Mutant Den | Weekly Shōnen | #1 pg. 15 | Jiro Kuwata

Jirō Kuwata – Mutant Den (ミュータント伝), 1970

Very nice, dark original page published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Kodansha, Jan.1970)
Mutant Den is a sci-fi manga exploring human evolution, mutation and the struggle for survival.

Set in prehistoric times, the story follows a boy born with an appearance radically different from the primitive humans surrounding him. Rejected by his tribe and abandoned, he survives in the wilderness, eventually discovering a girl who shares his unusual appearance, suggesting the emergence of a new stage in human evolution.

Mutant Den was created during a particularly interesting period in Kuwata's career. Having established himself with pioneering superhero series such as X-Man, 8 Man and the Japanese Batman (1966–1967), Kuwata began exploring darker, more experimental and socially conscious narratives toward the end of the 1960s.

Works such as Mutant Den reflect this shift, addressing questions of human identity, evolution, violence and the consequences of scientific progress. Moving away from conventional superhero adventures, Kuwata adopted a more philosophical approach to science fiction, combining his characteristic dynamic artwork with increasingly ambitious themes.

Mutant Den is particularly notable for its almost cinematic visual storytelling, with entire sequences unfolding without dialogue.

This original page captures that approach beautifully, depicting a dramatic confrontation against a volcanic landscape and the appearance of the girl who shares the protagonist's unusual appearance, a pivotal moment in the story

Size : 25 x 35 cm
Media : pencil, ink & gouache on paper
Very good condition