SEAN: The end of May brings a lot of Yen, so let’s dive right into that.
Yen On only has one title, which is the 3rd volume of Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Short Story Collection.
Yen Press has many, many debuts. We’ll start with The BS Situation of Tougetsu Umidori (Umidori Tougetsu no “Detarame” na Jijou), the manga adaptation of the light novel Yen is already releasing. It runs in Comic Alive+.
Doodles by Ryoko Kui: Daydream Hour (Kui Ryouko Rakugakihon Daydream Hour) is an artbook/sketchbook from the creator of Delicious in Dungeon, and mostly featuring that series.
ASH: I’m definitely looking forward to this one!
SEAN: Kindergarten Wars (Youchien Wars) is a Shonen Jump + series about an assassin whose job is to protect the children of world leaders, most of whom are 5-6 years old. There’s just one problem… our assassin just can’t resist hot guys! This has a LOT of buzz.
MICHELLE: Hm.
ANNA: I mean, that does sound like a problem.
SEAN: Phantom Invasion (Gensou Shinkou) is a shonen series from Comic Walker. Our “hero” wakes up one day to find he’s in another world, and can seduce monster girls, an ability he decides to use for revenge.
ASH: An obvious decision, really.
SEAN: Stardust Family (Hoshikuzu Kazoku) is a complete 2-in-1 omnibus that ran in Comic Beam. In a future that is not ours, children interview adults to determine if they will be good parents, and the children have the final say. This feels “prestige”.
ASH: I am vaguely intrigued.
ANNA: Me too.
SEAN: Speaking of prestige, A Witch’s Life in Mongol (Tenmaku no Jaadugar) is a josei series from Souffle (I love it when a magazine I’ve never heard of gets an English title released). A Persian woman wants to use her medical knowledge, and ends up in Mongolia, where she meets one of the Mongol’s wives. This has been nominated for awards, and has an anime coming soon.
ASH: Another one I’m looking forward to reading! (And potentially watching.)
ANNA: Oh, this does sound interesting!
SEAN: Also from Yen Press: Ako and Bambi 5, Bungo Stray Dogs 25, A Certain Magical Index 30, Cheerful Amnesia 6 (the final volume), CLAMP Premium Collection Tokyo Babylon 7 (the final volume), Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret 2, From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman 3, Liar, Liar 2, Miss Savage Fang 3 (the final volume), [Oshi No Ko] 10, Pink & Habanero 3, The Shiunji Family Children 4, Shy 10, So What’s Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin? 8, Sword Art Online Ordinal Scale 2, Takahashi from the Bike Shop 2, This Monster Wants to Eat Me 4, Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet 10, and When I Became a Commoner, They Broke Off Our Engagement! 5.
MICHELLE: Some shoujo treats in there!
ASH: It’s true!
SEAN: Viz Media has a Ghibli artbook, The Art of the Boy and the Heron.
ASH: It should be lovely.
SEAN: They also debut the new JoJo. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 7–Steel Ball Run is an alternate universe JoJo! As for the plot, did you ever see It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World?
ASH: I hear this part makes its way to Michigan and the Great Lakes, so I’m pretty sure I’m obligated to pick it up. (Granted, I was already planning to.)
SEAN: Tokyopop has a one-shot BL title, I Can’t Get Through the Night Alone (Hitori de Yoru wa Koerarenai). A Japanese soldier who is still recovering mentally from the stress of World War II runs into a cute American guy. Can they actually have a future?
MICHELLE: Potentially interesting!
SEAN: They also have a third volume of The Prince Is Standing in the Villainess’ Way!.
Steamship has a 2nd volume of The Missing “O”.
Seven Seas debuts Fairy Cat (Tenohira Neko), a seinen title from Comic Bunch. A young man spots a tiny, tiny cat one day. Can he make friends with it?
ASH: This looks really cute.
SEAN: I’ll Forget You Starting Today, Senpai! (Kyou kara Senpai wo Wasuremasu) is a josei series from Vanilove. A woman is startled to find the matchmaking service matched her with her old high school boyfriend. Worse, he seems to have forgotten who she is!
MICHELLE: Sounds like wacky fun.
