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Manga the Week of 4/29/26

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SEAN: Buckle up, kids, the end of the month is stacked.

ASH: Are we there yet?

SEAN: Airship has four print volumes. We get Loner Life in Another World 14, Too Many Losing Heroines! 7, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash 12, and Witch and Mercenary 6 Part 1.

And for early digital we get Magical Buffs: The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! 2 and Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! 15.

No debuts for Cross Infinite World, but they do have Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra 8, Fluffy Paradise 8, and How I Became King by Eating Monsters 5.

Dark Horse Manga has the 2nd and final omnibus volume of Gunsmith Cats: Burst.

ASH: I feel like this is a series that I should be reading, for some reason.

SEAN: Ghost Ship gives us Into the Deepest, Most Unknowable Dungeon 13 and Tamamori’s Fantasies Never Stop! 4.

Hanashi Media has a debut. A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring (Isekai Yururi Kikou: Kosodateshinagara Boukensha Shimasu) has a guy accidentally killed by a god isekai’d into a deadly monster forest, where he meets adorable twins who know kung fu. As one does.

ASH: While I’m a little worn out by the sheer amount of isekai titles being released these days, I do appreciate the parenting angle.

SEAN: Also from Hanashi Media: The New Gate 3, An Observation Log of My Wife Who Calls Herself a Villainess 3, Re:Monster 3, and Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy 15.

J-Novel Club has print debuts for two of its contest winners. ATLAS: Her, the Combatant, and Him, the Hero is a futuristic dystopia that lives and dies on its main characters.

ASH: I will admit to being intrigued by the JNC Original Light Novel Contest.

SEAN: The Adorable Dungeon Master is exactly what it sounds like. She’s reincarnated and she wants cute.

They also have My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! ―AO― 10 in print.

J-Novel Club has one debut, a manga in their J-Novel Knight line. All Eyes on Nekoyashiki-kun! Notice Me, Not My Characters (Kabesaa Doujin Sakka no Nekoyashiki-kun wa Shounin Yokkyuu wo Kojirasete iru) is a BL manga from Comic Ryu. An indie artist who draws gay manga is startled to find that his childhood friend, an idol, is back in his orbit.

ASH: Lucky him!

SEAN: Digital light novels from JNC: The Bladesmith’s Enchanted Weapons 4, The Canon Fodder’s Ascension from Pawn to World Unifier 2, Earl and Fairy 12, Holmes of Kyoto 0 (a prequel short-story volume), Rebuild World 8 Part 1, and Worthless at Home, Whiz to the World 4.

Other digital manga from JNC: Fired? But I Maintain All the Software! 3, Hell Mode 10, Rebuild World 14, and The Skull Dragon’s Precious Daughter 6.

Kodama have the 15th and 16th Baki the Grappler volumes, as well as MAGICA 2 and Smile! 3.

ASH: Pretty sure I should be reading all of these, too.

SEAN: Kodansha Manga debuts Kirio Fan Club, a comedy manga from Comic Ruelle. This just got an anime. Two girls are obsessed with the boy they like in class. Let’s put it this way, the first bit is about the smell of his farts. We’re talking COM, not Romcom.

MICHELLE: Yeesh.

ASH: Huh.

SEAN: In print they have Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow 5, Blue Lock Omnibus 2, Cells at Work! Lady 2, The Great Cleric 13, I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day 8, Killing Line 2, Nina the Starry Bride 15, Pupposites Attract 4, Rent-A-Girlfriend 36, Tokyo Tarareba Girls Returns 2 2, Toppu GP 14, and You Must Be This Tall to Propose! 2.

MICHELLE: Hooray for more Tokyo Tarareba Girls in print!

ASH: Indeed! And Ashita no Joe, too!

SEAN: Digitally we get Am I Actually the Strongest? 17, And Yet, You Are So Sweet 13, Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You 12, Drops of God: Mariage 15, and I Left my A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! 6.

One Peace Books has a 16th manga volume of The New Gate.

Seven Seas time, which means we start with danmei. There’s Dinghai Fusheng Records 4, Legend of Exorcism: Tianbao Fuyao Lu 5, and The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post 2.

ASH: That it does. I’m delighted.

SEAN: There’s only one manga debut, and it is DOGGO (INNU). This Young Magazine title stars a down-on-his-luck pug who gets picked up by a cute high school girl. Little does she know… he can talk. And fight! And is hiding from the yakuza. Little does he know… she’s the daughter of a yakuza boss. This looks very silly.

