Manga publisher Kodansha is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the largest comic book publication by re-releasing a new edition of Attack on Titan in an amazingly large size. Images have been revealed demonstrating the massive size of the volume. However, the publisher will have to hit a particular benchmark in order to be recognized as the record holder.
Kodansha is already Japan's largest publishing company, and its offshoot Kodansha Comics imprint publishes the manga in Japanese as well as translating some of these stories into English. They recently released the English translation of My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought Volume 1. Their Attack on Titan manga is arguably their most famous title, winning awards and spawning a hit anime.
Anime News Network shared images of the giant-sized Attack on Titan re-release, which is supposed to be six to seven times the size of a regular tankо̄bon (a Japanese term for a collection of several manga chapters in one book). It stands at 96-pages and collects the first two chapters of Attack on Titan. So, collectors will be able to see some of the manga's most brutal deaths in giant-size form.
This Attack on Titan book will only become the record holder for the largest comic book publisher if it sells out of its limited 100 copy print run. According to Anime News Network, the cost of the Japanese manga will be 165,000 yen, which equals about $1,540. Though the official Kodansha website lists the price as 150,000 yen, or about $1385. So if anyone has over $1,000 to spend on a probable world-record holder, now's the time to pre-order it. The book will be delivered to buyers in May. This is a pretty timely moment in the history of Attack on Titan considering the manga, which has been running for 12 years now, will be ending this April.
For the two people who haven't heard of Attack on Titan, the manga created by Hajime Isayama takes place in a world where towns are surrounded by walls to protect the residents from humungous man-eaters known as Titans. The adventure kicks off with Eren Yeager witnessing the death of his mother to a Titan, causing him to seek out his revenge. Along with his foster sister Mikasa Ackerman and childhood friend Armin Arlert, he joins the military's effort to take down the Titans once and for all, discovering plenty of secrets and the Titans' weakness.
If Kodansha breaks this record, it will be replacing Panini Brasil's Turma da Mônica by Mauricio de Sousa Produções, which is larger than seven feet. This accomplishment would just be another part of Attack on Titan's already impressive mark on pop culture history. So, experience the sad life of Eren Yeager and his fellow cadets in the world of Attack on Titan in this monster-sized edition. Will Attack on Titan hit its goal and make Kodansha a Guinness World Record holder? Only time and the size of people's wallets (and willingness to drop over $1000 on one manga) will tell!
Source: Anime News Network