manga the week of

SEAN: Given the beginning and end of September have far more manga than is really sensible, it makes sense that there are also weeks where very little comes out. This is one of those weeks.

Guidebooks are quite popular in Japan, but have never sold well in North America for some reason. Kodansha hopes that changes with the publication of Attack on Titan Guidebook: INSIDE & OUTSIDE. I think this omnibuses two separate guides from Japan, and will tell you far more than you could imagine about the world of the Titans.

ASH: I’m rather curious to read this one, especially since Kodansha has been so adamant about only publishing manga until now.

SEAN: Actually, back in the Del Rey days they released guidebooks for Tsubasa.

Kodansha also has the 5th volume of Genshiken 2nd Season, which continues to fascinate with its attempts to grab a new BL audience while still courting its old one via the harem antics.

MJ: So, I never picked this up, because I’d never read the original Genshiken and so on… but I do sort of want to let them attempt to grab me as a BL audience. That’s always fun. So. Hm.

ASH: Well, I can say that I’ve been enjoying the second season!

SEAN: Speaking of Attack on Titan, for those who enjoyed Kodansha’s release of Before the Fall, the prequel series, the novel it was based on comes out via Vertical, who have said it’s selling even better than hotcakes – and you know how well hotcakes sell.

MJ: Mmmmm, hotcakes.

ASH: Mmmmm, light novels. If I recall correctly, Vertical has already had to order a second printing of Before the Fall, and it hasn’t even been released yet!

SEAN: The final volume of Bokurano: Ours from Viz has been anticipated for so long that I made the joke about it back a month ago when Ikigami ended. So go look at that entry instead.

MICHELLE: I should muster my fortitude and finish Bokurano. I think I will have to do it on a sunny day amidst frolicking unicorns or something, just to keep my spirits up.

SEAN: Viz also has the second volume of Terra Formars.

So, ignoring that deliberate silence, what will you be picking up next week?

SEAN: School is back in session, and we have some manga to help keep you occupied and away from your homework.

First off, apologies to Viz for leaving off one of their titles last week – Dawn of the Arcana 13, the final volume, should have been there. I know it’s quite popular with the MB writers, or at least is always on the ‘I should catch up with that’ list.

MICHELLE: Indeed, it is quite good!

ANNA: This is one series I read as it was coming out, and I enjoyed it a bunch.

SEAN: Dark Horse is putting out another CLAMP omnibus, this one containing Legal Drug, which deals with two young men at a drugstore who get involved in the supernatural. This should have all the initial manga – Dark Horse has also licensed the sequel, starting in 2015.

ASH: I think I still have my old Tokyopop volumes of Legal Drug kicking around somewhere, but I’m definitely interested in the sequel series.

MICHELLE: Me too, on both counts! The sequel, Drug & Drop, is also seinen, which is an intriguing demographic change.

ANNA: I’m really interested in the sequel series. Now if only X/1999 had an actual ending….

MJ: I am pretty excited about this. It’s got a new translation, so that’s something alluring for those of us who still have our old Tokyopop editions, but yeah… the real draw is the series’ continuation, which I’ve been longing to see for myself.

SEAN: DMP brings you Wolf Magic, which I don’t think has much to do with wolves, but…

ASH: …but there is a florist!

SEAN: Kodansha has the 19th volume of Battle Angel Alita. Has it escaped the tournament yet?

ASH: I’m really not sure that it has.

SEAN: There’s also the 4th Seven Deadly Sins manga, which is starting to really flesh out its cast of Sins, though I wish it would give Elizabeth a bit more to do.

The final Sherlock Bones manga is out, meaning there are no Holmes pastiches coming out in the manga world at all. This must be remedied soon.

ASH: Sherlock Bones was a surprisingly entertaining series.

SEAN: From SubLime comes another volume of His Favorite, which I still haven’t read but whose covers make it look like it’s a ton of fun. More BL comedy mangas are needed.

MJ: I kind of fell away from this series, but the covers do always make me want to jump back in!

SEAN: The penultimate volume of From the New World ships from Vertical. Surely it’s an old world by now. It’s been 6 volumes.

07-GHOST has a dozen volumes now, meaning my chances of catching up now are slimmer than ever. Anna has kept up though, right?

MICHELLE: I keep saying “one day,” but I really mean it.

ANNA: You know what? I just bought Volume 5, which was the one gap in my stack of 07-Ghost Volumes. I am saying it now, SEPTEMBER WILL BE THE MONTH I CATCH UP ON THIS SERIES!!!!!! Look for frequent and often 07-Ghost updates from me!!!!! 07-GHOST ALL THE TIME!

MICHELLE: READ ALL THE 07-GHOSTS!

SEAN: And Arata the Legend is up to Vol. 19! Sorry, Fushigi what?

MICHELLE: Arata is pretty fun, but won’t take the place of either Fushigi in my heart.

ANNA: I do love me some Fushigi.

SEAN: Lastly, I will have a LOT to say about it in my inevitable review, but suffice it to say if you get ANY two volumes of Hayate the Combat Butler, get Vol. 24, out next week, and the one before it. The series’ high point.

What manga are you tuning your hickory sticks to?

SEAN: Remember when I whined about so many titles coming out in August? Yeah, September is just as bad if not worse. Didn’t the manga boom end? Here’s what’s out the first week:

Dark Horse gives us the 2nd volume of the New, Modern-day Lone Wolf… no, wait, it’s the New Lone Wolf & Cub, but it’s still an old samurai manga. The lone wolf himself is new, though.

Gen Manga has the first volume of a series called Kamen, a word with much history in Japanese manga.

ASH: This is actually a new edition of a volume that was originally released in 2012 in preparation for the release of the rest of the series.

SEAN: If I say ‘ordinary middle school girl meets a god’ are you excited? No? Well, Noragami has that premise, but it’s apparently quite a coveted title, from the artists who brought you Alive, if you recall that old abandoned Del Rey series. Kodansha has Vol. 1 next week.

