In January 1968, readers of Shōnen Book magazine were treated to the debut of two new manga series; one from the "God of Manga" himself, and another inspired by a rising international sci-fi phenomenon.
Grandoll: Osamu Tezuka's Alien Invasion Thriller
The first was グランドール (Grandoll) by Osamu Tezuka. The short-lived series ran from January to September 1968 in Shōnen Book.
The story follows a boy named Tetsuo who discovers a mysterious "doll" that can transform into a human. The shocking truth: these Grandolls are alien infiltrators secretly replacing people on Earth as part of an invasion plan.
Grandoll mixes science fiction with paranoia and identity horror. The idea that anyone, even your own family, might secretly be an impostor echoes Cold War anxieties and the classic sci-fi theme of hidden alien replacement. Tokyo Ghoul anyone?
Though rarely discussed today, the series remains a fascinating footnote in Tezuka's career and a collectible curiosity for vintage manga hunters.
Captain Scarlet: British Sci-Fi Meets Japanese Manga
The same issue also launched a manga adaptation of キャプテンスカーレット (Captain Scarlet) illustrated by Mitsushi Asahioka.
The series was based on the British television show Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, a futuristic puppet-based sci-fi drama created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson that aired in 1967–1968.
Set in the year 2068, the story depicts a covert war between humanity and the mysterious alien race known as the Mysterons, who can recreate destroyed objects, and even resurrect humans to use as agents of revenge against Earth.
Japan quickly embraced the show's futuristic designs and vehicles, leading to manga adaptations like the one serialized in Shōnen Book in 1968.
While neither series became a long-running hit, the issue captures a fascinating moment when Japanese manga, Western science fiction, and tokusatsu culture collided on the same pages.
For collectors, it's also a reminder that some of the most interesting manga history hides not in tankōbon—but in the fragile pages of vintage weekly magazines.