Ultima Manga

Around 1988, when Origin and FCI were creating Japanese versions of the Ultima series, the Japanese publisher JICC published four full length manga based upon the games. As Ultima became popular amongst Japanese gamers, short comics and stories about the series also began to appear in a variety of publications featuring computer game related content.

Ultima: The Terror of Exodus
Main article: Ultima: The Terror of Exodus
 * Title: ウルティマ ～ エクソダスの恐怖 (Uruteima ~ Ekusodasu no Kyoufu)
 * Publisher: JICC.
 * Author: Seiji Tanaka
 * Published: Aug. 15, 1988.
 * Length: 252 pages (first 8 pages are in color)
 * Original List Price: 880¥ (about US$7)
 * ISBN-10: 4880634344

Summary: When the dark god of evil, Exodus, arises once more in the realm of Sosaria, it resurrects the evil magicians Mondain and Minax and with their aide threatens to plunge the land into eternal darkness. Its up to the four chosen "Dragon Warriors" of prophecy to defeat it: Genji, a futuristic space explorer; Aida, a peaceful, animal-loving cleric; Lennon, a paranoid and often disgruntled bard; and Bigelow, a mechanized robot with a capacity for human emotion. 



Ultima: The Quest of the Avatar
Main article: Ultima: The Quest of the Avatar
 * Title: ウルティマ ～ クエスト オブ アバタール (Uruteima ~ Kuesuto obu Abataar)
 * Publisher: JICC.
 * Author: Yuko Tanaka
 * Published: Aug. 29, 1989
 * Length: 252 pages (first 8 pages are in color)
 * '''Original List Price: 900¥ (about US$7)
 * ISBN-10: 4880635766
 * ISBN-13: 978-4880635767

Synopsis: A young paladin, Deane goes on a quest to discover what has become of his older brother, the druid, Shiva, who embarked on the quest of the Avatar some years ago. Along the way he meets a variety of new friends and eventually comes to learn the truth about who he is and what he is fated to become. 



Ultima: The Fall of Magincia
Main article: Ultima: The Fall of Magincia
 * Title: ウルティマ ～ マジンシアの滅亡 (Uruteima ~ Majinshia no Metsubou)
 * Publisher: JICC.
 * Author: Hiroyuki Watanabe
 * Published: Dec. 15, 1990.
 * Length: 248 pages (first 8 pages are in color)
 * '''Original List Price: 980¥
 * ISBN-10: 479660054X
 * ISBN-13: 978-4796600545

Synopsis: Britannia's seas are being ravaged by monsters under the command of the sorcerer Vitor, head of Magincia's merchants. The young pirate captain Susadora and his gang -  accompanied by Rani Sentri, captain of Britannia's special forces  -  are commanded by Lord British to find arms strong enough to stop Vitor, as well as discover a mysterious truth about Susadora himself. 



Ultima: The Maze of Schwarzschild
Main article: Ultima: The Maze of Schwarzschild
 * Title: ウルテイマ ～ シュワルツシルドの迷宮 (Uruteima ~ Shuwarutsushirudo no Meikyun)
 * Publisher: JICC.
 * Author: Seiji Tanaka
 * Published: Nov. 15, 1991
 * Original List Price: ¥980
 * ISBN-10: 4796602127
 * ISBN-13: 978-4796602129



Little is known about this publication. Other than the title and the cover, it is known to be a direct continuation of the "Exodus"-maga, complete with the heroes of said story.

One bit that did surface is the illustration shown at the left. It shows an asteroid that is engraved with the Codex Symbol and the three people that are most likely the hero role call. However, from these bits no conclusion can be made about the story, other than it seems to be rather strange (outer space after all...). 

GamePlayer COMICS Vol.4

 * Title: ゲームプレイヤーコミックス 4 (Geimu Pureyaa Komyukusu 4)
 * Publisher: Minori Shobo
 * Published: Apr. 13, 1992
 * Original List Price: ¥580

This book contains a twelve page Ultima-based story by Hiroki Nakase, called "Honoo no Daido-geinin." (Burning Street Jester) [pgs 106-117] 



GamePlayer COMICS Vol.5

 * Title: ゲームプレイヤーコミックス 5 (Geimu Pureyaa Komyukusu 5)
 * Publisher: Minori Shobo
 * Published: Jun. 13, 1992
 * Original List Price: ¥580

This book contains an eight page Ultima-based story by Hisokazu Shimada, called "Jitsuroku Avatar e Irasshai." (Document : Welcome to Avatar) [pgs 24-31] 



GamePlayer COMICS Vol.6

 * Title: ゲームプレイヤーコミックス 6 (Geimu Pureyaa Komyukusu 6)
 * Publisher: Minori Shobo
 * Published: Aug. 13, 1992
 * Original List Price: ¥580
 * ISBN-13: 978-4896020359

This book contains an eight page Ultima-based story by Hisokazu Shimada, called "Kigeki Gargoyle Satsujinjiken." (Comedy : Gargoyle Murder Case) 



GamePlayer COMICS Vol.7

 * Title: ゲームプレイヤーコミックス 7 (Geimu Pureyaa Komyukusu 7)
 * Publisher: Minori Shobo
 * Published: Oct. 12, 1992
 * Original List Price: ¥580
 * ISBN-13: 978-4896020441

This book contains an six page Ultima-based story by Tade, called "Haniwa de Avatar." 

Famicom 4-Panel-Comic Kingdom Vol.2

 * Title: ファミコン 4コマまんが王国 2 (Famicom 4-Koma Manga Oukoku 2)
 * Publisher: Futabasha
 * Published: Dec. 10, 1991
 * Original List Price: ¥580
 * ISBN-10: 4575932795
 * ISBN-13: 978-4575932799

This book contains fifteen Ultima-based comic strips by Nobuyuki Ishigaki, called "Futago no Majo Ul-chan Tima-chan." (Ul & Tima: The Twin Enchantresses) 

Million People's Sleep-Avoiding Software

 * Title: 100万本の徹夜ソフト (100man Nin no Tetsuya-Sofuto)
 * Publisher: Byakuya Shobo
 * Published: Apr. 9, 1993
 * Original List Price: ¥780
 * ISBN-10: 4893673173
 * ISBN-13: 978-4893673176

This book a one page Ultima-based story Izumi Takemoto, called "Aruhi no Ultima -Seija Eno Michi-" (A day of Ultima -Road to Saint-) 

BASIC'N Vol. 2

 * Title: べーしっ君 2 (Beishikun 2)
 * Publisher: ASCII
 * Author: Kiyokazu Arai
 * Published: Oct. 24, 1992
 * Original List Price: ¥520
 * ISBN-10: 4756106501
 * ISBN-13: 978-4756106506

This collection of 4-panel comics includes one Ultima III strip [pg. 35] and one one Ultima IV strip. [pg. 97] 



BASIC'N Vol. 3

 * Title: べーしっ君 3 (Beishikun 3)
 * Publisher: ASCII
 * Author: Kiyokazu Arai
 * Published: Oct. 24, 1992
 * Original List Price: ¥520
 * ISBN-10: 475610651X
 * ISBN-13: 978-4756106513

This collection of 4-panel comics includes one Ultima IV strip. [pg. 124] 



Road to Addiction

 * Title: はまり道 (Hamari Michi)
 * Publisher: ASCII
 * Author: 	Sensha Yoshida
 * Published: Apr. 22, 1994
 * Original List Price: ¥880
 * ISBN-10: 4756108792
 * ISBN-13: 978-4756108791

This collection of 4-panel comics includes one Ultima IV strip. 