Manga Entertainment has set release dates for its Astro Boy VHS series, which is being re-solicited due to a change in distributor to WEA. The release date for Volumes 1-3 of the series is now May 28, 2002; for Volumes 4-6, August 27, 2002; and for Volumes 7-9, November 26, 2002. With five episodes per tape in the first three volumes and six per tape in volumes 4-9, this run will complete the VHS release of the 51 color episodes of the series that were created in the 80s by Tezuka Productions in cooperation with the Nippon Television and Network Corporation as a revival of the successful black and white series shown in both Japan and the US in the 60s. The story begins with the origin of Astro Boy. With Dark Horse publishing the Astro Boy manga (see 'Interview with Fred Schodt'), and Viz launching its release of Phoenix, one of Tezuka's most important works (see 'Manga's Premiere Artist at the Top of his Game'), and the theatrical release of Metropolis, the environment is good for sales of this series, although some may prefer to wait for DVD.
