manga the week of

SEAN: There’s a lot of new titles here next week, so it’s a great one if you want to start off a series. Even if two of those are spinoffs of an already existing series. And one is a re-release omnibus. Details, details!

I honestly keep forgetting Drifters exists. It’s one of those manga titles Dark Horse puts out once in a blue moon. That said, I believe I’ve enjoyed both volumes that have come out to date, and it’s different enough from Hellsing while still attracting fans of its author. Let’s see if I remember what happened before when I read Vol. 3.

MICHELLE: I had completely and utterly forgotten about Drifters.

ASH: I’ve been looking forward to the next volume of Drifters. It’s a bombastic series and I’ve been getting a kick out of Hirano’s liberal reimaginings of historical figures.

MJ: I was just thinking about picking up Drifters! Good timing, I guess.

SEAN: The BL manga debut of the week is Deadlock from DMP, involving going undercover in a prison to make contact with the one man who can possibly make our hero feel all squishy inside. Or something. In any case, the cover does indeed look sultry.

MJ: Is it wrong that this sounds enticing to me? I think that must be terribly wrong.

SEAN: Kodansha has most of next week’s debuts (and indeed this month’s, as we shall see). First we have Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, a manga adaptation of the novel prequel to everyone’s favorite military vs. monsters series. Different artist, but the titans are still pretty horrible.

ASH: So far it seems to be a fairly decent entry point for readers who gave up on the original Attack on Titan manga because of the art but who are still interested in the franchise. (I’m also looking forward to reading the Before the Fall novels later this year.)

SEAN: If you’re in the mood for something lighter, there’s an omnibus of the first two volumes of Attack on Titan: Junior High, which is exactly what it sounds like, and is actually quite funny.

ASH: It’s true!

MJ: Okay, I might have to check that out.

SEAN: Lastly, our shoujo debut next week is My Little Monster, a Dessert title about a girl trying to blaze through high school with top grades so she can lead an International Life of Success, and the incredibly weird boy who gets in the way of that.

MICHELLE: Hmm… Maybe.

MJ: I’m also maybe on this.

SEAN: In non-debut Kodansha titles, we have Vol. 4 of Sherlock Bones. So far, there is no sign of a dog that looks like Lucy Liu. This saddens me.

MICHELLE: Is there an otter that looks like Benedict Cumberbatch?

MJ: Heh.

SEAN: SubLime has the 2nd Embracing Love omnibus, which has possibly the best BL synopsis I’ve seen in months: the two leads are so exhausted after a 10-day sex bout that it’s affect their work as adult film stars. With a description like that, it cannot possibly fail.

ASH: Embracing Love is actually one of my favorite BL series. I’m happy that SuBLime rescued this one.

SEAN: As for Vol. 2 of Hide and Seek, it looks as if one of the men is breaking the other one’s wrist on this volume’s cover. Sad to see true love end so badly.

ASH: I’m also a fan of Yaya Sakuragi manga, so it looks like this is a good week for me from SuBLime!

07-Ghost is a thing that still comes out. I still can’t really think of much to say. Seems filled with dark intrigue. Vol. 9 ships next week.

MICHELLE: I must shamefully report that I still haven’t progressed beyond the first volume. But I will one of these days!

MJ: I will speak up for Anna here and say, “yay!”

SEAN: There’s a 17th volume of Arata the Legend, which is timely given that Fushigi Yuugi just finished. Can it pick up the audience desperate for more Watase? (Or did it have them already?)

MICHELLE: I do like Arata, but it’s a series I tend to forget about between releases. Then when one shows up, I’m like, “Oh yeah! Arata exists!”

SEAN: Assuming there are still some people who have not yet read Fullmetal Alchemist (and I despair of a universe that allows such people to exist), the 7th 3-in-1 is out from Viz.

ASH: With the omnibuses getting close to the end of the series, they’re a great way to go for people just getting into Fullmetal Alchemist.

MJ: Yes, yes, yes. I’m always going to push this series.

SEAN: Lastly, the big reissue this week is Viz’s first omnibus of Ranma 1/2, the title that basically WAS Viz back in the 1990s. It was the title that, along with Sailor Moon, started the 2nd wave of North American fandom, and many folks – including myself – got into anime and manga due to Ranma. The artwork is apparently miles better than the third-generation xeroxes we used to have, and the translation, while still no doubt filled with Shampoo-isms and Kuno babies, will be touched up a little. Also, unflipped. Find out for yourself what the fuss was all about, newbie fans!

MICHELLE: I must confess that I have never read or seen any Ranma. Well, aside from the briefest glimpse of an anime episode. So I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out!

ASH: I already own the entire series, but the reissue does look tempting!

SEAN: You no buy manga this week? Sean kill! (cough) Sean is no Shampoo, that’s for sure. What are you getting this week?

SEAN: Sooooo much stuff. Let’s break it down. Oh, and apologies for last week, the date of Wallflower 32 got shoved back to May after I’d written the post. This is the danger of last minute date-changes. I will discuss it in May, and no doubt Michelle will have the same “it’s still going?” reaction.

MICHELLE: That is probably true.

SEAN: As for this week, let’s start with a Fantagraphics title from Inio Asano, Nijigahara Holograph. This single-volume release is dark, tragic, and creepy, and should immensely please Asano fans. Hey, if it sells well, maybe Viz will take a flyer on Oyasumi Punpun.

ASH: This is one of my most anticipated releases for 2014! I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy ever since it was announced.

ANNA: I am very excited about this! I enjoy Asano’s works very much, and Fantagraphics editions are always a treat.

MJ: This is definitely a draw for me. Everything about this sounds compelling.

SEAN: Did you enjoy Jiro Tanaguchi’s The Walking Man but wish it took place 300 years earlier? Than you’ll love the same author’s Furari, out from Ponent Mon.

MICHELLE: Ooooh! I really like Jiro Taniguchi!

ASH: It’s always nice to see more Taniguchi.

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: You cannot stop the Alice in the Country of Hearts spinoffs! They are endless! Here’s March Hare, a 2nd series focusing on Alice pairing up with Eliot.

ANNA: I can take or leave new spinoffs, but sometimes they are fun.

SEAN: Seven Seas also has the 6th volume of Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends, featuring the tight group of not-friends getting involved in further not-friendship events.

I’ve enjoyed The Sacred Blacksmith far more than I was really expecting, and hope Vol. 4 keeps me happy despite my general distrust of manga fantasy-oriented stories.

