war of that century, have just been promoted to Gold Saints and eventually the two duos share a meeting.[1][1]
Production & Style
Masami Kurumada first announced the start of the follow-up to his famous Saint Seiya series in 2006. On April 21 he posted an image of Hades, Lord of the Underworld, on his blog.[1] Short chapters came to be published once or even trice per month due to its sporadic release until January 4, 2007 when the next chapter didn't get released until August 2, 2007. The series have kept up sporadic releases, with brief intervals of week-to-week publication, but Masami Kurumada updates his blog after a longer interval to show the next upcoming chapters.[1] In Volume 2, in his personal message, Masami Kurumada apologies for the delay of the second volume; revealing that he was sick for a long time in the spring of 2009.[1]
Following Masami Kurumada's traditional writing and drawing style, the storyline unfolds in typical shōnen manga narrative. In addition each chapter is presented in full color. The first chapter was initially called Prologue ①, however, the "①" was removed in the collected first volume. During the first 14 chapters, the borderline of the pages was colored to look like a starlit night sky, this was changed to standard white in part 14 and further chapters as well as a standard in compiled volumes.[1] Parts 15 and 16 were published in a black & white format complemented by one color image each. The following parts have continued being released in black & white accompanied by various colored pages. The parts published in black and white will be available in full color in their respective volume compilation.[1][1] Certain objects and pieces of information that was previously published in the Saint Seiya Encyclopedia are used in the story such as one of Athena's 88 armors, the Crateris Silver Cloth.[1]
Characters
Pegasus Tenma
- The previous incarnation of Pegasus Seiya who is best friends with Alone since childhood and was trained by Crateris Suikyō. He first met Alone during a Snowstorm one night, in an abandoned Shack where they both sought refuge. Tenma deceived Alone at first so that he could steal his belongings, but was stopped by Suikyō. As Suikyo was going to kill Tenma for being a thief, Alone lied and said he had given his bag to Tenma. Suikyō was eventually convinced somewhat and told Tenma he was now in debt to Alone and should therefore guard the boy for the rest of his life. After escaping with Alone from Libra Dohko and Aries Shion, he finds there's something wrong with Alone and vows to protect him, but he doesn't tell his friend why. After realizing he has left behind his Pegasus cloth in his escape from the Gold Saints, he heads back and equips it and attempts to fight the Gold Saints. He is defeated, and later heads back for Alone, but discovers that he has become Hades. He tries to make him remember, though Pandora and some Specters intervenes and almost kills him, until Dohko and Shion arrive. The two Saints defeat the small group of Specters and start asking Tenma some questions about who he is and who trained him. He reveals that his master went by the name of Crateris Suikyō, which shocks the Gold Saints since they knew him. Suddenly, a Specter appears: Gryphon Vermeer of the Celestial Nobility Star. As Tenma charges towards him, Vermeer stops him with just one finger and sends him flying, letting Shion and Dohko deal with the Specter. As the Gold Saints get trapped in Vermeer's Cosmic Marionation, Tenma tries again but gets trapped in the technique as well. It is then that the Specter of Garuda appears and Tenma recognizes his voice and looks as his master Suikyo's. After a moment Suikyō decides to prove to Vermeer that he really is a Specter by cutting Tenma's head of, which gets interupted by a summoning to Hades' Castle. Dohko and Sion later helps him by making him drink from the water they had poured into the Crateris cloth. But Tenma sees a mysterious future reflection of himself, a reflection of Seiya in a wheelchair. [1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1]
- Techniques:
- Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken: Pegasus Meteor Fist
Libra Dohko
