Big Comic Original

Big Comic Original is a Shogakukan-published Japanese seinen manga magazine aimed mostly at older adults and men. It is a sibling publication to Big Comic, with the main difference being that it is available twice a month during the weeks when Big Comic is not.

Original has several crossover authors and many design similarities, but it is not intended for the same demographic as Big Comic and has been the more mainstream of the two in recent decades. The dozen or so manga serials currently running cover a wide range of topics, from historical dramas and suspense to sports and romance, with little science fiction or fantasy.

Big Comic Original, like Big Comic, has had several decades-long franchises from great mangaka. Haguregumo, Abu-san, Tsuribaka Nisshi, San-Chime no Yuhi: Yuyake no Uta, Kaze no Daichi, and Tasogare Ryseigun are other examples. Many of these works and authors are unknown to English audiences, although it has also featured notable works by more internationally known authors.

The cover artwork frequently includes a dog or cat as well as a haiku. Though the creative style or sorts of animals have changed over time, the cover design has generally remained animal-themed. Because the covers have no reference to the manga or current events, a previous cover is occasionally reused.

Founded: 1972
Publisher: Shogakukan
Circulation: 265,500

Website: https://bigcomicbros.net/bigoriginal/