Space Adventure Cobra Manga Creator Buichi Terasawa Dies at 68

Manga icon known for Space Adventure Cobra and Goku - Midnight Eye

A manga icon has departed from our world, as it was reported on Monday that manga author Buichi Terasawa has passed away. Terasawa, celebrated for his creations like Space Adventure Cobra and Goku – Midnight Eye, passed away due to a heart attack on September 8 at 68.

In 1998, Terasawa was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, a personal revelation he did not disclose to the public until 2003. Despite undergoing treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy, the cancer returned, resulting in paralysis of the left side of his body following a second surgery.

The original Cobra manga series graced the pages of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from 1978 to 1984, giving rise to a 31-episode TV anime adaptation and a 1982 anime film. Terasawa's Goku–Midnight Eye manga emerged in 1987 and was adapted into a pair of OVAs in 1989. Throughout his career, he embraced the use of computers for manga creation as early as the 1980s, with his Takeru manga hailed as the pioneering comic series created using computer graphics. Terasawa's portfolio includes notable works like Kabuto and Black Knight Bat manga. In 2019, he embarked on the sequel Cobra: Over the Rainbow.

Our sincere condolences go out to the friends, family, and colleagues of Buichi Terasawa, who undeniably left an enduring legacy in the world of manga.