Also from Seven Seas: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon 11, Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi 6, Failure Frame 12, The Fed-Up Office Lady Wants to Serve the Villainess 3, The Ideal Sponger Life 21, Mii-chan Wants to Be Kept 4 (the final volume), Monster Musume: I Heart Monster Girls 6, My Girlfriend is 8 Meters Tall 3, My Girlfriend’s Child 10 (the final volume), My Lovey-Dovey Wife is a Stone Cold Killer 8, My New Life as a Cat 13, Painter of the Night 3, Romelia War Chronicle 2, Servamp 23, There’s No Freaking Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… 8, Yakuza Reincarnation 15, Yonoi Tsukihiko’s Happy Hell 5, and Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games 9.

Steamship has a 6th volume of A Suitable Fetish.

Titan Manga debuts Grendizer U: The Inception, based off the giant robot manga. It runs in Hero’s.

Tokyopop debuts Bride of Ignat (Ignat no Hanayome). It’s in from RED, so no worries, this is BL despite the title. A survivor of an epidemic is seen as cursed, so is “volunteered” to be the sacrifice to the dragon. We know how that will go.

ASH: I must say, it does have a very pretty cover.

SEAN: Also from Tokyopop: I’ll Never Fall In Love With Amano! 3 (the final volume), If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die 11, The Prince Is in the Villainess’ Way! 6, and Wandervogel 2.

MICHELLE: I need to read Wandervogel!

SEAN: Viz Media has one spinoff debut. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Purple Smoke Distortion (Hajishirazu no Purple Haze: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken yori), a one-volume light novel about what happened to Pannacotta Fugo.

ASH: Unsurprisingly, I’m interested.

SEAN: Make that two spinoff debuts, as we also get Splatoon: Squid Kids Comedy Show. You know what this will be like. It’s for your 8-year-old.

Also from Viz: Boy’s Abyss 13.

Yen On has only one title, and it’s a debut. Our Party Nearly Wiped and Then Everything Went Downhill (Zenmetsu End wo Shi ni Monogurui de Kaihishita. Party ga Yanda) stars a man who wakes up in his favorite grimdark manga, in the body of the schmuck who dies to set the series’ tone. He somehow manages to not die, though he’s gravely wounded. Only now… why are all these women so obsessed with him?

ASH: Why, indeed.

SEAN: And here comes Yen Press. Debuts first. Merit and the Egyptian God (Merit Aikyuu God) is a shoujo title from Hana to Yume. (When I was much younger, I typed those words multiple times a month.) A girl winds up trapped in the underworld, and has to talk a grump God into bringing her home.

MICHELLE: Possibly fun!

SEAN: My Lover Is Just Too Innocent to Handle (Koibito ga Ubusugite Komaru) is a BL title which ran as a web manga. A gloomy, introverted guy is confessed to by a hot, outgoing guy. How to get to know each other? Exchange diaries!

MICHELLE: Also possibly fun!

ASH: Sounds cute, for sure.

SEAN: My Super-Cute Black Mage! (Uchi no Kuro Madoushi ga Kawaisugiru!) is (gasp!) another shoujo title from Hana to Yume. At a magic school, our heroine avoids the scary-looking black mage. Then when she accidentally gets close to him, she can hear his thoughts… and they’re kinda cute?

MICHELLE: Hm. Less sold on this, but Hana to Yume!

ASH: But cute is even in the title, this time!

SEAN: You Can’t Escape from Mizudako-chan! (Mizudako-chan kara wa Nigerarenai!) is a romantic comedy from Comic Fuz. An average high school guy finds a very strange girl transferred into his class… who is half-octopus!

MICHELLE: That sounds handy. (Smirk.)

ASH: Lol.

SEAN: Also from Yen Press: Ako and Bambi 7, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian 3, Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside 12, Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle 8 (the final volume), The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess 14, Days with My Stepsister 5, The Do-Over Damsel Conquers the Dragon Emperor 7, The Eminence in Shadow 14, From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman 5, Hell Is Dark with No Flowers 4, Hirano and Kagiura 5, Honey Lemon Soda 11, I Want to Be a Receptionist in This Magical World 8, If the Villainess and Villain Met and Fell in Love 5, Interspecies Reviewers 11, Kindergarten Wars 4, Land 2, Lycoris Recoil Official Comic Anthology: Repeat 2, Mieruko-chan 12, Oshi no Ko 13, The Princess of Convenient Plot Devices 6, The Reformation of the World as Overseen by a Realist Demon King 8, A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special 6, So I’m a Spider, So What? 15, Stomp, Kick, Love 4, The Summer Hikaru Died 7, To Sir, Without Love: I’m Divorcing You 3, and Touring After the Apocalypse 7.

