Treasure, the folks behind Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, aren't just known for intense shumps, but beautiful, intense shumps. It should be no surprise Treasure conceptual designer Yasushi Suzuki is now working on a manga called Purgatory Kabuki. The art is in the ukiyo-e woodblock style. The manga is getting a big push towards the gaming crowd as it'll be previewed in mag Play for five issues and two sixty-page chunks will be released on GameSpy.

Here's a blurb from the press release:

Purgatory Kabuki is a samurai action story set in the underworld or afterlife. For reasons unknown, former samurai Imanoturugi is obsessed with leaving the afterlife. To die in battle is a samurai's greatest honor. Yet, now Imanoturugi must claim 1000 swords from fallen warriors who now share residence in the dark underworld. By these and these means alone, this highly skilled blades will be allowed admittance back into the living world.

Where he shall find a dense and polluted urban sprawl dotted with convenience stores, fast food restaurants and pachinko parlors. Hey, samurai dude, the underworld can't be that bad! Brian Ashcraft

Treasure Dude Makes U.S. Manga [Insert Credit]