600-2400dpi Scans of The Complete Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia Strategy Guide: Zelda 1-3 by Keibunsha

Here are the 600dpi scans of the full guide, along with 2400dpi scans of the artwork.

I forgot to post about this here. This is a strategy guide for Zelda 1-3, Hyrule Fantasy, Adventure of Link, and A Link to the Past. I have to avoid certain keywords or a bot sends out an automated take-down to blogger for a work by a different publisher and artist.

All The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia
全ゼルダの伝説大百科

February 18, 1992
Published by Keibunsha
ISBN: None. T1063551030727
Comics by Aizawa [Moga] Hiroshi
愛沢"モカ"ひろし
Illustration Ken Murata

[Need Names in Japanese]

The comic pages have been translated into English here.

Ranmaru's Adventure of Link Comic, Volume 3, Part 4, Now Archivally Preserved!

Cover image made by Kannon

I had forgotten I need to post updates on Blogger and not just Bluesky.

There are 4 volumes of comics for the original Legend of Zelda (1 volume from 1986) and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (3 volumes that continue the 4 part story) by artist Ran Maru. The publisher, Wanpakku Comics, went out of business before volume 3 could be published as an actual book. The only scans we had before were actually made from Xerox copies of the original magazine comics. I've now been able to collect 6 of these last 7 chapters to make better scans. This felt like a near impossible task, and I still have one more volume to find, but I believe it should be possible.

Find the link to scans of the full volume from 1988 here. 

You can use the Ranmaru tag to find all of the translations and information I currently have, or have online. 

2400dpi Scans of the Two-Tone Pages from the Zelda 2 Manga, Volume 1

This is the Monthly Wanpakku issue for March, 1987. I have only scanned the Zelda manga by Ran Maru but if you need info on anything else in the volume, please let me know.

I've been trying really hard to collect the color pages for these since they are incredibly beautiful works of comic art. I am so happy I was able to get this one, which is also the first chapter that starts the Adventure of Link manga after the first volume of Hyrule Fantasy (Zelda 1) manga. 

Before, because the novel is black and white, I thought the sun was just eclipsed. It's awesome to see a blood red sun or moon here. 

There is a translation for this manga if you would like to read it. You can find everything you need at this link.
 

2400dpi Scans of the the Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link Japanese Game Manual

 

I just scanned & uploaded the Japanese Famicom Zelda II Adventure of Link manual at 2400dpi. Find it here.

I'm editing the next one but if you like this then also check out this official AoL guide that's packed full of art not found anywhere else: Family Computer Magazine Special Edition: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Winning Guide

You can also find some great translation comparison tables here.

Other Keywords: Zelda, AoL, Zelda II, Link no Bouken, tLoZ, RAW, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Link, Princess Zelda, Ganon, Triforce, Hyrule, Nintendo, NES, Famicom, Family Computer, Famicom Disk System, videogame, The Legend of Zelda, ゼルダの伝説, The Adventure of Link, リンクの冒険, Manual

Never Before Seen Zelda Manga Scans Trying to Predict what Link to the Past Will Be Like

TRANSLATIONS WANTED! If you would like to translate this, please contact me: melorasworld@gmail.com

Here's a small strategy guide Zelda manga that I just scanned that hasn't been online before! It was drawn by Hiroshi "Moga" Aizawa, 愛沢"モカ"ひろし, who also actually did work for the official Nintendo Player's Guide and Nintendo Power guides! It's pretty cool: it's speculating what Link to the Past will be like after Adventure of Link.

Find all 5 pages here. 

It's from this guide and here is the credit's page.

The title translates to something like "Emergency Report Super Famicom"
Published December 25, 1990, size B6 size, 79 pages, by Keibunsha, Magazine code 63550-53

Rare Art Repair: Adventure of Link, Link and Zelda fighting Gleeok Poster

An incredible restoration on this now-rare Zelda art from the 80's. Nearly extinct from the internet.


@JTaylorPro had to combine a poster & folder for the image. It's probably the best its looked since the poster was printed. The art may be from DiC prior to production of the 1989 Super Mario Bros. Show that featured the Legend of Zelda cartoon.


