Giveaways

Manga Giveaway: Love at Fourteen Giveaway Winner

February 3, 2016 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Love at Fourteen Giveaway is… wandering-dreamer!

As the winner, wandering-dreamer (whose writing I happen to follow at both Narrative Investigations and TheOASG) will be receiving a copy of Fuka Mizutani’s Love at Fourteen, Volume 1 as published in English by Yen Press. Love at Fourteen features a sweet story of first love, so for this giveaway I asked participants to tell me a little about some of their favorite romantic manga. Be sure to check out the giveaway comments for the detailed responses!

Some favorite manga love stories released in English:
Apothecarius Argentum by Tomomi Yamashita
Black-Winged Love by Tomoko Yamashita
A Bride’s Story by Kaoru Mori
Emma by Kaoru Mori
Hide & Seek by Yaya Sakuragi
Horimiya written by HERO, illustrated by Daisuke Hagiwara
Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances by Masami Tsuda
Kamisama Kiss by Julietta Suzuki
Love at Fourteen by Fuka Mizutani
My Love Story written by Kazune Kawahara, illustrated by Aruko
Nana by Ai Yazawa
Orange by Ichigo Takano
Sand Chronicles Hinako Ashihara
Strobe Edge by Io Sakisaka
Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

So, if you’re looking for something a little romantic to read, the above manga may give you a good place to start. Thank you to everyone who shared your favorites with me; I hope to see you all around again for the next giveaway!

Manga Giveaway: Love at Fourteen Giveaway

January 27, 2016 by Ash Brown

January is almost over so here it is, Experiments in Manga’s first manga giveaway of the year! Let’s get right to it: For this giveaway you will all have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win Love at Fourteen, Volume 1 created by Fuka Mizutani and published in English by Yen Press. And, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

Had I been thinking about it thematically, a giveaway for Love at Fourteen—a sweet and somewhat nostalgic story of first love—would have been nicely suited for a February or March giveaway because of Valentine’s Day or White Day, respectively. Then again, my love of manga and my love of spreading that love cannot be contained or limited to a single month! Looking at it that way, and following a peculiar train of logic, a manga giveaway featuring a love story would be more than appropriate any time of the year. Thus, Love at Fourteen! Because, why not?

So, you may be wondering, how can you win Love at Fourteen, Volume 1?

1) In the comments below, tell me a little about your favorite manga love story. (If you don’t have one, simply mention that!)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

And there you have it! Each giveaway participant can earn up to two entries and has one week to submit comments. Entries can also be emailed directly to me at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com if needed or preferred. I will then post the comments here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 3, 2016. Best of luck to you all!

VERY IMPORTANT: Include some way that I can contact you. This can be an e-mail address in the comment form, a link to your website, Twitter username, or whatever. If I can’t figure out how to get a hold of you and you win, I’ll just draw another name.

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Love at Fourteen Giveaway Winner

Manga Giveaway: Merman in My Tub Giveaway Winner

January 6, 2016 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Merman in My Tub giveaway is… Haley!

As the winner, Haley will be receiving Itokichi’s Merman in My Tub, Volume 1 as released in English by Seven Seas. Over the last few years, Seven Seas has impressed me with its ever-expanding catalog. In fact, the publisher as a whole was my pick of the year, and I counted some of Seven Sea’s more atypical licenses among my favorites of 2015. For this giveaway, I asked that participants tell me a little about their own favorite manga from 2015. Be sure to check out the giveaway comments for all of the details!

Some favorite manga released in English in 2015:
The Ancient Magus’ Bride by Kore Yamazaki
Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
Attack on Titan: Before the Fall written by Ryo Suzukaze, illustrated by Satoshi Shiki
Case Closed by Gosho Aoyama
The Demon Prince of Momochi House by Aya Shouoto
Emma by Kaoru Mori
Even so, I Will Love You Tenderly by Kou Yoneda
Fragments of Horror by Junji Ito
Haven’t you heard? I’m Sakamoto by Nami Sano
Henshin by Ken Niimura
The Heroic Legend of Arslan by Hiromu Arakawa
Idol Dreams by Arina Tanemura
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki
Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu by Junji Ito
Livingstone written by Tomohiro Maekawa, illustrated by Jinsei Kataoka
Love Stage!! by Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou
Master Keaton by Hokusei Katsushika, Takashi Nagasaki, illustrated by Naoki Urasawa
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun by Izumi Tsubaki
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Noragami by Adachitoka
Of the Red, the Light, and the Ayakashi written by by HaccaWorks*, illustrated by Nanao
Requiem of the Rose King by Aya Kanno
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign written by Takaya Kagami, illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto
A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima
So Cute It Hurts!! by Go Ikeyamada
Your Lie in April by Naoshi Arakawa
Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches by Miki Yoshikawa
Yowamushi Pedal by Wataru Watanabe
Yukarism by Chika Shiomi

