Katherine Dacey

KATE: If you’d told me five years ago that VIZ would be re-issuing Taiyo Matsumoto’s No. 5, I’d have chuckled and thought, “Boy, is this person naïve! VIZ couldn’t *give* copies of this series away back in 2001! It’s weird! It’s surreal! American readers aren’t ready for it!” I’m happy to say that I’m wrong, and that VIZ is about to release a gorgeous new edition of No. 5 that will give everyone a chance to luxuriate in Matsumoto’s spooky, slithery, beautiful artwork again. If you liked Tekkonkinkreet or Ping Pong, call your local comic shop NOW and ask them to pull a copy of No. 5 for you.

ANNA: I agree, No. 5 is the clear pick of the week for me as well.

MICHELLE: Now that I’ve gotten over my panic at the sheer influx of manga, I must concur—No. 5 is the standout here.

SEAN: Clearly it’s No. 5, yes, but I know the way I read manga, and I know Matsumoto and I have struggled before. As such, I’m going to actually pick the 5th volume of Tearmoon Empire, a hilarious “villainess makes good when she goes back in time” novel with a heaping helping of social conscience to it as well. Now with a stage show!

ASH: As soon as Tearmoon Empire is released in print, I suspect that I’ll wholeheartedly be onboard with that series. But, yeah, No. 5 is where it’s at for me this week, too. I think the time is finally right for the the manga to hit its mark in English, and I’m glad for it.

MELINDA: I hate to be a sheep, but it’s gotta be No. 5 for me, too! Weird and surreal feels exactly right when we’re living in a reality like the one we have now. Count me in!

SEAN: Gee, what could it be? Moto Hagio? Cute smug-looking cats standing on their back paws? Sign me up for L’il Leo!

KATE: I’ve developed a reputation for being the most predictable member of the MB Battle Robot, and I won’t disappoint anyone by picking, say, The Hero Is Overpowered But Cautiously Optimistic or I’m Deeply Skeptical of the New Power I Just Manifested. OF COURSE Lil’ Leo is my first choice this week, for all the reasons Sean listed. But I’m also intrigued by Hello World, which is giving me serious orange vibes–and that’s never a bad thing.

MICHELLE: Any time there’s Moto Hagio, my pick is spoken for. That said, I am also looking forward to getting caught up on Ace of the Diamond and Giant Killing, both of which have new volumes out this week. The latter, being seinen sports manga about a professional team rather than high schoolers aiming for nationals, is particularly good.

ANNA: The idea of not picking Moto Hagio is inconceivable!

ASH: S’truth! If Moto Hagio is an option, that is the pick. And a cat manga, too? There really is no other choice. Lil’ Leo it is!

MELINDA: Moto Hagio and cats is an obvious and irresistible choice. My pick can only be Lil’ Leo!

MICHELLE: I don’t know much about Kageki Shojo!!, hence my surprise and delight upon discovering there’s a lot more of it to come. I don’t see how I could possibly resist picking Takarazuka-adjacent josei this week!

SEAN: The first episode of the anime reminded me why I love this series so much, so yes, absolutely Kageki Shojo!! for me as well.

KATE: Add me to the Kageki Shojo!! fan club; who doesn’t love a good backstage drama?

ANNA: I’m all in for Kageki Shojo!! too!

ASH: Kageki Shojo!! is likewise my pick! I greatly enjoyed the first omnibus and am definitely looking forward to reading more of the series; I’ll take all the Takarazuka-adjacent manga that I can get!

MELINDA: Count me in for Kageki Shojo!! as well!

ASH: One interesting trend of late has been the release of manga inspired by the Ring franchise. Granted, there have been new film installments produced relatively recently, so maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising that there have been manga additions, too. Either way, Sadako-san and Sadako-chan is the volume I’m most curious about this week!

MICHELLE: There isn’t one particular volume that I’m most looking forward to, but there are several Kodansha digital offerings that appeal to me, so I’ll just sort of pick them all generally.

ANNA: My pick is Those Snow White Note. One day I will read it!

