On March 5, 2024, Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine shared news that the Pumpkin Scissors manga series is making a comeback. It’ll start serializing again on April 6, 2024, after a break since March 2020, which lasted nearly four years.
Originally, Del Rey had the series under its wings, but later Kodansha took over. Currently, there are 23 volumes of the manga out there, the latest being released in November 2019. Not just that, Pumpkin Scissors also got its own anime adaptation back in October 2006, featuring some popular voice actors, and it was a collaboration between Studio Gonzo and Studio AIC.
The Return of Pumpkin Scissors: A Tale of Redemption and Hope
The Pumpkin Scissors manga series, created by Iwanaga Ryoutarou, debuted in 2002 in Kodansha’s Magazine Great. Due to its growing popularity, it transitioned to Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine in 2006.
Unfortunately, the series hit a pause in March 2020, leaving fans speculating about the cause, with many concerned about the author’s health. However, after nearly four years, the series is set to return in April 2024.
In the English-speaking world, Del Ray initially licensed the manga in November 2007 but halted its release after only five volumes by August 2009. However, Kodansha Comics USA took up the mantle, beginning digital publication in 2016.
Back in October 2006, the Pumpkin Scissors manga got turned into an anime by Studio Gonzo and AIC (Anime International Company). However, Studio Gonzo faced financial troubles and merged with its parent company in April 2009. Sadly, it’s been inactive since 2020.
The anime featured some top-notch voice talent, including Miyake Kenta, known for voicing All Might in My Hero Academia, as Randal Oland, Shizuka Itou, recognized for her role as Akeno in High School DxD, as Alice L. Malvin, and Toriumi Kousuke, who voices Silva Nozel in Black Clover, as Oreldo.
Set in the aftermath of a prolonged conflict between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost, the anime Pumpkin Scissors unfolds as a gripping action-drama. The narrative centers on Alice L. Malvin, who leads a war relief unit named Pumpkin Scissors, dedicated to aiding those affected by the war’s aftermath.
Amidst her endeavors, Malvin encounters Randal Oland, a compassionate soldier burdened by his troubled past. Despite his inner demons, Oland joins Malvin’s cause in search of redemption. However, Oland becomes afflicted by a mysterious blue lantern, granting him immense, almost monstrous strength. As he grapples with his newfound power, fear and doubt surround him.
Yet, Malvin steadfastly believes in Oland’s inherent goodness, despite the challenges he faces. The question looms: will Oland’s compassion triumph over his formidable strength, aiding Malvin in her mission of hope and assistance to those in need?
