FullMetal Ghost

One of the 1/12th scale figures that fits inside the robots. I used all of the figures designed and created new ones for the story I developed.

I had the unique opportunity to work on Kunio Okawara's FullMetal Ghost - his first creator-owned property developed through a collaboration between Bandai Namco Entertainment and Threezero (HK) Ltd.. I was given the freedom to interpret Kunio's sketches and early-stage prototypes, and with input from the Bandai team and Kunio himself, I crafted a captivating story that seamlessly blended elements of both the future and the Edo period in Japan.

FullMetal Ghost is set in a world where giant samurai and shinobi mech suits exist alongside traditional samurai and shinobi. The story centers around mech suits and battle gear that have been sent from the future to the Edo period in an attempt to correct an altered history. As the story unfolds, a mystery behind how this happened is uncovered. The story development was designed to be fluid, allowing it to be used for an animated series, Manga, comics and videogames.

FullMetal Ghost Comic

Writer, Editor and Letterer: Howard Wong
Artist: Jessie Lam

As a part of the promotion for the launch of the FullMetal Ghost high-end collectable toy line at Ani-Com in Hong Kong, an exclusive comic was distributed to consumers who purchased the captain mech suit. The comic, which was based on my story development work, serves as an introduction to the tone, world, and story of FullMetal Ghost, with the intention of providing deeper insights into the lore through different media. The comic was crafted as a trailer, providing a glimpse into the rich and dynamic world of FullMetal Ghost. 

Only 800 copies of the comic were available to the public, with a daily distribution limit of 200 copies.

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Upon learning of a last-minute exclusive accessory for the FullMetal Ghost Captain mech suit launch, I recognized the opportunity to incorporate it into the story and shared my thoughts on its potential impact on branding and marketing with Bandai and Threezero team. I was given a tight deadline of one day to incorporate the accessory. I was able to rework the final portion of the story, making adjustments and additions to several panels, resulting in the Wakizashi* becoming a special weapon wielded by the hero in the promotional comic.

*The Wakizashi, inspired by the Odachi, a traditional long sword typically wielded by two people, serves as a key element in the narrative in the Edo period, providing tangible and believable evidence of the existence of giants back then. 

FullMetal Ghost Launch at ACGHK

The promotional comic artwork and enlarged printouts of the comic were used to decorate the booth as part of Bandai's marketing and promotional efforts. The dioramas using the samurai and shinobi mech suits and figures are based on battle scenes from the comic. 

Click images to enlarge.

Promotional Posters 

Art by Jessie Lam, the artist from the FullMetal Ghost comic book

Copy by Howard Wong

Story development based on Kunio Okawara's sketches and toy engineer designs based on them, as well as prototypes and finished products.

Promotional/Test Animated Footage

Unboxing Video

Here you can get a better sense of the scale, details and articulation of the mech and the action figure that I showed in the story development and promotional comic.