Katherine Dacey

ASH: While I haven’t read everything by Rumiko Takahashi available in English, I have enjoyed everything that I have, so this week I’m particularly looking forward to giving the debut of Mao. The manga also has the advantage of at least partly taking place in Taishō period Japan, a setting which seems particularly well-suited for supernatural horror. (At least it worked for Nightmare Inspector!)

SEAN: Despite the fact that Rumiko Takahashi has tended to do a lot of the same sort of thing lately, I’ll pick Mao as well. Sometimes you want McDonald’s.

MICHELLE: I’m definitely going to check out Mao, but I am really looking forward to another heartwarming installment of A Man and His Cat. I think I’ve gotta make that my pick this week.

KATE: At the risk of being predictable, I’m throwing my weight behind Mao, too, and crossing my fingers that it’s a worthy successor to Mermaid Saga and InuYasha.

ANNA: I’ll pick Mao as well!

MJ: I’m a bit hit or miss with Takahashi, but Mao really does sound like it could be a hit with me. So I’ll jump on this bandwagon as well!

SEAN: There’s a few debuts that interest me, but I admit by eyes keep getting drawn back to My Hero Academia, in the middle of its most brutal arc to date. What’s this heartwarming shonen title about? High school kids suffering! Can’t wait for more.

MICHELLE: Hm, yeah this is a tough week to pick. I’m intrigued by Springtime by the Window, but I think I’ll actually pick one of the other shoujo series I’m really far behind on, like Snow White with the Red Hair.

KATE: Against my better judgment, I’ll pick Springtime by the Window, if only to see what kind of manga Tokyopop is licensing these days.

ASH: I think I’ll be spending some time catching up on my shoujo series, too! But as for my pick, I tend to favor debuts, and the one by which I am most intrigued is A Tale of the Secret Saint. So, there you have it!

MJ: I’m sorry to say nothing is really grabbing my interest this week. So, thanks to Twitter, I’m thinking of rereading NANA instead. Of all things. So if you’re looking for me, check 2009.

ANNA: I’m going to pick Yakuza Lover just for the sheer insanity of it.

KATE: Maybe it’s because my house is a mess right now, but Mr. Bride sounds kinda hot…

ANNA: I agree, the idea of someone cleaning my house sounds like an amazing fantasy. Mr. Bride for me too!

SEAN: Love Otherside Picnic and can’t wait to read the manga version, but we so rarely get josei titles from the Big Three (Kiss, You, and Feel Young) these days that I too have to pick Mr. Bride.

MICHELLE: Yep, that was my inclination as well! Honorable mention to A Sign of Affection, which I really need to start reading.

ASH: Even if everyone hadn’t already picked it, the debut of Mr. Bride is where my attention is focused. Granted, I’m glad to see a new volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday?, too!

MJ: If for Kate’s comment only, I’m picking Mr. Bride! Though I can never pass up a chance to shout out to What Did You Eat Yesterday? as well!

KATE: Oh man… I don’t even know where to start. I’m morbidly curious about Kaori Yuki’s latest series Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost, even though I know that it’s probably a fever dream of non-consensual relationships, lurid plot twists, and wackadoo costumes. I keep putting it in my Amazon cart and removing it because deep down, I know it’s probably bad. Two titles I did pre-order, though, are the latest installment of Asadora!, a twisty, suspenseful story with a plucky female lead, and the second volume of What’s Michael?, a wonderfully weird and funny collection of cat comics.

SEAN: It’s a VERY nostalgic week all around, so I will pick What’s Michael? this week, because it’s so strange, and because buying it might mean Club 9 if we wish hard enough.

ANNA: I am also not sure if I’m actually going to read Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost but I will make it my pick just as a nod to Kaori Yuki’s chaotic energy.

MICHELLE: Although I’m also planning to read Asadora! and What’s Michael? at some point, and have at least some interest in Kaori Yuki, this week I’ll buck the trend and pick the manga adaptation of The Decagon House Murders. I’m a big mystery buff and the novel’s been on my to-read list for years, so I’m really looking forward to this one.

ASH: In addition to the latest Junji Ito manga, I’m interested in everything that everyone else has mentioned so far, but what I’m most curious about this week is Megumi Hayashibara’s The Characters Taught Me Everything now that it’ll be available in print.

MJ: I’m going to admit that chaotic energy is basically my kryptonite, which means there’s no way I can resist Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost. If I can’t have anything new from my favorite agent of chaos, Yun Kouga, at least give me Kaori Yuki.

SEAN: My eyes this week are on Skip and Loafer, a Seven Seas title about a “country bumpkin” moving to the city that has me just with its cover – the combination of body and face on the lead is wonderful. I’ve heard many other good things about it as well.

KATE: I second Sean’s recommendation: Skip and Loafer looks like a delightful bit of escapism.

MICHELLE: This is definitely a case where the cover has utterly sold me. Count me down for Skip and Loafer, too!

ANNA: I’m all in for escapism, Skip and Loafer is my pick as well.

ASH: Who am I to break the consensus? Skip and Loafer was already going to be my pick this week, but seeing so many other people choose it makes me even more interested.

MJ: Okay, it’s been a heck of a week and I haven’t even had time to really look at this, but if all these people, with their impeccable taste, are enthusiastic about Skip and Loafer, I have no doubt I’ll be into it too! My pick this week is blind trust in my amazing colleagues!

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.

MJ: 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!

MJ: 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!

MJ: 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!

MJ: 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.

MJ: 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.

MJ: 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.

MJ: 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!