Kazuya Minekura, punta di diamante della prestigiosa editrice giapponese Ichijinsha, ha raggiunto la fama con un'opera che in tutto il mondo ha ottenuto uno straordinario successo: Saiyuki. Frazionata in più serie (Gensomaden Saiyuki, Saiyuki Reload e Saiyuki Gaiden), la storia a fumetti è ispirata al grande classico della letteratura cinese di Wu Cheng'en (noto in Italia col titolo di Viaggio verso Ovest o de Lo Scimmiotto) ed è stata trasposta in due serie animate. Questo è il prequel delle serie pubblicate finora: Gaiden narra infatti della vita precedente – nel Regno Celeste! – dei personaggi già noti ai fan di Saiyuki. Ritroviamo quindi Hakkai e Sha Gojyo nei panni di Tenpou Gensui e Kenren Taishou, alle dipendenze della dea della misericordia già conosciuta come Kanzeon Bosatsu. Con lei ha un pessimo rapporto Sanzo, suo nipote… ma nei panni del fascinoso ma insofferente Konzen Douji. Un’attenzione particolare viene ancora una volta dedicata da Kazuya Minekura al demone eretico Son Goku, o meglio Seiten Taisen, figlio della montagna dagli occhi dorati, destinato a finire rinchiuso per sempre in una prigione di roccia da cui non potrà nuocere ai signori del Regno Celeste, che si sentono minacciati dal suo enorme potere.

Konzen Douji, Tenpou Gensui, Kenren Taishou, e l’apparentemente innocuo demone eretico Seiten Taisen (precedenti incarnazioni dei protagonisti di Saiyuki Genjo Sanzo, Cho Hakkai, Sha Gojyo e Son Goku), parenti o - nel migliore dei casi - dipendenti della dea della misericordia già nota come Kanzeon Bosatsu, si muovono in un insolito scenario, teatro di giganteschi rettili e straordinarie apparecchiature scientifiche, ciliegi in fiore e vecchie scrivanie da contabili. Minacciato dal filo di una spada, Seiten Taisen/Goku si ritrova spettatore di un sanguinoso cambiamento di programma, destinato a segnarlo per sempre. Gridando vendetta, si scaglia sull’uomo che gli ha causato tanta sofferenza. Guai a chiunque cerchi di fermarlo, perchè la sua collera è quella di un demone, e non esiste modo per placarla. L’intervento di Kanzeon Bosatsu in persona porrà fine alla carneficina, ma la dea incorrerà nelle ire di Konzen Douji...

Ancora sconvolto per il sacrificio del principe Nataku e per la propria reazione, Goku si trova sotto l'ala protettiva dei suoi nuovi amici, i ribelli Konzen, Tenpo e Kenren. Il loro rifugio è tuttavia assediato dal padre di Nataku e dai suoi uomini. Si scatena così una furiosa battaglia e i nostri eroi, costretti alla fuga, giungono in prossimità di un baratro. In fondo ad esso sono custoditi strani e pericolosi mostri...

Un epilogo drammatico, quello di Saiyuki Gaiden, che lascia unicamente la speranza di un'altra vita per Goku, Konzen, Ken e Ten. Decisi a salvare almeno la vita del giovane Goku, i tre adulti vanno incontro al più estremo dei sacrifici. Nel regno celeste, la fioritura dei ciliegi si disperde per sempre in un vento di morte, mentre il cospiratore Ritoten accusa i quattro di avere assassinato l'imperatore. Ten affronta dunque da solo un esercito, mentre Kenren si batte con disperato coraggio contro i sanguinari nataku, nella speranza che almeno Konzen e Goku raggiungano il portale per il mondo terrestre. Quando quella porta si apre, il seiten taisei lascerà dietro di sé un pacchetto di sigarette insanguinato, una serie di cose da fare che non si compiranno e la promessa di una punizione destinata a protrarsi per cinquecento anni, finché qualcuno gli tenderà finalmente la mano...

