A tyrannical queen's secret to eternal youth is threatened when a clever magician escapes her dungeon and rescues a mutilated sword maiden. With mechanical limbs and a vow of revenge, they aim to overthrow her reign.
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Taiwanese author Chang Sheng's dark fantasy manga Oldman is released in English by eigoMANGA and the entire series is available as hardcover.
Oldman, an award-winning and internationally acclaimed series created by Taiwanese author and illustrator Chang Sheng (of the thriller manga Nine Lives Man), has published as a multi-volume graphic novel manga series.
The beautiful artwork and elegant story-making of Chang-Sheng’s Oldman propelled it into award-winning national fame.
Oldman has been well received since its original release, winning multiple awards including the International Manga Award in Japan, as well as the Golden Comic Award for Best Shonen Manga.
The dark fairytale story is about a beautiful queen who rules her country as a despot with total control. Unmarried and without an heir, she repeatedly adopts orphans as a way to prove that even commoners can reign as kings.Â
Still, something sinister lurks beneath the surface, with the queen showing no signs of aging, while her orphans continue to go missing. The sole individual aware of her secret is a court magician known only as Oldman, who was arrested and thrown in the dungeon prior to the start of the series.
Staging his escape, Oldman appears to step through the bars of his cell and vanish as if by magic, cleverly misleading the guards. He rescues a neighboring prisoner, an outlaw sword maiden who has had her arms and legs amputated.Â
Upon taking her to a brilliant doctor who fits her with mechanical limbs, Oldman and the sword maiden vow to take revenge on the queen that wronged them, all the while evading the queen's army as the dictator launches a desperate campaign to keep her secret hidden.
eigoMANGA has launched a Backerkit campaign to release the Oldman graphic novel hardcover edition worldwide.
Why You Should Join:
Exclusive Hardcover Editions: Get your hands on beautifully crafted hardcover books that showcase Chang Sheng's stunning artwork and masterful storytelling.
Complete Series: Experience the full journey of Oldman and the sword maiden rebel as they seek revenge against a tyrannical queen.
Collector's Items: These hardcovers will feature unique cover designs and special content, making them a must-have for any comic enthusiast.
Rare Autographs: During his rare US appearance, Chang Sheng personally autographed his work, making these editions even more special.
We’re thrilled to announce an exciting cross-collaboration between Oldman and Ready for Minimally Invasive 2 or Marin Dome: Where the Rainbow Ends! This partnership is designed to reward backers who support both of these incredible projects.
Here’s what you’ll get when backing both campaigns:
For Backing Oldman: You’ll receive an exclusive Oldman digital art collection, a special edition created just for this collaboration.
For Backing Ready for Minimally Invasive 2 or Marin Dome: Where the Rainbow Ends: You’ll unlock a digital comic from the Ready for Minimally Invasive universe, diving into the thrilling world of Cuz, Val, and their interstellar adventures.
Why Back Both?
This is more than just a bonus—it’s a unique opportunity to experience two distinct yet complementary stories that push the boundaries of graphic storytelling. Whether you're captivated by the dark fairytale of Oldman or the futuristic, dystopian world of Ready for Minimally Invasive, this incentive brings you the best of both worlds.
The ongoing global shipping disruptions, originally caused by the pandemic, continue to affect pricing and delivery schedules. These remain highly unpredictable, and we're doing our best to manage this situation in a way that minimizes risks and costs for both our team and you, our valued backers.
Unfortunately, this means that we won’t be able to offer a one-size-fits-all shipping option during this campaign. We know this is frustrating, but the alternative would involve charging some of you exorbitant shipping fees—potentially over $40 (excluding VAT and import fees) on a $30 book—with delivery times that could be delayed by weeks or even months.
Shipping Fees and Timing:
All shipping fees will be charged separately, after the campaign concludes, during the pledge management phase. The prices below are estimates and may fluctuate. Actual shipping costs will be determined once production is completed and we are ready to ship your books. Please note that if you add additional physical items to your order, your shipping costs may increase.