MICHELLE: I’m definitely intrigued by The Summer Hikaru Died.

ASH: As you should be!

SEAN: That’s a lot! Anything jump out at you?

A Tale of the Secret Saint, Vol. 10

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By Touya and chibi. Released in Japan as “Tensei Sita Daiseijyo ha, Seijyo Dearuko Towohitakakusu” by Earth Star Novels. Released in North America by Airship. Translated by Kevin Ishizaka. Adapted by Michelle McGuinness.

I’ve talked before about the series’ biggest draw, which is that Fia is a complete airhead who runs on instinct and misapprehension of everything. The big reveal over the course of these ten books is that it’s not due to her having the memories of someone who lived 300 years ago, but that 300 years ago she was exactly the same – no common sense, head empty. But it’s important to remember the other half of this, because when you have one of those ditzy, strong women protagonists, invariably they amaze everyone around them with their goodness and niceness, and that’s been the case here as well. We meet several new saints, most of whom are either doing the saint gig because they have been forced to, or are trying to use the saint gig to get a good husband. And then they run into Fia, and they’re reminded no, wait. I forgot what I felt when I first gained powers. I forgot that healing people and making them happy is wonderful. That’s Fia’s greatest strength.

We pick up where we left off, with the Evil Queen Hyacinthe being told that Fia will be entering the next Saint Competition. Hyacinthe is against this, but Cerulean is determined to have Fia put Hyacinthe in her place. He does this without bothering to ask Fia, who keeps insisting she’s a knight, and has very good reasons why she does not want to be recognized as the next great saint. (Her backstory of her first death, mentioned in the first book and then quietly dropped, is alluded to here, mostly as to why she’s still viscerally afraid of meeting another demon.) Plus for some reason Fia still can’t really think of Hyacinthe as evil, even after we get backstory of Colette, who is of course sweet as pie and tragically ill. As for the Saint Competition itself… well, that’s where we get back to the funny part of the series.

It is a sign of how desperate everyone is in regards to Colette that they decide the answer is simply to let Fia do her Saint stuff and just tell her to be careful, which is sort of like pulling the pin off a grenade and telling it not to explode. They give Fia a veil to hide herself… except her red hair is immediately recognizable, and in any case she takes it off almost immediately. She realizes that some folks may regard her as Fia the knight, so she decides to skip instead of walk. During the saint ceremony. In front of everyone. She skips. I laughed till I cried. She explains that she’s dropping out as she doesn’t have a lot of mana, but she heals people almost instantly and never feels tired. The only time I was surprised is when she met the guy who lost both legs and didn’t magic them back, and I then realized the only reason she didn’t do that is it’s probably being saved for Book 11. She is an adorable, sweet, all-loving menace to society.

Unfortunately for Fia, I think she is going to attract attention, and that demons will show up again. That said, this is the slowest light novel series out there in terms of dribbling out its plot, so it could be Book 20 by the time that happens. In any case, this is fun.

I Saved Myself with a Potion!: Life in Another World, Vol. 1

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By Akira Iwafune and Sunaho Tobe. Released in Japan as “Potion, Waga Mi o Tasukeru” by Hero Bunko. Released in North America by Hanashi Media. Translated by Harris Hayes.

I sometimes feel guilty that I don’t read more Hanashi Media. Aside from Observation Records of My Fiancee/Wife (now with an anime!), most of their output has basically looked like things I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. They had a recent round of licenses, though, and a couple of them jumped out at me, including this one. Slow life! Cute female protagonist! Struggling to get by in a world she knows nothing about! And sure enough, all those things are here. It’s mostly a cute book. It’s content to coast along, and Kaede is something of a female Potato-kun, but it’s nice enough. That said, when I started it I read the table of contents and said “uh oh”. Sure enough, this ends up being another in a long line of “welp, guess I gotta buy a slave” books. Yes, I’m sure she and Kaede will become bestest friends. Yes, Kaede treats her wonderfully. Don’t really care. Stop with the slavery shit.

Kaede wakes up, not on her way to high school as she had been, but in an alley of a fantasy world. She has it easier than some – she can speak and read the language – but she has no money, no food, and no idea how this world works. But she finds a book in her backpack – it tells her how to make potions, and the easiest uses just grass and water. Gradually, using the potions she makes, she gets food, a room and a guild card that gives her ID. She could theoretically make stronger potions, but the ingredients are much harder to find. Then she runs into a party of dragon hunters, who tell her – try to contain your shock – her normal potions work MUCH better than others. What’s more, the way she makes them is unheard of. If she can just survive the massive dragon that landed right in front of her, maybe she’ll become someone really special!

