Ral Ω Grad

In this four-issue 2008–2009 Viz series, a young boy discovers he is the reincarnation of a legendary hero, Ral, and must master the power of the mystical Grad to battle monstrous foes. With a script overseen by Tsuneo Takano and Jake Forbes, and striking artwork by Takeshi Obata—famed for Death Note—this compact story blends fantasy action with the polished, dramatic sensibility of Obata's signature style. Though brief, it stands as a vivid example of Viz’s mid-2000s push for original English-language manga-influenced comics.