Crusher Joe

Crusher Joe
First edition cover of the first novel
クラッシャージョウ
(Kurasshā Jō)
Novel series
Written byHaruka Takachiho
Illustrated byYoshikazu Yasuhiko
Published byAsahi Sonorama/Asahi Shimbun Publications
Original run1977 – 2016
Volumes13
Manga
Written byHaruka Takachiho
Illustrated byFujihiko Hosono
Published byAsahi Sonorama
English publisher
MagazineManga Shōnen
DemographicShōnen
Published1979
Volumes1
Anime film
Directed byYoshikazu Yasuhiko
Written by
  • Haruka Takachiho
  • Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Music byNorio Maeda
Studio
Licensed by
Released
  • 12 March 1983 (1983-03-12)
Runtime132 minutes
Original video animation
Crusher Joe: The Ice Prison
Directed byToshifumi Takizawa
Written byFuyunori Gobu
Music byKeiichi Oku
Studio
  • Studio Nue
  • Sunrise
Licensed by
Released5 February 1989
Runtime60 minutes
Original video animation
Crusher Joe: The Ultimate Weapon: Ash
Directed byToshifumi Takizawa
Written byFuyunori Gobu
Music byKeiichi Oku
Studio
  • Studio Nue
  • Sunrise
Licensed by
  • NA: Discotek Media
Released5 June 1989
Runtime55 minutes
Manga
Crusher Joe Rebirth
Written byHaruka Takachiho
Illustrated byYu Harii
Published byKodansha
MagazineEvening (2017–2022)
DemographicSeinen
Original run12 September 2017 – present
Volumes5

Crusher Joe (Japanese: クラッシャージョウ, Hepburn: Kurasshā Jō) is a series of science fiction novels written by Haruka Takachiho and published by Asahi Sonorama from 1977 to 2005 (an additional trilogy was published between 2013 and 2016). During the late 1970s one of the founding fathers of Studio Nue, Takachiho, decided that besides being a designer he would try his hand at penning novels. The result was Crusher Joe, a group of antiheroes who were not the typical self-sacrificing types but noble in their own right nonetheless.[1]

Crusher Joe was made into an animated film in 1983 and two original video animation (OVA) episodes in 1989. The film version won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1983.[2] The film features several guest designs by Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira Toriyama, Rumiko Takahashi and Hideo Azuma.[3] In 2021, Takachiho revealed that he worked with Otomo on a sequel film "a long time ago." Otomo created a storyboard for the beginning of the sequel and gave it to Sunrise, but the project fell through.[3] The movie and the OVA series were licensed for English release by Discotek Media in 2016.

A manga series illustrated by Yu Harii, titled Crusher Joe Rebirth, started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Evening on 12 September 2017;[4] the manga entered on hiatus in February 2022,[5] and the magazine ceased its publication in February 2023.[6] Its chapters have been collected in five volumes as of February 2022.[7]

  1. ^ Washington, Darius (24 March 2011). "Rollin' with The Crushers". Otaku USA. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  2. ^ "第6回アニメグランプリ ［1984年6月号］". Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Haruka Takachiho Planned Crusher Joe 2 Film with Katsuhiro Otomo, but Never Happened". Crunchyroll. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. ^ Tai, Anita (21 August 2017). "Crusher Joe Gets New Manga Adaptation". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ Mateo, Alex (7 February 2022). "Crusher Joe Rebirth Manga Goes on Hiatus". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. ^ イブニングが23年間の歴史に幕、最終号に「アザゼルさん。」「ギャングキング」読み切り. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. ^ "クラッシャージョウ ＲＥＢＩＲＴＨ（５）" (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved 1 March 2023.