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First tankōbon volume cover, featuring a young Shoukichi Komachi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| テラフォーマーズ (Tera Fōmāzu) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Genre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by | Yū Sasuga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illustrated by | Kenichi Tachibana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by | Shueisha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English publisher | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Imprint | Young Jump Comics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Original run | January 13, 2011 – present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volumes | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Terra Formars (Japanese: テラフォーマーズ, Hepburn: Tera Fōmāzu) is a Japanese manga series written by Yū Sasuga and illustrated by Kenichi Tachibana. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Miracle Jump from January to December 2011, and was transferred to Weekly Young Jump in April 2012. Its chapters have been collected in 24 tankōbon volumes as of August 2026. The story follows humanity's struggle against mutated humanoid cockroaches on Mars, leading to deadly expeditions and battles to save Earth from a mysterious virus and the invading creatures. In North America, the manga is licensed for English release by Viz Media.
A two-episode original video animation (OVA) adaptation, Terra Formars: Bugs 2 Arc, was released in 2014, and an anime television series adaptation, covering the Annex 1 story arc, was broadcast as well in that same year. A second season, Terra Formars: Revenge, was broadcast in 2016. A live action film adaptation directed by Takashi Miike was released in 2016.
In an attempt to colonize Mars, 21st-century scientists are tasked with terraforming the planet. Their goal is to seed Mars with modified algae that can absorb sunlight and purify the atmosphere, along with cockroaches, whose corpses will help spread the algae across the planet as they feed.
Five hundred years later, the first crewed ship to Mars lands, and its six crew members are attacked by giant mutated humanoid cockroaches with incredible physical strength, later labeled "Terraformars." The crew is wiped out after sending a warning back to Earth. Two years later, BUGS II, a multinational expedition of genetically modified humans, is sent to collect ten samples of both sexes of roaches and exterminate the mutated bugs to take control of the red planet. Only two survivors manage to return to Earth, one of whom vows to return and avenge their fallen companions. As a third expedition is assembled, questions arise about the true origin of the Terraformars and their connection to an unknown disease afflicting mankind, known as the Alien Engine Virus, or A.E. Virus. To combat the Terraformars' strength and agility, members of the second and third expeditions undergo genetic modification to inherit the characteristics of other organisms, a process made possible only after having a special organ implanted, which carries a 36% chance of survival during the surgery.
The third expedition also ends with most of its crew members killed, either in battles against the Terraformars or in conflicts among themselves within the multi-sided struggle between the various factions aboard the ship, each with its own opposing interests. Despite this, the few survivors manage to collect enough samples for research on a cure for the A.E. Virus and return home. However, a new fight against the Terraformars begins when it is revealed that the creatures arrived on Earth long before. After multiplying at an alarming rate and adapting to their new environment far better than they did on their homeworld, they initiate their plan to take over the planet.
The Terraformars are humanoid cockroaches standing two meters tall, created by the mysterious Rahab civilization. They possess an innate hostility toward humanity. Their internal anatomy is nearly identical to Earth cockroaches, granting them tremendous speed, strength, and resilience. They can remain mobile even when decapitated if their Suboesophageal ganglion is intact. While initially animalistic, they rapidly adapt; many have incorporated abilities from deceased crewmembers of previous expeditions, mimicking the M.O. Procedure. Evolved Terraformars exhibit high intelligence and complex social organization, rallying from a Martian pyramid. Their advanced intellect allows them to operate technology, infiltrate Earth, and pursue a goal of restoring the Rahab civilization under leaders who employ both martial and scientific strategies.
Written by Yū Sasuga and illustrated by Kenichi Tachibana, Terra Formars was first serialized in Shueisha's Miracle Jump magazine from January 13 to December 13, 2011. It later moved to Weekly Young Jump starting on April 26, 2012. The manga entered an indefinite hiatus in December 2018; it resumed in the magazine on April 4, 2024. It entered hiatus again in April 2025, and is set to resume on December 18 of the same year. Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on April 19, 2012. As of August 19, 2026, 24 volumes have been released.
In North America, the manga has been licensed by Viz Media.
