Wolf's Rain (manga)

Wolf's Rain
Nomenclature
Japanese	ウルフズレイン
Information
Demographic	Seinen
Illustrator	Toshitsugu Iida
Volumes	2
Chapters	12
Publisher	Kodansha
Original Release	July 23, 2003 — February 23, 2004
English Publisher	Viz Media
English Release	May 3, 2005 — June 14, 2005
Magazine	Magazine Z
Magazine publication	April 23, 2003 — February, 2004

Wolf's Rain (ウルフズレイン, Urufuzu Rein), is a Japanese manga written by Keiko Nobumoto and illustrated by Toshitsugu Iida. The book is based on the anime of the same name by Toshihiro Kawamoto.

The two-volume manga series was originally serialized in Magazine Z—a monthly seinen magazine—with the first chapter premiering in April of 2003.

Chapters/Gropes

Each chapter of the manga series is called a "grope", which is a reference to a Japanese phrase for "arriving somewhere after enduring hardships."

Volume 1

• A Short Stay
• The Key to Paradise
• Escape From the Fortress
• The Fortress of Solitude
• The Flower That Dances in the Wind

Volume 2

• The Spellbound Pack
• A Sad Song
• The Grave That Looks Toward Heaven
• The Pedigree of the Guides
• The Depths of Despair
• Rain

Publication

An exclusive edition of the first volume was released on November 5^th, 2004 in the US in Borders and Waldenbooks stores. This edition included a collectible box to hold both volumes and a lenticular postcard-sized card of Kiba.

The two volumes were released in North America by VIZ Media as individual volumes in the summer of 2005.

The manga was later published for the fifth time in 2009; the cover having minor changes such as a different VIZ Media logo.

The Viz Media release was adapted by David Ury, who also acted as translator along side Egan Loo.

The series has also been released in German by Heyne, in Italian by Shin Vision and in Polish by Japonica Polonica Fantastica.

The two volumes were also published in Cantonese by Tong Li Comics for Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Countries

Language	Publisher	First Publication Date	Notes
Japanese	KODANSHA	July 23, 2003 — February 23, 2004	Coloured cover sleeve. Obi
English	VIZ Media	May 1, 2005 (Special Edition) May 3 — June 14, 2005	First printings (2004/5) includes glossy, coloured title pages. Later editions changed coloured pages to normal black and white paper.
German	Heyne verlag	November 7, 2005 — January 2, 2006
Shin Panini Italian Italian	Shin Vision Panini	August 1 — October 1, 2005 April 26, 2018	Coloured cover sleeve. Page edges coloured blue (Vol.1) and red (Vol.2).
Portuguese	Planet Manga	July — September 2010
Finnish	Punainen jättiläinen	2005
Swedish	Bonnier Carlsen	2008
Polish	Japonica Polonica Fantastica	November 2004 — January 2005
Korean	Haksan Publishing	September 25 — November 25, 2004
Chinese	Tong Li Comics	April 13, 2005
Indonesian	Elex Media Komputindo	2006

Gallery

Kiba and Tsume as they appear in the manga.

Hige and Toboe as they appear in the manga.

Trivia

• The character Tia, as well as the wolf brothers, are manga exclusive characters.
• Lady Jaguara is omitted from the manga, though her guards are still present as an antagonizing force.
• Zali's pack does not appear in the manga.
• Blue and Hige do not form a romantic relationship and never meet.
• Blue doesn't join Kiba's pack, preferring Darcia after he reveals to her that she is part wolf after hearing Cheza's call.
• Unlike the anime, none of the protagonists die.