Thank you to everyone who shared your manga favorites from 2015 with me! There are a few manga on the list above that I actually haven’t read yet, but I’m definitely looking forward to giving them a try. Here’s to a great 2016!

Manga Giveaway: Merman in My Tub Giveaway

December 30, 2015 by Ash Brown

There may only be a few days left in December and in 2015, but there’s still time for one last manga giveaway before the year is through. For 2015’s final giveaway, I wanted to be sure to feature one of the many manga series to debut in the last year, so this month you all have the chance to win the first volume of Itokichi’s Merman in My Tub as published by Seven Seas. As always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

Last week I posted my list of manga, comics, and novels that I found to be particularly notable in 2015. And just a few days ago, the Manga Bookshelf crew (myself included) declared our pick of the year. For the last few years I’ve gotten away with picking a single publisher rather than a single manga and in 2015 it was Seven Seas that caught my eye. The publisher has been steadily expanding the number and different types of manga it has to offer—Merman in My Tub was one of eighteen (if I’m counting correctly) new series from Seven Seas to debut in 2015.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a Merman in My Tub, Volume 1?

1) In the comments below, tell me a little about one of your favorite manga to be released in 2015 (in English or not), whether it be a debut or part of an ongoing series. (Don’t have a favorite, simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

There it is! Everyone has one week to submit comments and can earn up to two entries for this giveaway. If needed or desired, entries can also be emailed directly to me at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com, and I will then post the comments here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on January 6, 2016. Good luck, and Happy New Year!

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Merman in My Tub Giveaway Winner

Manga Giveaway: Kodansha Shoujo Smorgasbord Winner

December 2, 2015 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Kodansha Shoujo Smorgasbord manga giveaway is… Rebecca!

As the winner, Rebecca will be receiving four first volumes of shoujo manga published by Kodansha Comics: LDK, Volume 1 by Ayu Watanabe; Let’s Dance a Waltz, Volume 1 by Natsumi Ando; My Little Monster, Volume 1 by Robico; and Say I Love You, Volume 1 by Kanae Hazuki. Kodansha usually isn’t the first publisher I think of when I think of shoujo, but I’ve really been enjoying some of the shoujo manga that it has licensed. For this giveaway, I asked that participants tell me a little about their favorite Kodansha shoujo manga. As was pointed out by several people, Kodansha also releases quite a few shounen series which have tremendous shoujo crossover appeal. Check out the the giveaway comments for all of the responses!

Some of the shoujo (and josei) manga available from Kodansha Comics:
Arisa by Natsumi Ando
Attack on Titan: No Regrets by Hikaru Suruga
Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi
Fairy Tail: Blue Mistral written by Hiro Mashima, illustrated by Rui Watanabe
I Am Here by Ema Toyama
Kiss Him, Note Me! by Junko
Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando
LDK by Ayu Watanabe
Let’s Dance a Waltz by Natsumi Ando
Manga Dogs by Ema Toyama
Missions of Love by Ema Toyama
My Little Monster by Robico
No. 6 by Hinoki Kino
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: Short Stories by Naoko Takeuchi
Princess Jellyfish by Akiko Higashimura
Say I Love You by Kanae Hazuki
Shugo Chara! by Peach-Pit
Shugo Chara Chan! by Peach-Pit
Tokyo Mew Mew written by Reiko Yoshida, illustrated by Mia Ikumi
Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode by Mia Ikumi
The Wallflower by Tomoko Hayakawa

Thank you to everyone who shared your favorite Kodansha shoujo manga (or shounen manga with a shoujo flair) with me. I hope to see you all again for the next giveaway!

Manga Giveaway: Kodansha Shoujo Smorgasbord

November 25, 2015 by Ash Brown

The end of November is almost here, and you know what that means! It’s time for another manga giveaway at Experiments in Manga. As is tradition for November’s giveaway, in celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States (my favorite holiday) I’m offering up a manga feast. You all will have a chance to win not one, but four volumes of manga this month: LDK, Volume 1 by Ayu Watanabe; Let’s Dance a Waltz, Volume 1 by Natsumi Ando; My Little Monster, Volume 1 by Robico; and Say I Love You, Volume 1 by Kanae Hazuki–a veritable smorgasbord of shoujo from Kodansha Comics! And, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide.

