I know this thread has been deader than...better not go there
...but I just got my copies of Ariga's Rockman Maniax and Izuki's re-issued, complete Rockman 8 in the mail today, and figured I'd post a couple samples again. Man, these books are beasts. It's like a college textbook and the Holy Bible had an illegitimate, extra-healthy, overweight child together.
Maniax doesn't necessarily have a ton of new content, despite being 420 pages. There are a few pages of full color art in both the front and back. The front has things like the RM9 Arranged Soundtrack cover, Rockman Remix's cover, etc. The back has the full color images he created for the Rockman 10 Yrs. History book. After the intro, the Maniax strips go on for about 50 pages, and then 4komas run for a bit, most of which were printed in previous 'Mix' books. The minor enemy gallery is soon after, followed by the Rockman Remix stories. After that, we get the "Robot Master Roll Call" images from Megamix that show all 8 RMs and their Dr.# from RM1-5. Then the RM9 AST manga, although still small in size. 2 pages from the CD booklet version are on each page in here. Artistically, it wraps up with Character File reprints...until we get some fresh ones. RMs from 7-9, plus the Stardroids and Rockman Killers are included. Time Man and Oil Man also get some love, although it's the colorless version of the images we have already seen on the web. Nice compilation, especially if you've missed out on Remix in the past.
I was excited when I heard Izuki's re-issue of Rockman 8 would finally include more pages to complete the story, which left off with Searchman's chapter ending Volume 2. Sword Man and Astro Man had not gotten any love, nor was there any Wily Stage action. This sucker is well over 500 pages now, with nearly 150 pages added on to the originals. Quickly thrown together general summary below:
[spoiler]Sword Man's stage art is pretty neat and beautiful, and it was fun to see his miniboss in action. Typical sword dual in their battle, but a really nice chapter. Astro Man's chapter gets a little weird, filled with illusions, and I guess what seems most disappointing on the surface is...Izuki totally ripped off Ariga. Not speaking Japanese, I can't confirm the text, but to the naked eye, it kinda seems like after blowing up Astroman, KING'S NUMBERS FROM ROCKMAN AND FORTE POP OUT OF HIM! I think I sorta saw that in Gigamix. I mean, OK, I get that Tengu and Astro also appeared in that game, but why do King and all his numbers have to be in the Rockman 8 manga? Izuki already did the RnF manga! I guess it's supposed to make some connection, but it just came across as odd.
Anyhow, hologram King appears to taunt Rock and Wily, he sicks the Green Devil at Tenguman, who came out of the fortress, and they head back into Wily Fortress. All the King numbers are teleported away, except Pirateman, who was ordered to follow Tengu/Devil. Tengu wins, and blows up the Devil's eye, which had some evil energy in it. Pirate goes to grab it, but Rock fires a charge shot and blows something up. No direct visuals to tell if his shot hit Pirate, Tengu, the evil energy, or all three, because as he looks up at a cloud of smoke, Wily Machine breaks through a wall...and Wily's pissed. Wily Machine is possessed by evil energy as well, and loses it's machine look quickly, trading it in for a gooey, skullhead-meets-Geodude look. Duo bursts in, overpowers the evil energy, and Rock still nearly dies. But Rush shows up, Rock goes into Rush Armor mode, and blows up Wily Capsule. Rock passes out. Rock wakes up back in Light Lab, while people celebrate. Back at Blues' grave, Duo and Blues talk about Wily, and all the RM's he's created. Blues' cross headstone has been knocked over (perhaps Duo had something to do with that?). And on the last page, Rock, Guts, Cut, townspeople, etc., start rebuilding. [/spoiler]