As I said, for the most part this is earnest slow-life stuff. Kaede makes potions, buys things, makes more potions, meets adventurers, takes out a dragon with a one-shot crystal she just powered up that day… you know, the usual. By the end of the book she’s moved to the capital, has made friends with a woman so terrifyingly powerful everyone rushes to obey her (she thinks Kaede is really cute – Kaede suffers from “I’m 17 but look 12” syndrome), she’s got a great cabin in the middle of nowhere, and she’s befriended a fairy. Unfortunately, “make a ton of money selling potions then walk back alone to my remote cabin where I live alone as a young woman” carries dangers that you can probably guess. And guards are expensive and also won’t be live-in guards. Hence: welp, guess I gotta buy a slave. Kaede feels uncomfortable, but is shown that you don’t HAVE to abuse your slave, so treats the 6’5″ gorgeous wolfgirl she buys well. I’m sure they’ll be besties. Nevertheless.

I was sort of hoping to add this to my list of “cute girl does OP things”. It’s 11+ volumes in Japan, so looks popular. But I really try to avoid “welp, guess I gotta buy a slave” books these days, no matter how nice and non-harem the relationship is.

Reign of the Seven Spellblades, Vol. 14

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By Bokuto Uno and Miyuki Ruria. Released in Japan as “Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai suru” by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Andrew Cunningham.

The previous books have been packed with stuff, so many plots that it was hard to remember them all. What’s more, we were leisurely strolling through the years at school. Those days are gone now. Not only are Oliver and Company now 5th years (yes, it’s graduation for Tim Linton, though don’t worry, he’ll be around), but there is no leisurely strolling in this book – it’s war. Even worse, the war looks to continue into the next book. This means that the book is almost entirely battle scenes, with some no-names dying, some people we know getting grievously injured, and our heroes all getting the chance to show off both how cool and powerful they are and also that they are the biggest weirdos and freaks in the school. But that’s fine – it’s Kimberly, so everyone’s used to that. The trouble is that most of the powerhouse teachers were suckered away from the school, and the school itself is lacking powerhouse teachers as SOMEONE keeps killing them off.

It’s time for the war against the Gnostics, but fear not – everything has been foretold, and the teachers have gone to the most likely incursion spots. Unfortunately, the foretellers were compromised, and the Gnostics’ true plan becomes clear – attack and wipe out Kimberly. That means the students have to battle it out, led by student council president Vera Miligan, who is staying behind for an unheard of eighth year just so that she can whine about why this is happening to her. Katie and Nanao are sent to the front lines, while the other four (well, OK, other three, Pete is barely in this except for the cliffhanger setup) stay behind to battle the soldier/mages that will inevitably get through. All our old familiar friends and enemies chip in – even Teresa’s group, who find themselves in the midst of an attack from within. Can everyone show off why they’re awesome?

Of course they can, that’s the whole point of this book. Oliver, for once, is merely normally amazing, having lightning fast reflexes taught to him by a supposed traitor, and he does well enough but it’s not jaw-dropping. Same with Chela. Nanao gets the best action set piece, with what can only be described as “death from above”, and I liked the tie-back to Ashbury’s broom arts. But let’s face it, the best scene in the book, and one of the best scenes in the series, is Katie forcing an enemy general to explain why they’re fighting, and then trying to see how she could improve on it. Katie is regarded as a walking time bomb even by her friends, and we know that she’s got demi-human rights on the brain, but I have to tell you that when I saw “I just thought it’ll be my turn next“, I both shuddered and howled with laughter. Chela, Pete, your goal of a six-person harem living happily ever after is severely hampered by the other four.

As I said, cliffhanger, so we’ll have to see who lives and who dies next time. Thrilling stuff.

Pick of the Week: Mahjong Manga? Mahjong Manga!

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SEAN: Ringing out the old and ringing in the new, I’m going to cheat this week. My pick of the week is the final volume of My Dress-Up Darling, one of the most obvious licenses ever, AND Reform with No Wasted Draws: The Legend of Koizumi, one of the least obvious.

MICHELLE: There are some intriguing debuts this week, but I’ve gotta go with a new volume of Wave, Listen to Me!. I look forward to getting caught up on it!

