AKB48 members transform into manga characters

Powerhouse idol group AKB48 is continuing their crossover into the manga world with two projects that will both depict AKB48 members in comic form. One, titled “AKB49 ~Renai Kinshi Jourei~,” will run in Weekly Shonen Magazine, while the other, titled “Uzarino,” will run in Weekly Young Jump.

“AKB49″ will be about AKB48 itself, told from the point of view of a fictional heroine who passes the group’s kenkyuusei audition. Actual members of the group, including Yuko Oshima (21) and Atsuko Maeda (19), will make appearances as characters in the manga. The series will be drawn by relatively new artist Reiji Miyajima, who wrote the manga “Suzuki no Shiten” (which also appeared in Weekly Shonen Magazine). “AKB49″ will first appear in next week’s issue (on sale August 25).

The other project, “Uzarino,” will be in a 4-panel format, with Rino Sashihara (17) as the main character, along with appearances by other members of AKB48. The manga appears to be separate from Sashihara’s solo manga project that was announced last month. This one will be drawn by Madoka Matsuura, best known for “Uhha! Harlem Gakuseiryo.” Serialization begins on September 8.

Source:
Nikkan Sports