Under Execution, Under Jailbreak
Under Execution, Under Jailbreak (死刑執行中脱獄進行中, Shikei Shikkō-chū Datsugoku Shinkō-chū) is a short story collection written and illustrated by Hirohiko Araki. The volume contains four unrelated one-shot stories, including two spin-offs of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
A theatrical adaptation of the titular short story, starring Japanese actor Mirai Moriyama, was performed in theaters across Japan from November to December 2015.
Summary
Under Execution, Under Jailbreak is a one-shot featuring a prisoner condemned to death. The prisoner discovers and attempts to escape several deadly traps within his jail cell, slowly realizing that it doubles as his execution room. The one-shot was originally published in issue 2 of Super Jump in 1995.
Dolce, and His Master is a two-chapter short story about a cat named Dolce and his master, two survivors aboard a crashed yacht stranded on the open sea. The short story was originally published in issues 11 and 12 of Manga Allman magazine in 1996.
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan Episode 16: At a Confessional is a one-shot starring Rohan Kishibe from Diamond is Unbreakable as the narrator, and would later become the first chapter of the series of the same name. While visiting a confessional booth in Italy, Rohan overhears a sinner's confession to a tale of deceit and death. The one-shot was originally published in issue 30 of Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997.
Deadman's Questions is a three-chapter short story featuring Yoshikage Kira from Diamond is Unbreakable as an amnesiac ghost working as an assassin. When his latest assignment brings him to a supernatural mansion, Kira discovers that even ghosts have things to fear. The short story was originally published in issues 12 to 14 of Manga Allman magazine in 1999.
Chapters
- Under Execution, Under Jailbreak (死刑執行中脱獄進行中, Shikei Shikkō-chū Datsugoku Shinkō-chū)
- Dolce, and His Master (ドルチ ~ダイ・ハード・ザ・キャット~, Doruchi ~Dai Hādo Za Kyatto~)
- Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan Episode 16: At a Confessional (岸辺露伴は動かない 〜エピソード16:懺悔室〜, Kishibe Rohan wa Ugokanai ~Episōdo 16: Zange-shitsu~)
- Deadman's Questions (デッドマンズQ, Deddomanzu Q)
Author's Note
The amount of effort it takes me to create a short story is about the same as it takes to write a longer one, the only difference being that the short story has to end after a few dozen pages. Even if I did have a good idea for a short story, I can't help but use it in my longer series for that reason. The stories in this collection are examples of what happens when an unexpected friendship forms between an editor and a manga artist.
When the editorial department asked me to write a short story, I was able to expand on an idea I had left out of one of my longer series, an idea that made me think, "Well, I could use this for a short story." I can't help but think it was fate. In the twelve years that it took for this book to come out, that feeling has became more and more deeply ingrained in each of my works.
なぜ自分は短編をあまり描かないのか?答えはアイデアを連載長編の方に使っちゃうからだ。長編の方には愛すぺき主人公がいるし、読者も短編よりは長編の方が魅力を感じてくれている。長編も短編もストーリーを0から作り上げていくのは同じ労力でも、短編は数十ページで終わりにしなくてはならない。だから、短編向きの良いアイデアがあってもつい長編の方に使ってしまう。
本書に集まった作品は、偶然に作られた編集者と漫画家の友情の結晶である。
「短編、描いてよ」っていう編集部の依頼がきっかけで、長編からはみ出ていたアイデアを、「ンじゃ、これ短編に使おう」って感じでふくらましていくので、自分としては運命的なものを感じてしまう。そして、十二年に一冊という事で、ますますその思いが各作品に深く入っていってしまう。