ASH: I got my hands on an early copy of Noragami and rather enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the series.

ANNA: Hmm, I am a little curious about this.

MJ: Same.

MICHELLE: I recall hearing good things about Alive while it was ongoing, so consider me intrigued.

SEAN: The 2nd volume of Knight’s Knowledge, an Ace entry in the Country of Hearts series, is out. I thought vol. 1 was pretty good in showing that everyone just doesn’t gave in to the love interest of the arc. Hopefully it continues to interest.

ANNA: I need to pick up the first volume! Ace is my favorite. I also have no sense of direction and murderous urges.

SEAN: A Centaur’s Life has its fourth volume, and I think introduces us to a new cast member. My suspicion is this volume may deal with racism in a fantasy sort of way.

ASH: That it may.

SEAN: Mayo Chiki has its seventh and final volume, and further deponent sayeth not.

There’s also another volume of the 2nd part of the Zero’s Familiar series, Chevalier.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? has another volume of food and Shiro driving me crazy.

ANNA: I’m so happy this is being released in English! I am happy with every volume that comes out!

ASH: It makes me happy, too!

MJ: Hurray! Just when I thought this abundant week might not really have much for me… this is enough!

MICHELLE: Commence happy dance!

SEAN: Viz has a pile of releases, and a goodly number of them are omnibuses. Bleach, Naruto, and Dragon Ball all have 3-in-1 omnibuses for you to play catch up with.

Library Wars: Love & War had a fantastic action-packed 11th volume. Can this 12th volume keep things going? And will there be actual romantic progress?

ASH: I’m pretty sure I enjoy this series more than I should, but I can’t help it!

ANNA: I have read this volume and it features librarians kissing!!!!!

ASH: Oh, most excellent!

MICHELLE: Library Wars really has grown on me. I’m looking forward to this!

SEAN: Midnight Secretary comes to an end with the 7th volume. If you enjoyed it, no worries; Spell of Desire by the same author is out from Viz now. No vampires (yet), but it does have witches!

ANNA: This was a good conclusion to the series, and the bonus story included in this volume titled “Midnight Butler,” with a gender swapped couple consisting of a female vampire and human man is quite amusing.

MICHELLE: Spell of Desire also has kitties!

SEAN: Nisekoi has introduced a new antagonist to its harem, so I’m sure this 5th volume will be devoted to softening her antagonism a bit.

One Piece reaches its 72nd volume. 72! Will Luffy continue to advance in the tournament, or get distracted by shiny objects?

Phantom Thief Jeanne had quite a cliffhanger at the end of its third volume, and I suspect that a good chunk of the 4th will involve picking up the pieces.

ANNA: I don’t always greet reissues with glee, but this series more than deserves to be in print.

MJ: Clearly, I need to give this some attention.

MICHELLE: MJ, if there were ever an Arina Tanemura series you would love, I think this is the one. But seriously also read One Piece! :)

SEAN: A word of warning to those of weak constitutions: the 4th Ranma 1/2 omnibus introduces us to Happosai. Yes, I’m sad as well, but sometimes life just hands you lemons that you can’t even make lemonade from.

Seraph of the End has its second volume, and it’s probably not a good sign that I’m having trouble remembering what happened in the first already.

ANNA: I thought the first volume was intriguing and am looking forward to the second volume.

SEAN: Skip Beat! has reached Vol. 33, and it’s starting to creep up on the ‘longest running shojo manga in North America’ title.

ANNA: Skip Beat! is another favorite of mine. I’m also currently obsessed with the live action drama series based on the title.

MICHELLE: *happy sigh* Does Boys Over Flowers hold the title currently? That had 37 volumes, if you count Jewelry Box. Also, HOW DID I NOT KNOW THERE WAS A LIVE ACTION DRAMA SERIES?!

SEAN: For fans of Blue Exorcist, Viz has a short story collection from its author called Time Killers, collecting various one-shots done before she became a household word.

ASH: I’m looking forward to checking this one out.

ANNA: Me too!

MJ: I’m interested, I’m interested.

SEAN: Lastly, and I still don’t have anything to say about it, there’s the 6th volume of Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds.

What kind of September are you trying to remember?

SEAN: The final week of this brutal August, at least before we arrive at a brutal September with just as many books. Yen for once is being fairly quiet, but that’s all right, Kodansha’s here to pitch in.

Dark Horse brings us the 6th Blood Blockade Battlefront, blocked out by the brigand who brought us Brigun!… OK, Trigun. That sort of fell apart at the end there.

MICHELLE: *snerk*

SEAN: There is also the Hatsune Miku Unofficial Hatsune Mix, a manga compilation about the Vocaloid personality.

Kodansha gives us the 13th Attack on Titan volume, which delves further into Historia’s background, and brings the action back to the Town – for better and worse.

Cage of Eden 15 will no doubt continue its descent into the pyramid of EVIL.

No. 8 is up to Vol. 6… um, I mean No. 6 is up to Vol. 8… guh. Ash, take over.

ASH: Indeed! No. 6 has reached its eighth, and penultimate volume. Also, as a bonus, Kodansha has included a 16-page color illustration gallery in this volume as a thanks to readers for supporting the series.

SEAN: Sankarea is also up to Vol. 8, and continues to try to answer the question “will this romantic harem comedy end with everyone brutally slaughtered?” Actually, that could apply to Cage of Eden as well.

No murders in Say “I Love You” yet, but plenty of teenage trauma and dealing with budding sexualities. Will things get lighter in Vol. 3?

MICHELLE: I look forward to finding out!

ANNA: Me too! this is the only manga I have my eye on this week, which should theoretically give me a chance to catch up with the many piles of unread manga I have stashed around my house.

SEAN: And The Wallflower 33, whose volume arrives a lot faster than 32, and yes, is still coming out in Japan with no signs of ending soon.

Vertical has the 3rd Cardfight!! Vanguard, in which I assume there will be fighting. With cards. And excessive punctuation.

