The Manga Review: Leaping into February

Sad news for shojo fans: Hinako Ashihara, creator of Sand Chronicles and Sexy Tanaka-San died by suicide earlier this week. Media outlets in Japan and the US have speculated about her motivation, noting that she was dismayed by a recent television adaptation of Tanaka-San. In a now-deleted blog post, she expressed frustration that the script made several significant deviations from the manga and criticized NTV for not honoring the spirit of her work. Anime News Network has more details on this developing story.

NEWS ROUND-UP

According to Circana BookScan’s 2023 Manga Bestseller chart, VIZ Media had another banner year, claiming 18 of the top 20 spots… Kodansha just unveiled C-Station, “a new licensing information site” for companies wishing to use Kodansha IP for commercial purposes… Eyeshield 21 celebrated its twenty-first anniversary with a new chapter featuring Sena Kobayakawa and his pals… AKIRA enthusiasts with $30,000 can get their own Kaneda Bike from Bel&Bel… and Mari Yamazaki is working on a new installment of her popular Thermae Romae series, this one focused on Uncle Lucius.

ESSAYS AND PODCASTS

Bookmark this page: Katy Castillo compiles a complete list of February’s new manga and light novel releases. [Yatta-Tachi]

Kara Dennison recommends three great manga you can read in one sitting. [Otaku USA]

David and Jordan offer their first impressions of Yoakemono. [Shonen Flop]

For a super-powered shojo team up, tune in to Ashley and Megan D.’s recent podcast about Juline, a ninja drama from the creator of the inscrutable Vampire Princess Miyu. [Shojo & Tell]

If you enjoyed Yama Wayama’s Let’s Go Karaoke, Jocelyne Allen has some good news for you: the sequel is every bit as good as the original. [Brain vs. Book]

REVIEWS

Remember when Stu Levy and Courtney Love wrote a manga together? Megan D. does, and has some thoughts about Princess Ai… Tom Shapira reviews Gou Tanabe’s adaption of The Shadow Over Innsmouth… D. Morris checks out Hideshi Hino’s horror classic Panorama of Hell… and Renee Scott revisits Magic Knight Rayearth.

• Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture, Vol. 1 (Demelza, Anime UK News)
• Blade of the Moon Princess, Vol. 2 (King Baby Duck, Boston Bastard Brigade)
• The Boxer, Vol. 5 (Adam Symchuk, Asian Movie Pulse)
• Boy’s Abyss, Vol. 4 (Josh Piedra, The Outerhaven)
• Call of the Night, Vol. 14 (King Baby Duck, Boston Bastard Brigade)
• Dark Moon: The Blood Altar, Vol. 1 (Noemi10, Anime UK News)
• Fairy Tail Omnibus, Vol. 1 (Ian Wolf, Anime UK News)
• Girl Meets Rock, Chapters 1-8 (Justin, The OASG)
• Gorgeous Carat, Vol. 1 (Megan D., The Manga Test Drive)
• How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 10 (Josh Piedra, The Outerhaven)
• King in Limbo, Vol. 1 (Merve Giray, The Beat)
• My Dear, Curse-Casting Vampiress, Vol. 3 (Adam Symchuk, Asian Movie Pulse)
• My Hero Academia: Team-Up Missions, Vol. 4 (King Baby Duck, Boston Bastard Brigade)
• My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness (Renee Ng, Asian Movie Pulse)
• Ogami-san Can’t Keep It In, Vol. 2 (Demelza, Anime UK News)
• One More Step, Come Stand By My Side (Ian Wolf, Anime UK News)
• Oshi no Ko, Vol. 4 (Antonio Mireles, The Fandom Post)
• Otherside Picnic, Vol. 8 (Erica Friedman, Okazu)
• The Red Thread, Vol. 1 (Kevin T. Rodriguez, The Fandom Post)
• Solo Leveling, Vol. 8 (Josh Piedra, The Outerhaven)
• Steel of the Celestial Shadows, Vol. 1 (Rebecca Silverman, Anime News Network)
• Sunbeams in the Sky, Vol. 3 (Demelza, Anime UK News)
• Team Phoenix, Vol. 1 (Sarah Smith, The Graphic Library)
• Tokyo These Days, Vol. 1 (Danica Davidson, Otaku USA)
• Witch’s Life in a Micro Room, Vol. 1 (MrAJCosplay, Anime News Network)