Shin'ichi Sakamoto – illustratör

The harder you climb, the higher you live.Despite the tragedy and notoriety that marked Mori’s introduction to climbing, he is still obsessed with the allure of the mountains and determined to keep up with his grueling training plan—even if his minuscule budget means he needs to get creative. All the creativity in the world doesn’t end up being enough to fund an actual expedition, though, so when a rich adventurer offers him a spot on his ambitious K2 climbing team, Mori reluctantly accepts. Suddenly he’s got more new gear than he knows what to do with and an invitation to an amazing training climb in the Japanese Alps. But Mori’s joy at being in the mountains again is tempered by his knowledge that humans are more treacherous than any peak.

The harder you climb, the higher you live.Buntaro Mori is a loner, but being alone in a crowd is almost as bad as being forced to fit in. When a dangerous bid for solitude introduces Mori to the rush of solo climbing, he becomes addicted to the brilliant sense of freedom he finds as he pits his body and soul against the heights. But how high does he have to climb to leave humanity behind?For a brief, brilliant moment, Mori thought he had found his purpose in life, but after an unscrupulous reporter’s sensationalized article gets the climbing club canceled, he finds himself more at odds with the world than ever. With nothing left to lose, Mori agrees to go alpine climbing with Kurosawa, the very reporter who ruined everything, not caring that he obviously doesn’t have Mori’s best interests at heart. But Kurosawa isn’t trying to destroy Mori. He just wants to ignite the boy’s intense potential, no matter who it hurts.

The harder you climb, the higher you live.Buntaro Mori is a loner, but being alone in a crowd is almost as bad as being forced to fit in. When a dangerous bid for solitude introduces Mori to the rush of solo climbing, he becomes addicted to the brilliant sense of freedom he finds as he pits his body and soul against the heights. But how high does he have to climb to leave humanity behind?Transfer student Buntaro Mori starts his first day at his new school already on the administration’s radar. He’s withdrawn and sullen, and the teachers are just waiting for him to explode. When his annoying classmate Miyamoto promises to leave him alone forever if he climbs to the top of the school, Mori eagerly takes up the challenge and shocks everyone when he makes it all the way to the roof. Flushed with the victory of his first successful climb, Mori can’t resist the lure of the local peak, despite warnings from more experienced climbers about the risks of climbing alone. But Mori doesn’t care. A little danger is nothing in the face of his new obsession.

The harder you climb, the higher you live.Buntaro Mori is a loner, but being alone in a crowd is almost as bad as being forced to fit in. When a dangerous bid for solitude introduces Mori to the rush of solo climbing, he becomes addicted to the brilliant sense of freedom he finds as he pits his body and soul against the heights. But how high does he have to climb to leave humanity behind?The tragic deaths of his teammates in the northern Japanese Alps leave Mori reeling, but despite the devastating experience, his love of climbing has not been dimmed. His ability to handle other people has suffered, though, and it takes an incredible job offer to finally draw him back down into civilization. There, he finds everything is just as terrible as he left it. Will his new hopes for the future get snagged on the relentlessness of reality?

The harder you climb, the higher you live.Buntaro Mori is a loner, but being alone in a crowd is almost as bad as being forced to fit in. When a dangerous bid for solitude introduces Mori to the rush of solo climbing, he becomes addicted to the brilliant sense of freedom he finds as he pits his body and soul against the heights. But how high does he have to climb to leave humanity behind?Mori and the 14 Mountain assault team are more than a week into their complete traverse of the Japanese Alps, but bad weather and worse personalities are making the training seem harder than ascending K2 itself. After Mori is singled out for praise by the expedition leader, he finds himself pushed to the edges of the group as the team is beset by a series of increasingly terrible misfortunes. As conditions worsen, can the team pull together, or will it be each man for himself against the cold mercy of the mountains?

Available in English for the first time comes the direct sequel to Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s (#DRCL Midnight Children) manga series Innocent. The gears of history start to turn! As discontent with the aristocracy begins to grow, a profound upheaval looms.The Sanson family hits a turning point as they enter a new era with the ascension of the new king and the departure of a progenitor. As Louis XVI becomes resolute in his role, Marie Antoinette revels in her royal standing. Meanwhile, restlessness stirs among the commoners as living conditions worsen and food becomes more scarce. Rising from the slums, a group of rebels will seek to abolish the class system by any means necessary. And a familiar character comes face to face with Marie-Joseph with intentions to assassinate the king!This omnibus edition collects volumes 4–6 of the original Japanese manga series.For mature audiences.

Blood, death, and duty—the title bequeathed to the heir of the royal executioner becomes a burden too heavy to bear.In this omnibus edition collecting volumes 1-3 of the original manga series, Shin’ichi Sakamoto masterfully fictionalizes the true life of Charles-Henri Sanson, the "Gentleman of Paris," who performed nearly three thousand executions in 18th century France.Born into a family of executioners, Charles-Henri Sanson must take up his father’s mantle as the Royal Executioner of Paris. Conflicted between his desire to honor the family name and rebelling against the longstanding practice, he chooses to follow tradition, but vows to be the last executioner—the last Sanson to spill blood in the name of justice.Available in English for the first time and presented in a special omnibus edition collecting volumes 1-3 of the original Japanese manga series!For mature audiences.

Available in English for the first time comes the direct sequel to Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s (#DRCL Midnight Children) manga series Innocent.The spark of revolution ignites the hearts of the French population.Thwarted by fate with the calamity that followed the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, Marie-Joseph is determined to confront destiny. When a young blacksmith who advocated for equality was sentenced to death, the populace rose up and rushed the block in an unprecedented uprising. With this emerging new power championing ideals of freedom, the bond between the Sanson siblings begins to waver. Meanwhile, Charles-Henri continues to develop a mechanical means of execution, but just who will be condemned to this instrument of death?This omnibus edition collects volumes 7–9 of the original Japanese manga series!

Unflinching poise in the face of mortal justice—a world free of execution will be sought at the cost of further death.In this omnibus edition collecting volumes 4-6 of the original manga series, Shin’ichi Sakamoto masterfully fictionalizes the true life of Charles-Henri Sanson, the "Gentleman of Paris," who performed nearly three thousand executions in 18th century France.What has begun, must be seen to an end. Despite the sorrows of a broken heart, Charles must carry out the execution of the condemned Damiens. Swearing to fulfill his duty mercifully, fate plays a cruel hand, and within the ranks of the Sanson family, one intervenes in a shocking display. With dreams of a future of mercy and flourishing equality, Charles faces the execution of the century.Available in English for the first time and presented in a special omnibus edition collecting volumes 4-6 of the original Japanese manga series!For mature audiences.

Available in English for the first time comes the direct sequel to Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s (#DRCL Midnight Children) manga series Innocent. At the dawn of the French Revolution, a family of executioners will set in motion the events that will change the future!Charles-Henri Sanson reigns as the head of a family of executioners. His dreams of a world without execution have faded as the legacy of House Sanson takes precedence. His younger sister Marie-Joseph, stationed at the office of Versailles, lives free—unshackled by the precepts of society, jeopardizes the sanctity of that legacy. Following the death of her first love, Alain, she sets herself on a crimson-soaked path of vengeance and will stop at nothing to expose the murderer and overthrow the unjust system that cost him his life.This omnibus edition collects volumes 1–3 of the original Japanese manga series! Available in English for the first time!For mature audiences.