Yen On brings us the second volume of the Sword Art Online novels. This does not pick up after the end of the first novel, but doubles back to introduce a few more regulars and tell some Aincrad short stories.

Fanservice Overload #1: the 7th volume of BTOOOM!, which still has people to blow up and cleavage to show off.

Fanservice Overload #2: The 2nd High School DxD, where a harem continues to form. Which, given this is a harem manga, is as it should be.

A brief interlude with the penultimate volume of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya manga. The novel is awaiting a new volume from its writer-blocked author, so the manga ends with Vol. 20 while we see if there will be any more. This, however, is merely Vol. 19, so expect a lot of Sasaki.

Fanservice Overload #3: Triage X Volume 7, which… what the hell is even HAPPENING on that cover?

MICHELLE: Yeah, these fanservice titles are so not for me.

SEAN: Will you be getting fanservice next week? (And honestly, Cage of Eden should be in there as well.) If not, what will you be checking out?

SEAN: There’s a little something for everyone in the third week of August, so let’s see what demographics we can scrounge up.

First off, it’s not out in bookstores yet, but Fantagraphics has shipped its 7th volume of Wandering Son to its Kickstarter backers. It’s still a must-read for anyone who likes good manga about real characters, as well as being a top-notch coming of age story.

ASH: I love this series so much. I can’t wait to read my copy.

ANNA: I need to get caught up on this! I really liked the first couple volumes.

MJ: I love this series with the fire of a thousand suns. I honestly can’t wait.

SEAN: Kodansha brings us the second volume of Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, the adaptation of the light novel about times way back when there was still quite a bit of defense separating humanity from its Titan opponents. Not that humanity really comes off well here, at least in Vol. 1.

ASH: Before the Fall has its own brand of Attack on Titan darkness. I’m looking forward to reading the original novel later this year, too.

SEAN: Kodansha is also debuting The Heroic Legend of Arslan, a manga adaptation by Hiromu Arakawa of the novel series by Yoshiki Tanaka. From what I understand, it’s not so much high fantasy as low to medium fantasy, but it’s being drawn by Arakawa, so I’m totally on board.

MICHELLE: Me, too!

ASH: As am I!

ANNA: This sounds intriguing! More Arakawa can only be a good thing!

MJ: Count me in!

SEAN: There’s also the first omnibus release of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. I’ve made my opinion of the last half of this series quite clear in the past, so I will simply note that the FIRST half of this series is quite good indeed, and that fans who don’t mind manga that end in car crashes should absolutely check it out, if only for Kurogane and Fai.

MJ: I’m happy to see this getting a re-release!

SEAN: Seven Seas has a trio of releases geared towards the fanboy end of the spectrum. The one I’m interested in is the eighth volume of Haganai. If you were to ask me if there was a reason to get it, I would have to say: nun. (whack) Ow.

There’s also the 4th volume of monster hit Monster Musume, showing why I do not run manga companies.

ASH: Seven Seas recently announced the licensing of another manga by the creator of Monster Musume, so the series has apparently been doing quite well.

SEAN: And Strike Witches debuts a new miniseries with Vol. 1 of the 1937 Fuso Sea Incident. This incident appears, as far as I can tell, to be fictional, and should have more combat sequences than we’ve seen in prior volumes.

Vertical has the 11th volume of Chi’s Sweet Home, star of manga, anime, and TV commercials. I hope Chi isn’t letting it go to her head.

MICHELLE: Yay, Chi! I have my coworker’s young daughter addicted to this one.

ASH: A new volume of Chi is always a good reason to celebrate.

MJ: You really can’t have too much Chi.

SEAN: Ikki may have stopped publication, but SigIkki lives on (I think – it may get rebranded) with the 13th volume of Dorohedoro. Dorohedoro easily wins the longest running Ikki series published over here, and I am infinitely grateful to Viz for its release.

ASH: I would like to join you in expressing my gratitude. Dorohedoro is such a marvelously weird manga and I love it.

SEAN: There’s also the 3rd volume of Gangsta, which still makes me think of Black Lagoon too much but is starting to carve out its own niche in the ‘cool people attack each other by leaping into the air’ genre.

ASH: I’ve really been enjoying this series and am looking forward to the next installment.

ANNA: I enjoy this series very much too. Artsy seinen fighting and angst is fun.

SEAN: Lastly, the Kaze Hikaru of seinen, it’s Vol. 10 of Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit! This is the final volume, so we won’t be seeing its once a year likes again. With this and Bokurano: Ours ending next month, the genre of ‘incredibly depressing manga about optimism in humanity’ needs a new standard bearer. Who’ll take it up?

MICHELLE: I’ve been wondering when Ikigami would end, and whether, with that obligation finishing up, VIZ might give that yearly slot to another volume of Kaze Hikaru. That would rock so much. I do intend to finish Bokurano: Ours sometime, but I have to muster the mental fortitude.

SEAN: Does something here appeal to you? If not, why not?

SEAN: If there was a quiet week in August, next week would be it, with a mere nine titles.

Dark Horse has the 2nd of its Samurai Executioner omnibii, for those who can’t get enough of samurai, manliness, and manly samurai.

ASH: Surprisingly enough, I haven’t actually read any of Samurai Executioner. This would probably be a good time to change that.

SEAN: Kodansha gives us a double shot of Hiro Mashima, with the 41st volume of Fairy Tail (which starts a new arc) and the 2nd volume of Monster Soul (which wraps up).

SubLime has an entry, as the 5th volume of Crimson Spell is out. Listen to them. Crimson. Pff. It’s f**king Red. (Sorry, got caught up in the meme there.)

ASH: Speaking of getting caught up, I believe the fifth volume means we’ve caught up with Japan, too.

SEAN: Vertical has the 5th volume of Wolfsmund, whose cover may not be red but whose contents I expect will at least have a bit of blood.

ASH: I suspect that you’re right.

