Victoria Holmes, editor of the Warriors series released an exclusive at Wandsandworlds.com's Erin Hunter author chat. It was this-- Graystripe would indeed return to the Clans, but on the way he would travel on his own documented journeys-- an all new Warriors Manga, The Lost Warrior.

I'm no expert in manga but the scripts and illustrations that I've seen look like regular manga, with slighty stylised expressions and lots of high-octane action. I wrote very detailed storylines, just as I do for Kate and Cherith, which were then turned into scripts by a manga expert; the artists worked from those scripts to create the illustrations. I wish I could show you some but the technology would probably make my ancient laptop explode!
-Victoria Holmes, editor of the Warriors series.

What is Manga?

"Manga" (漫画) is the name of Japanese graphic novels. You may be more familiar with the word Comic, and graphic novels (including Manga) are very similar to them, but are set up in the form of a novel, the pages of a comic instead of a page of writing. They have their own distinctive style, and are available in various genres, not just the common "super-hero" theme that is associated with western comics.

“Manga brings out the best in Graystripe. The drawings are so powerful and so direct. Alongside the punchy dialog, they speak volumes. I love them, and I am so proud of the all-new action Graystripe. Well done, Graystripe! Well done, manga!”
-Erin Hunter, author of the Warriors series.

The manga will be produced with a partnership between HarperCollins (publisher of the Warriors series), and Tokyopop (a leading Manga producer), the first product of it's kind [the partnership between the two companies]. Although it is based on the Warriors series, The Lost Warrior will be written by Dan Jolley and drawn by James Barry, with input by the editor of the Warriors series, Victoria Holmes. The Lost Warrior will be the first series, with seven more books to follow, as confirmed by Victoria Holmes. The second series will document Scourge and BloodClan, and the third will cover Sasha and Tigerclaw.

"According to TOKYOPOP, Warriors: The Lost Warrior will feature "a very special note" from the author to Warriors fans. Warriors: The Lost Warrior manga series, created by Dan Jolley and James Barry, tells the untold tale of the feline hero Graystripe: his life with humans and his ultimate quest to be reunited with his clan. Graystripe's story in the manga series bridges the gap between Hunter's "The New Prophecy" (the second series) and the next installment of the Warriors novel series Power of Three, the beginning of the third series." -Leroy Douresseaux

the lost warrior

THE LOST WARRIOR by James Barry
Released April 24, 2007 (duo release with The Sight)
When the Twolegs destroy the warrior Clans' forest home, Graystripe--second in command of ThunderClan--is captured while trying to help his comrades escape! However, Graystripe soon discovers that the captive life as a pampered kittypet isn't all that bad. The cozy Twoleg nest and his new, affectionate family help Graystripe put his Clan days behind him. Still, nothing compares to the life of a warrior! With a new kittypet ally, Millie, by his side, will Graystripe ever find his way back to the Clan?
WARRIORS REFUGE by James Barry
Released December 26, 2007 (duo release with Dark River)
Graystripe and Millie's journey to find ThunderClan has only just begun when the pair is faced with a series of obstacles that seem insurmountable. Getting out of Twolegplace alive isn't nearly as simple as expected, and Millie's unfamiliarity with life in the wild makes it a challenge for Graystripe to even keep them moving forward. But just when a temporary refuge is in sight, conflict with a tribe of barn cats threatens to break the travelers apart for good!

WARRIORS RETURN by James Barry
To be released April 22, 2008 (duo release with Outcast)
Graystripe and Millie's journey to find ThunderClan has only just begun when the pair is faced with a series of obstacles that seem insurmountable. Getting out of Twolegplace alive isn't nearly as simple as expected, and Millie's unfamiliarity with life in the wild makes it a challenge for Graystripe to even keep them moving forward. But just when a temporary refuge is in sight, conflict with a tribe of barn cats threatens to break the travelers apart for good!

tigerstar and sasha

INTO THE WOODS by Don Hudson
Sasha has everything she wants: kind housefolk who take care of her during the day and the freedom to explore the woods beyond Twolegplace at night. But when Sasha is forced to leave her home, she must forge a solitary new life in the forest. Life on her own is exciting at first but quickly gets lonely. When Sasha meets Tigerstar, leader of ShadowClan, she wonders whether she would be better off joining the ranks of his forest Clan. But Tigerstar has many secrets, and Sasha must decide whether she can trust him.

the rise of scourge

RISE OF SCOURGE by Bettina Kurkoski
June 24, 2008 (Duo release with Secrets of The Clans)
Every villain starts from humble beginnings, and in this book Scourge starts off as a kit. This book documents Scourge's rise to power, and explores the past of the small black villain, because he certainly did a lot before he was killed at the paws of Firestar . . . We will also figure out how the BloodClan cats got studs on their collars.

Authors

JAMES BARRY
James L. Barry received his MFA in illustration at New York City’s School of Visual Arts in 2004. In addition to creating the original comics Punzel and The Last Prophet, James has illustrated numerous textbooks, album artwork and is a frequent contributor to the Rabid Rabbit Comics Anthology. He is thrilled to work with TOKYOPOP and Harper Collins in bringing the Warriors universe to manga. James grew up in Nashville, TN with the kittypets Cinder and Maui and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
DON HUDSON
Who is Don Hudson, you ask? Well, if you're a fan of Comiculture, you're most likely familiar wih his most recent comics work. His western story Gunpowder Girl and the Outlaw Squaw first appeared in our magazine as a serial (actually, only the first 2 chapters appeared). He also pencilled a story in issue #2 of the magazine called Full Moon Station, inked by Klaus Janson. More recently, Don drew no less than three stories for our new Comiculture Anthology and he has a book coming out soon from Moonstone Books.
BETTINA KURKOSKI
Bettina Marie Kurkoski was born on March 26, 1973 and has been drawing since she was very young, and was also a fan of comics, anime and manga since elementary school. She went of to vollege to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from UMass-Darmouth. Working for the next few years she also rediscovered anime and created her own unique anime-style to her artwork. She now lives in Plymouth, Massachusetts writing and illustrating her own manga novel series for Tokyopop: My Cat Loki.