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Udon Entertainment

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Udon Entertainment Corp.
Founded2000
Founders
  • Erik Ko (Founder)
  • Matt Moylan (Director of Publishing)
Country of originCanada
Headquarters locationRichmond Hill, Ontario
DistributionDiamond Book Distributors
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsArt Books
Fiction genresGraphic Novels and Manga
Official websiteOfficial website

Udon Entertainment Corp. is a Canadian art studio and publisher.[1] The company publishes original and translated comic books, graphic novels, manga and art books related to anime and video games. It was founded in 2000 and is named after udon, a kind of Japanese noodle.

Overview

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It was affiliated with Studio XD; in March 2004, Udon announced a partnership to release comics under Devil's Due Publishing.[2] Udon's first offering was the Street Fighter comic book series, launching in September 2003. They would add a Darkstalkers comic series to their line in November 2004. In October 2005, Udon reorganized its operations and became a full-fledged publisher.[citation needed] Erik Ko revealed that the lengthy break in the Summer of 2005 was to recover from a licensing deal with Capcom, which saw Udon doing artwork for Capcom Fighting Evolution.[3] Although Udon appreciated the opportunity to work on the game and to strengthen their ties with the video game maker, it taxed their resources and left them behind schedule on their comics.[citation needed] In October 2005, Udon released Street Fighter II #0, the sequel to their Street Fighter comic;[4] it was followed in early 2006 with the long-awaited launch of Rival Schools. Erik Ko discussed this in an interview with Newsarama that can be read here.[5]

The Udon panel at the 2012 New York Comic Con. From left to right are Udon Director of Marketing Chris Butcher (emceeing at the podium), Managing Editor Matt Moylan, Project Manager Jim Zubkavich and artist Omar Dogan.

In December 2007 at the New York Anime Festival, Udon announced that it would be publishing three new Street Fighter comic book series in 2008. These include Street Fighter II Turbo (12-issue series), Street Fighter Legends: Chun-Li (4-issue mini), and Street Fighter III (6-issue series).[6]

In November 2008, Udon announced it would publish a 4-issue mini-series of the upcoming Street Fighter IV game. “With the most anticipated Street Fighter game in years arriving 2009, we will be launching the ‘‘Street Fighter IV” comic series as a big crossover event with the game. That would mean the originally planned Street Fighter III series will have to make way and be released after this ‘‘Street Fighter IV” story arc is done,” said Ko. “We are working very closely with Capcom and the SFIV producer in Japan to make this comic series as exciting as possible. The stories from our comic are linked directly to the game, and it is a genuine extension that fans will definitely love. Also expect plenty of cross promotion and marketing between our comics and the game.”[7]

In January 2009, Udon announced it had acquired the rights to produce Final Fight comic books.[8] In November 2009, Udon announced it will continue the Darkstalkers comic series with a new 3-issue mini-series called Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors.[9] In December 2009, Udon announced it would publish a four-issue Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki miniseries.[10]

From 2012 to 2014, Udon partnered with Bandai Namco to produce several webcomics and webseries based on their various video game IP as part of their ShiftyLook initiative.

In July 2024, during San Diego Comic-Con, Udon and Capcom announced to gain the license to produce new Mega Man comics for 2025. Those comics will include the original series, alongside the X, Zero, ZX and Legends series, with the exeception of the Battle Network and Star Force series.[11]

Publishing

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Comic books

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Capcom Comic Book Universe

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The Capcom Comic Book Universe (CCBU) is a comic book franchise developed by Udon, which is based on various Capcom franchises set inside a shared universe.

