Introduction to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

In 2022, CD Projekt Red, the developer of Cyberpunk 2077, and the renowned anime studio Trigger, jointly released the Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. This series quickly gained popularity and joined the exclusive club of phenomenal video game adaptations. It also revitalized the player base of Cyberpunk 2077, which had lost faith in the game due to its rocky launch. The show’s success was further solidified when it won Crunchyroll’s 2023 Anime of the Year award, beating out other popular shows like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and Spy x Family.

Expanding the Edgerunners Universe

Although CD Projekt Red has stated that there are no plans to create a sequel season, they are far from done with producing more anime content for the series. Some of the projects in the works include characters like Lucy being a guest character in Guilty Gear Strive, a tabletop epilogue, and a spin-off animated series in production at Netflix. Additionally, a new prequel manga series, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Madness, is being released, which follows the story of Rebecca and her brother Pilar before the events of the anime. This series will soon be available in English, courtesy of Dark Horse.

Interview with Bartosz Sztybor

We spoke with manga writer Bartosz Sztybor to gain insight into the creation of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Madness and what fans can expect from CD Projekt Red and future Edgerunners stories.

Idea and Development

When asked what sparked the idea to revisit Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as a manga, Sztybor explained that there are many stories not only in Edgerunners but in the entire Cyberpunk 2077 universe. The goal is to show that this is a big, authentic, and believable world, achieved through complex characters and grounded stories. Sztybor emphasized that characters need to feel alive, with their own lives, past, and dreams. The idea for the manga came about when Kadokawa, a legendary Japanese manga publisher, expressed interest in creating a Cyberpunk: Edgerunners manga.

Choosing the Main Characters

Sztybor chose Rebecca and her brother Pilar as the main characters for the manga because they had amazing stories and were a perfect match for a dark comedy with a cyberpunk twist. He wanted to tell a character-driven tale with a complex story, exploring themes of morality and shades of gray.

Production and Differences from Anime

The production of the manga series differed from the production of the Edgerunners anime in that it was a more introverted process, relying on the spark between the writer and the artist. Sztybor worked closely with editors Tetsuya Seya and Koeda-san to bring the best out of the story. In contrast, making an anime is a team effort, involving many more people, including producers, directors, and writers.

Future Plans

When asked if the manga would be a limited-run series or an ongoing work, Sztybor stated that they plan to create two books, each with six chapters, but if readers demand more, he is ready to continue the story. The success of the manga will not change plans to explore the Edgerunners universe further with different characters from the anime. If there is a good story to tell about someone from that universe, they will do everything to tell it.

English Release

The first book of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Madness, collecting the first six chapters, is expected to be available in English through Dark Horse Comics this summer, just before the third anniversary of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has been a phenomenal success, and CD Projekt Red is committed to expanding the universe with new content, including the prequel manga series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Madness. Fans can look forward to exploring the Edgerunners universe further, with new stories and characters on the horizon.