Up until the 2000s, the priority for preservation of original manga pages was not considered as important as it is today. With it being a paper process, and a lower concern for keeping track of every page, it’s possible that some pages and drawings could get lost after the pages have gone to print. For The Sword of Paros (パロスの剣) this is no different. Originally published in Monthly Asuka (月刊あすか) magazine between the March 1986 issue and February 1987, all 11 chapters of the manga series had one or more color pages printed in each issue (On break in October 1986 issue). However, when the chapters were compiled into the original 3 volume release, most of these color pages were removed and some of them were repurposed for cover designs.
At Otakon 2026, the English print licensor for the manga, Manga Mavericks Books, has done a call out to fans to see if anyone has the physical issues of Monthly Asuka. While the publisher in Japan, Fairbell, does have the rights to these full color illustrations, they may not have copies that can be reproduced into new print editions in their current state. Manga Mavericks Books is hoping that some of these “lost” color illustrations can then be acquired from the Monthly Asuka magazine issues and then added into their upcoming deluxe English print edition, which will go on sale in April 2027.
The following grid is the particular issues they have, as well as are still looking for. If you have one of these issues, or know of a location to purchase them, you can reach out to Manga Mavericks Books on social media (Bluesky, Twitter/X, Instagram) to help with their preservation efforts.
| Magazine Cover | Issue # | Needed by Manga Mavericks Books | Chapter Number |
|---|---|---|---|
 | March 1986 (#3) | Acquired – No longer needed | Chapter 1 |
 | April 1986 (#4) | Acquired – No longer needed | Chapter 2 |
 | May 1986 (#5) | Acquired – No longer needed | Chapter 3 |
 | June 1986 (#6) | Issue Needed – Reach out to Manga Maverick Books | Chapter 4 |
 | July 1986 (#7) | Acquired – No longer needed | Chapter 5 |
 | August 1986 (#8) | Issue Needed – Reach out to Manga Maverick Books | Chapter 6 |
 | Summer Issue | Not Needed | No Chapter |
 | September 1986 (#9) | Acquired – No longer needed | Chapter 7 |
 | October 1986 (#10) | Acquired – No longer needed | No Chapter |
 | November 1986 (#11) | Issue Needed – Reach out to Manga Maverick Books | Chapter 8 |
 | December 1986 (#12) | Acquired – No longer needed | Chapter 9 |
 | January 1987 (#1) | Issue Needed – Reach out to Manga Maverick Books | Chapter 10 |
 | February 1987 (#2) | Issue Needed – Reach out to Manga Maverick Books | Chapter 11 |
Even if not all of the color pages are able to be preserved, we have taken a deep dive into documenting what these color pages were for each of the chapters. Using various sources online, such as old auction listings, we’ve compiled this list for all 11 chapters. To supplement the often small images of the color pages, we’ve cross-referenced these with some of the other Japanese editions that have been released:
- Original 3-volume print release from 1987 (purple covers)
- 2-volume print release (black covers)
- 1-volume print release from 1991 (white cover)
- The 2015 print and digital 3-volume release (full color image)
In doing this research, we also came across some additional art that we couldn’t precisely place when or how it was originally used.
For all of these editions, the original chapter breaks are no longer present. Instead they function as one continuous story, which is where these color pages were often removed entirely. The chapter break down for the 3 volume sets were the following:
- Volume 1 – Chapters 1, 2, & 3
- Volume 2 – Chapters 4, 5, 6, & 7
- Volume 3 – Chapters 8, 9, 10, & 11
The first 3 chapters all had around 65 pages each. For chapters 4 through the end, were about 50 pages in length. Based on this page count, you can then roughly see where the color pages would have been within each issue of Monthly Asuka. If you want to learn more about the contents of each issue of Monthly Asuka magazine for the first 3 years, which includes when The Sword of Paros was serialized, check out our other articles we have posted that have a complete Table of Contents listing and other information.
Chapter 1
Chapter 1 is one of the chapters where it appears that the color pages have been safely preserved. As the initial setup for the story is presented on these pages, this likely helped in keeping them safe for future printing. The Japanese 2015 digital edition keeps these color pages intact, and were pages that Manga Mavericks had listed as already available in their archive to use.
Below are samples on how those color pages looked in the magazine:
Chapter 2
This second chapter also did have some of the story described on the first page, which was carried over into the volume editions. However, even in the 2015 edition, this has been grey-scaled. It appears that it was 2 pages that were originally printed in color in Monthly Asuka.