SEAN: Viz has recently said that Deadman Wonderland is its breakout hit of the last year, so it will please people no end that Vol. 4 is out. Also, clearly this means we need more license rescues. (Kidding, kidding…)

MICHELLE: I never kid about license rescues! Of course, whatever momentum the TOKYOPOP series that I most love(d) had is probably long-dissipated by now, but I can continue to hope that one day, I’ll get to read Silver Diamond in English in its entirety.

ANNA: I am pausing a moment to contemplate the lack of an ending in English for Shinobi Life, Demon Sacred, and Sky Blue Shore.

SEAN: We also have the 12th volume of Itsuwaribito, which I still haven’t really read. Anyone?

The 12th volume of Loveless will no doubt generate a bit more excitement from my other Manga Bookshelf colleagues.

ASH: I’m looking forward to it!

MICHELLE: I am positively asquee!

MJ: Okay, yeah, I’m in the middle of production week, but I have to take at least a moment here to say: LOVELESS!!! <3 Oh, happy day.

SEAN: Lastly, we get a 7th volume of the Arabian Nights series Magi, which I enjoy quite a bit.

MICHELLE: I vow that I will finally get caught back up with Magi!

SEAN: Getting something here? Or catching up with the week before?

SEAN: There is so much manga out in August it beggars belief. Over 50 different titles in the month. And the first week is the biggest. So buckle up.

ANNA: I can see myself undergoing some major psychological trauma trying to choose between titles for Pick of the Week.

SEAN: Dark Horse has nearly wrapped up Oh My Goddess, but it’s not there yet, so here’s Vol. 46.

There’s also the 4th Trigun Maximum omnibus, for those who want to be confused by the artwork over longer periods of time.

Seven Seas has the July title I discussed earlier, D-Frag! On the August end, so far so good, as we have a couple titles there as well. Alice in the Country of Joker: Nightmare Trilogy intrigues me, mostly as I wonder if we’ll see Joker, who hasn’t ventured much outside his one book.

There’s the third Dragonar Academy, which is a thing that exists.

There’s also a new series debuting, Kokoro Connect. As with D-Frag!, I’ve heard this is better than it sounds, and look forward to seeing how it stretches its basic high school comedy with the twist that is at the heart of its plot.

ASH: I’m actually rather curious about this one.

SEAN: And there’s another Witch Buster omnibus, for the manwha inclined.

Speaking of Manga-ish things, Udon Entertainment have out the first of their “Manga Classics” adaptations, in this case Pride & Prejudice and Les Miserables. The artists seem to be Chinese (I think?), but the style is certainly pure shoujo. I’ll be interested to see how compressed these adaptations are.

Vertical hits double digits with the 10th volume of Knights of Sidonia, which hopefully will not end with a third straight cliffhanger putting Izana in danger.

MICHELLE: I really will catch up with Knights of Sidonia, I swear!

ASH: Poor, poor Izana. Hang in there, you’re my favorite!

ANNA: I need to catch up too, it is a great series!

MJ: Yay! That’s all I have to say.

SEAN: Hope you like Viz! Let’s start with the first of three debuts this week, the shoujo horror title Black Rose Alice. I understand it has vampires!

MICHELLE: I’m looking forward to this one! It’s by the creator of After School Nightmare.

ASH: Me, too! I’m a little burned out on vampires, but I’m making an exception for Black Rose Alice.

ANNA: I have read this and the vampires in Black Rose Alice are very different from the vampires people may be used to. As much as I love goofy vampire romance manga, I really enjoyed the surreal and odd elements of this title.

MJ: I’m very much looking forward to this, mainly on the strength of After School Nightmare, which is a long-time favorite of mine.

SEAN: Bleach hits Vol. 61, and I don’t think has had real vampires yet, though I’m sure we’ve seen the equivalent somewhere in its Rogue’s Gallery.

It was 2012 when we saw the last D.Gray-Man that wasn’t an omnibus. Rejoice! Vol. 24 is here!

I reviewed the first volume of Food Wars! when it came out digitally, noting the fanservice was appalling but the basic plot as quite fun. The print volume releases this week.

ASH: I’ve been waiting for the print release to give this one a try.

SEAN: The 7th Happy Marriage?! continues to test the validity of that title.

ANNA: Yay, more josei!

SEAN: And the third High School Debut 3-in-1 omnibus is more pure shoujo fun in a bargain package.

MICHELLE: Read it, y’all!

ANNA: I love this series, especially the fact that the hero Yoh always looks chronically sleep deprived.

SEAN: The Excel Saga of shoujo, Kaze Hikaru, has its annual volume release! This is an awesome series that deserves more love, so I hope everyone goes out and buys it, if only so we can see it more than once a year.

MICHELLE: I concur 3,000%.

ASH: Kaze Hikaru is a great series.

ANNA: In a perfect world it would come out quarterly and dominate the manga best sellers list. It is wonderful.

SEAN: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan gets ready for its final arc as Vol. 22 arrives.

Yet another series that’s been a long while since a volume, Rosario x Vampire II gets lucky Vol. 13.

The last of our debuts this week is Spell of Desire. Midnight Secretary ends next month, so I suppose it’s a perfect time to bring in a new josei series by the same author (heavily disguised as shoujo).

MICHELLE: I liked the first volume of Spell of Desire more than I expected to. Maybe because the hunky guy is kind to kittens.

ANNA: I am delighted by this series, and the hilarious contrivance that results in the male lead having to make out with an innocent witch in order to control her magic.

SEAN: Toriko’s Vol. 23 continues to see our four young heroes pitted against deadly, world-destroying monsters. Also, there’s food.

Lastly, the 6th Voice Over: Seiyu Academy makes us wonder if we’ll ever get back to the supposed hero of the series.

Is this too much manga? Or not enough?

ASH: Never enough! (Also, never enough money…)

SEAN: A 5th week of the month is usually sparse, but we do have a few interesting things due out at the tail end of July.

Gen Manga offers you a choice of Indie Manga. Either you will think that One Is Enough, or perhaps you’d rather be with an Anomal. Choose wisely. (They do both look intriguing.)