SEAN: I’ll throw my pick this week to a long running title that always makes me laugh, the 15th volume of D-Frag!.

KATE: Behind the scenes, Sean was speculating that the delay of Blood on the Tracks would give me an excuse to make Shuzo Oshimi’s latest series my pick of the week, and… well, he’s right. It’s a gripping, creepy psychological thriller, and about the only thing on this week’s new arrival list that I’m truly jazzed about. So yeah, that’s my choice. Sorry/not sorry for being so predictable!

MELINDA: There isn’t a lot I’m excited about this week, but though Sean suggested the new Sword Art Online short stories to me, I think I have to go with Sadako-san and Sadako-chan as my pick. I mean. Just look at it. Sounds like it might be hilarious and fun.

SEAN: Barring an unforeseen crossover between Fist of the North Star and Ooku, I suspect Manga Bookshelf is going to be leaning one way or the other this week. I’m going to go with FotNS, even though I’m not sure I can stay with it for too long, simply because of the sheer influence it had on so many later series.

MICHELLE: I’m in the same boat. That cover art for the first volume basically says, “Michelle, I am not for you,” but I’m just so grateful that VIZ is releasing this that I have to at least check it out. A little trepidatious about those exploding limbs, though. Not gonna lie.

ANNA: “….you’re already dead!!!”

KATE: My inner historian is thrilled to see Fist of the North Star back in print, but my inner reader is more excited about the latest volumes of Maison Ikkoku and Even Though We’re Adults, two series I’m actively enjoying and collecting at the moment. I’ll probably pick up FotNS to satisfy my curiosity, but I won’t lie: I share Michelle’s general reservations about exploding limbs.

ASH: Out of everyone here, I may be the person for whom Fist of the North Star most fully aligns both interest-wise and reading habits-wise. It’s admittedly been a while since I’ve read the incomplete older English edition/s, but I loved those volumes; I am so incredibly excited that this series is finally getting another chance in print in English.

MELINDA: Okay, I know I usually say that Fumi Yoshinaga always wins, but I can’t deny that I’m excited by the prospect of actually reading Fist of the North Star after all this time. It’s gotta be my pick this week.

SEAN: There’s a ludicrous amount of stuff I’m getting this week. The final Beelzebub and a new Takagi-san from Yen, Viz’s new shoujo title Yakuza Lover and Yona of the Dawn, Sweat and Soap from Kodansha, The Apothecary Diaries from J-Novel Club… that said, I have to pick SOMETHING, so after listing all those I will pick the early digital edition of I’m in Love with the Villainess 3. Because OMG, the first two were so good.

MICHELLE: I’ve recently started reading the first I’m in Love with the Villainess novel, and am enjoying it! Still, despite that and the heaps of great stuff from VIZ in particular, this week I’m going with the debut of My Summer of You. I love these sort of low-key, slice-of-life BL stories.

ASH: It is a very good week for manga and light novels! Most of the titles already mentioned are high on my list to read, but I’ll go ahead and add two more: ongoing series-wise, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun is always a favorite of mine while another debut that I’m particularly curious about is The Tale of the Outcasts.

KATE: I’m hopelessly behind in my reading, but I always appreciate a series about a grown-ass woman getting her act together, so the latest installment of Wave, Listen to Me! is my top pick.

ANNA: I’m also hopelessly behind in my reading, but one series I’m not behind on is Yona of the Dawn. While I’m very much looking forward to that, I’m going to take the opportunity to highlight some spicy shoujo and make Yakuza Lover my pick.

MICHELLE: I mean, it’s gotta be Boys Run the Riot. Bonus points for a new volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday, though!

SEAN: First of all, an honorary pick of the week goes to Berserk. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but what I read of it shows that the late Kentaro Muira was a master of his craft, and you can see why his death has led to an outpouring of grief from Japanese manga artists. But yes, as Michelle said, my actual pick for this specific week is Boys Run the Riot.