Senran Kagura ended up being pretty much exactly what I was expecting, but the 2nd volume should give us more of that as well.

Vertical’s From the New World gives us a 3rd volume as well, speaking of popular titles I try to say as little as possible about.

ASH: I haven’t read beyond the first volume yet, but I have been told the fanservice was toned down considerably in the second.

SEAN: There’s no blood on the cover of Black Bird 18, and the protagonists are smiling, so we must have reached the final volume! Black Bird sold a pile, so let’s give a round of applause to this title I never warmed to but others most certainly did.

MICHELLE: I hear Strong Bad’s voice in my head, going “It’s over!”

ANNA: I’m sure that this was a financially remunerative title for Viz, so that’s nice even though I really never connected with this series.

MJ: Oh, Black Bird… I really won’t miss you.

SEAN: Blue Exorcist is always a treat, and I’m sure Vol. 11 will live up to the anticipation and not advance any of the potential romances I read it for.

MJ: Hee!

I fell behind with D.Gray-Man’s omnibuses, so should see if I can pound through them now that the 3rd one is coming out.

I can’t even remember if this Dragon Ball 3-in-1 is the original series, Z, or the color edition. Or the VizBIG edition. But hey, it’s Dragon Ball, surely someone hasn’t read it yet. Somewhere. Perhaps in outer Mongolia.

Oh hey, look, a new volume of Fushigi Yu– (Sean is trampled by the rest of the Manga Bookshelf team rushing forward to squee.)

MICHELLE: Hmm, did I just step on something squishy?

ANNA: If trampling is the best way to express my love for this series, I will be right back as I need to put on my trampling boots!

MJ: SO MUCH LOVE. Sorry about the trampling.

SEAN: Ow. Moving on to Midnight Secretary? (cheers but no violence) Excellent. Vol. 4 is approximately halfway through this series, and I expect things will take a darker turn round about now.

ANNA: I do enjoy Midnight Secretary quite a bit!

MJ: As do I!

SEAN: Nisekoi continues to try to catch up to its digital releases with the 2nd print volume. Do you like Jump harem comedies? Sure we all do! Well, a good 40% of us, perhaps…

MICHELLE: Now I’m hearing the voice of Sally Struthers!

SEAN: One Piece hits another milestone with its 70th volume. Donflamingo steps up to what seems to be the next ‘big villain’ role here, and it promises to be a lot of fun.

MICHELLE: Somehow I’ve gotten a couple volumes behind on One Piece. Clearly I need to rectify that!

SEAN: Comedy volume of the week has to go to Oresama Teacher 16, which is filled with idiots being idiotic. Each volume takes it to a new level.

ANNA: This manga never fails to make me laugh.

SEAN: License Rescue of the week absolutely goes to Phantom Thief Jeanne, the one remaining Tanemura title that was out of print after CMX went under. Kudos to Viz for picking it up!

MICHELLE: Despite owning the full CMX run (and watching VHS fansubs of the anime long ago), I have not actually read this series. Perhaps the VIZ edition will compel me.

ANNA: This is my favorite Tanemura series, because it is absolutely bonkers. And Jeanne makes failed attempts to turn rhythmic gymnastics equipment into deadly weapons, which is always good for a laugh.

MJ: I’m definitely looking forward to having a chance at this!

SEAN: We’ve hit the 2nd to last volume of Psyren, which is good, as it feels like it’s just about time to start wrapping things up. Given it’s a Jump series, I’m not sure how sudden the ending will be, but…

MICHELLE: Some day I’ve gotta catch up on this.

SEAN: What’s Rin-Ne 14 doing among all these Shueisha titles? Take your Shogakukan-ness to the 2nd week of the month where it belongs! Wait, likely it’s here so that it doesn’t get in the way of that week’s OTHER Takahashi release…

MICHELLE: I’m torn. Do I like RIN-NE enough to cheer for it?

SEAN: Skip Beat! 3-in-1 hits Vol. 7, which I think means it’s still dealing with Black Moon rather than Box R.

Strobe Edge 9 is also a penultimate volume. How much worse can things get than they already are? Well, it *is* a romantic comedy…

MICHELLE: No question about these two. *Cheer!*

ANNA: I’m impatient for Strobe Edge to wrap up, but I do enjoy it!

MJ: Seconded!

SEAN: Lastly, Tegami Bachi has also reached 16 volumes, and as ever I have next to nothing to say about it.

That’s a lot of manga. What will you get this week, and what will you put off?

SEAN: This is a very small end of the month, which is good, as it gives me time to pick out two titles I forgot to mention last week, and one digital only title that made its big debut this Tuesday.

Dark Horse has Blood Blockade Battlefront 5 and Blood-C 3 coming out this week, so they should have been on last week’s list. Honestly, I find both titles so uninspiring that I often forget they exist, which may explain why I didn’t include them. But here they are.

Fairy Tail ended its last volume in a really nasty place, and I’m pretty sure that all the reader is thinking right now is REVENGE. We’ll see if they get it. Also, would Lucy lose quite so many fights if she were a male protagonist? (A reminder that she, and not Natsu, is the protagonist.)

I’m finding that reading The Wallflower is much like reading Ranma 1/2. The moment you take it seriously or hope it is heading into a final arc, you get extremely ANGRY with it. Best just to let Vol. 32 roll off of you and be amusing.

MICHELLE: Man, is that series still going?!

ASH: It is! Though it’s been a while since I’ve read any of it.

SEAN: The big release this week is Vertical’s manga autobiography of Moyoco Anno – or rather, of her relationship with Uber-Otaku and Evangelion overlord Hideaki Anno. Insufficient Direction simply looks like a giant pile of fun, and I have very high hopes for it.

MICHELLE: Oooooh.

ASH: I’m always happy to see more Moyoco Anno manga in English, so I’m very excited for this release.

ANNA: I am also very excited!

MJ: As am I!

SEAN: Lastly, Viz is finally releasing the first collected volume of One-Punch Man digitally. The rumor is that a print release may follow, but I’m not holding my breath. But that shouldn’t matter – you should buy this, as it’s an awesome title that mocks superheroes and shonen cliches in the best way.

MICHELLE: After having read Bakuman, I can’t help but envision this concept being pitched at the Shueisa serialization meeting! It’s good to hear it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

ASH: I’ll hold my breath as long as it takes to get a physical release! (In the meantime, I’ll be reading it digitally.)