ASH: You’re making me choose between boys’ love and yokai?! Sean, now that’s just mean.

MICHELLE: Wow, it occurs to me I haven’t read any boys’ love in ages.

MJ: Same here, and this needs to be rectified.

SEAN: If you prefer your manga a little more insane soap opera-ish, Kodansha gives you the 8th Missions of Love volume.

ASH: I’ll admit to actually enjoying Missions of Love. So much drama!

SEAN: They also have the third My Little Monster manga, where the heroine will no doubt stick to her promise to herself not to get involved with love. Aheh.

MICHELLE: This is the one thing from this week that I’ll definitely be picking up.

SEAN: And there’s also the 4th volume of Vinland Saga, which I suspect may get a lot of people excited, because Vikings make everything better.

ASH: I’m excited!! Vinland Saga is easily my favorite series being released by Kodansha at the moment.

ANNA: Vinland Saga is great. This reminds me that I need to read the copy of volume 3 that I’ve been saving for a day when I need to read about violence and Vikings.

SEAN: Seven Seas has been having a bad July in terms of ship dates. I mentioned Devils and Realist 2 earlier this month, it’s actually been moved back to next week.

ANNA: The first volume was pretty good. I’m curious to see if the main joke in the book gets a bit repetitive in the second volume.

SEAN: Lastly, Vertical has the 5th volume of sci-fi thriller From the New World.

What manga goes best with hot dogs and sauerkraut?

SEAN: There’s so much stuff coming out next week you’d think it was a first week of the month. Remember when Yen Press was just three or so titles a month?

We’ll start off with Dark Horse, who are still releasing Gantz, even as it’s up to Vol. 32 and surely running out of rubber bodysuits by now.

And look, it’s an old friend, MPD-Psycho, who have Vol. 11 out next week as well. This doesn’t quite have the cult following of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (it lacks a lot of the humor), but is still very good for horror thrills.

ASH: It’s been what… almost three years now since the last volume was released? Glad to see that Dark Horse didn’t completely drop it.

MICHELLE: I have a couple of volumes of MPD-Psycho, but I haven’t been able to muster the courage to actually read them. Still, I’m also glad it’s still coming out!

SEAN: And Battle Angel Alita has its fourth omnibus. I will assume they’re still in the tournament arc, which I think went over 10 volumes eventually, right?

Vertical gives us another Moyoco Anno title with the one-shot In Clothes Called Fat. From what I gather, it’s a sharp look at body image pressure, low self-esteem and eating disorders. I expect it will be amazing.

ASH: I’m a huge fan of Moyoco Anno’s work, so I’m really looking forward to this release.

ANNA: This is really the only thing I’m wanting to pick up this week. Thanks again to Vertical for translating more Moyoco Anno!!!!!

MJ: This is a huge draw for me as well!

SEAN: Yen’s new light novel imprint, Yen On, gives us the first volume of Accel World. Apparently this takes place in the same world as Sword Art Online, just 20 years later, but it’s not really a sequel as such. It’s also famous for having a chubby male hero.

MJ: I’m interested in this, for sure.

SEAN: Black Butler must be feeling very jealous. Time was when it was the series with all the volumes in the NYT bestseller list. Now Attack on Titan has stolen all its thunder. Still, it’s up to Vol. 17. Can’t be bad.

MICHELLE: It’s pleasant. :)

SEAN: I’m surprised the Blood Lad omnibuses have been coming out so fast, given it’s a fairly recent series in Japan. I suspect this may be the ‘we’re caught up now’ volume, though. Always a treat in any format, though.

MICHELLE: Wow, this came sooner than I thought it would! Still, it does mean that the wait for the next one will probably be quite long, indeed.

MJ: This is always a favorite for me!

SEAN: Inu x Boku SS has been surprisingly serious, and I understand this volume will not change that one iota.

Is This A Zombie? Ends with its 8th volume. I presume we can say “yes” at last and move on.

We also have the 4th No Matter How I Look At It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular! (aka WataMote). It’s hard to read, but even harder to type out the full title.

ASH: It can be rather painful to read. The series has some incredibly dark humor.

SEAN: Speaking of titles that have caught up with Japan, here’s Vol. 12 of Omamori Himari, which has every single plotline a male otaku could possibly want in one handy series.

And Vol. 21 of Pandora Hearts, which has also caught up with Japan, and has every single plotline a female otaku could possibly want in one handy series.

MICHELLE: And *cuffs*. Right, MJ? :)

MJ: YES, CUFFS. Also, everything else. And I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone I’ll be gobbling this up as soon as it hits my doorstep.

SEAN: Soul Eater begins its final arc in Vol. 21, and I am here to tell you that it will be AMAZING.

And for those who want a kinder, gentler Soul Eater, here is the 3rd Soul Eater NOT!, compiling chapters that have been available digitally for a few months now.

Lastly, Umineko: When They Cry starts its 4th arc, Alliance of the Golden Witch. While Battler will still be around, his younger sister Ange is the focus here, now all grown up and trying to figure out what happened 12 years earlier. As you can see, she’s also a source of fanservice for manga artists. Maria’s tragic upbringing also gets a lot of attention here.

Is this enough? Or do you want even more manga next week?

SEAN: Mid-month always tends to bring the oddest stuff. Anything unusual here?

First off, Seven Seas apparently delayed the release of Alice in the Country of Clover: Knight’s Knowledge 1 at the last minute, after we went to press. It’s actually out next week.

ANNA: I hope it features Ace murdering people and getting lost in the woods.

SEAN: Fairy Tail hits its mid-life crisis, as the Big 4-0 hits. Will Erza needs to buy a really big car and drive around with the wind blowing through her hair?

Seven Seas debuts a new series, with the first volume of D-Frag!. This apparently is a high school club comedy, starring one guy and a bunch of weird girls. Despite that, I’ve heard good things about it, as the emphasis is firmly on weird.

There’s also the 2nd Devils and Realist, where I suspect my ongoing enjoyment will hinge on the ridiculous denial our hero continues to exude. Do not disappoint me, manga.

