Goldorak (Editions Kana Graphic Novel)

The French dub of UFO Robo Grendizer, titled Goldorak was the first anime series to be telecast in France and legend goes that the series was so popular among French viewers that several episodes scored an 100% TV rating. The series has continued to garner a cult following in the French speaking anime fandom. In late 2020, a fully licensed Goldorak graphic novel was announced and ultimately released on October 15, 2021 by French Publisher, Editions Kana. According to the creative team, Go Nagai himself gave his blessings to the comics story, which serves as a sequel to the original Toei anime set 10 years after the final episode but ignoring the events of the previous two Toei Mazinger series.

Synopsis
Ten years have passed since the war between the forces of The Vegan Empire and Grendizer. Duke Fleed and his sister Maria have returned to Fleed while Koji and Hikaru try to lead normal lives as a CEO and surgeon respectively, until the mightiest of the Saucer Beasts, known as Hydragon, arose lead by the last remnants of the Vegan army demanding the human race be forced out of Earth within a week or face certain death. Facing an enemy only Grendizer could bring down, Koji, Hikaru and Professor Umon quickly discover that not only have Maria and Duke Fleed returned to Earth in hiding, but hold a dark secret that holds the key to answering the origins of this strike attack.

After much internal conflict, the Space Science Laboratory team and Duke Fleed reactivate Grendizer to fight off the Vegan Empire one last time, but soon Daisuke realizes that not all of the Vegan's are as willing to fight back as their leaders are and is faced with the most important decision in not only his life, but for the lives of all beings across the universe: Can he convince his enemies to make peace?

Reception
The comic has received positive reviews from readers for it's detailed art and a story that keeps the spirit of the original series. Many fans have also noted its themes of refugees and how revenge for past atrocities isn't the answer as being allegorical to the Middle Eastern refugee crisis in Western Europe, incidentally tying the popularity of Grendizer in the Arab world with that of France and other host countries to the Arab refugees.

Trivia

 * The Graphic Novel was originally set for release in 2020, in honor of Grendizer's then 45th anniversary, but was pushed to 2021 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
 * Being based on the Goldorak dub, the characters and locations are identified by their French names rather than the original Japanese names (e.g. Grendizer as Goldorak, Duke Fleed as Actarus, Koji as Alcor etc.).