Estimated Shipping Costs (for a single book):
$10 USA
$20 UK
$25 Canada
$30 Australia, NZ, Ireland, Norway
Options for Backers in Unavailable Shipping Regions:
If we’re unable to ship to your country, we suggest considering the following options:
Back at the PDF Tier: You can back at the digital tier to receive the Oldman Digital Comic Series (PDF) and Digital Artwork (PDF). This ensures you’ll have access to the content without waiting for physical delivery.
Wait for Retail Availability: You might want to wait until the Oldman hardcover series is available at your local retailer, either online or in-store. Rest assured, our PDF guarantee means that if you purchase a physical book new at any time, you will receive the PDF version for free.
Look for Print-on-Demand (POD) Options: In past campaigns, Print-on-Demand versions have been ready weeks or months before physical books from the main print run. By choosing this option as soon as codes are available, you may get your physical book faster than if you waited for the main shipment.
We understand these challenges and appreciate your patience and support as we navigate these unpredictable circumstances. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!
Expected Delivery Date for Oldman Rewards: November 2024
We are incredibly excited to bring Chang Sheng’s Oldman to you in its stunning new hardcover edition. Our team is passionate and experienced, with a long history of successfully delivering high-quality projects like this one.
Why We’re Confident in Our Delivery:
Our team at eigoMANGA has extensive experience in publishing and distributing graphic novels. We’ve successfully managed several crowdfunding campaigns and published numerous titles in a variety of formats. This experience equips us to handle the challenges that may arise during this project. However, we know that even with the best planning, unexpected issues can occur. Here’s what we’re keeping an eye on:
The Content:
Oldman is largely complete, but as we make final adjustments, there’s always a chance that backers might spot something we missed. If significant changes are needed, it could slightly delay our timeline. Fortunately, we have a talented team of editors, designers, and artists on standby to address any necessary updates quickly.
Printing:
We have a strong relationship with our printing partners, who are prepared to produce the books in whatever quantities are required. Still, printing comes with its own set of potential challenges: supply shortages, unexpected delays, or even printing errors. Rest assured, we’re experienced in managing these risks and will address any issues as they arise. If any products arrive defective, we’ll replace them at no cost to you. Our books are printed in the USA, which helps minimize the risk of unexpected economic or logistical disruptions.
Shipping:
Shipping can be unpredictable—packages get lost, or delays happen. If your order doesn’t arrive, we’ll send a replacement. We’ll also ensure that backers receive their copies before we release the book for retail sale. While we can’t ship to every country, we’ll make the book available through retail channels in regions where direct shipping isn’t possible, providing you with an affordable way to get your hands on Oldman.
Financial Stability:
The ongoing global challenges haven’t left us untouched, but we’ve adapted by expanding our digital offerings and finding new revenue streams. eigoMANGA is in a strong financial position, and we’re confident that we can deliver on our promises.
Our Commitment:
We typically run multiple crowdfunding projects each year, and every campaign is meticulously planned. We haven’t had issues managing overlapping projects in the past, and we’re committed to delivering each project on time. If we encounter any challenges, we promise to be transparent about what’s happening and how we plan to resolve it.
Questions or Concerns?
If there’s a risk or challenge you’re concerned about that we haven’t covered, please reach out. We’re here to answer your questions and are committed to providing excellent customer service. Our goal is to impress you with our dedication and the quality of the final product.
Thank you for your trust and support in bringing Oldman to life!
Chang Sheng, who lives out of Taipei, cites early encounters with comic books as formative.
He studied drawing and oil painting at the Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts school, and speaks of being deeply influenced by the works of Yukinobu Hoshino (of the 2001 Nights manga series and the more recent Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure).Â
Sheng's art style has received attention for its high level of detail and commitment to realism, which has been described as "video game-like."
