Exciting News: 'Oldboy' Manga Gets Deluxe Hardcover Reissue from Dark Horse

Dark Horse Manga has announced a special release for fans of the acclaimed Oldboy manga by writer Garon Tsuchiya and artist Nobuaki Minegishi. The series will be available in a stunning two-volume deluxe edition in English, featuring high-quality hardcover books with eye-catching metallic silver foil covers and ribbon bookmarks.

Release Details

First Volume: Launches on January 6, containing the first four volumes of the manga.
Second Volume: Releases on March 24, covering volumes five through eight.
Price: Each volume will retail at $69.99.
Pages: Both omnibus editions will have a total of 848 pages.
Availability: Available in comic book shops and for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

What is Oldboy?

Dark Horse describes the story as follows:

Ten years ago, they took him. He doesn't know who. For ten years, he has been confined to a private prison. He doesn't know why. For ten years, his only contact with the outside world has been a television set and the voices of his jailers. Suddenly, one day, his incarceration ends without explanation. Sedated and dumped in a park, Shinichi Goto awakens—free to reclaim what's left of his life—and what's left is revenge.

The second volume continues Goto's relentless quest to uncover who imprisoned him and why. As he gets closer to the truth, he finds himself caught in a trap set by his nemesis, leading to questions about whether his torment was rooted in a schoolyard grudge or something more sinister.

Creative Team

Editors: Michael David Thomas and Kathryn Renta
Translator: Kumar Sivasubramanian

Awards and History

Oldboy won the 2007 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan. The manga was originally serialized in Futabasha's Weekly Manga Action from 1996 to 1998, with the eighth volume shipping in October 1998. Dark Horse first released the series in English in 2006-2007.

Film Adaptations

The manga inspired a live-action film directed by Chan-wook Park in November 2003. An American remake, directed by Spike Lee, premiered in November 2013. In April 2024, Park announced he is developing an English-language live-action series based on his film.