When I used to think of Kodansha Comics, shoujo manga never really came to mind. However, over the last couple of years, the publisher has made a point to expand its shoujo offerings. As a result, Kodansha has started to develop a nice catalog of shoujo manga, including titles that feature science fiction, mystery, action, romance, comedy, drama and more. For the most part, I’ve really been enjoying Kodansha’s shoujo series and I like seeing the variety in the manga.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a Kodansha Shoujo Smorgasbord?

1) In the comments below, tell me a little bit about your favorite shoujo manga released by Kodansha Comics. (If you don’t have one yet, simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

And there you have it! Each person can earn up to two entries for this giveaway and has one week to submit comments. If you have trouble leaving comments, or if you would prefer, entries can also be emailed to me at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com. I will then post the comments here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on December 2, 2015. Good luck to you all!

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Kodansha Shoujo Smorgasbord Winner

Manga Giveaway: Barakamon Giveaway Winner

November 4, 2015 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Barakamon manga giveaway is… Joseph!

As the winner, Joseph will receive Satsuki Yoshino’s Barakamon, Volume 1 as released in English by Yen Press. As the fall and winter holiday season has arrived, I was beginning to feel a little nostalgic for my childhood home in the country. So, for this giveaway, I asked that entrant’s tell me a little about their favorite manga with countryside and rural settings. Check out the giveaway comments for everyone’s complete responses, and check out below for a list of manga!

Some of the countryside manga available in English:
Barakamon by Satsuki Yoshino
Brilliant Blue by Saemi Yorita
Can’t Win with You! written by Satosumi Takaguchi, illustrated by Yukine Honami
The Flowers of Evil by Shuzo Oshimi
A Girl on the Shore by Inio Asano
Kamikaze Girls by Yukio Kanesada
The Legend of Kamui by Sanpei Shirato
Mermaid Saga by Rumiko Takahashi
Moyasimon by Masayuki Ishikawa
Mushishi by Yuki Urushibara
Non Non Biyori by Atto
NonNonBa by Shigeru Mizuki
Popcorn Romance by Tomoko Taniguchi
Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara
Summer Wars written by Mamoru Hosoda, illustrated by Iqura Sugimoto
Tropic of the Sea by Satoshi Kon
Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura
Wandering Island by Kenji Tsuruta

As usual, the above list isn’t comprehensive, but it hopefully presents a nice selection of manga from which to choose. Thank you to everyone who shared you’re favorites with me! I hope to see you all again for the next giveaway as well.

Manga Giveaway: Barakamon Giveaway

October 28, 2015 by Ash Brown

October has been a busy month at work for me, so I’m glad to see it wrapping up, but even better is the fact that it means it’s time for another manga giveaway here at Experiments in Manga! This month you’ll all have the chance to win a copy of Satsuki Yoshino’s Barakamon, Volume 1 as published by Yen Press. And, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

I grew up in a rural area and, for the most part, have fond memories of living in a small village in the countryside. Currently I live and work in a small city, which certainly has its benefits, but occasionally I find myself yearning for less people, more green, open spaces, and a somewhat slower pace of life. In part because of this, I find particular enjoyment in manga series like Barakamon which largely take place in the country; they remind me of living “back home.” There don’t seem to have been very many of these manga translated, so I especially appreciate them when I do happen to come across one.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win Barakamon, Volume 1?

1) In the comments below, tell me about your favorite manga that has at least one countryside or rural setting in it. (If you don’t have one, simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

It’s as easy as that. You all can earn up to two entries for this giveaway and have one week to submit your comments. Comments can also be sent to me directly at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com if you have trouble with the comment form or if you prefer. I will then post your entry below in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on November 4, 2015. Best of luck to everyone!

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Barakamon Giveaway Winner

Manga Giveaway: Devils and Realist Giveaway Winner

October 7, 2015 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Devils and Realist Giveaway is… Hanna!

As the winner, Hanna will be receiving the first volume of Madoka Takadono and Utako Yukihiro’s Devils and Realist as published by Seven Seas. For this giveaway, I asked that participants tell me a little about their favorite manga that featured devils or demons. Black Butler by Yana Toboso was mentioned quite frequently, but there were some others named, too. Check out the giveaway comments for all of the responses!

