Dur-An-Ki

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Summary

  • Dur-An-Ki, created by Berserk’s Kentaro Miura and Studio Gaga, will have its first English release by Dark Horse Comics.
  • The one-shot series was inspired by Greek and Mesopotamian myth and features an androgynous protagonist named Usumgal.
  • After Miura’s death in 2021, the series was completed with unpublished works and will be available in English on September 16, 2025.

In 2019, a single comic titled “One-Shot” by Kentaro Miura, who is also known for Berserk, and Studio Gaga will be making its debut in the English language, thanks to Dark Horse Comics, the company that has secured the rights to distribute this manga masterpiece across the English-speaking world.

In summary, the manga titled Dur-An-Ki, consisting of just two chapters spanning 64 pages, was published in Young Animal Zero, a seinen magazine by Hakusensha, from September 2019 to May 2020. The series was concluded following Miura’s passing in 2021. The individual volume of Dur-An-Ki was released in December 2021, and the English translation of this single volume is scheduled for release on September 16, 2025.

Dur-An-Ki Plot and Background Information

Inspired By Greek and Mesopotamian Myth

In a world blending Greek and Mesopotamian mythological elements, the manga titled Dur-An-Ki revolves around an androgynous lead character named Usumgal, or “Dragon.” This comic book series was unveiled in 2019, debuting in Hakusensha’s Young Animal Zero magazine. However, it garnered significant controversy from Berserk fans, who feared that Dur-An-Ki could detract from the long-running Berserk series, which started in 1989. In an interview, creator Kentaro Miura clarified that his role in the creation of Dur-An-Ki was limited, with Studio Gaga – the team entrusted with realizing Miura’s vision for Berserk – primarily handling the series, while he served as director and storyboard artist.

Drawing inspiration from the impactful female protagonists in contemporary stories like Disney’s Frozen and Mad Max: Fury Road, Miura opted to develop an androgynous lead character for Dur-An-Ki. Unfortunately, after Miura’s passing in May 2021, the series was concluded. The compilation volume encompasses previously unpublished work, the original story blueprint, sketches, and intriguing supplementary materials. The title “Dur-An-Ki” is a Sumerian phrase that translates to “mountain house”, symbolizing the gathering of gods in the Garden of the Gods in Mesopotamian mythology, often referred to as the boundary where heaven and Earth intersect. Duranki’s counterpart in Greek mythology is renowned Mount Olympus. The English version is translated by Duane Johnson, with Studio Cutie handling the typography. Dur-An-Ki will be available in US bookstores on September 16.

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2025-02-19 16:45