ANNA: I’m looking forward to reading this too, it sounds great.

MJ: I’ve been keeping up with Derek’s weekly recaps, so my expectations are a bit tempered, but perhaps I’ll be pleasantly surprised!

SEAN: Any manga plans this week?

SEAN: Assuming that you are able to get out of your house and are not snowed in, there’s a lot to like in this 2nd week of February.

Does anyone here remember Hey! Class President from DMP? Vol. 3 came out back in September 2010. Well, here’s Vol. 4, despite the fact that he surely should have graduated by now.

Do you like tournament arcs? Do you wish that they came out in giant omnibuses so that you could get EVEN MORE TOURNAMENT ARC per volume? Then you will love the 3rd Battle Angel Alita: Last Order omnibus from Kodansha.

ASH: Ancient Martian martial arts and space karate! What’s not to love?

SEAN: Do you like tournament arcs? Do you wish that they came out in giant omnibuses so that you could get EVEN MORE TOURNAMENT ARC per volume? Then you will love the 9th Negima omnibus from Kodansha.

MICHELLE: *snerk* Somehow, this has left me wondering when/whether The Prince of Tennis will get the omnibus treatment.

MJ: This whole conversation just made me smile. Though I mostly don’t like tournament arcs. Unless they are about Go. Apparently.

SEAN: Sankarea looks like it may be taking that big step towards full-blown horror, but will it find the time to be silly and have harem antics? Find out with Volume 5.

Blue Morning 4 is filled with tortured embraces and flowers blooming from nowhere.

MICHELLE: It’s so good!

MJ: I’m looking forward to this!

SEAN: Meanwhile, in Crimson Spell 2, our heroes would prefer to merely glare at the reader. Both of these from SubLime.

ASH: I’m still incredibly happy about this license rescue.

SEAN: Knights of Sidonia looks like it may be taking that big step towards full-blown horror, but will it find the time to be silly and have harem antics? Find out with Volume 7.

MICHELLE: Also so good.

ASH: Yes, it is!

MJ: More Sidonia, more!

SEAN: Deadman Wonderland manages to combine the survival game genre with a prison drama, as a young man who is the sole survivor of a brutal massacre is convicted of being the cause and sent to Japan’s Next Top Prison.

MICHELLE: I liked the first volume of this, back when it was a TOKYOPOP title. I’m looking forward to being able to revisit it and hopefully get more of the story.

ASH: I enjoyed what TOKYOPOP released, too, though I preferred the earlier volumes over the latter ones.

ANNA: I also enjoyed the first few volumes of this, and it makes sense that it is going to be reissued, what with the anime tie-in. I really really wish someone would license rescue old Tokyopop titles like Demon Sacred and Sky Blue Shore though.

MICHELLE: Oh, me too x 1000.

MJ: I’m grateful for this one because I missed it the first time around. Count me in on Demon Sacred, though!

SEAN: Hayate the Combat Butler 23 finally begins to get dramatic (no, seriously, it does), but will it be able to actually resolve the Athena plot? Or will we wait another 6 months with a nasty cliffhanger?

The last VIZBIG InuYasha is looking like it may be the last VIZBIG edition period, but it was a nice way to get a very long series.

MICHELLE: I have still not finished InuYasha. One of these days.

SEAN: Our heroes are separated as of the end of the 3rd Magi volume. Can we get them back together in this 4th book? Let’s hope so, I love shonen teamups.

MICHELLE: I’ve been really impressed by Magi so far. Hooray for more.

SEAN: Lastly, the 4th volume of Tiger & Bunny continues to attract a very devoted audience.

MICHELLE: That’s very diplomatic.

SEAN: What’s your poison this week?

SEAN: Hey, for a first week of the month, this isn’t too bad! It’s under 20 titles! That’s practically nothing!

Kodansha brings us the 30th volume of Air Gear, which I haven’t read in about 27 volumes, but I seem to recall this may be around the point that they introduced President Obama as a character. Sadly, I doubt this hits the highs of the unlicensable Legend of Koizumi, but it tries.

MICHELLE: Man, it seems like Air Gear has been coming out forever.

ASH: Oh, Legend of Koizumi! I would totally read that.

SEAN: Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game has been hands down my favorite of the innumerable Alice spinoffs we’ve seen over the past 3 years. Volume 4 is out from Seven Seas this week, and I can’t wait.

ANNA: I enjoyed the first two volumes of this series!

SEAN: A Centaur’s Life turned out to be a bit less creepy than I was expecting, and seems very interested in its world building. We’ll see how much in can build in Vol. 2.

ASH: So far, the world building has been great in this series.

MJ: I’m trying to figure out whether “less creepy than I was expecting” is an actionable recommendation.

SEAN: New Seven Seas debuts always fill me with a combination of delight and dread, which resolves into one or the other once the title is read, like a Schrodinger’s Box. Light novel series, fantasy, loser protagonist, tsundere lead girl… we’ve seen these elements before – indeed, more than once – from Seven Seas licenses. We’ll see how Dragonar Academy goes.

On the other hand, a new volume of Toradora! cannot possibly make me happier. This is a great story with a top notch adaptation, funny characters and knows when to use humor and heart. An absolute must read.

Bleach. It’s Volume 59. It’s running through its final arc. Which may actually take 15 years. Recommended for Bleach fans.

A Devil and Her Love Song has only hit Volume 13, and yet this is its finale. I enjoyed this series with its blunt and broken lead couple and a good deal of humor with its darkness. An excellent Shojo Beat title.

MICHELLE: I’m definitely looking forward to reading the conclusion of this series.

ANNA: Me too. This was a great, slightly edgy Shojo Beat series.

SEAN: If you enjoyed Dragon Ball, and then enjoyed it again in the huge VIZBIG editions, well then why not buy it again in full color? Dragon Ball Full Color 1 actually appears to be Dragon Ball Z, meaning I’ve no interest in it. (I like my Goku goofy). But DBZ fans should greatly enjoy seeing it again with bright colors.

Happy Marriage?! 4 would appear to be the volume that reminds us this is a Petit Comic title, and earns its M rating. Good to see the couple finally getting close.

ANNA: Yay for shrinkwrapped josei!

MJ: Agreed!

SEAN: I somehow missed High School Debut when it first appeared, so am delighted that there is a 3-in-1 release so I can appreciate it again. Its heroine is apparently dense enough to rival Special A and Voice Over. I like cute but dense in my fictional manga heroines.

