Manga writer and illustrator Makoto Raiku is currently preparing to release a sequel series to the critically acclaimed Shonen manga Konjiki no Gash!! or better known in the states as Zatch Bell! Originally published in Weekly Shonen Sunday and as Raiku’s most successful manga to date, Zatch Bell! rests on the premise of mystical beings called Mamodos who partner up with human companions, commanding Mamodos with spell books, for a tournament that takes place once every millennium, pitting other Mamodos against each other in battle. The winner of the tournament becomes the new king of the Mamodo world.
The series as a whole centered around the title character, Zatch, who in his quest to become a kind king in his world that desperately needs one, partners up with 14-year old Kiyo Takamine to achieve his goal. Zatch Bell! was immensely popular during its original 33 volume, 323 chapter run during 2001 and 2007. It was so successful that it spawned a 150-episode anime adaptation, video games, and animated theatrical movies.
In a tweet from its creator, Makoto Raiku announced that a follow-up series officially titled Konjiki no Gash!! 2 (or Zatch Bell! 2) is on the way. He did not specify exactly when this sequel will hit the market or what exactly the premise could be, but the news that a follow-up is coming is a reason enough for long-time fans to rejoice.
This should especially be some exciting news for American audiences, who never quite received the closure they were hoping for on this side of the world. Only 104 of the anime episodes were dubbed in English (although the original ending never reflected the conclusion of the manga anyway), while Viz Media discontinued the English-language release of the manga after only 25 volumes. Americans never truly got to see the end of Zatch Bell, but news of a sequel at least opens an opportunity for the series to be re-released to the States in its entirety in preparation for the new series.
Meanwhile, those who did get a chance to see the manga’s conclusion still have a vested reason to be interested in a sequel. The manga ended happily with Zatch Bell winning the tournament and becoming king of the Mamodo world. He parted ways with Kiyo, but kept contact via a letter Kiyo receives promising a positive update on what’s going on in the Mamodo world. Following such a happy ending, it would be interesting to see how Makoto Raiku continues his Shonen classic, but of course, with no official release date, audiences will just have to wait and see when and what happens next in the world fo Zatch Bell!
