Last week at the San Diego Comic-Con International, Jeph Loeb — Marvel Studios' newly enshrined head of television — announced that Marvel had struck a deal with G4 to bring four Anime series — "Iron Man," "Wolverine," "X-Men" and "Blade" — to the network next year.
More recently, G4 has confirmed the announcement and unveiled previously unknown story details for all four series:
“Iron Man”
In an effort to make amends for his weapons manufacturing past, Tony Stark has dedicated himself to building the world up rather than tearing it down. Traveling to Japan to build a new arc reactor that will deliver unlimited free energy to the Japanese people, Stark is challenged by the Japanese government and the media when he attempts to import the necessary nuclear priming device. And when the reactor-in-construction is repeatedly attacked by the mysterious Zodiac consortium, Stark must gather his allies to take on Zodiac and its mastermind.
“X-Men”
The X-MEN are reunited following the death of a teammate, and are summoned by Charles Xavier to Japan following the abduction of Hisako Ichiki (Armor). There, they confront the U-MEN, a lunatic cult that steals and transplants mutant organs to further strengthen their own army, and the battle for justice is on.
“Wolverine”
Based on the popular graphic novel by Frank Miller, the series begins in Japan , where Logan is challenged by Shingen Yashida, the notorious leader of a powerful mafia clan. When Shingen’s employee Yukio, a female assassin, falls out of Shingen's favor, she must kill him or be killed. Teaming up with Logan , the pair seek out the villain to exact their revenge.
“Blade”
Eric Brooks — aka Blade — seeks revenge on Deacon Frost, the vampire lord who killed his mother while she was still pregnant with Eric. With all the powers of a vampire and none of their weaknesses, Blade’s quest leads him throughout Southeast Asia in search of Frost, and, in Vietnam , he discovers a vampire plot that threatens to take down the whole world.
All four series were developed by noted comic book writer Warren Ellis and animated by Madhouse, the Japanese animation studio behind "Ninja Scroll." Sony will distribute the series in the US, which will be aired in twelve 30-minute episodes. According to the statement released by G4, all four series "will feature a matrix of interlinked storylines and shared guest characters that further enhance this intellectual roller coaster ride for G4 viewers."
“Iron Man” will be the first of the four series to come G4 in 2011, with a premiere date to be announced later.