MICHELLE: I love, love, love High School Debut. I’d definitely rank its heroine about the one in Voice Over!.

ANNA: This is a wonderful series. It deserves to be reissued!

MJ: I adored this series and its heroine!

SEAN: Kamisama Kiss 14 takes us back to the past, as a new crisis forces Nanami to go back and find out how Tomoe got to be the way he is.

MICHELLE: It is my goal to get caught up on this soon!

ANNA: Another series from Shojo Beat that I adore.

SEAN: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan keeps chugging right along. Here’s Vol. 19.

One Piece’s 3-in-1 finally hits the end of Alabasta with Vol. 8.

Sakura Hime comes to an end with Volume 12. Does this mean we are in some strange world with no ongoing Tanemura manga? Well, next month should take care of that problem.

MICHELLE: What, is there a new one? I do not keep up with Tanemura.

ANNA: Is that the reissue of Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne!? My favorite Tanemura series EVER!!!!!!

MICHELLE: Oh! Right! I still have my CMX volumes, so the VIZ version wasn’t really on my radar. I have very fond memories of the anime, too.

SEAN: Toriko also keeps chugging right along. Here is Vol. 20.

And Voice Over: Seiyu Academy is at Vol. 3, and I have a sneaking suspicion will continue to have its heroine want to sound cute and adorable.

Anything here tickle your fancy?

SEAN: Next week is the last week of the month, and as ever this means few titles arrive (unless you get stuff from Diamond – all this week’s missing stuff is arriving next week). But not without worthy things to discuss.

Dark Horse really hit on a winner when they licensed Gantz from Shueisha (leaving aside the amazing fact that they licensed something from Shueisha and were not named Viz). It’s been a consistent seller for them, particularly among the ‘comic shop buyer’ fan. And now it’s hit Vol. 30.

MICHELLE: Wow, I had no idea Gantz went on for so long.

ASH: Yup, it ended last year in Japan with thirty-seven volumes. It’s been quite a while since I’ve actually read any of the series, though.

SEAN: DMP’s Deflower the Boss seems like one of those BL titles that I’d expect to do quite well simply due to the title alone. Also, just by giving you the title, you can likely guess the plot. I’m hoping it’s at least fun and silly.

MICHELLE: …

MJ: What she said.

SEAN: Lastly, Kodansha’s Attack on Titan finishes its speed-up with Vol. 11. It now lines up with Japan, meaning we’ll see Vol. 12 in April. That said, get a Crunchyroll subscription and you can read right up to this month’s magazine chapter.

ASH: I’ve gotten so used to new volumes of Attack on Titan coming out every month that April now seems to be very far away.

SEAN: What manga are you deflowering this week?

MICHELLE: *snerk*

SEAN: Here is a list of what everyone except me will be getting next week in manga. I will not be getting any of this because Diamond Comics never met a street date they didn’t hate. And yes, I am incredibly bitter.

Dark Horse, which is the exception to my Diamond whining, has Blade of the Immortal 28 coming out. We’re getting near the end of this series, I believe, though I’m not sure how near.

ASH: We are indeed getting near the end. Assuming Dark Horse continues as it has been recently, there should be three more volumes after this one.

SEAN: Kodansha gives us the 12th and final volume of Arisa, which was a good attempt at combining shoujo with a mystery thriller-type story. Also, twins!

MICHELLE: Arisa gets a little ridiculous as it progresses, but I still plan to read the ending!

ASH: The series does get a little ridiculous, but I’m really curious to see how Natsumi Ando wraps everything up.

SEAN: Kodansha also has the 2nd hardcover for Vinland Saga, which hopefully will be a bit easier to order from Amazon than the first was. It has Vikings, and bloodshed.

ANNA: I love vikings and bloodshed! Really looking forward to this!

ASH: As am I! I really enjoyed the first omnibus.

SEAN: Seven Seas gives us the 5th Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends, one of the winners from the recent otaku-friendly licenses, mostly as it tends to go light on the obvious fanservice and heavy on the friendships and comedy.

There’s also Love In Hell 2. I was somewhat ambivalent about the first volume, but we’ll see if this can improve as it goes along, as many series I am ambivalent about do.

Vertical has the 2nd volume of From the New World, its dark science-fiction manga with fanservice. It’s done pretty well for them, so fans should be pleased to see more.

ASH: I loved the dark science-fiction aspects of From the New World. I was less enamored with its gratuitous fanservice.

SEAN: Viz has Vol. 9 of Ooku, which has slowed to the Japanese release schedule, meaning it comes out once every blue moon. On the bright side, this makes every new volume a bigger deal.

MICHELLE: Yay, Ooku. This inspired me to check and see when Yoshinaga’s What Did You Eat Yesterday? comes out. The answer is March 25!

ANNA: I’m behind on Ooku, but looking forward to getting caught up one day. Also looking forward to What Did You Eat Yesterday?!

ASH: More Fumi Yoshinaga manga in English is always a good thing in my book!

MJ: This is one my few highly-anticipated releases this week. I’m such a fan of this series. And I, too, am anxious to see What Did You Eat Yesterday?!

SEAN: Yen has a huge giant pile of stuff, made even higher by a few omnibuses. First we have the 16th volume of Black Butler, which must be looking at Attack on Titan and thinking “You know, I remember when I used to own 5 of the 10 places on the NYT bestseller list. Kids these days…”

MICHELLE: The recent arc, in which Ciel goes undercover at a public school and must curry favor with prefects and such, is actually rather fun.

SEAN: The final volume (of the main series; future short story collections are possible) of Book Girl is coming out, with Book Girl And The Scribe Who Faced God, Part Two. Will Konoha finally get it together? Let’s find out.

ASH: I’m behind with Book Girl, but I like the volumes that I’ve read.

SEAN: Durarara!! is another series caught up to Japan, hence the 8-month wait before we got this 3rd volume in the Saika arc. I expect a lot of red eyes and possessive swords.

MICHELLE: I didn’t expect to like Durarara!!, but I do!

SEAN: There is no Pandora Hearts this month, to the collective sadness of the MB team. However, we do get the 14th volume of Goong, that should make them happy.

MICHELLE: Very happy indeed! I’m so grateful that they started releasing this again!

