WILD ADAPTER Returns After Nine Years: Kazuya Minekura Revives Her Action Manga
"WILD ADAPTER" Resumes After Nine-Year Hiatus
Fans of Kazuya Minekura's acclaimed "WILD ADAPTER" (ワイルドアダプタ) can finally rejoice! After nearly a decade of waiting, the hard-boiled action manga is resuming serialization with the release of Chapter 50 on August 8th via Ichijinsha's digital platform, "Ichijin Plus." This marks a significant milestone, as the previous chapter (Chapter 49), was published in March 2016.
What is "WILD ADAPTER" About?
"WILD ADAPTER" centers on Kubota Makoto and Tokito Minoru as they delve into the criminal underworld to investigate a mysterious drug known as "WA." Makoto, a gang leader with a troubled past, takes Minoru under his wing after Minoru's right arm transforms into a monstrous limb due to exposure to "WA." Their journey aims to unravel the origins and devastating effects of this substance.
The manga began serialization in "Chara" (Tokuma Shoten) in 2000, later moving to Ichijinsha's “Zero Sum Ward” until its closure in 2015, and then to "Zero Sum Online."
Minekura's Creative Resurgence
The resumption of "WILD ADAPTER" follows a period of slowed publication due to Kazuya Minekura's health issues, which affected both "WILD ADAPTER" and "Saiyuki Reload Blast" starting in 2013. However, this return signals a broader creative resurgence for the mangaka, as she also recently resumed "Saiyuki Reload Blast" in September 2024 after a five-year hiatus .
Beyond the manga, the "WILD ADAPTER" universe has expanded through two OVAs released in 2014 and 2015. Its characters also appear in Minekura's other work, "Shiritsu Araiso Koutougakkou Seitokai Shikkoubu."
International Reach and Free Chapters
WILD ADAPTER gained an international following when Tokyopop licensed it in 2006, releasing six volumes before their North American division closed. To celebrate the series' return, Ichijin Plus will offer the first six chapters, along with chapters 49 and 50, free of charge from August 8th to September 28th. If you haven't checked out this series yet, this is the perfect opportunity to not only immerse yourself in this world but also to show your support for the mangaka.
