San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC) honored prolific manga creator Kia Asamiya with its prestigious Inkpot Award on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The unexpected announcement came during Asamiya’s retrospective panel, “Kia Asamiya: 40 Years of Imagination and Visions.” Upon receiving the award, a surprised Asamiya quipped that two awards in as many days must portend his demise.
The Inkpot Award: A Legacy of Honoring Pop Culture Pioneers
The Inkpot Award, established in 1974, is presented annually by Comic-Con International to individuals who have made significant contributions to the worlds of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, fantasy, film, television, and various aspects of fandom. Past recipients include legendary figures such as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, Hayao Miyazaki, Osamu Tezuka, and Charles Schulz, among many others. The award recognizes a diverse range of talent, from creators and artists to writers, animators, and those who have provided exceptional service to the fandom community. There is no set number of winners each year, and the award itself consists of a plaque with a statue.
Kia Asamiya’s Illustrious Career and Impact
Kia Asamiya, whose real name is Michitaka Kikuchi, debuted in 1986 and has had a profound impact across various creative fields. He is particularly celebrated for his acclaimed manga and anime properties, including Silent Möbius and Steam Detectives. His work often incorporates influences from American comics, television, and films, reflecting his admiration for franchises like Batman and Star Wars.
Before focusing primarily on manga, Asamiya graduated from Tokyo Designer School and worked as a character designer for several popular anime series, such as Sonic Soldier Borgman and Project A-ko, and even designed models for some Godzilla films in the 1980s. He maintained these two professional identities separately for many years.
Key Works and International Recognition
Asamiya’s manga works have seen widespread publication, with nearly all of his stories translated into multiple languages, including English. Notable manga series include:
- Silent Möbius: A cyberpunk action series that has also been adapted into anime.
- Steam Detectives: Another popular series that transitioned into an anime.
- Martian Successor Nadesico: Asamiya provided character designs for the anime and later adapted it into a manga.
- Compiler
- Junk: Record of the Last Hero
- Batman: Child of Dreams: A notable venture into American comics, where he wrote and illustrated a Batman comic.
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace: He also created a manga adaptation of the film.
In the early 2000s, Asamiya shifted his focus to appeal to children and American audiences, even residing in the United States to work on projects for Marvel Comics and DC Comics. He is also known for his work as an animator, notably on Space Battleship Yamato remake series, returning to animation for Space Battleship Yamato 2199 in 2013 after a hiatus. In 2024, he received the Japanese Nebula Awards for his contributions to science fiction.
A Return to Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 marks Kia Asamiya’s return to the event after 25 years. His presence included autograph signings and the debut of new merchandise from his popular properties at the UDON Entertainment booth. He was also accepting a limited number of advance pre-convention commissions for original art on shikishi boards. His retrospective panel provided fans with insights into his four decades of experience in the anime and manga industry.
