Sad news for manga fans who grew up in the 80s: Buichi Terasawa, the creator of the manga Cobra, died on September 8 after a myocardial infarction, Japanese media announced. She was 68 years old.
Buichi Terasawa began his career in the 70s with Osamu Tezuka, considered in the Japanese archipelago as the god of manga. Terasawa is his assistant in legendary works such as Twenty one, Phoenix EITHER The life of Buddha.
Inspired by Bebel
In 1977, Buichi Terasawa released Cobra, which made him one of the most famous mangakas of his generation. For the physique of his hero, a daring space adventurer whose left arm hides a weapon, the “Delta ray”, he is inspired by Jean-Paul Belmondo.
The manga, which has sold more than 50 million copies, gave rise to an animated series that has achieved immense success around the world. The author will often return to visit later. Cobra and will even deliver a computer-colored version of his famous manga.
Buichi Terasawa then continues with other titles – Goku Eye of Midnight (1987), kabuto (1987) – and also offered at the same time Black Knight BAT (1985), the first color computer manga.
Pioneer of digital manga
In 1989, the death of his teacher Osamu Tezuka was a great shock. He spent a year without drawing and upon his return he launched himself into the totally digital world with Takeru (1992), first manga designed entirely on a computer.
Subsequently he progressively reduced his activities, devoting himself in particular to a series of Cobra, Over the rainbow (2019). Suffering from a brain tumor, he had undergone several operations and since then suffered from paralysis on the left side of his body.
Buichi Terasawa had given his support to Hirohiko Araki, the creator of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. And he inspired the character of Hol Horse in the third part of the manga. Stardust Crusaders.
Source: BFM TV
