EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
Basically, I can sum up Atomic King Daidogan in five words: "Burning Fister of Plasma Gorgeous!" C'mon, admit it. Even if you don't know what the hell that means, it made you chuckle, right? Ever since Nathan Maurer's "Atomic King Daidogan" entry won the Grand Prize in Rising Stars of Manga 3, the demand for a full-length story has been as high as a 15-story robot. And deservedly so. It's action-packed, quirky and clever. I guarantee that this manga is gonna make you bust a gut. Don't believe me? Well, go ahead and read it for yourself. And as our English-impaired protagonist Goto would say, "Now prepare you for the laughing!"

SERIES SYNOPSIS
It is the glorious FUTURE...

...and no city better exemplifies why the future is AWESOME than Neo-Tokyo, Capital of Business! Here, brilliant and shrewd businessmen combat one another for corporate supremacy—not with boring negotiations, but with EPIC GIANT ROBOT BATTLES! Sounds great, right? Ha ha! NO. Not if you're BROKE.

Our hero, restauranteur Goto Onishi, is totally destitute. His late father left him in charge of the family ramen house, and despite Goto's lofty dreams and burning fighting spirit of JUSTICE, he has next to no business sense and is running the place into the ground. As if this weren't bad enough, Goto has to constantly defend his business—nay, his very MANHOOD—from the barbs and slander of his arch-rival Pimp King Oboe and his deadly robot: DYNOMITE DX!

But...! Goto's father may have left him with more than just a restaurant. What hidden (giant robot) secret power (giant robot) lurks beneath the floorboards (giant robot)? Will Goto be able to defeat the Pimp King? Who exactly WAS Goto's father? And who's this mystery dude who pretty much looks exactly like Goto except he's taller and stuff?! Three of these four questions will be answered within! Prepare you now... for ATOMIC KING DAIDOGAN!!

CREATOR PROFILES
Nathan Maurer:
Nathan Maurer was born in Santa Barbara, California, where he still lives to this day. Originally planning to pursue a career as a pianist, Nathan, thanks to TOKYOPOP, is now following his real passion and trying to pass himself off as a manga artist. Nathan's "Atomic King Daidogan" submission was the grand prize-winning entry in TOKYOPOP's Rising Stars of Manga Volume 3.

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Goto Onishi
The embodiment of blind courage and fearlessness, Goto is a man who would not only die for someone in an instant, but would, in the process, insist on taking twelve shots to the head, getting thrown off a skyscraper, and subsequently getting run over by three semi-trucks one right after the other. Fortunately, thanks to his super power of nigh-indestructibility, he can emerge from these kinds of cataclysms with nothing to show for it except for getting really pissed off. Goto is very quick to anger, especially when either his assets or "the justice" are being threatened, and loves to fight at the slightest provocation. Behind all the ludicrous power and bravado, however, Goto is a dedicated and hardworking little guy. His business sense is nil, and his communicative skills are pretty dismal (he only speaks in some sort of horrible kung-fu dub English), but his boundless courage and determination more than make up for these shortcomings.
 
Naoko Umeda
Goto's secretary and confidant, Naoko is a bright young woman who wholeheartedly buys into Goto's philosophy of "business with the justice" to the point where she's become somewhat infatuated with him. Naturally, because this is manga, she puts up a tough-girl front to disguise her true feelings. And of course Goto's not interested in her in the slightest—partly because of her amazingly out of control drinking habit, partly because of his professionalism (no office romances!), but mostly because he finds her horrendously unattractive, being that she has cat ears, a tail, and fur covering every inch of her body.
 
Pimp King Oboe
The owner of the classiest (and priciest) night club in town, Oboe is the most magnificent of all pimps. The term "lady-killer" doesn't even begin to describe him. Which naturally confuses the hell out of everyone else, considering he appears to be a space alien. Oh sure, he kinda looks human as far as basic anatomy goes, but there's no arguing that his blue skin, pointy ears, yellow eyes, and freakishly muscular physique kind of set him apart from everyone else.
 
Kung-Fu Harlots
Oboe's mighty army of deadly black-belt whores. They all swear undying allegiance to their pimp/lord and would break a nail for him in a heartbeat. Every single one of them is highly adept at wearing intimidating (yet skimpy) clothing, flailing exotic weaponry around, and loudly screeching war cries, which is usually enough to frighten most challengers away.
 
Atomic King Daidogan
The tremendously powerful robot left behind in the basement of the Dragon Noodle restaurant. Sporting a pair of gigantic nuclear generators, armed to the teeth with dozens of ridiculous voice-activated super moves, and just plain MEAN-looking, Daidogan is the answer to all of Goto's prayers.
 
Dynomite DX
Oboe's robot is admittedly nothing too special, but considering he basically uses it just to torment Goto, it serves its purpose just fine.

REVIEWS
about.com
It is the glorious FUTURE... ...and no city better exemplifies why the future is AWESOME than Neo-Tokyo, Capital of Business! Here, brilliant and shrewd businessmen combat one another for corporate supremacy—not with boring negotiations, but with EPIC GIANT ROBOT BATTLES! Sounds great, right? Ha ha! NO. Not if you're BROKE.

Our hero, restauranteur Goto Onishi, is totally destitute. His late father left him in charge of the family ramen house, and despite Goto's lofty dreams and burning fighting spirit of JUSTICE, he has next to no business sense and is running the place into the ground. As if this weren't bad enough, Goto has to constantly defend his business—nay, his very MANHOOD—from the barbs and slander of his arch-rival Pimp King Oboe and his deadly robot: DYNOMITE DX!

But...! Goto's father may have left him with more than just a restaurant. What hidden (giant robot) secret power (giant robot) lurks beneath the floorboards (giant robot)? Will Goto be able to defeat the Pimp King? Who exactly WAS Goto's father? And who's this mystery dude who pretty much looks exactly like Goto except he's taller and stuff?! Three of these four questions will be answered within! Prepare you now... for ATOMIC KING DAIDOGAN!!

Created by Rising Stars of Manga III Grand Prize winner, Nathan Maurer, Atomic King Daidogan is a futuristic comedy with big robots and lots of action.

Goto Onishi gives a new definition to "extremist" as his superpower is basically indestructibility. He's got a quick temper and enjoys a good ruckus, but he's got a heart of gold and the courage to back it up.

This graphic novel is rated 13+ for violence, mild language and the possibility of suggestive situations, so parental discretion is advised. Volume 1 hits your favorite bookstores on November 7, 2006 but you can place your preorder here.

~ Katherine Luther, About.com
http://anime.about.com/od/manga/a/aa092406.htm