Interest
Manga Creator Moto Hagio Warns of Forged Drawings
posted on by Egan Loo
Editor Matt Thorn reported on Monday that an online auction claimed to have sketches drawn by manga creator Moto Hagio, but Hagio confirmed that she did not actually draw those sketches.
The auction, which ended on Sunday at 85,600 yen (about US$1,120), claimed to have sketches and a pin-up poster from Hagio's 1974 shōnen-ai manga Heart of Thomas (Thomas no Shinzō). Specifically, it listed the signed and inked sketch for the seventh page from the manga's 14th installment, as well as the draft sketches for panels and pages in the second, third, and fourth installments.
According to Thorn, Hagio wants to file a report with the police. Thorn also asked people who know the auction's final bidder to get in touch.
Fantagraphics announced last month that it will release the manga in North America next August. Thorn is editing and translating the manga, just as he did for last year's Fantagraphics release of Hagio's A Drunken Dream and Other Stories. The story follows the protagonist Juli after the death of his friend Thomas one winter morning.
[Via Ko Ransom]
Update: Anime character designer Akemi Takada reported on similar forged sketches of her Kimagure Orange Road work last month.
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