KATE: Who runs the riot? Boys! (Or so I’ve heard.) Looking forward to checking this one out…

ASH: It is supposed to be great! I’m really happy that Boys Run the Riot is being released. Transmasculine characters are a rarity in manga licensed for translation, and the manga’s creator is trans, too, so I’m excited for the series. It’s my official pick but, like Sean, I’d like to honor Berserk this week, too. The series is an important touchstone for me and Kentaro Miura will be greatly missed.

ANNA: I’m also looking forward to Boys Run the Riot, and while Berserk wasn’t for me there’s no denying Miura’s achievement with the series.

SEAN: There’s several titles I’m interested in… a new “Peggy Sue Villainess” story, a new We’re New at This sex comedy story, and (of course) a new Urusei Yatsura omnibus. But yeah, the debut of Medalist certainly has “Pick of the Week” written all over it, doesn’t it?

MICHELLE: Yeah, there’s absolutely no scenario in which I don’t pick the seinen sports manga! Medalist stands atop my personal podium!

ANNA: I agree, I’m all in for Medalist!

KATE: This week is a veritable feast! I don’t think I can pick just one, since three of my current favorites are on this week’s list: Blue Period, Drifting Dragons, and The Way of the Househusband, a comedy that still hasn’t run out of gas in spite of its one-joke premise.

MELINDA: It’s absolutely Medalist for me, this week! Skating will always win!

ASH: If Medalist was being released in print this week it would surely be my pick. Alas, it is currently only available digitally. So! I will happily join Kate in highlighting The Way of the Househusband, which continues to delight me, and Drifting Dragons, which continues to be incredibly engaging (and illustrated).

MICHELLE: I’m pleased about quite a few things this week. I need to get caught up on Ace of the Diamond and Those Snow White Notes, The Springtime of My Life Began with You looks potentially cute, and I’m intrigued by Ride Your Wave. Still, it’s gotta be the debut of I Think Our Son Is Gay for me this week.

SEAN: I am assuming that I Think Our Son Is Gay will deservedly get a lot of love this week from others, so allow me to highly recommend My Alcoholic Escape from Reality, the latest of Nagata Kabi’s compelling, if painful, memoirs. Also, go watch her panel at Virtual TCAF this Wednesday night!

KATE: I Think Our Son Is Gay tops my list for this week’s must-read manga!

ANNA: I Think Our Son Is Gay has my attention too!

ASH: Perhaps unsurprisingly, I Think Our Son Is Gayis my top pick this week, too. But I’d also like to join Sean in highlighting My Alcoholic Escape from Reality. I expect both of them to be potent, albeit in entirely different ways.

MELINDA: I’m with the majority of the group here, in that my top pick for the week is I Think Our Son Is Gay. It looks sweet and adorable, and that’s what I’m in the mood for right now!

SEAN: Come on. We all know what it is. This is the last time we can pick it, so it HAS to be the 5th and final volume of The Rose of Versailles. It’s just that good.

MICHELLE: Forsooth. And we’re all so grateful the whole thing actually got released!

ANNA: Me too, it is amazing!

ASH: I agree, the pick really can’t be anything other than The Rose of Versailles. The series is absolutely one of the gems of my bookshelf. I’m so, so glad we got such a nice release.

KATE: C’mon… what did you think I would pick: Skeleton Knight in Another World?!!! I’m also on Team Oscar this week. I gotta see how it all ends!

MELINDA: I mean, obviously. It’s The Rose of Versailles.

MICHELLE: I don’t think I have ever chosen a light novel as a pick before, but I Have a Secret seems like exactly the sort of light novel I would love, by which I mean its cover is shoujo-tastic and no one has apparently been reincarnated or summoned into another world. I look forward to checking it out!

KATE: I’m always interested in Shuzo Oshimi’s work, so Shino Can’t Say Her Name vaults to the top of my list. My inner musicologist, however, is intrigued by Those Snow White Notes, so I’m going to add that to my pick and hope I can start reading it sooner rather than later. (Those digital releases really sneak up on you!)