Big thanks to @IkhanaKingdom who sent me scans of a poster that has more image on the sides &
@MrTalida and @RupaKoopaTroopa who got the folder online/to me. All 3 of them, along with Jefferson, made this possible.


Here's a high-res version of just the folder from MrTalida: archive.org

Thanks to Super Zelda Bro for posting this officially licensed art that matches these designs from a Nintendo poster set:

High Res Scans of Zelda II and Mario Art

This is a really fun piece that has a lot of Mario art and some really great illustrations for Link from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. It's from a postcard and was scanned and sent to me by Ikhana, who was a Guinness Record holder for the largest Zelda collection at one point. Find it, and the cropped induvial pieces, in the gallery

 

High Res Scans of Scratch-Off Cards

Thanks to @IkhanaKingdom and JPrusik we finally have amazing scans of 36 of the Zelda scratch-off cards, some of which have cool variants of the enemy artwork. Find LoZ 1 here: https://flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/52681872584

And Adventure of Link here: https://flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/52686168849

2400dpi Zelda II: The Adventure of Link map from Nintendo Power Issue 4

A good version of this has never been online before. I scanned and cleaned it so there is one version with the text and one version without. You can also find the RAW scans as well. 

Find it here: https://archive.org/details/zelda_np_aol_map_hyrule


Other Keywords: Zelda II, Zelda 2, Zelda, Link no Bouken, tLoZ, LoZ, AoL, 600ppi, RAW, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Link, Princess Zelda, Hyrule, Nintendo, NES, Famicom, Family Computer, Famicom Disk System, book, videogame, The Legend of Zelda, Art, ゼルダの伝説, The Adventure of Link, リンクの冒険

1200dpi scans of Club Nintendo Classic No. 1

I uploaded 2400dpi scans of the art as well. This is a Nintendo UK publication for Club Nintendo published by Nintendo of Europe. Other people have scanned this but I wanted really good images for the gallery.

Find it here: https://archive.org/details/zelda_zine_loz_cnc/mode/2up

Other Keywords: The Legend of Zelda, Magazine, Zelda 1, Hyrule Fantasy, The Adventure of Link, Zelda, LoZ, tLoZ, AoL, ppi, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Link, Impa, Ganon, Princess Zelda, Hyrule, Nintendo, NES, book, videogame, NES, Gaming, Nintendo, Retro, Art, Illustrations, Super Mario Land, Tetris, Golf, Mario Golf, Pinball, Revenge of the 'Gator, Wizards and Warriors, Castlevania, Super Mario Bros., Metroid, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, Rad Racer, R.C. Pro AM, Excitebike, Punch Out!, Track & Field II, Megaman, Kung Fu, The Goonies II, Gradius, Life Force, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

The Adventure of Link, Volume 1, by Daisuke Shigoto is being translated into English

Last updated January 29, 2023

This is being translated in bursts here: https://www.tumblr.com/shadowlinktheshadow

Please like the posts, the translator is awesome for doing this!!


-- Post 001: 

Cover + Inside page (Images 1 and 2) - "The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link Special Technique Guidebook!"


Image 3 - Table of Contents: Prologue ... 5
Northern Castle ... 8
Full Map of Hyrule ... 26
The Lone Cedar Tree ... 28
Town 1: Rauru Village ... 48
Rauru Village Information ... 74 ((<- I think))
Northern Tunnel ... 76
Temple 1 ... 119


Image 4 - "Many years after Link defeated Ganon, Hyrule has yet to see peace. The aftereffects of Ganon have left an impact bigger than expected..."


-- page 6-7 post 002:


Image 1 - Panel 1 : "For my revival I must...I must have Link's blood!"


Panel 2 : "When you drip his blood on my ashes...That is the moment of my revival!"


Image 2 - Panel 1 : "We are fortunate that Link has returned to the land of Hyrule...This is our chance to end him once and for all!"


Panel 2 : "Monsters I have created from evil..."


Panel 3 : "GO! GO KILL LINK!"


--- page 8-9 post 003:

Image 1 - "Northern Castle"


Panel 1 : Impa: "Ohhh..!!"