ASH: Despite all hope, I never thought we’d see Reform with No Wasted Draws: The Legend of Koizumi released in English, let alone the emergence of an imprint specifically devoted to mahjong manga, so that’s absolutely something I will be reading this week.

ANNA: I’m with Ash this week, bring on the mahjong manga!

Agents of the Four Seasons, Vol. 6

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By Kana Akatsuki and Suoh. Released in Japan as “Shunka Shūtō Daikōsha” by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Sergio Avila.

So the first two-part arc of this series involved the past and present trauma of Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring. The second two-parter gave us even more trauma, mostly present, for the twin Agents of Summer. Now, after a one-volume “break”, we’re ready to dip into Autumn. Nadeshiko has been involved quite a bit in the last few books, both as a victim of kidnapping and as an Agent in her own right. That said, she’s still an eight-year-old girl who has been through far more than most eight-year-olds should. And, as is pointed out several times in this book, she’s much more mature than someone of her age should be when confronted with all this. She should be more like… well, like Ruri, to use an example Ruri herself would probably get mad at. In this book, though, we hear more about Nadeshiko’s life before she became an Agent… and it’s a very depressingly familiar tale. There’s no supernatural forces or twisted destiny here, just a young girl whose parents quickly realize they don’t want a child after all.

Nadeshiko is not having a great time at the moment, though it’s certainly better than it’s ever been for her. Rindo is running himself ragged trying to avoid having to answer a summons from Kyokoku, which is this world’s equivalent of the United States. There used to be a mutual aid policy between countries to help out when an Agent needed it. This is no longer the case, for many reasons, some of which might be that Kyokoku is a very dangerous country filled with religious fundamentalists whose Agents live fast and die young. (If you are looking for light, subtle political commentary, this is not the series for you.) Eventually Rindo realizes that he can’t avoid this, so Nadeshiko is going to not-America… along with a passel of guards and aides, as well as the Agent of Winter and his Guard, the Agent of Summer (Ruri version) and her guard, and Tsukihi, the National Security Agent we last saw with the Agent of Twilight. They expect treachery. They get it.

The author of this series has been talking with the author of My Happy Marriage, I expect, as they included in the Afterword a bit about how readers who would like all the trauma to stop soon are reading the wrong title. “It is a story for the scars you bore back then.” It certainly is, as Nadeshiko’s past of neglectful parents goes down like you’re choking, and her present is worse. The two on the cover are the Kyokoku Agent of Autumn, who is a year younger than her, and his Guard. They’re both unable to fight back against the Church. (Anyone reading this series who loves American unconditionally or is deeply religious may want to drop it here.) I also warn that there is the most dreaded of literary devices here, which is the overheard and misunderstood conversation. That said, when you have so little regard for yourself as Nadeshiko does, it’s hard not to misunderstand that people might care about you.

On the bright side, Ruri is fantastic in this, and I love the banter between her and Rosei. They’ve both grown so much. I hope Nadeshiko is allowed to do the same. In any case, we need to wait for Book 7, which… yeah, is not yet scheduled by Yen. Essential reading for fans of the series or those who love to read about good people overcoming suffering.

A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans, Vol. 3

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By Kurusu Natsume and Sai Izumi. Released in Japan as “Jingai Kyōshitsu no Ningen-girai Kyōshi: Hitoma-sensei, Watashi-tachi to Mirai ni Susundekuremasuku…?” by Media Factory. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by airco.

In the long interim between the second and third volumes coming out over here (there was a gap in Japan as well, plus a translator change), we had the anime version of this title, and while I’m not sure if it was a success in Japan, I do know that it went down over here like a lead balloon. I didn’t watch it, but a lot of folks made it sound like it was a romantic fantasy of a nebbish guy meeting a smorgasbord of supernatural monster girls, rather than what the novels make it clear that it actually is, which is another in the long line of “teacher arrives at school and proceeds to make the kids’ lives better whether they like it or not”. That said, there was a past trauma that made it sound like maybe he had a teacher student romance in his past? This third volume makes it clear that it was a lot more ordinary than that… while also maybe making you think the anime had a point.

It’s a new year, with two new students, who as usual appear on the cover. What’s that? No, the third girl is a human… and Hitoma’s new assistant teacher. Which is a problem as Haruna is also the high school girl who caused him to resign and become a shut-in for two years as well. The bulk of the book is in the present, but each chapter ends with a past flashback to the two of them in their previous school, and why things happened the way they did. (Spoiler that isn’t one: bullying is omnipresent, and teachers who try too hard to stop it get destroyed.) As for the new kids, Wakaba is a cool elf girl with a surprising past, and Okonogi is a gyaru-type oni girl with a depressing past. That said, we’ve had one graduation per book so far, and given that Haneda isn’t going anywhere, the end of the book becomes “what’s going to happen with Usami?”.

