UDON Brings 'Persona 4' Manga To The US For The First Time

The popular “Persona 4” manga that has proven to be a hit in Japan is finally getting an English translation and a Western release date, courtesy of publisher UDON Entertainment. The manga is based on the “Persona 4” game that debuted on PlayStation 2 back in 2008 and was rereleased for the PlayStation Vita in 2012 as an enhanced remake called “Persona 4 Golden.”

“Persona 4” was a traditional Japanese role-playing game (RPG) that mixed the usual tropes of leveling up and grinding for loot, with socializing in a high school where the lead could form relationships with various characters. The game proved to be an enormous hit and was one of the last mainstream PlayStation 2 games to be released before the console died out.

Despite numerous remakes and an anime series, UDON senior editor Ash Paulsen has told IGN that the manga offers something fresh and new for fans who have already played the game or have seen the anime. Apparently, the uniqueness of the manga’s storytelling method gives fans an experience that the anime and video games haven’t been able to replicate.

Part of the “Shin Megami Tensei” series by Atlus, “Persona 4” may have trounced other games before it. The game not only got its own manga and anime, it also managed to get two very different spin-off games: “Persona 4 Arena,” a fighting game that was developed by “BlazBlue” creators Arc System Works and “Persona 4 Dancing All Night,” a rhythm game that mixes the typical fun of a dancing game with a dark story “Persona” fans will be happy to see.

This isn’t the first time UDON has translated a popular video game for Western audiences, as the publisher is also responsible for the “Street Fighter” comics. These comics have proven to be popular with Capcom fans, as they have managed to add depth and complexity to some of the characters.

The first volume of the “Persona 4” manga is scheduled for a September release and will cost $13.99. According to Crunchy Roll News, the rest of the volumes will be released bi-monthly and will probably finish sometime in 2016.

Persona 4 The Animation - Box 1 Trailer (Credit: YouTube/Manga UK)