Panel 2 : Impa: "That mark is the symbol of the Royal Hyrulian crest!!"


Panel 3 : Link: "The 'Royal Hyrulian crest..!?'"


Impa: "That's right, Link."


Image 2 - Panel 1 : Link: "..But why do I..."


Impa: "You are the chosen one. That is why, Link."


Panel 2 : Impa: "As you already know Link...The odd weather has caused many crops not to get harvested and the people of Hyrule are suffering greatly..."


Panel 3 : Impa: "All of this is the will of Ganon."


Panel 4 : Link: "But...Ganon died!" ((I believe Link said this. I am not sure))

-- pages 10-11 post 004:


Image 1 - Panel 1 : Impa: "It is true that you have felled Ganon...Except you only erased his physical form...His soul still exists somewhere."


Panel 2 : Impa: "..And he is causing disaster around Hyrule."


Panel 3 : Link: *....Ganon....!!*


Image 2 - Panel 1 - Impa: "Link, this way."


Link: "..."


Panel 2 : Link: "Ohhh!! So this is the Northern Castle!!"

 

-- post 005:


Image 1 - Panel 1 : Link: "Impa...what is this place!?"


Impa: "You will know in time."


((Bask in his funny face in Panel 3 lmao))


Image 2 - Panel 1 : Impa: "This door is the Door of Unopening. When this door opens is the day Hyrule is on the verge of crisis."


Panel 3 : Impa: "Link, your left hand please."

 

--pages 14-15, Post 006:


Image 1 - Panel 1 : Link: "AH!!"


Panel 3 : Impa: "The door is opening!!"


Image 2 - Panel 2 : Impa: "Please, head inside."

 

--pages 18-19, Post 007:


Image 1 - Panel 2 : Link: "Such a beautiful lady..."


Image 2 - Panel 3 : Impa: "That lady's name is Zelda the First. (You're drooling Link!)" ((Or Zelda 1 I guess. I'm not entirely sure what to call her))


Link: "Huh?"


Panel 4 : Link: "Princess Zelda the First!!"


Panel 5 : Link: "Then what about present Princess Zelda...!!"


Panel 6 : Impa: "A sad story that revolves around the three pieces of the Triforce...That is the Legend of Zelda."


Panel 7 : Link: *The three pieces...!?*


Image 3 - Panel 1 : Impa/Narrator: "A long time ago in the land of Hyrule lived a great King who used the Triforce for greater good."


Panel 2 : Impa/Narrator: "When the King died the Prince was to receive all of his riches...but he was only given two pieces of the Triforce; the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Power."


Panel 3 : Impa/Narrator: "He set out on a search to find the last piece of the Triforce and was confronted by a sorcerer. The sorcerer claimed that his sister, Zelda the First, was in possession of the key that led to where the last piece was."

-- page 20-21 post 008:

Image 1 - Panel 1 : Impa/Narrator: "The Prince was desperate to find the last piece and kept questioning the Princess, but she never said a word about it."


Panel 2 : Impa/Narrator: "The sorcerer who was getting fed up, started to chant an evil spell on her."


Panel 3 : Impa/Narrator: "The surprised Prince tried to stop the sorcerer, but it was too late..."


Panel 4 : Impa/Narrator: "..For the Princess had already fallen into an endless sleep."


Image 2 - Panel 1 : Impa/Narrator: "The Prince who became full of lament and sorrow, left the Princess inside the Northern Castle." ((I'm going to keep it titled "Northern Castle"))


Panel 2 - Impa: "And to never forget that day, every female that was born in the Hylian Royal Family was named 'Zelda'"


Panel 3 - Link: "So that's the legend..."


Panel 5 : Impa: "Link, take this!!"



-- post 009:

Image 1 - Panel 1 : Impa: "These scrolls and crystals ((They probably mean rupees)) were prepared for the one chosen who meant to be the next great king of Hyrule."


Panel 2 : Impa: "At this time and age, no one can read this scroll, but you who holds the sacred symbol should be able to read it."