The Usami plotline is easily the best part of the book, to be honest, which makes sense given she’s the student we’ve known the longest who’s still there. As for the new folks, Wakaba’s origins are a terrific idea that ended up being less interesting than I expected, and she doesn’t really feature after her spotlight. Ononoki provides some nice drama, but I was a little uncomfortable with the reverse of the usual blonde vampire rule – instead of “she’s 800 years old but looks 8”, here we have a girl who looks like a 16-year-old high school girl who’s much younger. And then there’s Haruna. I clocked what was going on with her long before Hitoma did. That said, I’m not sure how I feel about her feelings for him even though she’s now a colleague. We see Hitoma rejecting Ryuzaki here as well, so I don’t know if he’d go for it regardless, but… it does make me wonder if this was meant to be a romantic fantasy after all.

I had assumed that the series would end with the third book, and it definitely wraps up the major plotlines from the start. But there’s two more to go, and I think we get a seed of that when we see Hitoma telling the director that his goal for next year is to see Haneda graduate. This is an awkward series that either doesn’t do enough or missteps, but you end up liking it a lot anyway. Much like its main character.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, Vol. 9

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By Sunsunsun and Momoco. Released in Japan as “Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san” by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Matthew Rutsohn.

There was only so long that the main mystery of this series that doesn’t involve “who will the winning girl be” got cleared up. (And honestly, “who will the winning girl be” is not much of a mystery, either – this isn’t the sort of series that’s going for a last-minute swerve.) So yes, Masachika admits to Alya what the relationship between him and Yuki really is, and then goes to visit her. That said, the series still wants to be a romcom, even in what amounts to the most serious volume to date, and so it also flashes to Alya’s POV during these scenes, which amounts to “OMG we’re holding hands no stop I’m comforting him, shut up brain” over and over again. Alya may be a romantic wreck, but thanks to the boy she not-so-secretly loves she’s found a way forward in life. In this book, Masachika also finds a way forward in life, but sadly he manages to botch that in a really bad way.

Yes, that’s Yuki on the cover, only the 2nd person to feature on a cover that isn’t Alya. She’s looking surprisingly serious as well, which fits the tone of this serious volume. After arriving at his sister’s house, and seeing how far Yuki has relapsed, Masachika decides that it’s time he stop running away from everything and has a long chat with his mother about why she started to reject him. Unsurprisingly, the answer turns out to be that they have a lot more in common than they possibly imagined. He then comes to a decision – he’s going to return to the family and become its head, which means Yuki doesn’t have to. He talks with his father about this, who is as easygoing and hands-off as always. He talks to his grandfather about this, who is grumpy but will let him try. He does NOT talk to Yuki about this. That’s where he botches things.

Of course, not all the upcoming chaos is going to be caused by Masachika. Nonoa still exists, of course. I’ve talked before about how much I appreciate her role in this, and I still do. I really liked her showing up late to “comfort” Masachika, and being genuinely a bit annoyed at Alya for getting there first. Which leads to what she does best, making Alya doubt Masachika. She frames things she found out by coincidence – which she freely admits – as if Alya ended up being the last to find out, and this plants seeds that I’m sure will extend this series into at least three to four more books. She’s also seemingly working on Ayano, and I have a sneaking suspicion that will be Nonoa’s downfall. Don’t try to outplot the woman who freely tells Masachika he makes her womb tremble.

I also did not mention Yuki’s complete meltdown when she hears what happened, or her heart-to-heart with Alya, where we realizing just how much all the incest subtext we love (OK, everyone but me loves) is an act – ALL of it. Basically, the next volume promises to be filled with a lot of repressed rage and tension…..short story volume? (checks) Oooh, differently numbered short story volume! So may be 10, may be BTS, which I assume stands for Behind The Scenes rather than a crossover with the KPop band.

The World’s Strongest Witch: I’m Starting My Free Life in a World Where Only I Can See the Online Strategy Guide, Vol. 2

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By Mochimaru Sakaki and riritto. Released in Japan as “Sekai Saikyou no Majo, Hajimemashita: Watashi dake “Kouryaku Site” wo Mireru Sekai de Jiyuu ni Ikimasu” by SQEX Novels. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Phil Charbonneau.