SEAN: I was a big fan of Dorohedoro, so it’s not a big surprise that my pick is the new manga by its author, Dai Dark, I’m sure it will be far too violent for my tastes, but I will read it anyway, because some authors you read just because they’re COOL.

ASH: I’m interested in everything mentioned so far, but I’m joining Sean this week in picking Dai Dark. I’ll admit, I don’t even know what it’s about, but I loved Dorohedoro and am looking forward to reading more of Q Hayashida’s work a great deal.

ANNA: I’m going to pick I’m the Catlords’ Manservant because it sounds ridiculous and that’s what I’m in the mood for right now.

MELINDA: Okay, I’ve been out of the loop lately for multiple reasons, but apparently there’s a manga called I’m the Catlords’ Manservant and it originated in GFantasy. Based on those two things alone, I must read it. I simply must. So there you have it.

SEAN: There’s a veritable buffet of picks this week. I could go with Yona, or Natsume, or Versailles. But let’s face it, I want my Maple! This week’s pick for me is Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense.

MICHELLE: I’m also happy for more Yona and Natsume and hopeful the fourth volume of Versailles will come out, but the most intriguing title for me this week is A School Frozen in Time. Kids trapped within an “eerily empty” campus? Sign me up!

ANNA: I’m team Rose of Versailles all the way!

ASH: Likewise! If Rose of Versailles is a choice, it will almost invariably be my pick. That being said, I’m looking forward to reading all of the titles that have been mentioned so far.

KATE: C’mon, you know what I’m going to pick… Rose of Versailles! I gotta stay on brand here; you’d be suspicious if I shilled for Fire Force or Please Put Them On, Takamine-san!

MELINDA: It’s gotta be Rose of Versailles!

KATE: I only have eyes for one series this week: BL Metamorphosis, a series that’s rueful, funny, and heart-warming without ever being sappy. One of the things I love most about BL Metamorphosis is that Kaori Tsurutani treats the main characters’ interest in BL with respect; there are no cheap jokes at either heroine’s expense, just a thoughtful and loving exploration of what it means to be a dedicated manga reader at any age.

SEAN: BL Metamorphosis is definitely on my list, and I agree with everything Kate said. My pick this week is Those Snow-White Notes, a series getting an anime soon, which is probably the only reason it got a digital release here at all, as it’s about the shamisen – no, not Kyon’s cat from Haruhi Suzumiya, but the traditional Japanese stringed instrument. This is, honestly, what “digital-only” releases were meant for.

ASH: As far as continuing series goes, BL Metamorphosis is at the top of my list this week – it’s a truly wonderful series. If Those Snow-White Notes is ever released in print, it will absolutely be my pick. (That being said, I might make an exception and read it even though I usually avoid digital releases.) While it’s not manga, my official pick this week actually goes to the novel Yokohama Station SF as I’ve been on a speculative fiction prose kick lately.

ANNA: I find the idea of shoujo horror intriguing and we haven’t had a ton of that genre translated, so I’m going to pick Love and Heart (Koi to Shinzou).

SEAN: My pick this week is Beauty and the Feast, a title about a young widow who still hasn’t recovered from the loss of her husband, the teenage boy living alone next door who plays baseball, and the food that brings them together – she cooks it, he eats it. I do worry that this book – sold as a romcom, and with a mature rating – will go in a direction I’d rather it didn’t. But if it sticks with food and how to heal after a tragedy, I’ll be quite happy.

MICHELLE: I share your trepidation, but the cover for the first volume looks wholesome enough for me to also give Beauty and the Feast my pick this week.

KATE: I second Sean’s pick of the week; non-competitive food manga is my jam! (No pun intended.)

ANNA: I’m not going to be the one to break this streak!

ASH: I won’t be the one, either. Whether competitive or non-competitive, fantastical or realistic, I’m always here for another helping of food manga! Beauty and the Feast is my pick this week, too.

MELINDA: I hoped I might be the one to break the unanimity this week, but no. Beauty and the Feast is my pick, too! I’m a little worried about where it might lead, but I live in hope.