« Articles and Scans / Asahi Sonorama EM-228 X Bomber

Twitter user: Yoshihito Kobayashi posted some images of the Asahi Sonorama X Bomber picture book.
This brief video gives an idea of what these publications were like and for how many different TV shows these were created, since the 1960s. 

The book is written by Keisuke Fujikawa, who also wrote the lyrics for 'Soldier in the Space': the opening theme song from the Japanese version of the show.
Illustrations are done by Hiroshi Kida and are composites of photographs of ships from the show and illustrated backgrounds.
For me at least, the blending of the photographic and illustrated elements has been really carefully done and the result is effective.

I like it when these publications are a little bit transformative and add something to the original show. It just makes it more interesting.

Based on the photographs, the book seems to cover, in an abridged format, the events of the first 3 episodes of the show.


The book includes a translucent, red, 33⅓ RPM mini LP/'flexi disc', contained in a plastic sleeve inside the front cover. From what I understand, these records would often contain an audio story based on the show.
In this case, going from the text on the cover, it just features the 'Soldier in the Space' song.


The smaller booklet pictured is unrelated: thought to have accompanied one of the small Yujin-style, vinyl figures that were released at the time of the show. Interestingly, it lists the ages of the characters.