Titan Manga Pauses Distribution of The Five Star Stories’ English Debut Over Translation Concerns
The first volume credits Greco D. Espinoza as translator, but the publisher has not detailed the issue.
Titan Manga has halted distribution of its English edition of Mamoru Nagano’s The Five Star Stories while reviewing a translation issue. Volume 1 was scheduled for December 1 after several delays.
Titan Manga announced Thursday that it has paused distribution of its and Newtype magazine’s English release of Mamoru Nagano’s The Five Star Stories (Five Star Monogatari). The publisher is reviewing an issue involving the translation.
Anime News Network reached out to Titan Manga. A spokesperson said the publisher takes translation quality and integrity extremely seriously and recognizes the situation’s gravity.
The spokesperson described the distribution hold as a precaution while Titan reviews the situation and determines its next steps. Titan remains committed to an English edition that respects the original work and meets fans’ expected standards.
Titan did not explain the translation issue in its comments. The first English volume credits Greco D. Espinoza as translator.
The manga previously received an unfinished English release. It also has a controversial unofficial English translation.
Titan Manga and Newtype had planned to release volume 1 on December 1 after several delays. Its original July 7 release moved to September 1, then November 17.
Titan’s description places volume 1 in the turbulent Joker Star Cluster, amid ancient empires and genetic engineering. Elite warriors pilot towering Mortar Headds alongside genetically engineered companions called Fatimas.
Amaterasu, the immortal emperor of the Grees Kingdom, and his destined bride, Lachesis, face intrigue, warfare and forbidden power. Interstellar conflict sets up a war that could decide the galaxy’s fate.
Nagano launched the science fantasy manga in Kadokawa’s Newtype magazine in 1986. It has run intermittently since then.
For its 25th anniversary in 2011, Kadokawa reissued the existing volumes in a “Repeat” edition featuring previously unpublished art.
The manga entered a hiatus in 2006 and returned in the magazine’s May 2013 issue. It paused again in spring 2014 while Nagano prepared the 13th compiled volume for print.
Serialization resumed in February 2016. After several delays, volume 13 shipped in August 2016; volume 12 had shipped in 2006.
Kadokawa released volume 19, the latest compiled volume, on May 9.
Nagano’s own Toyspress, Inc. published most of the manga in English. ADV Films released the 1989 anime film adaptation in North America.
Sources: Manga Alerts via ANN
