SEAN: OK, I know why we’re all here, but god forbid I not do this in alphabetical order by publisher, so…
MICHELLE: *sits on hands*
ANNA: *taps fingers impatiently*
SEAN: Dark Horse gives us a 4th volume of Fate/Zero, which has been getting darker and darker by the volume.
J-Novel Club has gotten to the point where we’re getting 2nd volumes. My Big Sister Lives in a Fantasy World may be very light novelish, but I found it a lot more fun than expected. Look forward to Vol. 2.
Their debut is Paying to Win in a VRMMO, which for once seems to feature a total immersion VR world that DOESN’T trap the players inside it.
OK, what you’ve been waiting for. Kodansha announced a few digital-only titles, and one was a long-coveted “this will never be licensed because it’s too Japanese” series, Chihayafuru. The story of a girl and her Hyakunin Isshu Karuta growth… what’s too Japanese about that? A josei series from Be Love magazine, everyone will buy this or I will personally come to your house and stare balefully at you.
MICHELLE: I’ll bring the cricket bat.
ANNA: I am SO excited, this is one of those titles I thought would never come out here.
MJ: This, this-y, this this. This this.
SEAN: We’re also getting the digital debut of Springtime with Ninjas, a shoujo title from Nakayoshi that I feel bad for, first because it pales next to Chihayafuru and Tokyo Tarareba Girls, but mostly because I won’t be able to read it without adding “And Germany!”.
MICHELLE: And now I won’t, either! :)
ANNA: I enjoy shoujo ninjas!
SEAN: As hinted, we also see Tokyo Tarareba Girls debut. Also a josei title, this one from Kiss magazine, it’s by the creator of Princess Jellyfish, and is award-nominated and fantastic.
MICHELLE: This is one I didn’t know I needed, and now I’m so eager. I will give Springtime with Ninjas a chance, too. Mostly to show my appreciation to Kodansha for the josei, though, I admit.
ANNA: I did not know about this either but josei titles are a must buy for me.
MJ: Well, huh. yes.
SEAN: Those are all digital-only, though if they sell well I hope that will change. In print we have the third volume of vampire manga Happiness.
ASH: I’m definitely someone who prefers reading in print, but I’m thrilled that these manga are being translated at all! Also, even though I’m a little weary of vampire manga, I am liking Happiness so far.
SEAN: There’s also a 6th Heroic Legend of Arslan, which I need to catch up with one of these days. I feel bad that I clamor for Silver Spoon while ignoring this.
ASH: It’s a pretty solid historical fantasy series, though I do join you in clamoring for Silver Spoon.
SEAN: And a 2nd volume of the odd yet compelling Nekogahara: Stray Cat Samurai.
Speaking of odd (but not always that compelling), One Peace has a 3rd Kuma Miko.
Seven Seas has four volumes out next week, including a 4th Hour of the Zombie.
Re: Monster is one of the weirder male power fantasies I’ve ever read, so I may give Vol. 2 a try, though I’m wary.
Seven Seas has been doing a LOT of yuri the last few weeks. The one-shot volume next week is Secret of the Princess, from popular author Morinaga Milk. It ran in Shinshokan’s Hirari.
MICHELLE: Hmm… Maybe on this one.
ASH: I have enjoyed many of the creator’s other manga, so I should probably give this one a look, too.
SEAN: And a 4th Shomin Sample, which no doubt will have a girl showing us her panties on the cover.
SuBLime’s 3rd volume of Ten Count is still not about boxing.
MICHELLE: Definitely not.
ASH: Nope.
ANNA: Indeed, no.
MJ: I am skeptical. Though not regarding its lack of boxing.
SEAN: Vertical’s To The Abandoned Sacred Beasts’s 4th volume does feature beasts, though, I believe.
Viz time. Hayate the Combat Butler makes me happy to see it even though it comes out so infrequently. Bring on Vol. 29!
Magi does not have the ‘only twice a year’ issue Hayate does, which is why we’re seeing Vol. 22.
Lastly, there is a 6th Monster Hunter: Flash Hunter.
Well, this was more exciting than I’d expected a few days ago! What are you getting next week?
MICHELLE: A plethora, apparently!
Probably Tokyo Tarareba Musume as I cannot understand the plot, but hey, it’s josei! And as usual, if it ran in something like Hirari and was subsequently licensed, yup, you’ll be getting my money. ;)