Editing Zatch Bell! (section)

== Production ==
Following the ending of his previous series in [[Shogakukan]]'s ''[[Shōnen Sunday Super]]'' magazine, Raiku revisited old drafts he created for new ideas for his next series.<ref name="Vol 1">{{Cite book|last=Raiku|first=Makoto|script-title=ja:金色のガッシュ!!|volume=1|date=May 18, 2001|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4-09-126231-8|language=ja}}</ref> One of his first ideas was a mercenary who uses a giant sword to defeat enemies. He played with this idea for three months before deciding to abandon it and go for another idea.<ref name="Vol 1"/> His next idea involved a middle school student who finds an old toy and, with the help of a noble knight, combats evil. While pitching this idea with his agent,{{vague|title=Which agent does this refer to?|date=February 2022}} he was advised to use a cuter character as a fighter, and so the titular character [[Kiyo Takamine and Zatch Bell|Zatch]] was created.<ref name="Vol 1"/> After Raiku worked on the idea for a few months, it was published.<ref name="Vol 1"/> Raiku said that he intended to create a "passionate story about a heartwarming friendship," and that he used the concept as a central theme while adding the Mamodo, book, and spell concepts. He cited a western magical story he read as a source of inspiration for creating Zatch's red [[Grimoire|spell book]]. Zatch's lightning spells allude to the fact that Raiku's [[Pen name|name]] means "lightning" in Japanese. He also mentioned that he created [[List of Zatch Bell! characters#Parco Folgore and Kanchomé|Folgore]] with the words "Invincible Italian Man" as a base.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Origins, Creator Q & A|url=http://www.zatch-bell.com/index3_skip.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129035235/http://www.zatch-bell.com/index3_skip.html|archive-date=January 29, 2010|access-date=August 19, 2009|publisher=Viz Media|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Raiku went on a research trip in England while writing volumes five and six, which both take place in said country.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Raiku|first=Makoto|date=July 18, 2002|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|isbn=978-4-09-126236-3|series=金色のガッシュ!!|volume=6|language=ja|script-title=ja:金色のガッシュ!!}}</ref>

''Zatch Bell!'' would be Raiku's last manga project published by Shogakukan. Once the series finished in December 2007, the company gave back his original artwork,<ref name="Sue12">"[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-06/zatch-bell/gash-manga-creator-raiku-sues-shogakukan News: Gash/Zatch Bell Manga Creator Raiku Sues Shogakukan (Updated)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215082204/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-06/zatch-bell/gash-manga-creator-raiku-sues-shogakukan|date=February 15, 2011 }}." ''[[Anime News Network]]''. June 6, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2011.</ref> a common practice for Japanese publishing companies. Of all the documents Raiku received, at least five drawings failed to turn up.<ref name="Sue22">{{Cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=November 11, 2008|title=Gash/Zatch Bell's Raiku Wins 2.55M Yen over Lost Art (Update)|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-11/gash/zatch-bell-raiku-wins-2.55m-yen-over-lost-art|access-date=March 13, 2022|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313144015/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-11-11/gash/zatch-bell-raiku-wins-2.55m-yen-over-lost-art|url-status=live}}</ref> Raiku accused Shogakukan of mishandling his artwork and, in 2007, filed a lawsuit seeking damages over the missing documents.<ref name="Sue12" /> He reached a settlement for {{FXConvert|JPN|2.55|m|cursign=[[Japanese yen|¥]]|year=2008|to=USD|showdate=no}} later that year.<ref name="Sue22" />

The house in which Raiku authored the series was unique in that it doubled as a makeshift studio. Inside was a large collection of autographs from various manga artists displayed at the foyer, which was the first thing one would see upon entering the building. His studio also featured a high ceiling to prevent him from becoming [[Claustrophobia|claustrophobic]], and he would spend an entire day there to meet a deadline. Raiku's collection of figurines would be displayed on the wall whenever he was present in the house. Raiku admitted that most of his work actually took place at a nearby restaurant where he also did most of his [[storyboarding]]. He added that there was less distraction, since he was just surrounded by people rather than games or even the Internet. Storyboarding for a regular chapter of ''Zatch Bell!'' took about two days for Raiku to make. When the editor approved the storyboard, Raiku summoned four assistants to the house for his project, and a fifth whenever necessary.<ref name="Gigazine2">{{cite web|script-title=ja:「金色のガッシュ!!」の作者である漫画家、雷句誠さんにいろいろとインタビューしてきました|url=https://gigazine.net/news/20080620_raiku/|website=Gigazine|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231025021610/https://gigazine.net/news/20080620_raiku/|archive-date=October 25, 2023|language=ja|date=June 20, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Raiku sold the property in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|date=October 26, 2016|title=House of Gash/Zatch Bell's Makoto Raiku Posted for Sale Online|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-10-26/house-of-gash-zatch-bell-makoto-raiku-posted-for-sale-online/.108132|access-date=October 21, 2021|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021050726/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-10-26/house-of-gash-zatch-bell-makoto-raiku-posted-for-sale-online/.108132|url-status=live}}</ref>