Panel 3 : Link: *Ah, she's right!!*


Image 2 - Panel 1 : Link: *"The last piece of the Triforce is the Triforce of Courage...However, only the chosen one is able to use it. The Prince was not qualified for it..."*


Panel 2 : Link/Narrator: *"The King himself hid the Triforce of Courage inside the Great Temple in Death Valley for the chosen one. Six temples with barriers cut-off outsiders and stopped them from getting in."* ((I have questions for the past sentence but it should be pretty accurate))

--post 010

Image 1 - Panel 2 : Impa: "Link, whatever you do, please save Hyrule."


Panel 3 : Link: "Don't worry about it Impa. I will come back here without fail!!"


Image 2 - Panel 1 : Link/Narrator: "And save Princess Zelda!!"


Narrator: "Link repeated this several times inside of his heart, as he left the Northern Castle behind him."

--

Archival Scans of Adventure of Link manga by Yuu Mishouzaki

Here are the 600dpi scans posted on archive.org

The Adventure of Link by Yuu Mishouzaki
Published by Takarajimasha, JICC, September 15, 1991
ISBN4-7966-0191-0 / C0079


Find the English translation here.
More info on ZeldaWiki.

Other Keywords: Zelda, LoZ, tLoZ, Zelda II, Zelda 2, Link no Bouken, AoL, 600ppi, RAW, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Link, Impa, Ganon, Princess Zelda, Hyrule, Nintendo, NES, Famicom, Family Computer, book, videogame, comics,, The Legend of Zelda, Manga, Adventure of Link, ゼルダの伝説, リンクの冒険

Archival Scans of the Gamebook: The Legend of Black Triforce

Here are the 600dpi scans posted on archive.org

This is a Choose You Own Adventure/Gamebook for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

• ゲームブック・リンクの冒険 暗黒トライフォース伝承
• Famicom Gamebook Series 2 The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: The Legend of Black Triforce
• Published by JICC, Takarajimasha
• May 10, 1987
• Venture Project: Kenji Suzuki
• Cover illustration: Yutaka Izubuchi / 出渕裕
• Text illustrations: Masayoshi Yamaguchi / 山口まさよし
Author: Shōbi Inoue
• ISBN 4-88063-278-3 / C2076
• ISBN-13: 9784880632780

You can find more information on it over on ZeldaWiki: The_Legend_of_the_Dark_Triforce thanks to MiloScat

Other Keywords: Zelda II, Zelda 2, Zelda, Link no Bouken, tLoZ, LoZ, AoL, 600ppi, RAW, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Link, Princess Zelda, Hyrule, Nintendo, NES, Famicom, Family Computer, Famicom Disk System, book, videogame, The Legend of Zelda, Gamebook, ゼルダの伝説, The Adventure of Link, リンクの冒険

Archival Scans of the Gamebook: A Counter Attack from Darkness

Here are the 600dpi scans posted on archive.org

This is a Choose You Own Adventure/Gamebook for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

• Link's Adventurous Quest; A Counterattack from Darkness
• リンクの冒険―魔界からの逆襲
• By Studio Hard Co. Naoki Kusano, Shouko Uehara, Kurotoress / Toresu Kuro
• July 19, 1987
• Illustrations by Nobori Kiritachi
• Published by Futaba-sha Books Co.
• ISBN 4-575-76030-7 / C0193
• ISBN-13: 9784575760309

You can find more information on it over on ZeldaWiki: Counterattack_from_the_Darkness thanks to MiloScat

Other Keywords: The Legend of Zelda, Gamebook, ゼルダの伝説, The Adventure of Link, リンクの冒険, Zelda II, Zelda 2, Zelda, Link no Bouken, tLoZ, LoZ, AoL, 600ppi, RAW, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Link, Princess Zelda, Hyrule, Nintendo, NES, Famicom, Family Computer, Famicom Disk System, book, videogame,

Archival scans of Family Computer Magazine Special Edition: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Winning Guide

Here are the 1200dpi scans posted on archive.org

Family Computer Magazine Special Edition: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Winning Guideファミリーコンピュータ Magazine 緊急増刊 合本 リンクの冒険 必勝ガイド

I about died when I opened this, there's just so much art. There's several pieces of art I've never seen before on nearly every page, and there's 64 pages. And even better: some of it is new to the internet but obviously official. So now we actually have art for big bot, a king bubble, fireball version of bago-bago, a full image of Rah, and FINALLY a fokkeru and a rope. There's also a bunch of color variations. Then there's so many hand drawn maps that are simple but very cute and there is just SO MUCH art of Link that is very close to the manual art.

