Cover of the first volume of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.
The anime television series Code Geass by Sunrise has been adapted by Kadokawa Shoten into five separate manga adaptations, each containing an alternate storyline.[1] The first four of the manga series have been licensed for an English language release in North America by Bandai Entertainment.[2] The first, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, by Majiko~! and originally serialized Monthly Asuka, focused on the protagonist of the series, Lelouch Lamperouge, with few differences from the anime's basic storyline. Its chapters were collected in eight tankōbon volumes released from December 26, 2006, to March 26, 2010.[3][4] Bandai's English adaptation of the series was published from July 29, 2008[5] to February 15, 2011.[6]
The second manga is Code Geass: Suzaku of the Counterattack (コードギアス 反攻のスザク, Kōdo Giasu: Hankō no Suzaku). It was written by Atsuro Yomino and serialized in Beans A magazine. It focuses on the character Suzaku Kururugi in an alternate reality, where he fights against the criminal organization known as the Black Knights. It was released in two volumes on June 26, 2007, and September 26, 2008.[7][8] The first English volume was released on January 6, 2009,[9] and the second followed it on October 13, 2009.[10]
The third manga series, Code Geass: Nightmare of Nunnally (コードギアス ナイトメア・オブ・ナナリー, Kōdo Giasu Naitomea Obu Nanarī), serialized in Comp Ace and written by Tomomasa Takuma, focuses on Lelouch's sister, Nunnally Lamperouge who goes into searching her missing brother when her health is restored by an entity named Nemo.[1] It was published in five volumes from June 26, 2007[11] to April 25, 2009.[12] The English volumes were published from June 9, 2009[13] to March 23, 2010.[14]
A fourth manga adaptation, Code Geass: Tales of an Alternate Shogunate (幕末異聞録 コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ, Bakumatsu Ibun Roku Kōdo Giasu Hangyaku no Rurūshu), was serialized in Kerokero Ace as written by Tomomasa Takuma.[15] Set in an alternate 1853, Lelouch is the commander of the Shogunate's military counterinsurgence brigade known as the Shinsengumi, which fights the Black Revolutionaries, a rebel group led by a masked individual known as Rei. It was released in a single volume on October 25, 2010,[16] while the English version will be published on May 10, 2011.[17]
In late 2009, Bandai announced a new project greenlit for 2010. A manga titled Code Geass: Renya of Darkness (コードギアス 漆黒の連夜, Kōdo Giasu: Shikkoku no Renya) by Tomomasa Takuma is the first product announced. The story takes place in the same official Code Geass history as the anime, but in a different era with the anime director Goro Taniguchi is scripting the story. The title character, Renya, is a teenager who encounters the witch C.C. who gives him power to protect his friends.[18] It began publication in the May 2010 issue of Shōnen Ace, with its first volume published on January 26, 2011.[19] Although Bandai had the series licensed by July 2011, they revoked publishing as a result of the company's restructuring.[20][21]
After recovering Lelouch's meeting with C.C. from the original anime, Suzaku is blamed by the Britannians for the murder of Prince Clovis. Lelouch, guised as Zero, rescues him after revealing himself as the culprit. Suzaku returns to the military and becomes a subject to test out the Lancelot suit, a humanoid ex-skelecton which enhances ones physical abilities. Using the suit, he foils a drug operation with assistance from Zero. Later, the Black Knights, without Zero's orders, capture and murder Mariel Lubie's father. Suzaku tells Lelouch he will avenge her father by capturing Zero.
The Emperor and Second Prince Schneizel arrive in Area 11; impressed with Schneizel's apparent vision for the world, Suzaku agrees to become his knight. When the Black Knights attempt an attack during an art gallery opening attended by the Emperor and Schneizel, Schneizel unmasks and frames Lelouch for the Emperor's death, capturing both Lelouch and C.C. as well. Unable to accept that Lelouch is to be executed, Suzaku frees him after learning from C.C. that Schneizel actually intends to use C.C. to gain immortality and rule the world. Though they manage to stop Schneizel when Suzaku's Geass awakens, Suzaku is caught up in the subsequent explosion to save C.C. and disappears. Five years later, he finally returns home to Lelouch and Nunnally, who have been waiting for him.
Code 04. "Lake Kawaguchi Incident I –The Phantom of Patriotism–"
Code 05. "Lake Kawaguchi Incident II –Imperial Princess Nunnally–"
Lelouch passes by Shinjuku ghettos on the way home and is caught up in the battle between Britannia and the rebels. He saves C.C. and is seemingly killed by falling debris. When Nunnally travels to the scene to search for her brother, she ends up making a contract with C.C.'s doll, Nemo, granting her the abilities to fuse with the doll in order to create a Knightmare battle suit and defend herself from Britannia. Nemo now lives alongside Nunnally as an apparition and takes on the form of her negative emotions. During a field trip to Lake Kawaguchi, the rebellious Japanese Liberation Front takes control of the hotel where Nunnally and her friends are staying, holding the guests hostage to use them as ransom against Britannia.