ANNA: I found the ridiculous denial much more amusing than I was expecting with the first volume.

ASH: The first volume was rather amusing.

SEAN: And we have the 6th volume of fantasy/video game encyclopedia pastiche World War Blue.

Vertical gives us a 3rd volume of seinen manga What Did You Eat Yesterday?, which I’m hoping might have a bit more characterization and a bit less cooking this time, but I suspect that’s not in the cards.

MICHELLE: Phew! Finally something on this list that I will be buying for sure!

ANNA: YAY! TAKE MY MONEY, VERTICAL!!!!!!

ASH: Mine, too!

MJ: What they said, plus extra exclamation points! !!!!!!

SEAN: If you didn’t catch the suspense, tragedy, and all around terror from Urasawa’s cult classic Monster, now is the time to pick up the new Perfect Edition omnibuses.

MICHELLE: I’m glad to see this series getting a re-release. I liked it quite a bit!

ANNA: I’m looking over at my stack of unread 20th Century Boys and feeling vaguely guilty.

MICHELLE: I have a stack just like it, I’m afraid.

ASH: Personally, I like Monster just a bit more than 20th Century Boys. I’m really happy to see it back in print.

MJ: I’m thrilled about this release, since I am one of those who missed it the first time around.

SEAN: And speaking of tragedy, Viz’s new seinen debut is Terra Formars (spelling intentional), a sci-fi story of colonizing Mars which goes horribly, horribly wrong. I’m greatly looking forward to this title, even though I know it will likely gut me a lot of the time.

MICHELLE: I tend to like grim, seinen sci-fi, so I am definitely looking forward to this.

ANNA: This sounds intriguing.

ASH: Terra Formars is a series that I’ve been looking forward to, too. (Plus, I happen to have a thing for Mars…)

MJ: I’m definitely on board with this!

SEAN: What excellent yet depressing manga are you reading this week?

SEAN: It may not be hot where you are, but Connecticut? It’s hot. Too hot. Can manga save us from the doldrums of summer?

MICHELLE: I am in Florida. Such hot. Very yuck.

MJ: New England, also hot. And stormy. Which sounds sexier than it is.

ANNA: I will be in Central Illinois, which will be hot and humid!

SEAN: Digital Manga Publishing has another BL series trundle along, with Vol. 5 of multi-punctuated Hey Class President!!.

Kodansha unveils a slew of July titles. Seven Deadly Sins hits its third volume, and I have no doubt will give us a little more background on the newly-introduced Ban/Greed.

ASH: It took a few chapters to hook me, but at this point I’m looking forward to reading more of Seven Deadly Sins.

SEAN: Sherlock Bones has leapt forward in time to show our leads as adults (or adult dogs) right as the series hits its penultimate volume.

ASH: I was happy to see that the protagonists weren’t going to be stuck in high school forever.

SEAN: Fans of Akamatsu may have been keeping up with UQ Holder via Crunchyroll’s site, but for those who crave print, the 2nd volume also drops next week.

MICHELLE: I wish I had something to say about any of these, but I do not.

MJ: Same.

SEAN: And we have some more goodies from Viz. 07-GHOST has Vol. 11 come out, and I think the Manga Bookshelf team finds itself falling further and further behind?

MICHELLE: Yep. I look at the growing pile on my shelf periodically and remind myself that I need to read it.

ANNA: Me too! It is a really good series, I am looking forward to binging on back issues once I do start reading it.

SEAN: Speaking of impossible catchups, Case Closed is now at Vol. 51.

Fullmetal Alchemist is down to its last two omnibuses. If you get all nine, you’ll have the truly essential parts of this manga – which is to say, all of it.

ASH: Fullmetal Alchemist is great!

MJ: Yes, it is! And to Sean’s point, one of the things I love best about it is that, unlike a lot of long-running manga, it is a single, coherent story with a real beginning, middle, and end. Nothing is superfluous, so yes, every volume is essential.

ANNA: I need to finish this series one day! Actually, I think I’ll start by rereading from the beginning.

SEAN: The third Ranma 1/2 omnibus introduces a major antagonist (Cologne); a major antagonist/butt-monkey (Mousse); and a minor yet incredibly irritating thorn in Ranma’s side (Gosunkugi). All this plus the usual Takahashi comedy and non-romance.

And if that’s not enough Takahashi for you, the 15th volume of Rin-Ne drops the same week, forcing unfortunate comparisons between its sedate, mild couple and Ranma 1/2’s violent, boisterous one.

MICHELLE: Some Takahashi sounds awfully appealing right now, actually.

SEAN: What manga cools you down the most?

SEAN: It’s not QUITE as bad as last month’s pile, but there’s a ton of things out the first week in July. Let’s to’t.

Dark Horse continues to give us omnibuses showcasing Lone Wolf & Cub in larger trim size and far more pages. Here’s the fifth.

ASH: Excellent! I’ve been needing to do a binge read of Lone Wolf & Cub and the omnibuses make that much easier.

MJ: I’m always happy to see more of these!

SEAN: Six volumes is an awfully long time for a Blue Sheep Reverie from DMP. Maybe the sheep should come out of it soon.

MICHELLE: *snerk* I actually kind of liked this one—at least it tried to have a plot—but just sort of drifted away from it. I’m glad it continues to exist.

SEAN: And another ‘we’re not just BL!’ title from DMP, as they put out the first volume of seinen dog-focused manga Kinokoinu – Mushroom Pup, which runs in Comic Ryu (home of A Centaur’s Life), and involves a man who can’t get over the death of his pet dog.

MJ: That sounds… heartbreaking.

Seven Seas has a quartet of titles dropping. Knight’s Knowledge is a Country of Clover title from the Alice franchise. It stars Ace. I’ve found titles where Ace is supporting are much better than titles starring him, but maybe this will be different.

ANNA: It probably says something about me that Ace is my favorite because he is so murderous. I haven’t read any of his solo titles, maybe I will give this a try.