So this is a compilation of a feature spread across 3 Family Computer magazine issues that were just uploaded for the first time this month too. What's interesting is there's updated differences between those and this. Like the sprites get updated in the screenshots. You can find 600dpi scans those issues here, they were uploaded this month as well:

Edit: The original poster removed these, unfortunately. I have the issues and will be scanning them in the future.

ファミマガ 1987 No.2 (2月6日号)
ファミマガ 1987 No.3 (2月20日号)
ファミマガ 1987 No.4 (3月6日号)

Other Keywords: Tokuma Shoten, The Legend of Zelda, Game Magazine, Strategy Guide, Adventure of Link, ゼルダの伝説, リンクの冒険, LoZ, tLoZ, AoL, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Zelda 2, 1200ppi, 600ppi, RAW, RAWS, scan, scans, high res, high rez, high resolution, Videogame, Famicom, Famimaga, NES, FC, ファミマガ, ファミリーコンピュータ, ファミリーコンピュータ マガジン, Gaming, Nintendo, Retro, Art, Map, Illustrations

Massive Dump of Retro Magazine Scans Incoming

I would like to mention that there are interviews in them that I really hope someone translates! Link me if you know of someone who is doing that!

I've been wanting to post this (and a few other things!) for a few days but Blogger has been acting up and then I had to play through LttP, lol, but thanks to the absolutely incredible efforts of the Videogame History Foundation, and Hubz of Gaming Alexandria, a huge batch of Family Computer Magazine from 1886 and beyond (and Famitsu magazine) have been purchased in bulk and are being archivally scanned. And just being scanned, period, for the first time is incredible because it's allowing us a whole new look at the history of the series: and it's honestly it's already a goldmine. Look at just a few highlights from just a few issues:

As twitter user MrTalida points out:

In this series of tweets we see that these 4 issues feature Legend of Zelda Q&A interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, identified by their pseudonyms at the time of "MIYAHON" and "TEN TEN."

That this features images of sprites before they were finalized

This is a Q&A with Miyamoto and Tezuka teasing mentioning the Adventure of Link very recently after Hyrule Fantasy's release

Dark_Linkael realized this was a different photo of the overworld map model and noted these cool differences that mirror what the original prototype of the Hyrule overworld looked like

This, below, is my favorite thing ever though!

VGDensetsu posted these pages of these adorable clay models of pink haired Link from A Link to the Past and let us know that they were created by Hiroyuki Nakazawa / なかざわひろゆき. They're pictures taken from the September 11, 1992 issue of Famitsu, also uploaded by Hubz on Archive.org. They remind me so much of what they ended up doing for the Link's Awakening remake that I kind of wonder if someone at the company remembered these, pulled them out, and was like "I know how this should look."

There is this really awesome 4 page comic that user Capcom of Metroid Database scanlated and posted in this tweet

Anyway, Hubz has been scanning the Famitsu issues for a while and you'll see a whole load of them but the Family Computer Magazine issues are new: be sure to check both out on his site or user page at archive.org. And follow VGDensetsu and MrTalida on twitter, they post/find/highlight some of the most amazing stuff.

Zelda Manga: Scanlations of The Adventure of Link by Yuu Mishouzaki

After all these years the translation is finally complete! Find them here

These were translated by Jamie/Soupdragon90 and I've attached an image of their credits and translation notes to help explain more. (Flickr won't let me upload text files)

Title: The Adventure of Link

Artist: Yuu Mishouzaki

Publisher & ISBN Info: ISBN4-7966-0191-0 by JICC

First Published Date: 1991/9/15

Approx Length: 203 pages

This was started by Glitterberri for her site

Vol 1, LoZ: www.glitterberri.com/the-legend-of-zelda/mishouzaki-manga

Vol 2, AoL: www.glitterberri.com/adventure-of-link/mishouzaki-sequel

Go there to read volume 1 for the original Legend of Zelda

The first volume was scanned by Kasuto: www.kasuto.net

The second was scanned by me: historyofhyrule.com

I've posted the full volume here simply to make it easier to read. I held off for a long time because I really wanted people to go to Glitterberri's site to the part she was able to finish but it's been a few years, and Jamie did a ton of work to make all the pages match, so I thought it would probably be okay.