This series is definitely written to be incredibly silly first and think about everything else second. That said, it is at least thinking about other things. This volume makes it very clear what it would be like to be in a game world – not one with a linear through plot, like most isekais that have game elements are based around, but something where there’s a weekly “event”, which is a valuable opportunity for amateur players to earn skills killing monsters, or there’s a way to get “familiars” that involves a random gacha pull. Only it turns out that the town that the weekly event happens in is tormented by the fact that it happens over and over and there’s nothing they can do to stop it. And duplicate gacha pulls, mostly annoying for a player, can lead to existential crises. Fortunately, this is also a “no thoughts, head empty” sort of series.

Lorna is still heading to the capital, barring a few shortcuts, such as through the evil swamp to the evil church staffed by the evil minions, who are no match for her niceness and mayonnaise. She ends up at the shore, but unfortunately the ferry to the capital is a little booked, because tomorrow is … WEDNESDAY. Every Wednesday the monsters attack and destroy the town, and then they do it again the next week. Sure, sometimes strong adventurers can stop it… but it always comes back, so they get discouraged. Luckily, Lorna has her wiki page and her cheat guides. She then ends up looking for a “cute familiar” sort and accidentally summoning the Water Dragon Princess… and then the same Princess again, as she got a duplicate pull. Now there are two identical princesses… who she’s accidentally kidnapped? Uh oh…

I was worried this would get old fast, and it does still worry me a bit. So far, though, the humor is mostly dead on and very funny. (I could do without the lesbian guild leader into cute little girls, but I think I may have to sigh and just give up on telling Japan not to do that stereotype.) Lorna’s horror at finding that looking up guides in front of others may lead to unskippable ads of incest pornography games is hysterical, though. And there is a BIT of non-silly near the end, as the villain of this book (who is taken down ludicrously easily due to Lorna’s cheats) turns out to have been a bitter thousand-year-old sacrifice, and there’s a message from the man she loved apologizing for it. Again, one game’s mid-tier boss is a fantasy world’s tragic victim, and while this series is never going to lean too hard on the tragedy, it’s nice to know it’s there, if only so Lorna can make things better. Also, it turns out the Princess’ father is fine with twins, so that works out as well.

If you can’t stand the broadest of comedy, stay away. If you love the broadest of comedy, though, dig right in.

Manga the Week of 4/22/26

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SEAN: Spring continues to try to become early Summer. In April. Sigh.

ASH: Spring is going to spring.

SEAN: Viz Media debuts Bug Ego, the latest title written by ONE, the author of One-Punch Man, and it runs in Weekly Young Jump. A popular kid tries to help a loner kid get better at socializing. The loner kid… can turn back time? And break reality?

ASH: I am curious about this one, mainly due to ONE’s involvement.

ANNA: OK, might be interesting.

SEAN: Also from Viz: The Climber 5, Kingdom 6, Mission: Yozakura Family 22, Rainbows After Storms 9, Record of Ragnarök 18, Red River 3-in-1 7, Show-ha Shoten! 10, and Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead 19.

ASH: I really need to start reading The Climber.

ANNA: I think I have the first volume stashed around my house somewhere.

SEAN: Tokyopop debuts Waiting for You at the End of the Runway (Crush on Teen Edge), a BL oneshot that ran in from RED. An actor retires, and now finds himself trying to manage his former childhood friend… and former lover.

Also from Tokyopop: the 2nd manga volume of Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko! and the 3rd light novel volume of Her Royal Highness Seems to Be Angry.

Titan Manga debuts Unemployed Killers Support Group, a Taiwanese manga about a former assassin who joins… well, please see the title.

MICHELLE: Huh. I looked this up and the blurb says, ” For fans of Reservoir Dogs-style dark comedy and chaotic criminal camaraderie,” which is kind of appealing!

ASH: I’d give it a chance.

ANNA: Ooh, this sounds fun.

SEAN: Titan Manga also gives us Cosmic Censorship 3 and The Elegant Courtly Life of the Tea Witch 3.

Square Enix has the 15th and final volume of My Dress-Up Darling, Tokyo Aliens 10, and Wash It All Away 7.

ASH: I’ve definitely fallen behind, but I’ve really enjoyed what I have read of My Dress-Up Darling.

SEAN: Seven Seas has no danmei debuts, but we do get Ballad of Sword and Wine: Qiang Jin Jiu 7 and Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi 3 (the final volume).

