SEAN: July, another big month for manga, because there are no small months for manga anymore. What’ve we got for the first week, aside from a pile of Viz (though we’ll be getting to that as well)?
Kodansha has the 6th volume of Devil Survivor. Is every manga title in Japan somehow based on Shin Megami Tensei?
And an 8th Your Lie in April, sure to be gut-punchingly heartwarming in a horrible way.
ASH: I finally just got caught up with this series! Pretty sure I already know how some things will turn out, but I’m still glad to see music manga being released.
SEAN: Seven Seas gives us a 5th volume of The Ancient Magus’ Bride, and I cannot wait, as it’s one of my favorite titles from them.
ASH: Same!
ANNA: I started the first volume and didn’t finish it for some reason. I should try again!
SEAN: Then there is the debut of Battle Rabbits. Judging by the title, you’d expect bad things, but no, this is a Zero-Sum series, so I doubt it’s boobies and fighting. It’s by the authors of 07-Ghost.
MICHELLE: Huh! This wasn’t on my radar.
ANNA: I’m interested, and also feeling guilty for not reading more 07-Ghost.
SEAN: A Centaur’s Life continues to be utterly strange and unpredictable, even as we reach Volume 9.
Vertical gives us a 3rd Nichijou, which is strange and unpredictable in a totally different way. I love it a lot.
MICHELLE: I enjoyed the first two more than I expected to, so am looking forward to this one.
SEAN: Now here’s the Viz. Behind the Scenes!! has a 2nd volume. I’m not used to series starting out caught up with Japan. This feels like it’s been a while since Book 1.
MICHELLE: It really has. I hope I like volume two more than the first.
ANNA: I liked the first one well enough!
SEAN: You’ll never guess who shows up at the end of the 67th volume of Bleach. No one could have predicted… no, wait, everyone did.
The Demon Prince of Momochi House continues Aya Shouoto’s demonic hold on all of North American manga publishing with its 5th volume. (Speaking of which, why hasn’t Kodansha picked up Super Darling?)
MICHELLE: At only two volumes, it definitely would seem to be an easy contender.
ANNA: I like Demon Prince, and thought the 4th volume was really strong.
SEAN: Dragon Ball Full Color Freeza Arc Volume 2. Yes, it’s still being re-released.
The big release this week is Haikyu!!, the new Jump sports manga – remember when that was box office poison? – about a volleyball team. It’s a monthly release, as this has already reached 22+ volumes in Japan. Friendship! Training! Victory!
MICHELLE: YAYYYYY!! Also… new volumes every month!
ASH: It’s an ambitious publishing schedule, but I think it might just pay off.
MICHELLE: Back in the day, this was more common. I want to say the entirely of Rurouni Kenshin came out this way, and there were periods of time in which Fruits Basket, GetBackers (someone rescue this), and InuYasha were all monthly releases, too.
ANNA: I am always stoked for more sports manga.
SEAN: Honey So Sweet has a 3rd volume. I’m hoping for more mild angst and mild romance. And more of that other girl.
And then there’s My Love Story!!, which has Vol. 9. It introduced a rival last time. Will he ruin everything? Will there be angst in my beloved shoujo sweetness?
MICHELLE: I will be snagging both of these.
ASH: I still adore My Love Story!!
ANNA: Looking forward to both titles very much!
SEAN: Naruto has a 15th 3-in-1. Perhaps you’ve heard of it.
And Jump’s most popular harem series continues with Nisekoi 16.
One-Punch Man 7! Has Saitama finally met someone who will take MORE than one punch? It’s looking likely!
ASH: I desperately need to catch up with this series. I really love Murata’s artwork, though.
ANNA: More punching!
SEAN: The other debut from Viz, 7th Garden, comes from Jump Square. From what I hear, it may appeal more to a Seven Seas demographic than a Viz one, as it seems a bit servicey? But hey, demons.
Twin Star Exorcists has a 5th volume, and I understand its anime is still chugging right along as well.
Lastly, there’s an 11th World Trigger.
What manga are you buying? What manga are you tragically breaking up with?
Gotta get that Ancient Magus here! Seven Seas publishes a lot of boob and monster manga, but man, the ones that aren’t in that category tend to be ungodly amazing, it’s almost freakish or something. And they do publish enough of them that I can’t get mad at Monster Musume being such a ridiculously good seller for them if we get more Ancient Magus. I would still like more Lizzie Newton ever though.
Sean said:
“Then there is the debut of Battle Rabbits. Judging by the title, you’d expect bad things, but no, this is a Zero-Sum series, so I doubt it’s boobies and fighting. It’s by the authors of 07-Ghost.”
So obviously we’d expect cute rabbit boys and fighting. I might check this out. :)