ASH: Gotta love josei!
ANNA: I’m sure I will be checking this out.
SEAN: Also from Seven Seas: Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers 10, Cutie and the Beast 4 (the final volume), Free Life Fantasy Online: Immortal Princess 10, I Quit My Apprenticeship as a Royal Court Wizard to Become a Magic Item Craftswoman 3, I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! 6, The Idaten Deities Know Only Peace 8, Reincarnated Into a Game as the Hero’s Friend 4, Slow Life In Another World (I Wish!) 8, and Time Stop Hero 12.
They also have a new danmei volume, Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu 4.
One Peace Books debuts I Want Your Mother to be With Me! (Kimi no Okaa-san o Boku ni Kudasai!), a seinen series from Manga up! about an office worker who falls for his coworker, a widowed mom with a child.
Kodansha Books has an 8th volume of My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1.
The debut from Kodansha Manga is Spacewalking With You (Kimi to Uchuu wo Aruku Tame ni), an award-winning seinen title from &Sofa (two new magazine titles in one week!). A boy whose inability to focus makes him in danger of flunking out meets a new student, a hyperactive boy who’s a bit naive. Will these two weirdos help each other? This is another “not BL but has two male leads” series.
ASH: Those can be fun.
SEAN: Also in print: The Ayakashi Hunter’s Tainted Bride 2, A Condition Called Love 13, Honeko Akabane’s Bodyguards 3, Magus of the Library 8, Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! 8, Shimazaki in the Land of Peace 4, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime 26, Vampire Dormitory 13, and Vinland Saga 14.
ASH: Always glad to see a new volume of Vinland Saga!
ANNA: Yes!!!!!
SEAN: For digital we have As the Gods Will 5 (the final volume), A Couple of Cuckoos 23, How to Grill Our Love 14, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua 5, Wind Breaker 20, and Wistoria: Wand and Sword 9.
J-Novel Club has two print titles. We get the 5th Black Summoner manga and My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! 8.
One debut for J-Novel Club digitally: Revenge of the Soul Eater: Cast Out as a Weakling by My Sword Saint Father (Hangyaku no Soul Eater: Jakusha wa Fuyou to Iwarete Kensei (Chichi) ni Tsuihousaremashita) is one of those “everyone treats our hero like shit, so he suddenly gets fantastic new powers and he’ll show them, oh yes, HE’LL SHOW THEM ALL!!!” series.
Also from J-Novel Club in light novels: The Apothecary Diaries 14, Cooking with Wild Game 28, The Ideal Sponger Life 15, Management of a Novice Alchemist 5, No One Gets Past This Gatekeeper 4, The Reincarnator and the Goblin Maiden’s Happily Ever After 3, and Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles 26.
And one manga, Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 4.
Ghost Ship has Ayakashi Triangle 15 and The Elf Sisters Can’t Wait for the Night 2.
Retailers list March Comes in Like a Lion 4 and Under Ninja 6 coming out from Denpa Books.
ASH: We shall see!
SEAN: Cross Infinite World has two debuts, new series with almost identical titles but apparently not the same series. Welcome to Monstrous Miss Sophie’s Enchanted Salon of Healing (Bakemono Jou Sophie no Salon: Gokigenyou. Kawa Ichimai nara Naosemasu wa) stars a cursed girl whose skin is rough like bark and who only has small healing magic. Then she remembers… she was once a single mother in modern Japan! I won’t expect mayonnaise, but something along those lines, probably.
ASH: Huh.
SEAN: Welcome to Olivia’s Magic Jewelers (Olivia Maseki Houshokuten e Youkoso: Ka to Mise wo Oida Sareta no de, Outou ni Mise wo Kamaetara, Naze ka Moto Konyakusha to Gimai no Kekkonshiki ni Dero to Iwaremashita) is a standard “my engagement is called off, my sister has claimed everything I own, and my family throws me out” book. Can she start a new store in a new city?
Airship has one print volume, Too Many Losing Heroines! 4.
And in early digital, they have The Mimosa Confessions 4 and The Strange Adventure of a Broke Mercenary 12.
Why, that’s not much manga at all! I’m sure you can afford every title on this list!