  • Street Fighter #0−14 (2003–2005, originally through Image Comics, then Devil's Due Publishing)
  • Street Fighter: Deep Scars (2003)
  • Darkstalkers #1−6 (2004−2005, originally through Devil's Due Publishing)
  • Capcom Summer Special 2004 (2004)
  • Street Fighter II #0−6 (2005–2006)
  • Street Fighter Legends: Sakura #1−4 (2006)
  • Rival Schools #1−4 (2006, issues #3−4 published online only)
  • Street Fighter Remix #0 (2008)
  • Street Fighter II Turbo #1−12 (2008–2010)
  • Street Fighter Legends: Chun-Li #1−4 (2009)
  • Street Fighter IV: Limited Edition Comic (2009)
  • Street Fighter IV (2009)
  • Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki #1−4 (2010)
  • Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors #1−3 (2010)
  • Super Street Fighter (2013, 2015)
  • Street Fighter Origins: Akuma (2013)
  • Street Fighter: Free Comic Book Day 2014 Special #0 (2014)
  • Street Fighter V: The Life and Death(s) of Charlie Nash (2015)
  • Street Fighter: Free Comic Book Day 2015 Super Combo Special (2015)
  • Street Fighter Unlimited (2015−2016)
  • Street Fighter Legends: Cammy (2016)
  • Street Fighter V: Free Comic Book Day 2016 Special #1 (2016)
  • Street Fighter Swimsuit Special 2016 (2016)
  • Street Fighter Unlimited Annual #1 (2016)
  • Street Fighter & Friends: Swimsuit Special 2017 (2017)
  • Street Fighter: Shadaloo Special (2017)
  • Street Fighter V: Free Comic Book Day 2017 Wrestling Special #1 (2017)
  • Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers (2017−2018)
  • Ultra Street Fighter II: Free Comic Book Day 2018 Special (2018)
  • Street Fighter Summer Sports Special 2018 (2018)
  • Street Fighter: Menat (2019)
  • Street Fighter: Wrestlepalooza (2019)
  • Street Fighter: Sakura vs. Karin - Free Comic Book Day (2019)
  • Street Fighter: Akuma vs. Hell (2019)
  • Street Fighter: Necro & Effie (2019)
  • Street Fighter: Pin-up Special (2019)
  • Street Fighter #100: Ryu vs. Chun-Li - Free Comic Book Day (2020)
  • Street Fighter Swimsuit Special Collection (2020)
  • Street Fighter: Swimsuit Special 2020 (2020)
  • Street Fighter: Back to School - Free Comic Book Day (2021)[12]
  • Street Fighter 2021 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Special (2021)
  • Street Fighter V 1: Champions Rising (2021)
  • Street Fighter Masters: Blanka - Free Comic Book Day (2022)
  • Street Fighter Masters: Chun-Li (2022)
  • Street Fighter: Swimsuit Special 2022 (2022)
  • Darkstalkers: Morrigan (2022)
  • Street Fighter II #1+0 (2022)
  • 2022 Street Fighter Swimsuit Special (2022)
  • Street Fighter Masters: Chun-Li (2023)
  • Street Fighter Masters: Cammy (2023)
  • Street Fighter Origins: Sagat (2023)
  • Street Fighter Omega (2023)
  • Darkstalkers: Hsien-Ko (2023)
  • Street Fighter Masters: Akuma vs. Ryu (2024)
  • Darkstalkers: Jedah (2024)
  • Street Fighter vs. Final Fight (2024)[citation needed]
  • Final Fight #1−4 (2024)
  • Team Darkstalkers #1−4 (2024)
  • Street Fighter Prime #0 (2025)[13]

Other comic books

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Imported titles

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Art books

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Anime & character art

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  • Daisuke Moriyama Art Works: Chronicle
  • Duel Art: Kazuki Takahashi Yu-Gi-Oh Illustrations
  • Evangelion Chronicle: Illustrations
  • Gurren Lagann Art Works
  • Haruhi Suzumiya Illustrations: Spring & Summer
  • Haruhi-ism: Noizi Ito Artworks
  • Hatsune Miku Graphics: Character Collection CV01 – Hatsune Miku Edition
  • Hatsune Miku Graphics: Character Collection CV02 – Kagamine Rin & Len Edition
  • Hatsune Miku Graphics: Character Collection CV03 – Megurine Luka Edition
  • Hatsune Miku Graphics: Vocaloid Comic & Art Vol. 1
  • Hatsune Miku Graphics: Vocaloid Comic & Art Vol. 2
  • Mikucolor: KEI's Hatsune Miku Illustration Works
  • Ni0 Art Works: Nishi's Alluring Figures
  • Osamu Tezuka: Anime & Manga Character Sketchbook
  • Osamu Tezuka: Anime Character Illustrations
  • Sonicomi Artbook: Super Sonico Picture Album
  • Read or Die: R.O.D Official Archive
  • Summer Wars: Material Book
  • The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A
  • The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side B
  • Robotech Visual Archive: The Macross Saga
  • Robotech Visual Archive: The Southern Cross
  • Robotech Visual Archive: Genesis Climber MOSPEADA

Video games

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Notes

^a Out of print.

Work for other companies

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Video games

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Comics

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Misc

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References

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  1. ^ "[Comic Book News] UDON Entertainment to Release Hardcover Graphic Novel CASA NOSTRA by Chris Sarracini & Nick Kilislian". PopCultHQ. December 12, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Devil's Due & Udon Entertainment Announce Partnership". toynewsi.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Book Review: Udon's Art of Capcom | Parka Blogs". www.parkablogs.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (August 31, 2005). "Street Fighter Turns Graphic". IGN. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Erik Ko & Ken Siu-Chong On The Return Of Street Fighter". Newsarama. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  6. ^ ""New Street Fighter Comics!" press release, Dec 11, 2007". Udonentertainment.com. December 11, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  7. ^ "UDON does Street Fighter IV comics".
  8. ^ "UDON announces Final Fight comics".
  9. ^ "Darkstalkers comics are back!".
  10. ^ "Ibuki joins the fight!". UDON Entertainment. December 8, 2009.
  11. ^ a b "SDCC 2024: Udon Entertainment Announces Acquisition of Mega Man Comic Book License". Gaming. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "Street Fighter: Back to School Special Announced for Free Comic Book Day". CBR. March 20, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  13. ^ First Comics News (November 10, 2024). "The Next Era of Street Fighter Begins Here!". Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Mega Man Mastermix Volume 1 TP: Robot Rebellion
  15. ^ Mega Man Mastermix Volume 2 TP: Asteroid Blues
  16. ^ a b Ressler, Karen. "Udon Ent. to Release 2 The Legend of Heroes Art Books in N. America". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
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