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Jungle Emperor (Manga Shonen)

Manga Shonen
November 1950

Originally planned as a one–shot manga entitled Mitsurin Taitei [密林大帝] – literally “Dense Forest (i.e. “Jungle”) Emperor”, publisher Kenichi Kato convinced the young Osamu Tezuka to expand on his original story idea and offer it as a regular four–page feature in the monthly Manga Shonen.  Debuting in November 1950, the newly renamed and more exotic–sounding Junguru Taitei [ジャングル大帝], or “Jungle Emperor”, was an instant hit and was expanded to ten pages the very next month – continuing on for over 3 years until it came to an end in April 1954.

It is important to note that the first half of the Jungle Emperor (1950-54) manga was re-drawn in the late 1970’s for inclusion in the Osamu Tezuka Complete Manga Works edition (MT-001 | MT-002 | MT-003), published by Kodansha.  As such, Tezuka made several changes to the original flow of the story, taking elements of the plot and moving them around to fit the updated story flow.  As such, many of the original publication dates listed below may seem to be out of chronological order, and even overlap in some instances.

Publication Information and Chapter Summaries

001
The Death of Panja (アトムの両親)
Manga Shonen (漫画少年)
1950/11 | 1950/12
Deep in the heart of the African continent, a white lion named Panja rules the jungle. The Chief of the Donga tribe wants to be rid of his rival and so strikes a deal with the famed hunter, Hamegg and his trusty assistant, Kutter – if they can remove the threat of Panja, the Chief will offer up his strange crown jewel as a reward. However, even before the welcoming ceremony is complete, Panja attacks the village and leaves it in utter disarray. The next day, Hamegg leads the village men on a safari and captures a large number of animals – that is until Panja decides to step in and free his jungle subjects. Once again, Hamegg and his men are forced to retreat back to the village in shame. Believing that they will have at least one night of peace because of a sudden rainstorm, in the morning Hamegg and Kutter are surprised to learn that Panja has once again entered the village and has destroyed the Chief‘s sacred totem. With their lives now on the line, Hamegg crafts a plan to use a recording of Panja to capture his mate and use her as bait to lure him into a trap. Despite Panja’s valiant attempt, the plan succeeds and he’s slain and his mate is taken into captivity. As promised, for ridding the jungle of the threat of Panja, the Chief happily gives up his strange crown jewel. Hamegg and Kutter part ways at the dock as the lioness is loaded onto a ship bound for the zoo in London.
001
The Birth of Leo (レオの誕生)
Manga Shonen (漫画少年)
1950/12 | 1951/01
As the ship makes its way towards London, the crew receives a surprise – a tiny white lion cub named Leo is born. Although Leo is just a cub, not wanting her son to grow up in captivity, Leo’s mother encourages him to escape through the bars of their cage while he’s still small enough to do it, jump overboard, and swim for home in Africa. Although he’s terrified, Leo obeys. After a stormy night in the water, he’s rescued by Kutter on a raft, who tells him that his mother and the entire ship went down in the storm. Despite being kind to the young lion cub, Kutter realizes that hunger may soon get the best of him and, telling him that he’ll be safer if they part ways, sets the little lion on a small raft of his own. Although he’s scared, Leo calms down after seeing his mother in the stars. As luck would have it, a passing ship spots Leo, and, thinking he’s a small child, rescues him. Despite the captain’s reservations, the crew convince him to let the “cat” stay to catch mice on the ship. However, instead being scared, the mice throw a banquet for their royal guest. Of course, this causes havoc aboard the ship and Leo is blamed and thrown overboard – but not without a raft and some snacks. Worried about the Prince being lonely, a mouse named Jaques jumps overboard as well. As the float along, trying to decide where to go, they’re attacked by a killer shark. However Leo gets the better of him and, with his dying breath, the shark points them in the direction of Africa.
Chapter: 002 Title:  The Birth of Leo (レオの誕生)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1950/12 – 1951/01
Synopsis Coming Soon!
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Chapter: 003 Title: To Aden (アデンにて)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 01/1951
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 004 Title: The Mystery of the Moonlight Stone (月光石の秘密)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/01 (New Year’s Special)
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 005 Title: First Steps in Africa (アフリカ第一歩)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/01 (New Year’s Special) | 1951/02
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 006 Title: The Symphony of the Jungle (ジャングル交響曲)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/02 | 1951/03 | 1951/04 | 1951/05
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 007 Title: The Legend of Androcles (アンドロクレスの伝説)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/03
Synopsis Coming Soon!
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Chapter: 008 Title: Queen Konga (女王コンガ)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/03 | 1951/06 | 1951/07
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 009 Title: On the Banks of the Donga River (ドンガ河のほとりにて)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/07 | 1951/08 | 1951/09 | 1951/10 | 1951/11 | 1951/12
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 010 Title: Konga’s Tears (コンガの涙)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/11 | 1951/12 | 1952/01 | 1952/03 | 1952/04
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 011 Title: The Battle (戦闘)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/12 | 1952/01 | 1952/03 | 1952/05 | 1952/06 | 1952/07
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 012 Title: The Little Ones (幼いものたち)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1952/08
Synopsis Coming Soon!
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Chapter: 013 Title: Leaving the Native Land (ふるさとをすてて)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1952/09 | 1952/10 | 1952/11 | 1952/12
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 014 Title: A Man Called Adam Dandy (ダンディ・アダムという男)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1952/09 | 1952/10 | 1952/12 | 1953/01
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 015 Title: Leo’s Palace (レオの宮殿)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1952/11 | 1952/12
Synopsis Coming Soon!
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Chapter: 016 Title: In New York (ニューヨークにて)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1953/01 | 1953/02
Synopsis Coming Soon!
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Chapter: 017 Title: The Killer Spot Disease (死斑病)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1953/03 | 1953/04 | 1953/05 | 1953/06
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 018 Title: The Documents of Mt. Moon (ムーン山に関する記録)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1951/09 | 1951/10 | 1953/04 | 1953/11
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 019 Title: Lune Returns Home (ルネ故郷へ帰る)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1953/02 | 1953/07 | 1953/08 | 1953/09| 1953/10
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 020 Title: The Big Crevasse (ビッグ・クレバ)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1953/11 | 1953/12 | 1954/01
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 021 Title: Frozen Hell (氷の地獄)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1954/02 | 1954/03
Synopsis Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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Chapter: 022 Title: The Last Act (大団円)
Published in: Manga Shonen Originally published: 1954/04
Coming Soon!
Stars Spotted:

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