ANNA: Hooray for Goong! . Is Amazon still listing the kindle volumes with the single volume numbering next to the print omnibus versions? That being out of sync is really confusing.

MJ: Yes, yes, YES!! I love this series so.

SEAN: Higurashi: When They Cry is nearly complete (barring any side-story licenses) with the 3rd Festival Accompanying Arc omnibus, as the plot to defeat Takano switches into high gear, and everyone goes from ‘horror manga’ mode to ‘shonen ACTION manga!’ mode.

Inu x Boku SS, like Haganai, proved to be far more interesting than I had expected from what looked like ‘moe yokai’. I am looking forward to the 2nd volume.

WataMote Volume 2 (OK, it’s technically No Matter How You Look At It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular! Volume 2) will continue to test the resolve of its readers who war between finding its heroine funny and finding her desperately horrifying.

ASH: The first volume was simultaneously one of the funniest and most depressing manga that I’ve read. I’ll definitely be picking up the second volume.

SEAN: Omamori Himari has hit its 11th volume, and I must admit I still don’t actually know what the hell it’s about. One day I will remedy this.

Soul Eater is at Volume 18, and will hopefully continue to pay off the excellent genderbending setup that the 17th volume left off with.

Triage X reaches Vol. 5, and yet still has enough fanservice to fill 50 more volumes without blinking an eye.

Lastly, Umineko: When They Cry returns with Banquet of the Golden Witch, which also sees the artist from the first arc return. (If you like her, you’ll be happy to hear she’ll also be back to wrap up the series when we get to Arc 8 in 2018 or so.) This arc focuses more heavily on the adults, particularly Eva, the sharp-tongued and bitter woman who graces the front cover.

Assuming you don’t order from Diamond Comics, what are you getting this week?

SEAN: This is it, folks! The 27th and final volume of Excel Saga ships next week! There will be laughs! Romance! Resolution! … Perhaps less resolution than we would like, but hey! Everyone in the entire world will be buying this volume!

MJ: Or we will at least pretend to, in order to keep you smiling.

SEAN: So, what are you reading this week?

…

Oh right, there are other releases as well, which are being nice enough to share their release date with the majesty that is the final volume of Excel Saga, so I suppose I should discuss them.

Kodansha has the 6th volume of Missions of Love, which keeps riding the edge between trashy good and trashy bad, but as long as it keeps riding that edge, I’ll keep reading.

ASH: As will I!

MICHELLE: I read the first couple of volumes last year and just never went back to it.

SEAN: There’s also the 3rd Sherlock Bones volume, combining mysteries and cute dogs as only Japan can.

And for those who enjoyed Tokyo Mew Mew and wish it had a followup, well, here’s Tokyo Mew Mew A La Mode in one omnibus. It is not controversial at all, and is beloved by all TMM fans. Really. Trust me.

SubLime has the 6th volume of His Favorite, whose cover is slightly less silly looking than previous ones, but which hopefully is still just as much fun for BL fans. I’ve heard good things about this series.

MJ: I’ll be looking forward to see how well this series wears, six volumes in.

SEAN: A brief reminder that NONE of these series are Excel Saga. Ask your local bookseller for EXCEL SAGA 27 by name. Accept no imitations!

SubLime also gives us a short story collection with the oddly capitalized title NightS. The S stands for… who knows. Seme? Sadist? Saucy?

ASH: I have no idea, but I do know I love Kou Yoneda’s work. I’ve been looking forward to this release.

MICHELLE: Me, too. I really liked No Touching At All.

MJ: Apparently, it stands for $. I’ll be picking it up, too.

SEAN: Vertical has the 3rd volume of Medieval manga Wolfsmund, which I have no doubt will continue to be depressing as hell, but I know some others on the Bookshelf enjoy it.

ASH: Yeah, that would be me. The first two volumes were extremely dark and intense to say the least.

SEAN: Viz has the 8th volume of 07-Ghost, still packed with ghosts, gods, and bishops, and still featuring heavily in my “I need to catch up with that” list.

MICHELLE: And mine, as well.

MJ: And mine!

ANNA: Mine too. I need to schedule a catch up with 07-Ghost day, because I did really enjoy the first few volumes, and the subsequent volumes keep piling up.

SEAN: And there’s Vol. 49 of Case Closed, which began in Japan in 1994, and thus manages to be the only series on this list older than Excel Saga. It is also 22+ volumes longer than Excel Saga. And it also has some very well written mystery and suspense… which, by the way, Excel Saga also had, to the surprise of those expecting what the anime gave them.

So, to sum up, Excel Saga. Final Volume. Get It. And some other stuff. What are you getting next week (hint: Excel Saga)?

MICHELLE: *snerk*

MJ: Yep. Totally Excel Saga. Yep.

ANNA: What is this about? I’m assuming it is about office workers and spreadsheets.

SEAN: You will all be first against the wall when Il Palazzo conquers the world. Hrmph.

SEAN: Well, the holidays are over. HOPE YOU LIKE MANGA. We have, between Amazon and Comic Shop sources, 26 titles coming out this week (some of which have already shipped from certain distributors, yes). Buckle up, folks, we’ll be here a while.

ASH: Excellent. I happen to love manga.

MJ: Yes, yes, yesssssss.

SEAN: Dark Horse has the 2nd Trigun Maximum omnibus. I’m hoping that in larger form the art will somehow make more sense.

Digital Manga Publishing has had a slow return from Print Hiatus, but they seem to be back with a vengeance this week. First we have A Century of Temptation, a vampire/barista romance. The author is best known here for Brave 10 (from DMG) and Sengoku Basara (from Udon).

ANNA: Wow, vampire/barista romance? I am somewhat intrigued.

ASH: Indeed! I had somehow missed that particular detail.

MJ: Well, huh.

SEAN: Volume 2 of Depression of the Anti-Romanticist wraps things up, hopefully with less depression and less anti-romance. Given its BL demographic.

Mr. Mini-Mart certainly wins the cute cover of the week award. A NEET shut-in tries to hold down a job at a convenience store, but must deal with his loud, outgoing coworker. Will romance develop? (Spoiler: yes.)

MICHELLE: Heehee. I approve of the presence of a kitty. I wonder if it figures into the story?

MJ: I’m completely on board with this. I almost don’t care what’s inside.

SEAN: Also with a cute cover, President Momoi-kun is, I inform my fellow Manga Bookshelf writers, an Opera manga. It also looks to be very silly indeed, with lots of funny gags in among the BL. Intriguing.