The new series from SS this month is Arpeggio of Blue Steel, which runs in Young King Ours, home of Excel Saga and Hellsing. I warn you in advance, this is another ‘sentient warfare/battleships shown as cute girls’ series. That said, I’ve heard this one is a slight cut above the usual fare, so we’ll see what it brings to the table.

Haganai is a popular series, both here and in Japan, so it makes sense that we’d see a few of the spinoff manga. Now With 50% More Fail is apparently filled with cute comedic one-shots that don’t impact the plot (such as it is).

Lastly, The Sacred Blacksmith continues to nudge its way forward towards its own main plot, here with Vol. 5.

Flowers of Evil 10 is a good 3 volumes over what I expected it to be, but hey, more creepy arty manga is always welcome, even if I dropped the series ages ago. Others here like it, right?

ASH: I do, indeed! The series seems to get better and better with each arc.

MJ: Indeed!

SEAN: The rest is Viz. They’re still giving readers of D.Gray-Man a chance to see it again, with the 4th 3-in-1 due out.

Demon Love Spell features what I believe is the 6th and final volume, and therefore I suspect will finally have a love scene that takes place in the *real* world, unless Mayu Shinjo has been corralled by the Margaret editorial department.

MICHELLE: Will Miko become more powerful than her dad and break his spell so she can get it on with her boyfriend?!

ANNA: I think this is the series where Shinjo effectively blends the sexy angst that was the trademark of her earlier series like Sensual Phrasewith the comedy stylings of Ai Ore. I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I hope Viz has another Shinjo series waiting in the wings.

MJ: I have fallen behind on this series, and am feeling very regretful!

SEAN: Midnight Secretary is almost over, this being the penultimate volume, so no doubt things will get far more serious and dangerous for our vampire and human couple.

ANNA: EEEEEEEE, Midnight Secretary!!!!!!!!

MJ: Heeeeee.

SEAN: Viz’s new shoujo series, My Love Story!!, is one I’ve been looking forward to. By the author of High School Debut, it’s about a guy who longs for a shoujo romance (and this is a shoujo title), despite looking like your typical big, burly, not bishonen at all guy. His struggle begins here.

MICHELLE: I am looking forward to this so much!

ANNA: This sounds great. Planning on picking this up!

ASH: My copy arrived early and I’ve already read it and I loved it and Takeo is the best!

MJ: I am so on board with this.

SEAN: Naruto hits Vol. 66. Be careful! That’s the Third Cousin Once Removed of the Beast!

Nisekoi drops the print volume of Vol. 4. Will it continue to juggle the girls it has, or add a new one to the mix? The eternal question of every harem title.

Phantom Thief Jeanne has Vol. 3, and I suspect things will get even more serious soon, given we’re just about halfway through this omnibus-ish rerelease.

MICHELLE: I’m enjoying this quite a lot.

ANNA: This is my favorite Tanemura series. I’m glad it is getting reissued with an updated translation.

SEAN: Speaking of omnibuses, though not ish in this case, Skip Beat! has its 8th omnibus pop up as well.

MICHELLE: Yay, Skip Beat! Now if only the next standalone volume would hurry up and come out!

ANNA: Skip Beat! is the best.

SEAN: Sweet Rein comes to an end with its third volume, ending inappropriately enough in mid-summer. Expect more Santa and reindeer antics.

ANNA: This was sweet and cute, if not very deep.

MJ: I can’t say that I’m sad to see it go. Does that make me a grinch?

SEAN: Lastly, there is a Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal 5, which I can’t even make jokes about. Here it is, Yu-Gi-Oh fans.

What’s tickling your fancy?

SEAN: The final week of June, and the end of Manga’s Fiscal Year 13-14. There are a few interesting titles coming out.

It’s right about time for a new Vampire Hunter D novel, so Dark Horse has Vol. 21 all ready for us.

ASH: You know, I’ve read the manga adaptations, but have yet to actually read any of the novels. I should probably get around to that one of these days.

SEAN: There’s also a 31st volume of Air Gear. That is a lot of roller blading.

The volume Attack on Titan fans have been waiting for, here is the first volume of No Regrets, giving us some (not all) the backstory on Levi, along with a good look at Erwin too. It’s a shipper’s dream, even though they barely interact here. I reviewed Vol. 1; it’s a good ‘un.

ASH: I actually just posted my own review of the volume. I’m liking the series, too.

SEAN: The last Sankarea ended with our heroine being spirited away by the morally ambiguous teenage scientist. Will she end up dissected, and thus have this volume be the last? (checks) This volume is not the last, so I guess not.

Vertical has the 2nd volume of Cardfight!! Vanguard, which I have not really looked at whatsoever, so… cards? Fighting? Shonen excitement?

And we have June’s slate of Yen Press. There’s the 5th Are You Alice?, indicting that Alice has still not quite discovered the answer to this himself. Yes, him. It’s that sort of title.

MJ: Heh, I need to get back into this title, I think.

SEAN: I was a bit less enthused with the 2nd volume of Bloody Cross, but there’s still enough potential that I look forward to the third. It’s at its best when the two leads snark at each other.

A new volume of Judge, the 4th, means we are 2/3 of the way through this series, and therefore, what, 2/3 of the cast must be dead by now?

Madoka Magica has the 2nd volume of its Different Story, focusing on Mami and Kyouko.

I was fairly gushing about my praise of the first Sword Art Online manga/novel, to the point where I got several people telling me that it went way downhill with its second arc. Naturally, this makes me want to read the 2nd arc and find all the great things about it, because I am a contrary sort. Here’s Vol. 1 of Fairy Dance (no more omnibuses), where we find out what life is like after Aincrad.

MJ: I thought the anime had some issues in the second arc as well, but I still want to read the novel. Count me in!

SEAN: This Fairy Dance is the manga, actually. The novel ships in December, after the 2nd Aincrad novel in August.

