Spring 1968

Prince Kaibutsu leaves the Monster Kingdom for the human world as part of the training required before he can become king. Accompanied by Dracula, Wolfman, and Franken, the short-tempered young prince meets human children and repeatedly discovers that ruling others is much easier to imagine than understanding them. Friendship, responsibility, and bizarre monster trouble become lessons in what leadership actually requires.

Nine people transformed into cyborgs by the sinister Black Ghost organization rebel against the fate chosen for them and escape under the guidance of scientist Dr. Gilmore. Each carries a different artificial ability, from underwater combat and flight to devastating firepower, while 009, Joe Shimamura, possesses extraordinary acceleration.Rather than become weapons for someone else's wars, the nine use their altered bodies to protect people from criminals, hostile machines, aliens, and other cyborgs. Their battles repeatedly force them to confront the same question that follows them after their transformation: how much of their humanity can survive inside bodies built for combat?

Hyuma Hoshi has been raised for one purpose: to become a great professional baseball pitcher. His father Ittetsu, whose own baseball career was destroyed by war, subjects him to relentless training and places the dream of reaching the Yomiuri Giants above nearly everything else.As Hyuma advances through school baseball and toward the professional stage, talent alone is never enough. Powerful rivals such as Mitsuru Hanagata force him to refine his dangerous pitching techniques, while victories, injuries, relationships, and his father's crushing expectations test what it truly costs to become a star.