Some of the manga in English featuring devils or demons:
Angel Sanctuary by Kaori Yuki
Berserk by Kentaro Miura
Black Butler by Yana Toboso
Blood Blockade Battlefront by Yasuhiro Nightow
Blood Lad by Yuuki Kodama
Bloody Cross by Shiwo Komeyama
Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato
Cat Eyed Boy by Kazuo Umezu
The Demon Ororon by Mizuki Hakase
Demon from Afar by Kaori Yuki
Demon Love Spell by Mayu Shinjo
The Devil Is a Part-Timer by Akio Hiiragi
Devil Survivor by Satoru Matsuba
Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida
From Far Away by Kyoko Hikawa
Gaba Kawa by Rie Takada
High-School DxD by Hiroji Mishima
Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi
Jiu Jiu by Touya Tobina
The Monkey King by Katsuya Terada
Love in Hell by Reiji Suzumaru
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan by Hiroshi Shibashi
The Sacred Blacksmith written by Isao Miura, illustrated by Kotaro Yamada
Seraph of the End written by Takaya Kagami, illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto
Seimaden by You Higuri
Stray Little Devil by Kotaro Mori
Wish by CLAMP

The above list is by no means exhaustive, but it does provide a wide range of manga for anyone looking for a devilish or demonic read. Seinen, shoujo, shounen; comedy, drama, horror, romance… all sorts of variations on the theme! As always, thank you to everyone who took time to share your favorites with me. Hope to see you again for the next giveaway!

Manga Giveaway: Devils and Realist Giveaway

September 30, 2015 by Ash Brown

The end of September doesn’t just approach, it’s here! And because it’s the end of the month, it’s also time for another giveaway at Experiments in Manga. This month you all will have the chance to win a copy of Devils and Realist, Volume 1 written by Madoka Takadono, illustrated by Utako Yukihiro, and published in English by Seven Seas. And, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

I always find it interesting when manga incorporates Western settings, religions, and mythologies. In some cases they aren’t used as much more than an aesthetic (I’m looking at you X), but in other cases the mangaka have clearly done their research. Legends surrounding angels and demons seem to be a particularly rich source of inspiration. Series like Devils and Realist take that inspiration, but then spins the stories and their interpretations to create something entirely different. The results can often be entertaining.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win Devils and Realist, Volume 1?

1) In the comments below, tell me a little about your favorite manga featuring devils or demons. (Don’t have one? Simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

There it is! Everyone has one week to submit comments and can earn up to two entries for this giveaway. If needed or preferred, comments may also be sent to me directly at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com. The comments will then be posted here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on October 7, 2015. Good luck!

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Devils and Realist Giveaway Winner

Manga Giveaway: Yumi Tamura Giveaway Winner

September 2, 2015 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Yumi Tamura Giveaway is… Olivia!

As the winner, Olivia will be receiving a complete set of Yumi Tamura’s shoujo action thriller Chicago as published by Viz Media back in the day. I came across Chicago because Tamura was also the creator of Basara, a series that I love. And so for this giveaway, I asked that participants tell me about the mangaka whose work they always make a point to read. Check out the giveaway comments for the detailed responses, and check out below for the list of mangaka mentioned in addition to a selection of their works that are available in English!

Aki
The Angel of Elhamburg
Olympos
Utahime: The Songstress

Moyoco Anno
In Clothes Called Fat
Sakuran: Blossoms Wild
Sugar Sugar Rune

CLAMP
Cardcaptor Sakura
X
xxxHolic

Usamaru Furuya
Genkaku Picasso
Lychee Light Club
No Longer Human

Kyoko Hikawa
From Far Away

Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima
Lone Wolf & Cub
Path of the Assassin
Samurai Executioner

Mitsukazu Mihara
Doll
The Embalmer
IC in a Sunflower

Setona Mizushiro
After School Nightmare
Black Rose Alice
X-Day

Jun Mochizuki
Pandora Hearts

Kaoru Mori
Anything and Something
Bride’s Story
Emma

Takeshi Obata
All You Need Is Kill
Death Note
Hikaru no Go

Yayoi Ogawa
Tramps Like Us

Atsushi Ohkubo
B. Ichi
Soul Eater
Soul Eater Not!