Lastly, remember Tales of the Waning Moon? It’s been almost 2 years since the last volume, possibly as it runs in Houbunsha’s Cita Cita magazine, which only comes out quarterly. But rejoice! Here is Vol. 4!

MJ: This. I. Really, I can’t believe there is enough story left to tell for more volumes. I can’t.

SEAN: What titles make you want to spend your hard-earned cash?

SEAN: It’s no Week 1, but the 3rd week of the month gives us a chunky pile of manga, which should have something for most everyone.

The Shinji Ikari Raising Project manga from Dark Horse has now reached the same number of volumes as the regular Evangelion manga, and I don’t think it’s finished. Will this lighter take on the Evaverse surpass its predecessor? …mmmm, probably not. But it’s fun.

I swear I’ve had Alice the 101st Vol. 4 coming out from DMP before this week. But in any case, here it is again, and I suspect I will be confused all the way to Vol. 101.

MICHELLE: I forgot this series existed.

SEAN: I enjoyed Vol. 1 of Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat, which came out right before DMP’s print hiatus. Now that it’s back, I look forward to seeing what wacky comedy Vol. 2 can give us, especially since the anime has now come and gone.

Fairy Tail has hit its Jack Benny volume, and I am starting to fall behind. I believe this is one of the more serious volumes. Lotsa harsh battle scenes. (Vol. 39, for those of you who are wondering what the hell I’m talking about.)

There’s also the 7th volume of No. 6, which simply ruins the symmetry and makes me bitter. So bitter. Why must manga be numbered anyway? Manga should be free!

ASH: The beautiful symmetry may have been ruined, but this is one of the best volumes in the series yet!

SEAN: The 2nd xxxHOLIC omnibus has some really excellent stories, and a minimal amount of crossover with Tsubasa. Neither of those two will last.

ANNA: I feel sort of bad that I never finished either xxxHOLIC or Tsubasa, and then I remember how long they are and I feel OK with it all.

MICHELLE: I didn’t finish them either, actually. But I intend to one of these days!

ASH: And the omnibus releases make it easier than ever!

MJ: I feel somewhat out of place here admitting that I finished them both, and with great enthusiasm! I’m very happy to see these omnibus releases coming out.

SEAN: In case you thought Seven Seas had put out everything Dance in the Vampire Bund-related, here are some Forgotten Tales. Probably fell behind the desk or something.

Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends hits the 7th volume of wacky comedy with Kodaka and the friends he insists he doesn’t have.

I’m a big fan of Morinaga Milk, author of Girl Friends, so am looking forward to the new series from Seven Seas, Gakuen Polizi. Which is not translated as School Police, for reasons why I do not know. I don’t think this one’s yuri, but I bet it’s cute.

ASH: I’ve enjoyed the other manga by Morinaga released in English, so I’m looking forward to this series’ debut.

MJ: Same here!

SEAN: The Sky That Connects Us is the next in the Strike Witches franchise, and will give you lots of cute girls and aerial battles, but less pants than most series.

Vertical’s deluxe release of Mobile Suit Gundam hits its 6th collection, which I believe may be the halfway point? In any case, still essential.

ANNA: So deluxe! I’ve been buying these as they come out but am a couple volumes behind. I see a Gundam reading binge in my future.

MICHELLE: Much mecha.

ASH: I believe this volume will once again feature a fair amount of Char, which pleases me greatly.

SEAN: Lastly, Viz has the Battle Royale: Angels’ Border manga, which ran in Akita Shoten’s Young Champion and focuses on six girls who got short shrift in the main series.

ASH: As a fan of the original novel, I’ve been enjoying the recent Battle Royale releases from Viz, so I’m happy to see this one, too.

SEAN: Is there something here that appeals to you?

SEAN: After this week’s deluge, the six books coming out next week feel like a mild summer breeze in comparison. Makes me feel fine.

MICHELLE: Okay, Seals.

SEAN: Kodansha has the second volume of Say “I Love You”. It runs in Dessert, which is technically shoujo in the same way that Shoujo Comic is technically shoujo, but there really is an awful lot of nudity and sex in this volume, so it really edges towards josei a lot more than My Little Monster (which runs in the same magazine).

MJ: I haven’t delved into this series, but I’m interested. Though I can’t decide whether all the nudity and sex is a plus or a minus. :D

MICHELLE: I liked the first volume, and I have a feeling the second will wring all the dramatic potential out of its sex scenes. So… probably a plus. :)

ASH: I also liked the first volume and am interested in seeing where it leads.

ANNA: This series hasn’t been on my radar before, but now I find myself intrigued.

SEAN: SubLime has quieted down a bit, but they’re still giving us some top quality BL. Vol. 4 of Crimson Spell has almost the same cover situation as Vols. 1-3, and I like to imagine that the entire title is just 800 pages of one man slowly taking the shirt off of his lover and nothing else. With many stern, dangerous looks passing between them.

ASH: I need to catch up with Crimson Spell now that we’ve made it past what was previously released in English. I suspect more happens than just a loss of a shirt, though.

ANNA: I keep meaning to check this out. One day!

SEAN: There’s Vol. 18 of Arata the Legend, which is now in terms of length Watase’s most successful series, though I suspect it has a ways to go before it catches up to Fushigi Yuugi’s obsessive fanbase.

And there’s Vol. 3 of Deadman Wonderland, whose cover is trying to exude cool, but isn’t quite getting there for me.

MJ: Same here, though I’m still giving it a chance.

SEAN: Magi has Vol. 6, and has barely begun to mine The Arabian Nights for characters and plots, so we are no doubt in for a long ride. Can’t wait.

MJ: I’ve finally caught up on some of this series, so I’m looking forward to more!

MICHELLE: Whereas I am somewhat behind, but I really did like the first couple of volumes.

SEAN: Lastly, Tiger & Bunny 5 catches us up with Japan, which means the next one could be a while. That said, this fandom knows how to create its own content, so I suspect they’ll be fine.

What manga is blowing through the jasmine of your mind?

MICHELLE: *snerk*