Fujishima, Kosuke 1964-

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FUJISHIMA, Kosuke 1964-

PERSONAL:

Born July 7, 1964, in Chiba, Japan; Hobbies and other interests: Playing electric guitar, computers, building models, tropical fish, motorcycles, and automobiles.

ADDRESSES:

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dark Horse Comics, Inc., 10956 South East Main St., Milwaukie, OR 97222.

CAREER:

Graphic artist, writer. Puff (magazine), Japan, editor, 1980s.

WRITINGS:

"OH MY GODDESS!" SERIES, SELECTED COLLECTIONS, EXCEPT AS NOTED

1-555-Goddess, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1996, reprinted with additions as Wrong Number, 2002.

The Wild Ones ("You're Under Arrest!" series), Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1997.

Sympathy for the Devil, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1998.

Lights and Siren! ("You're Under Arrest" series), Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1999.

The Queen of Vengeance, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 1999.

Mara Strikes Back, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2000.

Ninja Master, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2000.

Miss Keiichi, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2001.

The Devil in Miss Urd, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2001.

The Fourth Goddess, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2001.

Childhood's End, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2002.

Queen Sayoko, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2002.

Leader of the Pack, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2002.

Final Exam, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2002.

Hand in Hand, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2003.

Mystery Child, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2003.

The Phantom Racer, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2003.

Dr. Moreau, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2003.

Creator of comic strips, including "You're Under Arrest!" "Striker," and "Oh My Goddess!" Illustrator and designer for publications and video games.

SIDELIGHTS:

Japanese comics creator Kosuke Fujishima became an editor for Puff, a comics news magazine, straight out of high school. He interviewed Tatsuya Egawa, whose "Be Free!" was running in Kodansha's Comic Morning, and when he asked Egawa if he needed an assistant, Egawa looked at Fujishima's work and offered him a job. When "Be Free!" was adapted for the screen, Fujishima created a comic-style report on the making of the film, and readers clamored for more of his work. His first series, "You're Under Arrest!" debuted in 1986.

In 1988, Fujishima ran a contest, using a four-panel cartoon of the characters from the strip praying to a goddess to let them win the contest and associated prizes. Fujishima used the character in creating his long-running strip "Oh My Goddess!" and named her Belldandy. "Oh My Goddess!" began running in Kodansha's Afternoon magazine, beginning in August of 1988. Dark Horse Comics published the first English-language collection of the comics in 1996 and also has included episodes in its various Super Manga Blast! anthologies. A contributor to Manga Maniacs online reviewed the first collection, 1-555-Goddess, noting that the artwork "is topnotch design" characterized by "exquisite wet ink shading and highly detailed costumes and settings."

The 1-555-Goddess collection contains the first issue of the series, "Wrong Number," and was reissued under that title in 2002, and included episodes not found in the first edition. The series begins with student Keiichi, who lives in an all-male dorm, accidentally calling the telephone number of the Goddess Technical Help Line, after which he is visited by the beautiful Belldandy who grants his one wish, to have a beautiful goddess like her. She stays with Keiichi, but as the series progresses, she is joined by her younger sister, Skuld, and older sister, Urd. Keiichi is perpetually challenged in his romancing of Belldandy by the presence of the sisters, who have adventures of their own.

School Library Journal's Susan Salpini reviewed the collection titled Childhood's End, noting that the "crisp black-and-white art, appealing character designs, and romantic stories livened with humor add to the book's charm." A thread in the series is Keiichi's presidency of the Nekomi Tech Motor Club, an organization of motorcycle enthusiasts, and also an interest of author Fujishima.

Greg McElhatton reviewed the "Traveler" storyline for icomics online, writing that "it's hard to have a long-term series feel fresh and fun for years and years on end when it's just one creator always at the helm. That's one of the reasons why I've got so much respect for Kosuke Fujishima, because 'Oh My Goddess!' is still running strong both here and in Japan, and with no signs of faltering … and much to his credit, still as cute and special as when it first began. That's a feat."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Library Journal, November 1, 2002, Steve Raiteri, review of Wrong Number, p. 66.

School Library Journal, July, 2002, Susan Salpini, review of Childhood's End; July, 2003, Susan Salpini, review of Hand in Hand and Queen Sayoko, p. 154; August, 2003, Susan Salpini, review of Mystery Child, p. 190.