Eiji Otsuka
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Madara
MPD-Psycho

Yumi Tamura
Basara
Chicago
Wild Com.

Arina Tanemura
Idol Dreams
Phantom Thief Jeanne
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura

Jiro Taniguchi
A Distant Neighborhood
The Summit of the Gods
The Walking Man

Osamu Tezuka
Astroboy
Dororo
Message to Adolf

Yana Toboso
Black Butler
Rust Blaster

Naoki Urasawa
Master Keaton
Monster
Pluto

Yu Yagami
Go West!
Hikkatsu!: Strike a Blow to Vivify
Those Who Hunt Elves

Fumi Yoshinaga
Not Love But Delicious Foods Make Me So Happy!
Ôoku: The Inner Chambers
What Did You Eat Yesterday?

For the sake of space, I’ve limited the lists of works to up to three releases each in English, but many of the creators have other manga available in translation, too. And hopefully we’ll continue to see more of all of these mangaka! Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in the giveaway and share some great mangaka with me. Hope to see you all again for the next giveaway!

Manga Giveaway: Yumi Tamura Giveaway

August 26, 2015 by Ash Brown

It’s almost the end of the month which means it’s yet again time for another giveaway at Experiments in Manga. This month I’m offering up an entire series: Yumi Tamura’s two-volume shoujo action thriller Chicago! The series was released in English by Viz Media a decade or so ago, but is now out of print. This month’s giveaway will give you a chance to snag a complete set of the manga. And, as always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

Chicago probably wouldn’t have come across my radar if it wasn’t for the fact that it was created by Yumi Tamura. Tamura is also the mangaka of Basara, a series that I absolutely love. Back when I was trying to track down some of the harder-to-find print volumes of Basara (the print edition is going out of print, but a digital version is now available), I discovered that Tamura’s Chicago and Wild Com. had also been translated. And so, simply because I enjoyed Tamura’s work so much on Basara, I picked them up. There are other mangaka whose work I will read no matter what it is, too, including but certainly not limited to Moyoco Anno, Usamaru Furuya, Fumi Yoshinaga, and Takeshi Obata. It can be interesting to see both the similarities and differences among the manga created by the same person; some mangaka have an incredible range.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win Yumi Tamura’s Chicago?

1) Are there any mangaka whose work you enjoy so much that you make a point to read anything they create? If so, tell me a little about them and what you like about their manga in the comments below. (If not, you can simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

There you go! It’s as easy as that. You all have one week to submit comments and each person can earn up to two entries for this giveaway. If you have trouble with the comment form, or if you would prefer, entries can also be sent directly to me at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com. I will then post the comments here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on September 2, 2015. Good luck to you all!

Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Yumi Tamura Giveaway Winner

Giveaway: Sparkler Monthly Giveaway Winner

August 5, 2015 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Sparkler Monthly Giveaway is… AshLynx!

As the winner, AshLynx will get to choose one item from the Sparkler Online Shop in addition to receiving a copy of Tokyo Demons, Book 2: Add a Little Chaos written by Lianne Sentar and illustrated by Rem. I coordinated the giveaway to draw more attention to the Sparkler Monthly Year 3 Kickstarter campaign which I’m very happy to say was successful! I absolutely love the work being done at Chromatic Press and Sparkler Monthly, so I’m glad those efforts will be able to continue for at least another year. For the giveaway, I asked participants to tell me about some of their favorite Sparkler stories. Be sure to check out the Sparkler Monthly Giveaway comments for the detailed responses!

Finally, here’s the list of current ongoing series at Sparkler Monthly that will be able to continue thanks to the campaign’s success:

The Cat Lover’s Circumstances by LAMP and Aiwa
(Geeky Modern Comedy Audio Drama)

Gatesmith by Jen Lee Quick
(Dark Fantasy Western Comic)

Knights-Errant by Jennifer Doyle
(LGBT Historical Drama Comic)

Lettera by Studio Kosen
(Comedy Fantasy Adventure Comic)

Orange Junk by Heldrad
(Shoujo Romantic Comedy Comic)

Skyglass by Jenn Grunigen and Mookie
(Sci-Fi Musician Drama Prose)

Tokyo Demons by Lianne Sentar, Rebecca Scoble, Rem, and Romy-chan
(Urban Fantasy Adventure Drama Prose)

Windrose by Studio Kosen
(Historical Adventure Comic)

Witch’s Quarry by Jen Lee Quick
(LGBT Fantasy Adventure Comic)

The above list is only a selection of Sparkler Monthly‘s total output. It doesn’t include any of the stories that have already been completed or any of the new stories that will be added throughout the coming year. Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite Sparkler stories with me. (Sparkler fans are the best fans!) And if you don’t have a favorite yet, start exploring! With the range of formats, genres, characters, and stories, there’s bound to be something that you’ll find appealing. (And most of it’s free!) Personally, I haven’t been disappointed with anything from Sparkler Monthly and am thrilled that there will be even more content in the future.

