The next issue of Weekly Big Comic Spirits will carry a new one-shot for Masami Yuki's Mobile Police Patlabor manga. Having initially ended in 1994, this marks the first time in 32 years that the series has received a new instalment.

While director Mamoru Oshii is most closely associated with the Patlabor series thanks to his anime film adaptation in 1989, the project was actually conceived by a group of creators known as HEADGEAR. Masami Yuki formed a key part of this unit alongside mechanical designer Yutaka Izubuchi, character designer Akemi Takada, and script writer Kazunori Ito. The original manga then ran in Weekly Shonen Sunday not longer after the OVAs started releasing, eventually closing out at 22 volumes.

In terms of plot, the announcement from Weekly Big Comic Spirits teased that while the original manga took place in the near future of 1998, time has now "caught up" to the story. Further text reads "32 years on, the story moves once more", suggesting that this new one-shot might see the characters of Patlabor all grown up and in the modern day. All will be revealed when the issues goes on sale May 18.

Moreover, it's no surprise that Masami Yuki would choose to pen another instalment for his Patlabor manga after so long. A new movie by the name of Mobile Police Patlabor EZY premieres on May 15 with several new characters and an opening theme by virtual YouTuber Mori Calliope. Up until now, the relationship between the new series and the original has been unclear, but could there be more synergy than previously thought?

Issue no. 25 of Weekly Big Comic Spirits goes on sale May 25.