The first published manga by Akira (Leiji) Matsumoto in 1954. He finished this work in november 1953 and sent it to drawing contest "Shinjin ō" , organized by the Manga Shounen magazine. Matsumoto was fifteen when he won this contest and began his mangaka career. In 2018, an Italian and French version has been printed, with the agreement of Matsumoto sensei. In 2021, the Italian version has been reprinted by the "Leiji Matsumoto Cultural Association". In Japan it was republished in 2014 in a collection of previously unpublished works 蜜蜂の冒険 松本零士 未発表・初期作品集.