Three separate manga versions of the Japanese pop culture phenomenon Train Man (Densha Otoko) are due out in the U.S. this fall from three different publishers.  The 'true story'/urban legend of a reclusive otaku who comes to the aid of a cute office lady who is being harassed by a drunk on a train began in Japan as an Internet phenomenon as the shy guy sought help from his online friends as he mounted a campaign to win the heart of the girl he helped.  Hittori Nakano wrote a hugely popular (over 500K sold in Japan) Train Man novel that was quickly made into a highly succesful live action film that Viz is putting in limited U.S. release starting later this month (see 'Viz to Release Train Man Movie').

In October the first books in two very different 3-volume manga treatments of the Train Man saga will be released in the U.S.  The first is CMX's Train Man by Wataru Watanabe, a shonen (boys') manga with ultra-cute characters that look like they walked right out of the pages of Love Hina.  A week later on October 17th Viz will release the first of three volumes in a seinen (teen males) manga adaptation by Hidenori Hara, who won the Shogakukan Manga Award back in 1987.  Hara's version is the most realistic and hews to the storyline established in the Train Man movie and TV series.

Then in November Del Rey will publish a one-volume shojo (girls') version of the Train saga created by Machiko Ocha.  As might be expected Ms. Ocha's version is all about the relationship that develops between two basically shy people and in this adaptation the reader gets to view the action from the office lady's point of view as well as from that of the shy otaku.

But don't think that U.S. manga publishers have covered all the Train Man bases--there's still a 2-volume Akita Shoten Train Man manga that is yet to be licensed for the States.