MICHELLE: I like that the lead dude is crushing on an older, married coworker!

MJ: Anything from Opera deserves a look, so count me in!

SEAN: And in DMP’s one non-BL title, we have – finally – Volume 1 of Takasugi-san’s Obento, which feels like it was pushed back about eight times. A grad student has to take in his cousin after her mother dies, and they learn to bond through cooking. The cousin is twelve, so I think this is meant to be more of a family bonding. It’s 7+ volumes in Japan, and runs in one of my favorite magazines, Comic Flapper, so I definitely want to try this out.

MICHELLE: Me too!

ANNA: I read this when it was available digitally, and liked it! We get food manga so seldom, titles like these are a treat.

ASH: More food manga is always a good thing.

MJ: I’m so glad to see this in print!

SEAN: Fantagraphics shipped the 6th volume of Wandering Son when I wasn’t looking, so most of you may have it already. We’ve talked before about why this should be a must-buy title for all of you.

MICHELLE: I am so dreadfully behind on Wandering Son. Catching up will be one of my resolutions, methinks.

ANNA: Ugh, me too! Too much manga!

ASH: I am still eagerly waiting for my copy to arrive. I can’t wait!

MJ: Same here!

SEAN: Kodansha has Fairy Tail 34, still in the Grand Magic Games arc. I’m falling behind on my Fairy Tail, need to catch up.

Seven Seas expanded greatly in 2013, and this shows no sign of stopping now that it’s 2014. We start with the 2nd and final volume of Alice in the Country of Hearts: The Mad Hatter’s Late-Night Tea Party, which continues the romance between Alice and Blood Dupre.

Dictatorial Grimoire has the 2nd in the Snow White arc, featuring its Alice in the Country of Hearts genderswap-esque plot. I was more interested in Vol. 1 than I expected, so will check the 2nd out.

ASH: I haven’t read the first volume yet, but I am tempted.

SEAN: Monster Musume was a giant hit, and everyone except me seemed to love it. Proving, if nothing else, that I do not drive the taste of most manga readers. Vol. 2 should make even more people happy.

ASH: Monster Musume was a huge success for Seven Seas! I had no idea it was such a popular series.

SEAN: Zero’s Familiar wraps up with the 3rd omnibus, containing Vols. 6-7. Fear not, though, the sequel has been licensed and is coming in the spring.

Flowers of Evil has gotten to Volume 8. Is it still just as twisted? I’m curious.

ASH: The cover art for this story arc is absolutely beautiful.

MJ: I’m still pretty well engaged with this series, so bring it on!

SEAN: And there is the traditional Pile Of Viz. Bleach has a 7th 3-in-1 omnibus, getting towards the end of the Soul Society arc, which many people feel it has never bettered.

Hana-Kimi also gets its 7th 3-in-1. If I recall, it should wrap up with the 8th. Bleach, not so much.

ANNA: I love Hana-Kimi!

SEAN: I adore every single volume of Kimi ni Todoke that comes out, even now that it’s at Volume 18. The cast start to think about their futures around this point, as graduation is near.

MICHELLE: I’m looking forward to this one, too. It’s a definite favorite.

ANNA: Viz does great shoujo.

SEAN: Midnight Secretary 3 continues to combine office lady romance with vampire romance, and is doing a damn fine job of it. I expect more intrigue to happen here.

ANNA: I do enjoy this series.

MJ: As do I.

SEAN: Oh look, another 3-in-1 Volume 7. This is Naruto.

Natsume’s Book of Friends 15! Another series I always love to read. I wish it had more Taki in it, but I’m happy to accept whatever gentle, melancholy yokai antics it will give me.

MICHELLE: Another definite favorite!

SEAN: I reviewed Nisekoi Volume 1 when the digital volume hit, and it’s now coming to print. It’s a fairly typical Shonen Jump romantic comedy, which will appeal to those who like tsunderes, yakuza, and lots of shouting.

MICHELLE: Which is not me, I’m afraid. I found the premise and characters tiresome.

MJ: I’ll be checking this one out for sure, despite Michelle’s reservations.

MICHELLE: I look forward to seeing what you think of it!

SEAN: Otomen 17, completing a trilogy of addicting shoujo I always read first whenever the new volumes come out. Last time we had a nasty cliffhanger, are things going to get worse?

MICHELLE: Someday I will catch up on Otomen.

ASH: I’ve been saving the last few volumes to read in one go; I really enjoy this series.

SEAN: Psyren 14 barrels on to its finale, and will presumably be bringing all the major players together back in the Psyren World for a big battle royale.

Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration has now fulfilled its purpose of advertising the recent movie, so it can end with Vol. 2, which indeed it does.

MICHELLE: Ha! Really? I wonder if it was always intended to be so short! Does this mean it doesn’t attempt to rewrite the Kyoko Arc, which needed no rewriting? I am relieved!

ANNA: I didn’t realize that it was going to be so short either, but it makes sense. The original manga was so good, it didn’t really need a reboot.

SEAN: Strobe Edge is nearing the end of its run with Vol. 8, and so surely the two leads will finally start to work out their angst and get closer… no, huh? Oh well.

MICHELLE: Soon!

ANNA: I hope so! I do enjoy this series, but am ready for it to wrap up.

MJ: This series continuously surprises me with its ability to keep me engaged… but I do hope we’ll see some movement here, finally.

SEAN: Lastly, Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal 4 does whatever it is Yu-Gi-Oh volumes do these days. It could have become a wacky 4-koma about high school girls for all I know. :)

How much of this pile appeals to you?

SEAN: Attack on Titan 10.

Thoughts?

(sorry, couldn’t resist)

(Happy Holidays all)

MICHELLE: *snerk* Same to you!

ASH: I have thoughts! I have lots of thoughts!

MJ: I see that the manga gods have taken this opportunity to remind me how out of step I am with the world, having let this series go after the first volume. Perhaps I’ll rectify this in the new year?

SEAN: For the most part, it’s a Merry Christmas and not a lot of manga, as most publishers take the holidays off. We do have a couple of titles trickling in, however…

Kodansha has the 4th volume of Sankarea, which continues to walk the line between harem romance and horror movie. As you can see from the cover art seen here, Kodansha is gunning more for the latter.

ASH: Sankarea is such a strange manga. I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would, but some of the fanservice really detracts from the series’ quirky charms.