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Giveaway: Sparkler Monthly Giveaway

July 29, 2015 by Ash Brown

The end of July quickly approaches, as does the end of the Sparkler Monthly: Year 3 Kickstarter. The campaign hasn’t quite reached its goal yet, but I desperately want it to succeed. With that in mind, hoping to draw more attention to the project, this month’s giveaway will be a little different than usual. I happen to have an extra copy of Tokyo Demons, Book 2 to give away, but that’s not all I’m offering. The winner of the contest will also be able to choose one item (physical/print or digital) from the Sparkler Online Shop! (Yes, a Year+ gift subscription to the magazine, which also includes a free ebook, is a completely valid option.) As always, the giveaway is open worldwide!

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Sparkler Monthly and Chromatic Press. I’m fairly obsessed with Tokyo Demons and I adore Off*Beat, and so when those two series became the flagship titles for the newly established publisher in 2013, I knew it was time to pay attention. It was the right decision. I honestly haven’t been disappointed by a single thing that I’ve read (or listened to) that has been released in Sparkler Monthly. (Just take a look at the Chromatic Press tag for my in-depth reviews and features of a small selection of the content.) Sparkler Monthly is a multimedia magazine that includes prose, comics, and audio, and I devour it all. I love the range of formats and genres, the diverse stories and characters; the variety found in Sparkler Monthly is one of its greatest strengths, and more is constantly being added.

The work the creators and staff are doing through Sparkler Monthly is phenomenal. It would be tragic if they can’t garner the support to continue. So please, if you haven’t already, give the fantastic stories of Sparkler Monthly a try. Almost everything is available online for free, so there’s no excuse! And if you like what you see and/or hear, please consider donating to the Kickstarter campaign, too.

So, you may be wondering, how can you win a copy of Tokyo Demons, Book 2 AND one other Sparkler goody of your choice?

1) In the comments below, name one of your favorite Sparkler Monthly stories and write a little about why you like it. (Never experienced Sparkler? Now’s the time to check it out!)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).

That’s all there is to it! Each person can earn up to two entries for this giveaway and has one week to submit comments. Entries can also be sent to me via email at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com if you have trouble with the comment form or if you would prefer. I will then post the comments here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on August 5, 2015. Good luck and happy reading!

Contest winner announced–Giveaway: Sparkler Monthly Giveaway Winner

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Manga Giveaway: Assassination Classroom Giveaway Winner

July 1, 2015 by Ash Brown

And the winner of the Assassination Classroom manga giveaway is… wandering-dreamer!

As the winner, wandering-dreamer (whose review blog Narrative Investigations I happen to really enjoy) will be receiving Assassination Classroom, Volume 1 by Yusei Matsui as published by Viz Media. Since Assassination Classroom features a rather unusual teacher, I was curious to hear about some of the other great teachers that other people have encountered while reading manga. Be sure to check out the giveaway comments for everyone’s detailed responses!

Some of the manga available in English featuring teachers:
Anything and Something by Kaoru Mori
Aqua by Kozue Amano
Aria by Kozue Amano
Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui
Blue Exorcist by Kazue Kato
Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP
Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Future Lovers by Saika Kunieda
GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka by Toru Fujisawa
GTO: 14 Days in Shonan by Toru Fujisawa
Hana-Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo
Hikaru no Go written by Yumi Hotta, illustrated by Takeshi Obata
Kobato by CLAMP
Moon and Sandals by Fumi Yoshinaga
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Negima! by Ken Akamatsu
Oresama Teacher by Izumi Tsubaki
The Royal Tutor by Higasa Akai
S.S. Astro: Asashio Sogo Teachers’ Room by Negi Banno
Sunshine Sketch by Ume Aoki
Ultras by est em

There are some really great teachers included in the manga listed above, but I’m sure that there are plenty more. Thank you to everybody who participated in the giveaway and shared your personal favorites with me. I hope to see you again for the next giveaway!