Code 06. "Lake Kawaguchi Incident III –Alice the Speed–"
Code 07. "White Knight"
Code 08. "Saitama Incident I –Cornelia's Trap–"
Code 09. "Saitama Incident II –Attack Cornelia–"
Code 10. "Saitama Incident III –Black Demon–"
Afterword
Nunnally fuses with Nemo to become a Knightmare and combats both sides to prevent any deaths. Meanwhile, Zero rescues all the hostages and disposes the rebels. Later, Princess Cornelia plans an assault on Saitama in order to lure out Zero. Nunnally and Nemo intervene the battle, combating both sides, and unknowingly engages her friend, Alice, in battle. Zero defeats Cornelia and Suzaku in their Knightmares and rescues Nunnally and Nemo. Under Zero's mask is revealed to be C.C. who warns Nemo is overestimating her control over Nunnally's feelings. Elsewhere, Lelouch sides with Prince Schneizal to take over Area 11.
Code 11. "Prison of Happiness I –Mao the Refrain–"
Code 12. "Prison of Happiness II –Old Summer Days That Will Never Return–"
Code 13. "Prison of Happiness III –Old Summer Days That Can Never Return–"
Code 14. "Narita Offence and Defence I –The Collapsing Mountain–"
Code 15. "Narita Offence and Defence II –The White Knight and the Black Demon–"
Mao, a defector from the irregulars, a group of humans injected with C.C.'s cells, confronts Nunnally with the purpose of destroying Nemo. She uses her Geass to make Nunnally relive her happiest memory: the time she, her brother, and Suzaku met each other. Mao attempts to destroy Nemo but is stopped by C.C. and killed by Alice. Later, Cornelia and her army invade the Japan Liberation Force's headquarters but are defeated by Zero. When Suzaku is deployed onto the battlefield, he begins experiencing strange visions involving C.C.'s past, which includes how she killed Suzaku's father in order to protect Nunnally and Lelouch. Zero faces Suzaku, revealing himself as Lelouch, and asks Suzaku to join him.
Code 16. "Narita Offence and Defence III –Breach of Contract–"
Code 17. "The Genealogy of the Witch I –Captive Nunnally–"
Code 18. "The Genealogy of the Witch II –Witch Trials–"
Code 19. "The Genealogy of the Witch III –Code Geass–"
Code 20. "Demon King Rolo I –The Empire in Turmoil–"
Alice and Nunnally interrupt Suzaku and Zero's conversation, which results in Nunnally's defeat and capture when she learns Alice's identity. When Nunnally is tried as a witch by Cardinal Rolo vi Britannia, Lelouch's previously unknown twin brother, Suzaku reluctantly teams up with Lelouch to free Nunnally, after being granted the authority to do so by Princess Euphemia. Though Alice is conflicted by the discovery that Nunnally is a Geass user, she accepts Nemo's power in order to save her friend and is given the Knightmare Code Geass to accomplish this. Meanwhile, the Emperor of Britania reforms the country granting him absolute power while Rolo plans to overthrow and become the Emperor himself.
Rolo is defeated by Alice in battle after he attempts to use Nunnally for his goals. Nunnally and Alice then head to a goal and enter Eden Vital, a parallel world containing the consciousness of all human beings. The Emperor and Nunnally's mother beseech her to help them turn all humans into a single collective consciousness. Alice persuades Nunnally to deny their request citing there is no future for humans that way. After acknowledging Nunnally's decision, her parents fade away and become one with Eden Vital. In the aftermath of the war, Euphiemia becomes the empress with the Black Knights assisting her. Lelouch, having gained C.C.'s powers after her death in Eden Vital, leaves to spread the power of Geass throughout the world.
3rd Story. "Decisive Battle! The Black Restoration Order"
Last Story. "Defeat Perry! The True Opening of Japan to the World"
"Workplace Tour with Kallen"
Message from Takuma Tomomasa
Afterword
Set in an alternate 1853, Lelouch is the commander of the Shogunate's military counterinsurgence brigade known as the Shinsengumi, which fights the Black Revolutionaries (黒の騎士団, Kuro no Kishidan), a rebel group led by a mysterious masked individual known as Rei (零, lit. Zero). Geass is the ability to call upon and summon the armored entities referred to as Knightmares (ナイトメア), of which Lancelot (ランスロット) is one.
