Matsumoto serialized original manga in 1972-1975, introduced Tochirō character

Manga creator Yuzuru Shimazaki launched a reboot of Leiji Matsumoto's 1972 Gun Frontier manga in the December issue of Akita Shoten's Monthly Champion RED magazine on Wednesday titled Gun Frontier ~Harlock & Tochirō Seishun no Tabi~ (Gun Frontier ~Harlock & Tochirō's Youthful Journey).

The manga's story is set on a wasteland planet and centers on quick-draw Harlock, and his close friend who always wields a samurai sword, Tochirō, as they journey across the land. The story begins when they meet a girl named Sinunora.

Matsumoto serialized the original manga in Akita Shoten's Play Comic magazine from 1972 to 1975. The manga is notable for introducing the character of Tochirō, who would be a recurring character in Matsumoto's stories surrounding the Captain Harlock character.

The manga inspired a television anime adaptation in 2002. Media Blasters released the series in North America in five DVD volumes from 2003 to 2004.

The December issue of Monthly Champion RED also included a copy of Shōnen Plasma Sentai , a previously uncollected manga Matsumoto published in Akita Shoten's Bōken Ō magazine when he still went by the name of Akira Matsumoto.

Source: Comic Natalie