Seven Seas does have manga debuts. Everything for Demon King Evelogia (Maou Evelogia ni Mi wo Sasage yo) is another title from BL Screamo, a magazine name I am still sniggering at. (I imagine the title as declaimed by Count Floyd.) A man dies and is reincarnated in a game, where he can be with the Demon King, his favorite character! OK, so he’s a young boy, but life isn’t perfect.

MICHELLE: “Ooh, scaaary!”

SEAN: KILLING ME / KILLING YOU (ah haaaaaaaaa) (sorry) is from Dragon Age Extra. A meteorite caused the apocalypse. Most turned into monsters, a few turned immortal. This follows two immortals trying to die.

MICHELLE: I had the literal same reaction to that title.

ASH: Haha, great minds! Also, immortals, you say?

SEAN: My Darling Devilish Daughter (Boku no Manamusume) is a seinen title from Big Comic Spirits. It’s by the creator of Himouto! Umaru-chan. A human man tries to raise his half-demon daughter, and needs to keep her happy… or else her demon mom will kill him.

ASH: It can be tough being a dad, sometimes.

SEAN: Also from Seven Seas: The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Wizard’s Blue 10 (the final volume), The Condemned Villainess Goes Back in Time and Aims to Become the Ultimate Villain 6, Glasses with a Chance of Delinquent 6, and It’s Just a Dream… Right?! 2.

Nakama Press has a 7th volume of Infini-T Force.

Mahjong Pros has the debut of a title I never thought would be released here. Reform with No Wasted Draws: The Legend of Koizumi (Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku) is a mahjong manga from Kindai Mahjong, and reimagines world diplomacy as if everyone is a mahjong player. Features a cast that will seem very… familiar to anyone who follows world politics.

MICHELLE: Interesting.

ASH: I have been wanting to read this series ever since I learned it existed. I was explicitly told it could never happen. I am absolutely delighted.

ANNA: Oh wow!

SEAN: Kodansha has redone their webpage, how delightful. It’s not in alphabetical order anymore, FANTASTIC. OK, never mind, I can do this. The print debut… sort of… is Chi’s Sweet France, a spinoff of the adorable cat manga. You’ll never guess where Chi is. This is complete in one volume, and ran in Comic Days.

ASH: I adore Chi, wherever she may be.

SEAN: Also from Kodansha Manga in print: As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World 14, Blue Lock 29, The Blue Wolves of Mibu 9, The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé 5, Drifting Dragons 17, Gachiakuta 10, Hitting Rewind with You 2, Shoot Juliet Down 2, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Trinity in Tempest 10, and Wave, Listen to Me! 11.

MICHELLE: Ooh, a new Wave, Listen to Me!.

ASH: Definitely something to look forward to!

SEAN: In digital we get A Couple of Cuckoos 28, Hozuki’s Coolheadedness 30, Sayabito: Swords of Destiny 8 (the final volume), and Yamaguchi-kun Isn’t So Bad 12.

One J-Novel Club debut, and it’s a manga. The Accursed Chef and His Pair of Furry Foodies (Noroware Ryourinin wa Meikyuu de Mofumimi Shoujo-tachi wo Sodatemasu) is based on the LN also licensed by JNC. Guy who dies saving a child gets reincarnated with cool powers – in this case, he can cook monsters. Sadly, his new life is awful. On the bright side, he seems to like beast people like most other isekai’d folks do.

ASH: I may have mentioned it before, but I really didn’t expect cooking monsters to become its own sub-genre.

ANNA: The world can be surprising!

SEAN: Digital light novels from JNC next week: The Banished Former Hero Lives As He Pleases 7, Chivalry of a Failed Knight 9, Dimension Wave 7, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash 22, Imperial Reincarnation 5, Lady Bumpkin and Her Lord Villain 7, and Reborn to Master the Blade 13.

And for manga we have My Fiancé Cheated, But a New Love Rings! 4 and A Wild Last Boss Appeared! 10.

No debuts for Ize Press, but we do get Finding Camellia 7, I Tamed My Ex-husband’s Mad Dog 6, Lover Boy 5 (the final volume?), Men of the Harem 6, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 10, The Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine 7, Tomb Raider King 14, and The World After the Fall 13.

HarperAlley gives us Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love! 3.

ASH: I had somehow already forgotten about HarperAlley!

SEAN: Dark Horse Manga has a 3rd volume of Cat + Crazy.

No print volumes for Airship, but we do see early digital of Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord 7 and Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentōshō 13.

And ABLAZE has the 2nd and final volume of HAPPYLAND.

Assuming you have not lost everything in a mahjong game, what manga are you buying?