Zelda Manga: 600dpi scans of all 3 Volumes of Adventure of Link Game Guide Manga

There's no translation for these yet! That's such a bummer! If you can help out with that please let me know, melorasworld@gmail.com

This is a really fun manga because it pulls of being both a story and a literal game guide. Because of that it offers some really great illustrations for the places and environments in the Adventure of Link. I do think the first volume by Daisuke Shigoto is a bit more inspired than the last 2 by Yuu Minazuki but they did do a pretty good job of picking up where someone else left off. I have no idea for the change, I just know these were in the monthly magazine series Wanpakku comics around  1997-1988. They were collected into volumes but don't even have ISBN numbers.

Volume 1 scans at 600dpi

Volume 2 scans at 600dpi

Volume 3 scans at 600dpi

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link manga Volume 1 by Daisuke Shigoto

Published by Wanpakku Comics

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link manga Volume 2 by Yuu Minazuki

Published by One Pack Comics

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link manga Volume 3 by Yuu Minazuki

Published by One Pack Comics

 

Firsts in the Zelda series from the 1986-1988 Ran Maru manga

Okay, it's obvious I really love this manga series. I can't get enough of it. And I could be wrong on these, I'm just quickly going off the top of my head without spending much time on it, but I just wanted to start a little list. And keep in mind: this is just for my own fun and for conversation, please don't take it too seriously. But do let me know if I got something wrong or missed something! :3

Major spoilers ahead:

• Slingshot as a starter weapon and inventory weapon.
• Zelda speaking with, and visually manifesting, telepathically with Link.
• Zelda speaking with Link through a crystal necklace (which is also a Star Wars reference here.)
• Fairies reviving Link from death, not just restoring low health.
• Ganon having a human form doppelganger and/or evil wizard that acts as his headman.
• Link's sword growing in power as he advances, not just because he finds better swords.
• The Triforce on his shield instead of a Christian cross (even though it's literally THE Triforce in this and not just decorative designs.)
• Flying on a beloved bird companion, especially into battle.
• Bat-wing Ganon.
• Vaguely: Link having a flying companion that gives him advice. Not quite a fairy *meh* they function really similarly.
• A Ganon paired with a trident.. though this is a huge stretch because it's Link's sword that turns into one to kill Ganon, not Ganon's weapon. I just have to admit the first time I read it I thought he took the trident off Ganon. ;p
• Zelda locked in a magical stasis spell which is also where she was communicating telepathically with Link from.
• Link being the absolutely most adorable thing ever.
• Spin attack.
• Hot pink hair.
• His boat being struck by lightning and him washing ashore.
• Link being lured towards a dungeon boss by a an enemy being disguised as a maiden he knows.
• Enemy disguising as Zelda.
• The Goddess and Zelda resembling each other: hinting at being linked together.
• Zelda transforming into a man to foil Ganon's minions. And in Link's absence to buy time.
• Multiple magical Links fighting together (though this is an illusion spell, not a splitting spell. They're not all actually Link.)
• Repelling, bouncing, Ganon's magic-beam attacks with his sword.
• The Triforce bringing his loved ones back from the dead.

I'll be back to add more later! There is actually more

Volume1, for LoZ: https://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/7211430740/in/album-72157629760736528/

Volume 2, AoL vol1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/7211430456/in/album-72157629760736528/

Volume 3, AoL vol2: https://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/7211430518/in/album-72157629760736528/

Volume 4, AoL vol3: https://www.flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/7211430792/in/album-72157629760736528/

Why did Link have Hot Pink Hair in A Link to the Past?

