How much trouble is Gonzo in? (aside from possibly being delisted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange?)
Would you believe this much? I don’t think I do. In fact, I can’t even verify that it’s for real, and not just some stupid poster someone drew. There’s no announcement anywhere, so I’m thinking it’s just another rumor. Supposedly, some such posters were actually drawn up around the time of the original Vandread series, and this may be one of them.
If it is real, no idea if it’s based on “Extra Stage“, which was an additional 7th novel (really, short story collection) tacked on at the end of the novelizations.
I’m sure that’s not genuine. While that character bears a distinct similarity to Hibiki, it’s also pretty clear to me that it’s a girl. And anyway, there isn’t anymore story to tell about that lot.
Well, at least, not a series worth. I really wish there was a special. I’d like to see them revisit the plague planet, and to use the power of the Paksis to fix it.
It looks genuine enough. I’m about 95% sure it’s a scan from Newtype Magazine (reference to “NT editorial desk” in lower right hand corner); otherwise it’s a really good fake.
What I can tell you for certain is that it’s old. Old enough to refer to “Vandread, which finished airing at the end of last year”. Since the second season of Vandread ran into January of 2002, they must be referring to the first season, which ended in December of 2000. That places this scan sometime in 2001. My theory: the “Vandread 2” character designs we see here were part of a project which was later scrapped in favor of Second Stage. The text of the article treats it as a rumor, so it can’t have been very far along.
Incidentally, the text also makes it pretty obvious that the character shown is supposed to be a descendant of Hibiki, and “Vandread 2” would be set several generations after the original. Disclaimer: I haven’t actually seen Vandread. It’s in the to-watch pile… *sigh*…
Just out of curiosity, how did you come across this?
My theory: the “Vandread 2″ character designs we see here were part of a project which was later scrapped in favor of Second Stage.
It may have been part of a project which was eventually scrapped, but Second Stage was planned from the very beginning. Vandread and Second Stage are really one big story, split in half. Second Stage is not an afterthought or an unplanned sequel.
Confirmed, it’s a scan from Newtype, c.2001.
Both the original link and the information are from Jason’s blog; forgot to credit him.
edit: the character that looks like Hibiki was supposed to be his and Dita’s daughter. Which definitely confirms they figured out where everything went….