Cyberpunk Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
The Cyberpunk Media Index lists notable comics, manga, and graphic novels that have shaped the cyberpunk genre. Entries include early influences such as The Long Tomorrow and pioneering works like Shatter, the first digital comic. The index highlights themes of dystopia, overcrowding, and technological control across works from the 1970s to the 1990s.
- ▪The Long Tomorrow (1975) is a single‑issue graphic novel that introduced noir detective elements and urban futurism that inspired later cyberpunk works like Blade Runner.
- ▪Akira, released as a manga from 1982 to 1990, combines dystopian and anarchic themes with a futuristic setting, complementing its well‑known anime adaptation.
- ▪The Blade Runner comic (1982) was a two‑issue Marvel adaptation that expands on the film’s ambiguous scenes with added narration and trivia.
- ▪Shatter (1985‑1988) was created entirely on a Macintosh Plus and is recognized as the world’s first digital comic, featuring classic cyberpunk tropes and predictive technology concepts.
- ▪Dominion (1986) by Masamune Shirow presents a polluted megacity where tank police enforce order, linking visual designs to the later Ghost in the Shell franchise.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Cyberpunk Media Index Cyberpunk Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels by admin July 7, 2026 July 7, 2026 35.6K A list of illustrated literature spanning Western comics, Japanese manga and graphic novels. Sorted by publication date. The Long Tomorrow | By: Dan O’Bannon & Moebius | Setting Date: Far FuturePublished: 1975 | Type: Graphic Novel | Issues: 1Themes: Multiculturalism, Overcrowding, Technocracy Summary: A gritty short story with illustrations that were part of the French science fiction aesthetic of the 70’s that heavily inspired cyberpunk media such as Blade Runner and Neuromancer. The Long Tomorrow is a film noir hard boiled detective narrative complete with a femme fatale and predictions of a heavily urbanised future society.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Shellzine.