SEAN: And Seven Seas has the 3rd and final volume of Crimson Empire. I really like the heroine and basic premise of this series, but I admit I have not really enjoyed the manga as much as I have the author’s Alice series. Perhaps the otome game plays out better, or perhaps this volume will give us a big finish.

ANNA: I actually enjoyed the first volume of Crimson Empire quite a bit, and was planning on picking up subsequent volumes but hadn’t got around to it yet. Perhaps I’m just easily amused by the idea of an assassin maid in a reverse harem series.

SEAN: That’s it. Either of these under your stocking?

MICHELLE: Not for me, this time.

MJ: Sadly, I’m with Michelle, in that neither of these titles is for me. But that doesn’t mean I’m not buying this week! So much to catch up on…

SEAN: Just before Christmas, we have a fairly big week with lots of stuff to give folks for the holidays (or request for your own present.)

First off, another “Sean missed this” entry. Since I go by Amazon now, I forgot that Right Stuf shipped Hetalia Axis Powers Vols. 4 and 5 and left them off last week’s list. I’ve already devoured my own copies, and can safely assure Hetalia fans these are well worth picking up. Non-Hetalia fans likely find the whole phenomenon baffling.

ASH: I’m hoping that Hetalia continues to do well (at least I think it’s doing well) so that Right Stuf will be able to expand it’s print-on-demand program.

MJ: I’ve never been able to muster interest in Hetalia, but hearing that you’re so hooked on it, Sean, makes me feel foolish. So. Hm.

SEAN: It’s definitely not for everyone… Hetalia requires a love of World War II-era history and at the same time an ability to completely disassociate the atrocities of that period from the characters that represent each country. It’s pure fluff, and just the idea that it’s pure fluff really bothers folks – and rightly so. That said, if you can bend your brain that way, there are a lot of fun stereotypes here that are all done with a kind, loving heart.

Dark Horse’s Evangelion spinoff, The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, is getting close to actually surpassing the main manga series in terms of volume count. Vol. 13 hits next week, and promises an actual plot!

The fourth volume of No. 6 comes out from Kodansha. Is the BL tease in this series the same as the yuri tease in series like Sunshine Sketch?

ASH: I haven’t read Sunshine Sketch to be able to compare, but I am enjoying the development of Rat and Shion’s relationship in No. 6.

SEAN: One Peace has an omnibus collection of Smuggler, a seinen series that ran in Kodansha’s Afternoon back in 2000. Tokyopop apparently released this before, but I have no recollection of it at all. More seinen is always good, especially from a new-ish publisher.

ASH: One Peace tends to license some interesting manga. I’m particularly curious about this rescue since I missed Smuggler the first time around.

MJ: Ditto!

SEAN: Vertical has a new hardcover edition of Gundam The Origin, the 4th. It’s subtitled Jaburo, and I presume it will keep the stellar quality of the previous releases. Must buy.

ANNA: The world is a better place due to the existence of this glorious manga. And Char Aznable.

ASH: The Origin is definitely one of the highest quality releases of manga in English right now.

SEAN: There’s also the 2nd and final volume of Summer Wars. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the first one of this series – far more than I expected – and look forward to the 2nd with bated breath.

MJ: I’m looking forward to this as well!

SEAN: Viz has the 11th volume of one of my pet favorites, Dorohedoro. It can be hard to dip in and out of, but it’s a series that rewards close reading and re-reading. Plus it’s filled with awesome characters.

ASH: I’m always excited to see a new volume of Dorohedoro! It also makes me want to eat mushroom gyoza.

SEAN: And then there’s a giant pile of Yen. The 3rd volume of Are You Alice? continues the Alice trend we’ve seen all year, which looks to pile up even more titles in 2014.

Bloody Cross is one of those series that cried out to be licensed. Vampires, demons, hot guys, hot girls… all this and it runs in Shonen Gangan, a magazine with a very good reputation to exciting series. This should be fun.

MJ: I’m cautiously optimistic.

SEAN: High School of the Dead is still popular enough to get those giant full-color omnibuses, and here is the 2nd.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya manga is wrapping up soon, mostly as the novel author hasn’t written new material. The final arc continues in this 17th manga volume.

Pandora Hearts 19. I think that says it all.

MICHELLE: Pandora (Will Break Your) Hearts!

MJ: Yes, it really will. In the best way possible. *heart*

SEAN: Puella Magi Kazumi Magica has its 3rd volume coming out. The movies have made this franchise even more popular, though I am also hearing talk of a backlash against the darkness. Will this manga make things even bigger?

The 10th Spice & Wolf novel continues to combine fantasy, moe, economics and confusing people who buy it thinking it’s the manga. This is the novel.

Sunshine Sketch not only has its 7th volume ship to stores, but it also has all 7 volumes available in ebook format next week! Great news. As for whether Sae and Hiro finally graduate and the title is forced to continue without them… I suspect that may get dragged out a bit longer.

Finally, Until Death Do Us Part has its 5th omnibus arrive. Mamoru has been having a rough time of it lately, and this volume is not likely to help him in any way.

MICHELLE: I really need to catch up on this one; I definitely liked the first omnibus more than I’d expected to.

SEAN: Deck the halls with volumes of manga! What’cha getting?

SEAN: A fairly quiet Week 2 for this last month of 2013, with just a few tasty morsels of manga to take in while you drink eggnog.

MICHELLE: Mmm, eggnog.

MJ: Gimme.

ANNA: Woo hoo!

SEAN: If you like all the wacky misunderstandings, school romance, and tsunderes of shoujo manga, but would like it with BL flavoring, well, here’s Vol. 4 of Awkward Silence, whose cover resembles Ouran High School Host Club if they ditched Haruhi.

Meanwhile, if you want a fantasy sword and sorcery title with demons who insatiable lust for young men knows no bounds, well, SubLime has you covered there as well, with Vol. 1 of Crimson Spell, from the author of Finder.

ASH: Crimson Spell is actually my favorite manga by Ayano Yamane. Only two volumes were released by Media Blasters back in the day, so I’m very excited that SuBLime rescued the series.

MJ: i am really looking forward to reading this. I missed it originally, and it’s so well-loved.

ANNA: Hmm, I’m looking forward to hearing what you guys think about this!

SEAN: Fairy Tail 33 was actually out 12/4, but I forgot about it, possibly as 32 only came out two weeks ago. There’s speedup and then there’s ridiculous.

