Manga the Week of 9/3

SEAN: Remember when I whined about so many titles coming out in August? Yeah, September is just as bad if not worse. Didn’t the manga boom end? Here’s what’s out the first week:

Dark Horse gives us the 2nd volume of the New, Modern-day Lone Wolf… no, wait, it’s the New Lone Wolf & Cub, but it’s still an old samurai manga. The lone wolf himself is new, though.

Gen Manga has the first volume of a series called Kamen, a word with much history in Japanese manga.

ASH: This is actually a new edition of a volume that was originally released in 2012 in preparation for the release of the rest of the series.

SEAN: If I say ‘ordinary middle school girl meets a god’ are you excited? No? Well, Noragami has that premise, but it’s apparently quite a coveted title, from the artists who brought you Alive, if you recall that old abandoned Del Rey series. Kodansha has Vol. 1 next week.

ASH: I got my hands on an early copy of Noragami and rather enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the series.

ANNA: Hmm, I am a little curious about this.

MJ: Same.

MICHELLE: I recall hearing good things about Alive while it was ongoing, so consider me intrigued.

SEAN: The 2nd volume of Knight’s Knowledge, an Ace entry in the Country of Hearts series, is out. I thought vol. 1 was pretty good in showing that everyone just doesn’t gave in to the love interest of the arc. Hopefully it continues to interest.

ANNA: I need to pick up the first volume! Ace is my favorite. I also have no sense of direction and murderous urges.

SEAN: A Centaur’s Life has its fourth volume, and I think introduces us to a new cast member. My suspicion is this volume may deal with racism in a fantasy sort of way.

ASH: That it may.

SEAN: Mayo Chiki has its seventh and final volume, and further deponent sayeth not.

There’s also another volume of the 2nd part of the Zero’s Familiar series, Chevalier.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? has another volume of food and Shiro driving me crazy.

ANNA: I’m so happy this is being released in English! I am happy with every volume that comes out!

ASH: It makes me happy, too!

MJ: Hurray! Just when I thought this abundant week might not really have much for me… this is enough!

MICHELLE: Commence happy dance!

SEAN: Viz has a pile of releases, and a goodly number of them are omnibuses. Bleach, Naruto, and Dragon Ball all have 3-in-1 omnibuses for you to play catch up with.

Library Wars: Love & War had a fantastic action-packed 11th volume. Can this 12th volume keep things going? And will there be actual romantic progress?

ASH: I’m pretty sure I enjoy this series more than I should, but I can’t help it!

ANNA: I have read this volume and it features librarians kissing!!!!!

ASH: Oh, most excellent!

MICHELLE: Library Wars really has grown on me. I’m looking forward to this!

SEAN: Midnight Secretary comes to an end with the 7th volume. If you enjoyed it, no worries; Spell of Desire by the same author is out from Viz now. No vampires (yet), but it does have witches!

ANNA: This was a good conclusion to the series, and the bonus story included in this volume titled “Midnight Butler,” with a gender swapped couple consisting of a female vampire and human man is quite amusing.

MICHELLE: Spell of Desire also has kitties!

SEAN: Nisekoi has introduced a new antagonist to its harem, so I’m sure this 5th volume will be devoted to softening her antagonism a bit.

One Piece reaches its 72nd volume. 72! Will Luffy continue to advance in the tournament, or get distracted by shiny objects?

Phantom Thief Jeanne had quite a cliffhanger at the end of its third volume, and I suspect that a good chunk of the 4th will involve picking up the pieces.

ANNA: I don’t always greet reissues with glee, but this series more than deserves to be in print.

MJ: Clearly, I need to give this some attention.

MICHELLE: MJ, if there were ever an Arina Tanemura series you would love, I think this is the one. But seriously also read One Piece! :)

SEAN: A word of warning to those of weak constitutions: the 4th Ranma 1/2 omnibus introduces us to Happosai. Yes, I’m sad as well, but sometimes life just hands you lemons that you can’t even make lemonade from.

Seraph of the End has its second volume, and it’s probably not a good sign that I’m having trouble remembering what happened in the first already.

ANNA: I thought the first volume was intriguing and am looking forward to the second volume.

SEAN: Skip Beat! has reached Vol. 33, and it’s starting to creep up on the ‘longest running shojo manga in North America’ title.

ANNA: Skip Beat! is another favorite of mine. I’m also currently obsessed with the live action drama series based on the title.

MICHELLE: *happy sigh* Does Boys Over Flowers hold the title currently? That had 37 volumes, if you count Jewelry Box. Also, HOW DID I NOT KNOW THERE WAS A LIVE ACTION DRAMA SERIES?!

SEAN: For fans of Blue Exorcist, Viz has a short story collection from its author called Time Killers, collecting various one-shots done before she became a household word.

ASH: I’m looking forward to checking this one out.

ANNA: Me too!

MJ: I’m interested, I’m interested.

SEAN: Lastly, and I still don’t have anything to say about it, there’s the 6th volume of Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds.

What kind of September are you trying to remember?