HUKE's self-publications continue to impress, with the newest addition being his Comiket 78 release STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS. Though it's sad to say, this collection includes more full-fledge illustrations than the commercial counterpart Steins; Gate Official Material Book.

The most over-the-top aspect of STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS has to be its vacuum-sealed packaging. While the presentation is gorgeous---the B5-sized book is sealed in such a way that it's both fashionable and functional---it's nothing short of heart-breaking to ruin it in order to open it and actually look through the doujinshi. As you can see in the second picture above, there are little dented corners to facilitate tearing through the packaging. Inside the package along with the doujinshi is a little sticker illustrated by ChanxCo, whose chibi character illustrations also appear on the inside covers.

Though most pages are in color, there are a few line art drawings placed next to a color, finished illustration. Aside from the one pictured above, there are three other illustrations set up this way. With the detail in HUKE's finished style, it makes it even more interesting to see the clean, almost simple line arts underneath it all.

The illustration gallery for Steins; Gate Official Material Book was 8-pages long. Considering this is 32-pages counting the covers and filled with illustrations, it easily has that beat. Included in STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS is an alternate version of the Steins; Gate Official Material Book cover, which features the maid in front of all the characters, while they remain out of focus. Some of the other illustrations included in here were also merchandise related, like the 4-koma STEINS; GATE cover as well as several drama CD covers. And that's a lot of merchandise.

Although the cover illustration appears in a monotone blue scheme, on the inside you can find it in full color, on a two-page spread. It's one of four illustration spreads in this book. As STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS is staple-bound, the images aren't cut off and the print quality excellent with all pages lining up properly.

Above is ChanxCo's other illustration contribution to the book. STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS was actually carried by quite a few doujinshi vendors, but they've all sold out at this point so the best bet is Yahoo! Auctions. Considering this is the best collection of STEINS; GATE art work out there, it's worth it ^^

• Title: STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS
• タイトル: STEINS GATE VISUAL WORKS
• Release Date: 08/15/2010
• Pages: 32 (including covers)
• Buy: eBay