Yes, given the evidence, there was probably no doubt in your mind that the Zelda manga would be translated, but it lacked one very important thing: official confirmation. Until now.

Viz Media announced at BookExpo America, in Los Angeles, that they would be releasing the ”The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” manga series in English. We finally know that the manga series, of the many Zelda manga adaptations by Akira Himekawa, will be the one based on Ocarina of Time, as expected. Viz Media have previously stated that they will release further Zelda manga adaptations if sales figures are good.

Also on the manga front, Akira Himekawa (actually a pen name for two people) announced on their blog that their next project will be an adaptation of Phantom Hourglass. Which seems a bit odd, considering they never adapted The Wind Waker, of which PH is a direct sequel. But it will be a long time before we see that one in English, so let’s save the confusion for then!

This little tidbit doesn’t really count as news, but it’s an interesting Zelda reference that put a smile on my face.

The Metro is a free newspaper distributed at bus and train stations throughout the UK. It’s often quite an unusual newspaper with obscure references - for example, it once featured an interview with Nobuo Uematsu, famed Final Fantasy composer - chances are, I was one of five readers who knew who he was.

So picture the scene. Waiting for an exam to start, I tire of studying, and pull out the (Scottish version of) today’s Metro I had stolen from the train station. Turning to the comments section, where readers text in short, often bizarre messages, one leaped off the page at me. You may not wish to read any further if you have not completed Twilight Princess, as there is a vague reference to the game’s ending. I repeat, TWILIGHT PRINCESS SPOILERS AHEAD.

The following comment was printed:

Got the girl, killed the baddies, saved the entire planet. It’s time to go home. This goes out to the dark princess. Goodbye my love x x.

Spaceman from Sighthill

I may be overly-quick to spot a Zelda reference, but that sounds suspiciously like the end of Twilight Princess! Spaceman, if you’re reading this (unlikely), let us know if this is what you meant by the comment. And congratulations on your victory! And yes, we all miss ”the dark princess”, but life goes on…

Update: Okay, this article is stupid and so am I. Let’s move on.

The latest instalment in the “Iwata Asks” interview series on the official Nintendo website, focuses on Link’s Crossbow Training. As he chats to Shigeru Miyamoto about the development process of the game, you’re bound to learn lots about the making of this thrilling instalment in the critically acclaimed Zelda franchise…

 …who am I kidding? Did you even buy it? I’ve told you it’s there, I’ve done my part. Read it if you want. It’s actually quite interesting, for what it’s worth.

Iwata Asks: Link’s Crossbow Training

The first of many community-wide projects, the Zelda Blog has relaunched. It already has some cracking editorial, for example:

“…a crybaby, really turned people off.” in Zant: A Story of Revenge

“(Insert link to image)” in Ocarina of Time for the DS?

 ”Any real fan knows that Link is silent, but deadly.” in Link Keller - The Silent Hero

“Suffice to say, FSA was no more than a series of cruel genetic abominations that involved LttP’s Link and Minish Cap’s Link, combined together to and cloned into four mutated, bastardized Links that spread havoc and chaos throughout Hyrule with endless supplies of annoyingness.” in The Hylian Collective

Fans won’t have long to wait after getting their first taste of the Zelda manga series (volume 1 of which is released October 7th), as Amazon.com are listing volume 2 (of 2) of the Ocarina of Time adaptation for a December 2nd release - less than two months after the first. A good move for Viz Media, who often use lengthy release schedules for short, popular series.

A few months ago you may remember I made a shameless plug to a new site I’d opened, Saved or Sinner. Well, this is the sequel, though slightly more justified than the first because over the past couple of months I’ve (oddly) had some emails asking whether I was ever going to reopen my long-defunct blog. Well, yes and no. The Escapades is my blogslashportfolio, though these days I happen to be less concerned about things that are going on in the world so I’d expect less blog than portfolio. Still, if you don’t mind articles of an 18+ if not downright illegal nature, check it out!

The concluding chapter of the hilarious ”The King of Hyrule is a Jerk” webcomic, providing an twisted retelling of the Wind Waker, has been posted on the creator’s livejournal (beware, there are plot spoilers). And it looks like the king has left a bad influence on Link!

Super Smash Bros. Brawl - 27th June

 In an interview with video game site 1UP, Shigeru Miyamoto made an interesting statement about the status of the “Zelda team” working at Nintendo.

 ”(…) we do have the existing teams at Nintendo working on the kinds of products we’ve always made over the years. The Zelda team is forming again to work on new games! But to me, it’s about finding these new interactive experiences and bringing them to people.”

 Interesting, yet ambiguous. While it’s easy to assume the new games are Zelda games, Shigsy didn’t actually say that. So you could gather from this short quote that the Zelda team are working on something completely new! Though if Shigsy is referring to a Zelda game, this is just another of the many whispers we’ve heard about it - we know it exists, or will exist in the near future, but there’s still no real information about it. The Nintendo Media Summit recently passed without a peep of Zelda. Perhaps at this year’s E3? Stay tuned…

 (I apologise for the slightly late arrival of this news nugget - I have spent the last two days of my life starving myself for charity, eating to make up for it, sleeping (because starving yourself leaves you with little energy), then going to a Ceilidh. It’s pronounced “Kayleigh” and is a Scottish dance thing. They’re fun, you should try them.)

Part 1
Parts 2 and 3

You can imagine how they’ll spin the game’s ending for the concluding chapter! Brilliant.