SEAN: 3 new volumes next week, two of which are my own pets so… First of all, Vol. 4 of The Lucifer and Biscuit Hammer (yes, yes, Hoshi no Samidare), which, like Viz’s recent license One-Punch Man, seems to me to be an attempt to do Western-style superhero drama. Its combination of friendship and nihilism is quite addicting.
MJ: You make that sound oddly alluring.
MICHELLE: Indeed.
SEAN: I’ve reviewed both volumes of Wonder! to date, and will no doubt be reviewing this one as well, as it has one of the absolute best qualities of any manga series: the ability to make me talk and talk at length about it. I do wonder if it will pick up the slight bombshell dropped at the end of Vol. 2, but suspect that may be another “Oh, Japan…” moment.
MJ: Well, now I feel like I should read it, too! I do like to talk.
MICHELLE: We could make it one of our tandem reads for a future Off the Shelf.
SEAN: Lastly, those first two series come out once in a blue moon, whereas we’ve already had 3 volumes of Crime and Punishment: A Falsified Romance in two months. This one’s on the fast track, and I suspect is a publisher favorite. Not sure if that’s JManga or Futabasha, though.
MJ: There are several series I’d like to see come out a bit faster at JManga—generally long shoujo or BL epics that inspire in me the urge to marathon. I suppose that isn’t the smartest way to put things out, but I wish they’d hit the fast track as well.
MICHELLE: I’m really grateful about the ones I follow that are on that track, but yeah, I am waiting on updates for some as well.
SEAN: Short but sweet. What are you downloading (or is it clouding)?
Your and others’ enthusiasm for Biscuit Hammer convinced me to check it out, and I’ve really enjoyed the first two volumes!! So thanks :D I’m excited for Wonder too! (though I’m reminded that I bought v2 forever ago and then never read it… oops. I’ll fix that sometime, and I’ll definitely be getting v3!)