The series has inspired seven spin-off manga:
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19, 2012 | 978-4-08-879270-5 | July 15, 2014 | 978-1-4215-7154-6 |
| 2 | August 17, 2012 | 978-4-08-879396-2 | September 16, 2014 | 978-1-4215-7155-3 |
| 3 | November 19, 2012 | 978-4-08-879459-4 | November 18, 2014 | 978-1-4215-7156-0 |
| 4 | February 19, 2013 | 978-4-08-879523-2 | January 20, 2015 | 978-1-4215-7157-7 |
| 5 | May 17, 2013 | 978-4-08-879561-4 | March 17, 2015 | 978-1-4215-7158-4 |
| 6 | August 19, 2013 | 978-4-08-879630-7 | May 19, 2015 | 978-14215-7159-1 |
| 7 | November 19, 2013 | 978-4-08-879684-0 | July 21, 2015 | 978-1-4215-7798-2 |
| 8 | February 19, 2014 | 978-4-08-879754-0 | September 15, 2015 | 978-1-4215-7868-2 |
| 9 | May 19, 2014 | 978-4-08-879796-0 | November 17, 2015 | 978-1-4215-7871-2 |
| 10 | August 20, 2014 | 978-4-08-879888-2 | January 19, 2016 | 978-1-4215-8078-4 |
| 11 | November 19, 2014 | 978-4-08-890042-1 | March 15, 2016 | 978-1-4215-8381-5 |
| 12 | February 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890118-3 | May 17, 2016 | 978-1-4215-8443-0 |
| 13 | May 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890154-1 | July 19, 2016 | 978-1-4215-8521-5 |
| 14 | August 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890245-6 | September 20, 2016 | 978-1-4215-8711-0 |
| 15 | November 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890285-2 | November 15, 2016 | 978-1-4215-9068-4 |
| 16 | March 18, 2016 | 978-4-08-890375-0 | January 17, 2017 | 978-1-4215-9069-1 |
| 17 | April 19, 2016 | 978-4-08-890398-9 | March 21, 2017 | 978-1-4215-9168-1 |
| 18 | August 19, 2016 | 978-4-08-890483-2 | July 18, 2017 | 978-1-4215-9442-2 |
| 19 | November 18, 2016 | 978-4-08-890521-1 | October 17, 2017 | 978-1-4215-9580-1 |
| 20 | February 17, 2017 | 978-4-08-890587-7 | January 2, 2018 | 978-1-4215-9759-1 |
| 21 | August 17, 2018 | 978-4-08-890637-9 | July 16, 2019 | 978-1-9747-0791-1 |
| 22 | November 19, 2018 | 978-4-08-891165-6 | December 17, 2019 | 978-1-9747-0955-7 |
| 23 | July 18, 2024 | 978-4-08-891203-5 | November 18, 2025 | 978-1-9747-5905-7 |
| 24 | August 19, 2026 | 978-4-08-894314-5 | — | — |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 19, 2014 | 978-4-08-890075-9 |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 19, 2014 | 978-4-08-890020-9 |
| 2 | May 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890201-2 |
| 3 | August 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890242-5 |
| 4 | March 18, 2016 | 978-4-08-890433-7 |
| 5 | August 19, 2016 | 978-4-08-890434-4 |
| 6 | November 18, 2016 | 978-4-08-890518-1 |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 19, 2014 | 978-4-08-890050-6 |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 19, 2015 | 978-4-08-890123-7 |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 18, 2016 | 978-4-08-890382-8 |
| 2 | August 19, 2016 | 978-4-08-890488-7 |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 19, 2016 | 978-4-08-890437-5 |
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 19, 2016 | 978-4-08-890450-4 |
A 13-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Liden Films, was broadcast from September 26 to December 19, 2014. The anime is licensed in the United Kingdom by Kazé UK and in North America by Viz Media. Madman Entertainment acquired the series for release in Australia and New Zealand.
A second series, Terra Formars: Revenge, was announced in November 2015, with changes to the series' main staff and the main cast returning to reprise their roles. Liden Films and TYO Animations produced the sequel. The anime premiered on April 2, 2016.
An OVA adaptation of the manga's Earth Arc was planned for a May 2017 release, but was delayed to an August 2018 release instead.
A live-action film adaptation, directed by Takashi Miike, was announced in February 2015. It was released on April 29, 2016.
A novel by Akira Higashiyama, titled Terraformars: Lost Mission I – Memories of the Moon (テラフォーマーズ LOST MISSION I 月の記憶, Tera Fōmāzu Rosuto Misshon Wan Tsuki no Kioku), was published by Shueisha, under its Jump J-Books imprint, on August 20, 2014. A second novel by Yumeaki Hirayama, Terraformars: Lost Mission II – Return to the Sorrowful Mother (テラフォーマーズ LOST MISSION II 悲母への帰還, Tera Fōmāzu Rosuto Misshon Tsu Hibo e no Kikan), started serialization in Miracle Jump on January 19, 2016, and the volume was published on April 19 of that same year.
A three-novel series by Kenichi Fujiwara, titled Terra Formars The Outer Mission (テラフォーマーズ THE OUTER MISSION), was published by Shueisha under its Dash X Bunko from November 21, 2014, to May 25, 2016.
A Nintendo 3DS game developed by FuRyu, titled Terra Formars: Akaki Hoshi no Gekitō (テラフォーマーズ 紅き惑星の激闘; 'Terra Formars: The Fierce Battle on the Crimson Planet'), was released on April 2, 2015. A pachislot game machine, Pachislot Terra Formars (ぱちスロ テラフォーマーズ, Pachisuro Tera Fōmāzu), developed by Kyoraku, was released in Japan on June 20, 2016, with an early access for iPhone and Android devices on June 16.
The sixth volume reached the number one place on the Oricon weekly manga chart in the week of August 19–25, 2013, with 317,248 copies. By February 2015, the 11 first volumes of Terra Formars had over 10 million copies in circulation; the manga had sold 13 million copies by August 2015; it had over 16 million copies in print by April 2018; and over 21 million copies in print by November 2018.
Terra Formars was number one on the 2013 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Top 20 Manga for Male Readers survey. It was placed second in the 2013 Zenkoku Shotenin ga Eranda Osusume Comic, a ranking of the top 15 manga recommended by Japanese bookstores. It was also nominated for the sixth Manga Taishō in the same year.