I will admit, the body horror scene in the last volume of Knights of Sidonia still freaks me out. That said, I’m totally on board with this series now, which hopefully will try not to kill off its entire cast by the time it finishes. Vol. 6 is coming out this week.

ASH: Body horror, mecha battles, and romantic comedy all in one convenient package!

MICHELLE: Not to mention Tsutomu Nihei’s atmospheric art. I still prefer BLAME! for sheer landscape awesomeness, but Sidonia comes close and is far more accessible.

MJ: Yes! I can’t wait to read this!

ANNA: Such a great series, I need to get caught up.

SEAN: Arata the Legend is up to Vol. 16, which means only 2 more volumes and it’s as long as Fushigi Yuugi, which is the series everyone remembers its author for. At least for now. Arata’s day in the sun is coming!

MICHELLE: This is a fun series. I’ll be catching up soon!

Itsuwaribito has wrapped up in Japan recently, but we have a long way to go here in North America. But at least Vol. 10 gets us into double digits. Wikipedia links to some pretty brutal reviews, to be honest. Perhaps a reassessment is needed?

Magi 3 will send us into the manga’s second story arc, and I have been very pleased with what I’ve read so far. I don’t expect that to change.

MICHELLE: Same here! I really like the direction the plot seems to be heading at the end of volume two, and am looking forward to seeing how the story develops from here.

MJ: I’m late beginning this, but it sounds like this is a good time to start.

SEAN: Lastly, the Tiger & Bunny series, like Code Geass, has led to an ongoing series of doujinshi anthologies, which likely lends itself more towards the deep male bonding most fans of this series want to see. (Still clean, though – c’mon, this is being put out by Viz.) We get the 2nd anthology this week.

What appeals to you in this list?

SEAN: First week of the month. You know what that means. Let’s go.

Dark Horse has the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s volume on Manga Challenges And Best Practices, which, given its authorship, I will merely leave here to let you all know it’s available. :)

ASH: Well, if you’re not going to say anything, then I will! I got my hands on an early copy a few months ago and thought it was great resource.

MJ: Thanks, Ash!

SEAN: Alice Love Fables: Toy Box is a Seven Seas anthology with stories from a) Alice in the Country of Hearts, as released (in part) by Seven Seas; b) Crimson Empire, as released by Seven Seas; and c) Arabians Lost, as not released by Seven Seas, mostly as it’s the only one of these otome game adaptations not to get an actual series.

ANNA: I have a fairly high tolerance of Alice in the Country of series, but stretching it to an anthology series might be a bit too much for me.

SEAN: Dance In The Vampire Bund has another new spinoff, this one called The Memories of Sledge Hammer. It does not feature David Rasche at all, so I am profoundly disinterested.

ASH: I…actually haven’t read any of the Dance in the Vampire Bund manga, yet.

MJ: I feel certain I never will.

ANNA: I doubt I will either.

SEAN: And Kanokon has an omnibus collecting two new volumes of this supernatural harem comedy (not to be confused with Seven Seas’ other supernatural harem comedies).

There’s also Vol. 3 of The Sacred Blacksmith, which hasn’t knocked me out, but has proven to be better than expected.

On the Viz front, there’s Vol. 5 of Demon Love Spell, which is a hell of a lot of fun and also sexy to boot.

MJ: I kinda can’t wait for this. I’m definitely hooked on this series.

ANNA: It is hilarious. I do wish more of Mayu Shinjo’s angsty series were published over here.

SEAN: Dengeki Daisy is coming to an end, but that end is not out here yet. Instead, we get lucky Vol. 13. If you like shoujo at all, you should be reading this.

MICHELLE: I’ve fallen behind with Dengeki Daisy but will be catching up soon!

ASH: I used consider Dengeki Daisy a guilty pleasure, but I’ve gotten over that and just enjoy the series.

MJ: I dropped Dengeki Daisy early on (not for any profound reason, just time) and I’ve begun to regret it.

ANNA: I always enjoy a new volume of Dengeki Daisy.

SEAN: The penultimate volume of A Devil and Her Love Song really needs to cut back on the angst and trauma and start wrapping things up happily. Do I expect this to happen here? No.

MJ: Heh.

ANNA: That being said, it is somehow weirdly refreshing along with all the angst and trauma, just because the heroine’s personality is so distinctive.

SEAN: The 3rd Dragon Ball omnibus, because there are always new generations of fans.

ASH: I’m glad that Viz is finding ways to keep this series in print–I’m one of those people who somehow missed it the first few times around.

SEAN: Vol. 3 of Happy Marriage?! will no doubt feature more fretting, worrying, and self-doubt, hopefully mixed with some nice romance and comedy.

MJ: No doubt. And no doubt I’ll read it.

ANNA: I’ve read it and it continues to be great!

SEAN: Hunter x Hunter 31 is out. The manga’s back on hiatus in Japan, so I’m not sure when it will dribble to a halt here. Again.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan started a new arc last time, and I expect things will be quite exciting and supernatural in a “this is pretty good, but not great” way.

One Piece Vol. 69. (cough) You’d think Nami and Robin would be on the cov–(whack) Ow!

Skip Beat! is up to Vol. 32. Easily Hana to Yume’s longest running ongoing series, it may be wrapping up soon, but not yet. Still great.

MICHELLE: I’m very excited about this one!

ASH: Me, too!

ANNA: Probably my most favorite insanely long shoujo manga series.

SEAN: Slam Dunk ends with Vol. 31. A terrific sports manga, and hopefully it has whetted fans’ appetite in case Viz wants to, say, license another ongoing Jump basketball series. Hint, hint.

MICHELLE: And this one! I’ve been saving up the last five volumes to read in one big chunk. It’s gonna be awesome.

ASH: I’m behind in Slam Dunk, but it really is a great series.

ANNA: Slam Dunk is wonderful.

SEAN: Toriko is in the Meteor Garlic arc, and this is Volume 19. I like the series a lot, but it’s hard to really comment on when it comes out.

Lastly, Voice Over: Seiyuu Academy has its second volume drop. It’s classic workaday Hakusensha shoujo, with a fun if dense lead.

MJ: I’m eyeing this with a little bit of dread, but it’ll probably reel me in.

MICHELLE: It might. I definitely liked the first volume more than I expected to.

ANNA:I enjoyed the first volume much more than I expected to.

SEAN: That’s a big pile. Any choices?