SEAN: There’s quite a few titles I’m getting this week, but I’m not sure any of them really set themselves up above the rest as a Pick. As such, I think I’ll go with an old favorite and pick the 10th omnibus of Fruits Basket, which has Shigure’s nastiest speech to Tohru, and is therefore fascinating.
MICHELLE: I’m definitely all aboard for Fruits Basket, but after reading more about it, Erased sounds really interesting! Plus, it’s been nominated for all sorts of awards. I think I’ll be optimistic and pick it this week.
KATE: I’m torn between the latest volume of Dimension W and the first volume of Erased. I’m leaning ever-so-slightly towards Dimension W, if only because Yuji Iwahara draws manga like nobody’s business. Every detail on the page pops, and the characters are drawn with flair. And his world-building! You could read Dimension W just for the elaborate cityscapes. The story isn’t quite as engrossing as the art, but it’s fundamentally impossible to dislike an adventure in which Nikola Tesla’s research is frequently referenced.
ASH: I’m glad that Michelle picked Erased (which I will definitely be reading) because that means I can mention Magia the Ninth without feeling guilty. I can’t say it’s a great series–at times it’s barely coherent an I suspect that it was ended earlier than the creator originally intended–but I enjoyed the first volume immensely. I find it hard to resist the combination of music, magic, and historical references. The manga is absolutely ridiculous, but I’m getting a huge kick out of it and it makes me smile. Sometimes, that’s exactly what I need.
MJ: I have eternal love for Fruits Basket, of course, and I’m also interested in Dimension W. But I was absolutely thrilled to see Erased on the list, and that’s unambiguously my pick for the week. My husband and I watched the anime adaptation last year, when it was released for streaming in the U.S., and it was absolutely enthralling. This is a release I will not miss!
ANNA: I agree with many of my colleagues that Erased certainly sounds like the most interesting thing coming out this week. Looking forward to it!