Manborg: The Novelization

by Bret Nelson, Rain Corbyn (Narrator)

The Hell Wars ended 10 years ago.



Hell won. Tonight, a half-human cyborg powers up. He died as an army grunt, but now he rises as a hero named MANBORG. He seeks answers about his mysterious origins as he battles the hordes of armed demons that killed him and conquered his world.



He teams up with a gunslinger named Justice and his knife-expert sister, Mina. Number 1 Man, a martial arts master, completes the unlikely squad. Together, they face damned legions, monsters, and finally Hell’s ruler on Count Draculon.



Based upon the classic movie screenplay by Steven Kostanski and Jeremy Gillespie

Genres: Horror

Audible Audio

Published March 7, 2025

About the author

When Bret Nelson isn't writing stories, he's making TV shows and games. He's worked with Kermit the Frog, Buzz Lightyear, and Conan the Cimmerian. Right now, he’s working on things he can't talk about (that’s what the contracts say).

Reviews

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the first time I watched Manborg; I found it at Kmart and said “this looks bugshit insane!” Now I can proudly say I’ve seen everything Astron-6 has done and loved every second of it. Astron-6 has become a comfort food for me in so many ways, whether it’s the shorts, the shower scene in The Editor, or the insanity that is Father’s Day. Each one has its own special charm and Brett Nelson captured that charm to perfection in this novelization. Reading Manborg gave me a sense of deja but in the best possible way. These are scenes I’ve watched on screen countless times, but now can experience freshly in a written form. My favorite scene has always been the flower conversation, and Nelson absolutely nailed that awkward dialogue in the book. Manborg is the kind of thing you’d be willing to have a full out memory erase to experience again, thanks to Encyclopocalypse Publications and Brett Nelson you don’t have to find Tommy Lee Jones in a suit to experience this batshit story for the first time again. K thx.

[Brian G Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manborg the novelization was everything I was hoping for it to be and a whole lot more! Immediately you’re pulled straight into the pages with a writing style that does excellent justice to the movie. Reading it, I felt like I was watching the film again; even caught myself speaking like the characters I remembered so well. Each character was brought to life with a fine precision only a die-hard fan could replicate.
The author, Bret Nelson, does a fantastic job at inking the screen to the pages. From brutal, and often comical, battles involving the augmented warriors of Hell’s army known as the Killborgs, to the vampiric center of Meganet City, to the bone strewn arena grounds of Terroropticon that forces humans to compete with horrors unimaginable, such as colossal brutes fused with weaponry known as Boners.
I found myself laughing right alongside moments that flashed back to me from the movie. But it was more than that. Reading the book, I felt like this was more in line with a director's special edition: added footage and character backgrounds, and plenty more. It was quite apparent a lot of heart went into recreating this project in print, and I can assure you that once you crack the spine on this book, you’ll find it impossible to put down—if not read again!
Oh, and once you finish with this fine story, you’re greeted with a special treat that had me rolling and reading (singing?) along.
Five stars? Make it ten—as Justice would likely say.

[Janine Pipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this early for a blurb and it is everything I wanted it to be.
LOVED it.

[Bookworm of the Damned · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Book Review! In this episode, I review the novelization of "Manborg" by Bret Nelson.

https://youtu.be/2OVZupD7-0Y

[Michael (Horror Gardener) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the Film is obviously the best way to experience Manborg, this books does it justice and is a fun easy read.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I have not seen the film this book is based on so I can’t truthfully say if it’s a good or faithful adaptation. My review is strictly for the novelization…

…and if that’s anything to go by, the movie must be terrible.
Because this book was awful. I know Nelson had to work with the source material he was handed so I can’t blame him. I can, however blame this asinine and stupid plot.

Nothing about Manborg works. I guess it’s trying to spoof Robocop and demonic entities, which could have been good if it wasn’t for juvenile attempts at humor and wholly unoriginal ideas.

There are books and movies of the “so bad it’s good variety”. Manborg tries that formula and ends up just being “bad. And because of that, I basically skimmed the last 40% of this book, very nearly DNFing it.

Simply put this book is dumb and very unlikeable. Seriously, don’t waste your time.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wild roller coaster ride of greatness! If you ever watch the movie just know the book is almost exactly like the movie if not exact. I loved it and although I finished it a few months ago I still wanted to come and say if you’re thinking of reading this book… Read it! Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.