- The future master of Dragon Shiryu. At the story's start, he was a Bronze Saint, but was promoted to the Gold Saint of Libra. He, along with Aries Shion, went off to destroy Hades' vessel, Alone, to stop the war from taking place. But due to the intervention of Pegasus Tenma, he got away. After a struggle with Tenma, he set off after Alone but what they found was Tenma being badly beaten by Specters, and Hades' Castle looming in the distance. The two Saints defeat the small group of Specters and start asking Tenma some questions about who he is and who trained him. He reveals that his master went by the name of Crateris Suikyō, which shocks the Gold Saints since they knew him from when they trained in the Sanctuary. Suddenly a Specter appears: Gryphon Vermeer of the Celestial Nobility Star. As Tenma is easily overpowered by Vermeer, it's up to Shion and Dohko to deal with the Specter. Yet due to the influence of Hades' barrier, the Specter easily overpowers them and traps them in his Cosmic Marination. Soon Tenma follows, and as they are hanging there, the Specter of Garuda appears which Dohko recognizes as his old friend Suikyō. As the two Specters eventually becomes summoned to Hades' castle, leaving the saints to die. Tenma's horse Pegasus appears and has in the second barrel with him the Crateris Silver Cloth. Which Dohko and Sion pour water in and gets healed by. [1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1]
- Techniques:
- Rozan Hyaku Ryu Ha: Mount Lu One Hundred Dragons Force
Aries Shion
- The old Pope, future Aries Mu's master. He was originally a Bronze Saint, but was promoted to the Gold Saint of Aries. He, along with Libra Dohko, went off to kill Hades' vessel Alone to stop the war from happening. But due to the intervention of Pegasus Tenma, Alone got away. After a struggle with Tenma, Shion and Dohko set off after Alone, but found Tenma being badly beaten by Specters and Hades' Castle looming in the distance. The two Saints defeat the small group of Specters and start asking Tenma some questions about who he is and who trained him. He reveals that his master went by the name of Crateris Suikyō, which shocks the Gold Saints since they knew him from when they trained in the Sanctuary. Suddenly a Specter appears: Gryphon Vermeer of the Celestial Nobility Star. As Tenma is easily overpowered by Vermeer, it's up to Shion and Dohko to deal with the Specter. Yet due to the influence of Hades' barrier, the Specter easily overpowers them and traps them in his Cosmic Marionation. Soon Tenma follows, and as they are hanging there, the Specter of Garuda who Shion recognizes as his old friend Suikyo appears. The two Specters are eventually summoned to Hades' castle, leaving the saints to die. Tenma's horse Pegasus appears and has with him the second barrel of Crateris Silver Cloth. Dohko and Shion pour water in, and are healed.[1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1]
- Techniques:
- Stardust Revolution (Sutadasuto Reboryushon)
Alone (Hades)
- Hades' new vessel, with the purest soul on earth. Prior to the Holy war, he was best friends with Pegasus Tenma since childhood.He first met Tenma during a Snowstorm one night, in an abandoned Shack where they both sought refuge. Tenma deceived Alone at first so that he could steal his belongings, but was stopped by Suikyo. As Suikyo was going to kill Tenma for being a thief, Alone lied and said he had given his bag to Tenma. Suikyō was eventually convinced somewhat and told Tenma he was now in debt to Alone and should therefore guard Alone for the rest of his life. At the start of the war, he could feel that dark things were headed his way, and they came after him. He and Tenma escaped from Libra Dohko and Aries Shion, and ended up outside a small mausoleum. As Tenma went back to retrieve his cloth, a voice called for Alone inside the mausoleum. As he entered he found Hades' Sword stuck in the ground. It was then that Pandora showed herself and talked Aroon/Alone into grabbing the hilt of the sword. Alone started plunging into darkness and didn't even reply to Tenma as he strode towards Hades' Castle. [1][1][1][1][1][1][1][1]
Pandora
- Hades' personal protector, who is the one that tells Alone to touch Hades' Sword and makes him become Hades. She later commands the Specter Skeletons to dispose of Tenma as she escorts Hades to his Castle. When she arrives at the castle, she summons the Specters together. [1][1][1][1] Template:-
Vermeer
- Vermeer (Specter of Gryphon, Celestial Nobility Star) is the Gryphon Specter of this Holy War. After Pandora and Hades have made their way to the castle, he sets out to finish the three Saints. With little ease, he overpowers Tenma and thus starts fighting the two Gold Saints. His first move is throwing them high up in the air to demonstrate his power, seeing as they are inside Hades barrier which weakens the Saints power tenfold. He then proceeds by using his Cosmic Marionation technique and traps the Saints, whom he starts to torture by breaking Dohko's hand. But as he is about to break Shion's neck, Garuda Suikyō appears. He tells him that Pandora is looking for him and that he doesn't need to exterminate the Saints. [1][1][1][1]
- Techniques:
- Cosmic Marionation (Kozumikku Marioneshon)
- He is named after the dutch painter Jan Vermeer
- Also See Gryphon Minos
Crateris Suikyō (Specter of Garuda, Celestial Valiance Star)
- Silver Saint of Crateris, master of Tenma and a very good friend of Dohko and Sion. He has a strong sense of justice but has somehow started serving Hades.
