When you think of anime, what comes to mind?
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Japan?
The genre’s so-called Kawaii Queens?
Maybe your mind goes to mystical Dragon Balls or monstrous Titans. You might even think of Sailor Moon’s squad or Pokemon.
But, for some fans, they think of Iron Man’s hi-tech gauntlets or Donatello’s turtle shell. Despite anime’s Japanese origin, the genre has adapted tons of foreign franchises, and Western comic books haven’t been immune to the reach.
From Marvel Comics to indie presses, some of the world’s most iconic comic books have been transformed into hit-or-miss anime series. If you’ve ever wanted to Wolverine romp through the streets of Shibuya, then you can do so – you know, without having to suffer through The Wolverine. If you’re someone who’d like to see Batman fight the Yakuza, then there’s already an anime for you.
Whether you watch anime or not, there are several comic-based anime series worth binging if you’ve got some time.
So, naturally, we’ve collected a list of 10 of these shows that might turn you into a newly converted otaku.
Witchblade
If you’ve ever read Image Comics’ Witchblade, then you’re probably a fan.
The acclaimed series follows an NYPD Dective named Sara Pezzini after she comes to possess the Witchblade, a mysterious bracelet that imbues its wearer with supernatural powers.
But, when it comes to the Witchblade anime, everything is totally different.
The 2006 series follows an entirely new plot with strange characters as Masane Amaha finds herself wearing the Witchblade. The single-mother lives in Tokyo with her daughter, but her connection to the weapon pushes her into a seedy conspiracy that uncover her country’s corporate greed.
Batman: Gotham Knight
Japan has a long and strange history with Batman.
Gotham’s greatest superhero has been a hit with foreign fans for decades now, and Japan has lovingly transformed the character into someone who’s equal parts quirky and somber.
Just look up Bat-Manga and you’ll see it for yourself.
So, unsurprisingly, the hero had a starring role in the anime universe. Created in 2008, Batman: Gotham Knight was released straight to DVD and collected six short films featuring Bruce Wayne.
The anime anthology is chronologically set between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, but the film’s creators stressed the project wasn’t necessarily canon to Christopher Nolan’s best-selling films. Instead, Batman: Gotham Knight follows Bruce Wayne as he fights small-time Gotham baddies, drawing from DC Comics such as Legends of the Dark Knight to pad out its plot lines.
Cannon Busters
If you’ve never heard of Cannon Buster, don’t be too concerned.
The indie comic was created by LeSean Thomas, an animator who’s worked on shows such as The Boondocks, Green Lantern: First Flight, and Legend of Korra. The first issue of Cannon Buster was published back in March 2005, and recently, the comic book crowdfunded enough cash to kickstart its own anime series.
Cannon Buster’s first episode aired earlier this summer, and the anime boasts talent such as Tim Yoon (Batman: Under the Red Hood) and Satelight. The show follows the comic closely as Philly the Kid runs into all kinds of trouble in Gearbolt as he avoids authorities who wish to detain him. Traveling with a drone named Somberly, the duo search for Prine Toji of Gearbolt and eventually learn their homeland is hiding some very dangerous secrets.
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
Fans of The Avengers may have already heard of this hugely popular anime. Created by Toei Animation, Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers follows a group of children who possess Digital Identity Securement Kits (DISKs) of Marvel’s greatest superheroes. The heroes find themselves trapped inside the DISKs after Loki hijacks the kits’ technology, helping him imprison the Avenger and also breakout a ton of captured villains. Teaming together, the children work alongside the heroes to recapture the baddies’ DISKs before anyone else can grab them.
The show first aired in 2014 and hosted work from creators like Tadayoshi Yamamuro (Dragon Ball) and Toshiaki Komura (Precure). Anime lovers fell for the show, leaving Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers to accumulate spin-off games and even snag a U.S. premiere on Disney XD.
Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend
If you’re going to revisit the world of 90s anime, then you’ve got to take a look at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The four pizza-loving heroes originated in a comic by Mirage Studios before they were given an animated TV series in 1987. By 1996, the teenager superheroes were global stars, and Japan was ready to turn these turtles into anime icons.
Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend aired in May 1996 on TV Tokyo and sourced stories straight from the franchise’s comics. The first OVA episode focused on the Supermutants arc while the second was based on an exclusive Metal Mutation storyline. Sadly, the two-part anime was never released with official English dubbing, but fans have thankfully subbed the turtle’s adventures.
Iron Man
When Iron Man (2008) hit theaters, Hollywood didn’t know what hit it. The hero’s first-ever live action film stunned critics, leading Marvel Studios to pursue their plans for a full-blown cinematic universe. The popularity of Iron Man rose exponentially as fans came to love Tony Stark’s hi-tech ensemble. So when Japan’s Madhouse studio offered to make an Iron Man anime, Marvel Entertainment jumped at the chance.
Iron Man (2011) contains 12 episodes and found Yuza Sato helming the series. However, it was Britain’s own Warren Ellis who treated the anime’s script. The show follows Tony Stark as he visits Japan to show-off a new, autonomous Iron Man suit that’ll replace him after he retires. However, in Age of Ultron fashion, the robotic armor goes haywire and forces Iron Man to take down the prototype.
A direct-to-video sequel followed Iron Man’s initial release when Iron Man: Rise of the Technovore premiered April 16th 2013.
Wolverine
With an Iron Man anime under their belt, Marvel Entertainment decided they’d gift several other heroes with a solo series. The company teamed up with Madhouse to create a Wolverine TV show. And, unlike the critically panned The Wolverine flick, the 12-episode anime fared well with fans.
The series follows Logan as he returns to Japan in search of his now-missing girlfriend Mariko Yashida. The grumpy hero soon learns Mariko’s father Shingen Yashida had captured his own daughter so she could be wed to Hideki Kurohagi, a slimy corporate figure. The marriage was set in place to bolster Shingen’s status as a crime lord and weapons supplier to A.I.M. Determined to save Mariko, Wolverine goes on a hunt and even teams up with the X-Men’s Cyclops to find his sweetheart.
X-Men
Marvel Entertainment’s third anime resurrected a fan-favorite series when it turned to the X-Men. Of course, the team had already been popularized by Fox’s 90s X-Men: The Animated Series as fans everywhere championed the colorful cartoon. Japan took the cartoon to a whole new level with their exclusive opening theme. Seriously, if you’ve never seen it, then you need to check it out.
However, the X-Men anime wasn’t received as well as its predecessor. The series takes place after Jean Grey’s death and shows the X-Men trying to cope with their loss. Traveling to Japan, the team finds themselves facing the U-Men, a group of who kidnap mutants and harvest their organs. The X-Men then fight to free those who’ve been captured by the group and quickly find themselves embroiled in a dangerous plot planned by the Inner Circle.
Blade
When it came to Marvel Entertainment’s final anime run, the company chose to close out with Blade. The series follow Eric Brooks, a ‘day-walking’ vampire who’s supernatural gifts are a bit different from others like him. Disgusted with his kind’s gory ways, Blade vows to exterminate the vampire race and heads to Japan to take down a local coven. It’s there that Blade finds Deacon Frost, the cold-hearted vampire who killed his mother. The villain is now leading a new organization of vampire called Existence, forcing Blade to team up with Noah van Helsing to stop the group’s bloodthirsty raids.
Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher
Created in 2014, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher stands as the most recent comic-based anime feature. The series came about as Marvel Entertainment collaborated with Madhouse one more, leading the two to make a follow-up to their previous Marvel anime series. Focused on Black Widow and Punisher, the film featured plenty of superheroes who had never experienced anime’s particular aesthetic.
The feature film follows Punisher after he accidentally stumbles upon a terror plot during a black market raid. Black Widow, who’d been investigating the terror cell, detains Punisher and agrees to work with Punisher so they can stop the group known as Leviathan. Avengers Confidential also houses heroes such as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Amadeus Cho, Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Thor, War Machine, Captain Marvel, Bruce Banner/Hulk, and more.
