San Diego Comic-Con 2012

Udon Entertainment Panel

Udon started their panel by talking about some of their current properties, such as the Sengoku Basara manga. They also confirmed that they will be releasing the second and final volume of Sengoku Basara: Samurai Legends. They then showcased some of the video game artbooks that are debuting at this year's Comic Con. Making its international debut is the Marvel vs. Capcom: Official Complete Works artbook, although the limited edition hardcover is already sold out at the booth. However, a limited number of copies will be available at PAX and udonstore.com, while the softcover will be available this fall. Originally planned for a 2012 release, Udon is working with Diamond Distribution to get the book out earlier. Other Comic Con debuts include the DISGAEArt Official Illustration Collection, and the Shining Force Feather collection.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Street Fighter game, Udon has announced several projects related to the game, starting with the Street Fighter X Tekken: Artworks artbook, which will be released this September. They will also be releasing the Street Fighter Origins: Akuma original graphic novel with artwork by Udon's Joe Ng; this oversized, artbook-sized graphic novel will be released in 2013. Another original graphic novel is Super Street Fighter: New Generation, a 144-page hardcover that will be available this November. As of today, fans can also go to StreetFighterComics.com to read Udon's Street Fighter comics for free. The website will update five days a week with new pages.

Udon will be releasing several more video game artbooks, including The History of Sonic the Hedgehog, which aims to be the “ultimate guide” for the Sonic franchise, encompassing every 2D and 3D game, plus the spinoffs, crossovers, and cameos. The 300-page hardcover will be released in September. Slated for November or December this year, Udon will also be releasing Art of Brutal Legend in both soft and hardcover. October will see The Art of Darksiders 2, which will be the companion to the new video game, and also the first Art of Darksiders artbook that was previously released by Udon. Shining Hearts: Collection of Visual Materials, featuring artwork by character designer Tony Taka, will be released in September.

Beginning this fall, Udon will be launching its anime artbook line, starting with several books from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Evangelion Chronicle: Illustrations will compile all the original artwork created for the Evangelion Chronicle encyclopedia series, as well as new pieces produced for the book. Evangelion Chronicle: Side A and Evangelion Chronicle: Side B collect the episode and movie guides originally published in Japan, and will also feature original artwork, character relationship charts, and other material. Illustrations will be released this November, while Side A and Side B will be released in 2013.

Other anime artbooks include the Read of Die: R.O.D. Official Archive, which will encompass the original OVA and the TV anime series, as well as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Art Book, featuring illustrations by Noizi Ito. Both will be released later in 2012.

For manga fans, Udon will be releasing Shin Sasaki's Disgaea 3: School of Devils.