The backside of the color page had the following, but we were unable to find any color references to this from the magazine issue.
Chapter 3
This color page was completely removed from the original print volume release, along with the follow-up 2 and 3 volume releases. It’s unclear what, if any of the chapter was included on the backside of this color page. With the chapter being around 65 pages in length, there isn’t any obvious grey-scaled pages that were in color. So it’s unlikely there is a lost additional page, outside of the color page. There is a very faint black border that can be seen bleeding through the white edge, so it’s possible that it was just a traditional monochrome manga page. In the 1991 reprint edition, this color page was reprinted, however it was only in monochrome, not full color.
Chapter 4
Unlike the beginning of volume 1, the start of volume 2 with chapter 4 does not have a color page printed in either the original print edition nor the 2015 digital edition. However this color page has been used as part of the original volume 2 print cover design. With this page missing, in order to keep the page layout correct, the original print edition volume 2 took the last page from chapter 3 and included it within this chapter at the start. For the 2015 digital edition, it kept the last page of chapter 3 in the volume 1, and added a new character profile page to balance the pages.
Chapter 5
For chapter 5, it returns to another color image that doesn’t appear to have been repurposed, so only a partial view of it exists from the magazine. However, it was reprinted in the 1991 reprint edition in full color and with all the text removed.
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 is also again the same with another image that doesn’t appear to have been repurposed.
Chapter 7
For the final chapter of volume 2, just like all of the other chapters in the volume, is another standalone color page that wasn’t reused. While extremely faint, a small bit of the backside of the page does bleed through, and shows the character “大”, which is not used in any of the titles or author names. So it’s likely only an un-related color ad for something outside of The Sword of Paros.
Skipped Issue
For October 1986 issue of Monthly Asuka, the series was on a single issue break/hiatus. However to promote the upcoming November issue, there was a color image shown. Its unclear if this image was drawn specifically for this preview, or if it was another color illustration that they had on hand to use for the promotion.
Chapter 8
Returning from its one month hiatus, there was a total of 4 color pages included in the start of this chapter. Two of the color pages remained roughly intact for the print release (greyscaled) and the 2015 digital release (full color). However the color spread was not included as it was originally drawn in either release. Instead it was repurposed for the cover illustration in the original volume 3 print release, volume 2 of the 2-volume reprint, and the volume 1 of the 2015 digital release.
For the first page, when it was published in the Monthly Asuka magazine, it had a different blue background that is not present in the digital edition. This was potentially added in at the printers to reduce the bleed through of the color spread on the first page.
Chapter 9
For the ninth chapter, only a tiny bit of the color page has been found. However, it appears that this image was greyscaled and included as a cover page for the volume 3 release.
Chapter 10
Similar to some of these other images, the color page for chapter 10 has some very tiny images on what the color page contained. While it looks to be a similar design to the volume 1 cover, the first color page was a different design. It’s possible that there was then a color spread which came after this first page. Volume 1 of the manga was first printed in February 17th, 1987. This volume release would be after this color page was printed in Monthly Asuka, so this is a strong possibility there is an additional color spread with this chapter. The back of the original volume 1 also has an illustration that continues from the front.
Chapter 11
The final chapter only has a very tiny illustration as well, however, this appears to be the same illustration that is used on the back of volume 3, and as well English cover design for the release by Manga Mavericks (pending approval). Its unclear if there is an additional color page spread after this.
Additional Art
If we follow the trend that was set for these pieces of art there is a couple remaining images that haven’t been placed within the chapter listing above. For the original volume 2 print release, on the back cover there is an illustration that likely was part of a color page spread that was used at some point prior. This image also has an extended version that was used as the cover for the 2-volume reprint and the back cover design in the 1-volume reprint. The background in the original volume 2 print is likely what was in the original color page since none of the other images on the covers were replaced in this edition. It has a possibility that it would have been the color spread to go with chapter 5 as that also has a similar motif with forest plants in the background.
At the time of publication, many manga magazines had feedback surveys that fans could fill out and send back. A select number of those respondents could then win a variety of prizes for the month. Tied with the November 1986 issue of Monthly Asuka magazine, it appears that there was a set of 3 postcards and travel bag that was given out as prizes. It’s not known how many of these were printed, but worth noting here that the artwork used was not included in the volume editions.
The 1991 single volume reprint also contained some additional color illustrations that may have been used for other promotional materials during or after serialization.