Toma (Angel of the Mount Olympus)
- Angel of the Mount Olympus, freed from the lunar prison from Callisto the commander of the Satellites, is receives l' order to kill Seiya. It possesses an armor of name Glory(the Glory of the Sleep Angel).
Artemis (Goddess of the Moon and the hunt)
- Older sister of Athena, goddess of the moon and the hunt, lives in the temple of the moon situated to the slopes of the Mount Olympus. The temple of the Moon it is protect from numerous woman soldier calls "Satellites" commant from Callisto.
Crono (God of the time)
- Crono, god of the time, dwelling within a great lake situated near the Mount Olympus.
Chapters
35 Chapters have been released to date. The first tankōbon was released on February 6th, 2009, by Akita Shōten[1].
- Prologue - published on April 27 2006
- Part 01: "Shion and Dohko" - published on August 3 2006
- Part 02: "Alone" - published on August 17 2006
- Part 03: "Tenma" - published on September 21 2006
- Part 04: "Friend" - published on November 2 2006
- Part 05: "Hades Sword" - published on November 9 2006
- Part 06: "Hades Awakening" - published on November 16 2006
- Part 07: "Hades Castle" - published on December 21 2006
- Part 08: "Specters" - published on January 4 2007
- Part 09: "Barrier" - published on August 2 2007
- Part 10: "Suikyo" - published on August 16 2007
- Part 11: "Warmth" - published on December 6 2007
- Part 12: "The Water of Crateris" - published on January 24 2008
- Part 13: "Izô And Ox" - published on February 5 2009
- Part 14: "Bracelet of Flowers" - published on February 9 2009
- Part 15: "The Temple of the Moon" - published on February 19 2009
- Part 16: "As Long As Love Exists" - published on February 25 2009
- Part 17: "Raskmoon" - published on September 17 2009
- Part 18: "Immortal Bird" - published on September 24, 2009
- Part 19: "The Gate to Time and Space" - published on October 1, 2009
- Part 20: "Athena's Birth" - published on March 11, 2010
- Part 21: "The Pope's Dagger" - published on March 18, 2010
- Part 22: "To Athena's Side" - published on March 25, 2010
- Part 23: "The Enemy Is Inside the Sanctuary" - published on March 29, 2010
- Part 24: "Crystal Wall" - published on August 19, 2010
- Part 25: "Tears of Blood" - published on August 26, 2010
- Part 26: "The Guidance of Athena" - published on September 2, 2010
- Part 27: "Deadly Combat in the Temple of the White Ram" - published on September 9, 2010
- Part 28: "Suishō" - published on September 16, 2010
- Part 29: "Ice Lances" - published on September 24, 2010
- Part 30: "One-Winged Fallen Angel" - published on December 9, 2010
- Part 31: "Gemini's Labyrinth" - published on December 23, 2010
- Part 32: "Premonition to a Deadly Battle" - published on January 06, 2011
- Part 33: "Deadly Battle in the Gemini Temple" - published on January 13, 2011
- Part 34: "Gemini Abel" - published on January 19, 2011
- Part 35: "Light and Shadow - Cain and Abel" - published on January 26, 2011
Reception
During its first week, the first volume of the manga sold 30,618 copies in Japan and stood on the 22nd place of most sold in February 2009.[1] The following week it had sold 57,426 copies, but had gone down to 27th place of most sold that month.[1]After its first week the second volume lay on 9th place of most bought manga volume of march in Japan.[1] During its first week, the third volume of the manga sold 44,200 copies in Japan and stood on the 17nd place of most sold in December 2010[1]
External links
- Japanese