It was a time of chaos, when Heaven and Earth were as one, and humans and demons - the youkai - lived together in peace. The foundations of civilization and religion were raised and reinforced in this land of Togenkyo, the paradise known as Shangri-la. But now, a great evil threatens harmony in this great land. Far to the West, in India, someone is attempting to resurrect the youkai lord Gyumaoh by mixing human science with youkai magic. This forbidden practice has created a Minus Wave of negative energy that is spreading across Shangri-la, poisoning the souls of the youkai and turning them into mindless monsters. The only hope lies in four legendary heroes: Genjyo Sanzo, a high priest with low morals; Son Goku, the hungry and mischievous Monkey King, just released from 500 years imprisonment; Sha Gojyo, a water sprite with an addiction for good smokes and bad women; Cho Hakkai, the legendary demon slayer, and his transforming dragon Hakuryu. To save Shangri-la, these unlikely companions, united by fate, must travel together ... INTO THE WEST! Having been assigned by the human elders the mission of stopping a mystical plague that has afflicted the Youkai with madness, Genjyo Sanzo assembles his team of Youkai warriors, desperately hoping that the disease will not affect them. He sets up qualifying tests that will help him determine the loyalty and worth of Cho Hakkai, Son Goku and Sha Gojyo. The team then journeys west to rid the land of madness.

Relates the adventures of Genjyo Sanzo and his team of Yokai warriors as they journey west trying to stop a mystical plague.

Relates the adventures of Genjyo Sanzo and his team of Yokai warriors as they journey west trying to stop a mystical plague.

Relates the adventures of Genjyo Sanzo and his team of Yokai warriors as they journey west trying to stop a mystical plague.

Book by Kazuya Minekura

Sanzo's life is on the line. He is stranded in the desert with no way out as Goku desperately searches for a way to save Sanzo from the poison coursing through his veins. An unlikely run-in with Kougaiji offers a possible cure. If Kougaiji is defeated, Sanzo may live. But the sacrifice of Goku's sanity may be too high a price to pay. After all, if Goku saves Sanzo, who will save Goku?

A set of twins barge in our heroes, one which is transformed into a monster. While Goku and Hakkai are sucked into the twin's magical gourd, Sanzou and Gojyo set off a hunt for the twin. They find that the demon twins escaped from their village and were taken under the wing of "God", a mysterious figure who granted them whatever they wanted. However, as punishment for one of the twins, Ginkaku, wanted to run away, he transformed him into a monster and convinced his brother to kill "bad guys" in order to return him to normal. In the end, "God" appears to finish off the two of them, because he considers them "toys" which he free to do whatever he wants to them. Deeply disturbed by the murder of the two innocent boys, Gojyo runs off without the others the next morning. The last chapter of the volume gives a sneak peak into the past of our main characters from ten years ago. Goku trapped in his stone cage, Gojyo being ignored by his insane mother, a sullen Hakkai in an orphanage, and Sanzou with his first gun.

Sanzo, Goku and Hakkai are out to find "God"—and Gojyo. At the same time, Gojyo climbs a seemingly endless stairway to heaven and is assailed by a very maternal monster. The gang finally catches up to Gojyo, and as luck would have it, they've also found "God." But this dangerous deity is no ordinary opponent, and the quartet must get serious before they get crushed.

Defeated and crestfallen after losing round one versus "God," Sanzo and his crew turn to the only thing that can help boost their spiritsâ€"a game of mahjong. The fierce competition gets everyone back in the mood, and the gang decides to take another crack at the arrogant wannabe deity. This time, Goku and company are ready for a second helping of battle...and they've had enough of just playing around.The saga continues in Saiyuki Reload!

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Goku's life hangs in the balance after the attack of an unknown enemy, and Sanzo, Gojyo, and Hakkai are at total loss... Until Hakkai suggests they pull off Goku's diadem. But no one seems ready for what is about to happen: Facing Goku in youkai form is more than they bargained for—it may cost one member of the party their sanity!

Sanzo has gone way, and the rest of the party another, until they end up on opposite sides of a small mountain. The tension between the peaceful town of Youkai and the humans guarding the oasis has come to a head, and when things boil over, it's anyone's guess whose side the gang will join!

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai arrive in time to rescue Sanzo from the darkness unleashed from the Maten Scripture, but the battle with Ukoku is far from over, as the 'Black Sanzo' still has another trick hidden up his sleeve - a pawn he has groomed from young, lured by the powers of resurrection. Whereabouts is the monster responsible for exorcist Filbert's death, and which side will Hazel stand on when the truth comes to light? For some the journey will continue on, but for some it has come to an end...