The world may never know. ...Unless we look at several years of monthly manga magazine covers from just a 3 years earlier, from early 1986 until late 1988. I don't know though, I've never heard of game developers who also like comics... and certainly not ones about the game they made. It's not like Miyamoto was trying to be a manga artist before he joined Nintendo or anything ...and I really doubt any of them would like one of the best comics ever made for the series. And thus it will forever remain a mystery ♡

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, in One Pack Comics, by Ran Maru

ゼルダの伝説, わんぱっくコミックス,  乱丸

Find the English translation for the Hyrule Fantasy, the first volume this story starts in, here.

And here are the English translations for Adventure of Link volume 1, volume 2, and volume 3.

There's also some other other magazine art that's kind of fun. The first 2 are a hot pink haired female Link from Shonen Captain (Monthly Magazine) May 18, 1986. 3rd image unknown but it comes from this video. EDIT: I have found, and made, 2400dpi scans of this art of her.

Anyway, just a guess. Maybe we could agree that hot pink is just a great color too. #plink

Edit: There was a giant fanart challenge thanks to @Aeyga_X based on my scans and she was dubbed "Linka" by fans

Edit: Right after I wrote this I found all the pink-haired Link images from this artist. In Shonen Captain and this Wanpakku Guide. The gallery with all 8 starts here. But there is more on it below as well.


Also, I saw this said a lot: "16-bit" is about the processor, it doesn't mean 16 colors. Though, yes! Some of the modes for the SNES topped out at 16 colors per sprite/tile, and LttP is an example of the use of one of those, so I could see how people could get confused. Source 1. Source 2. But, no, it wasn't pink because the bunny was pink and it "needed to be the same color for technical reasons" ...because, even if (?) that were true for some reason, the rabbit's color of pink wasn't even the same as his hair. (Thank you to whomever made this graphic, I couldn't find the source to credit) 

Update: Just to keep all of the Pink Haired Link images in one place, here's a cool feature from a Famitsu issue from 1992

I've had that manga online for ages, on the old main site, (the better scans on archive.org are new,) but so many fans and other sites in the early days would blow off manga (and my scanning work and site) as "not real Zelda content." The ones that would try to post about it or my site would often have their posts deleted. Gatekeeping was an incredibly serious problem in the early days of the community. If you were not one of the popular, male, webmasters you were very often shut down and blocked out. I'm serious, there were full page rants about female run sites and problems with content deemed female-oriented. Like this on what was often said to be the most popular site at the time:

This guy wrote this after he told me to take LGBTQ content off my site and I refused. He then filled his gallery with scans I made (and edited some things into as organic watermarks) and said he scanned them. OmNomBerries, who ran IndieZelda, is still one of my best friends and stuck up for me with this guy at the time. She's a real one. I was friends with the other types of sites that were named and we were usually not allowed to be spoken about or linked to from "big" sites. So that rant needs a bit of self-reflection.

So it's just been overlooked for 35 years when this question would get asked. Which is a huge shame. Wanpakku, Naughty Comics, sometimes translated as One Pack, was a  division of Tokuma Shoten: the publisher Nintendo always officially used back then. And Wanpakku did the Japanese version of Tips and Tactics that Nintendo translated and released officially in the US

Edit 2: Okay, guys, turns out pink haired female Link from 1986 (May 25, 1986 and May 18, 1986) is as official as the Itoh art from Tips and Tactics because she IS in the Japanese version of Tips and Tactics. This kind of changes the way I'm thinking about her, I no longer thing she was just a mistake made by a comic magazine's walkthrough artist like I originally did.

Tips and Tactics was released by Nintendo of America in 1987 and calls itself the "US edition" "Translation of HISSYOU HINTBON Originally published in 1986 by Tokuma Shoten"

Both publishing companies, Wanpakku (the maker of this guide) and Shonen Captain, where she appeared, were owned by the publisher Tokuma Shoten: and Nintendo worked with them a LOT back then.

Here are the 2 manga pages with pink-haired Link and a fairy that were left out, along with some of the Itoh art, of the US edition: 

Edit 3: Slightly different but here's a cute pink-haired Princess Zelda from a Famicom magazine "ファミコン決定版(1986-07-20)"