UlasanAnime.com – As a collector, terms like “Limited Edition,” “First Press,” or similar designations often elicit a response. However, unlike many fellow collectors, I tend to be somewhat indolent when it comes to actively pursuing limited editions. While I may prefer them, my pursuit of such items rarely outweighs the need for sanity and a rational cost analysis.
It was with surprise, then, that I discovered one of the illustrators whose work I’ve recently come to admire, Shigeki Maeshima, was a contributor to the Fate/Zero Tribute artbook, alongside numerous other artists. Unsurprisingly, I recalled a collector’s edition of this artbook being available at Comiket 75, which took place in the winter of 2009. Considering the unfavorable dollar-to-yen exchange rate at present, a pre-owned regular edition copy would suffice. Toranoana reportedly had a substantial stock of this particular variant. Given that Type-Moon’s peak popularity has somewhat subsided, you might still be able to acquire a new copy without excessive difficulty if that aligns with your collecting preferences.
Kransom has already provided an excellent write-up in his C75 report, including all the links I’ve referenced so far and detailing the contents of the limited edition of the same artbook. Therefore, I will refrain from repeating that information, except perhaps to briefly comment on a towel. My intention is to share a few images from the book, partly as a test for a new camera. If you are seeking scans, a quick internet search should suffice, as it is a four-year-old artbook. Personally, I wish there were more artwork available from Maeshima, particularly his renditions of Maiya Hisau. I am too lazy to provide direct links to the original sources, but they are accessible if individuals genuinely desire rather mediocre photographs.
This image depicts a young Rin. Was that particular episode considered filler?
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You can tell it’s fan art when they choose scenes like this for their creations. However, in this instance, it’s by an artist who has since turned professional. Thankfully, it represents a type of spoiler that one would only grasp if they were already familiar with the narrative.
And, of course, there’s Maiya. I stumbled upon this particular image while searching for Fate/Zero pictures to feature on the blog. As you may have noticed, I’ve been writing extensively about the series (and Aniplex continues to provide ample reasons for me to do so). Upon seeing this image, I immediately recognized the artist, which led me to discover the artbook and subsequently arrange for its importation.
Therefore, do not let anyone convince you that sharing artbook images does not contribute to additional sales. This is especially true unless, of course, the individual who downloaded the picture purchased it second-hand, a scenario I unfortunately encountered with Mandarake. Additionally, given that this artbook exists in a space between doujinshi and professional works, and was exclusively distributed by Toranoana, acquiring it typically requires assistance from a third party. While not impossible to obtain directly, it is significantly more convenient with help. I suspect that knowledge of this artbook is limited to those who are intensely focused on industry booths during the first day of Comiket or are deeply invested in the Nasuverse. Fortunately, I suspect neither of these collector types is particularly difficult to locate online.
The Einzbern doll, so starkly white. And here is another image of Maiya for good measure.
