Pick of the Week

SEAN: This week I am torn between debuts and final volumes. I really should be picking When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, as I love the author’s other stuff, and it looks cute and fun. But I’m sorry, it’s the final volume of Ran the Peerless Beauty, Kodansha’s answer to Kimi ni Todoke, and that has to be my pick, because it’s been regularly terrific.

KATE: I’m on Team VIZ; anytime there are new volumes of Maison Ikkoku and The Way of the Househusband is a good week in my book.

MICHELLE: I am sincerely looking forward to the finale of Ran the Peerless Beauty, but I just can’t pass up the chance to pick something that looks as sweet as Would You Like to be a Family?. I’m still wary of TOKYOPOP, but I must admit they’ve really been putting out some great BL oneshots lately!

ANNA: I could really use a comedic pick-me-up, and The Way of the Househusband always delivers.

ASH: I feel like I’m behind the times because, well, I am, but the release that I’m most interested in checking out this week is Tearmoon Empire. I’ve heard really good things about this series; now that it’ll be available in print, I’ll be able to see for myself!

MELINDA: Okay, nothing is strongly calling out to me this week, though I am always ready to cheer on Maison Ikkoku. But perhaps I’ll through a hesitant vote towards When Will Ayumu Make His Move? which sounds fun and revolves around a strategy game, so worst case scenario, I can pretend I’m reading Hikaru no Go.

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

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

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

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

ANNA: I’ll pick Mao as well!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MICHELLE: It’s the once-a-year release of Kaze Hikaru and there’s also the debut of the fun-looking Happy Kanoko’s Killer Life, but if it’s my last chance ever, I simply must pick Haikyu!!. I didn’t think anything could supplant Hikaru no Go as my favorite sports manga, but Haikyu!! has done it. I’m going to miss this series so much.

SEAN: It’s hard to ignore Viz this week, but ignore I must, because Happy Kanako’s Killer Life is hilarious. Well, if you find murder repugnant, I would not read it. But honestly, most of the people Kanako kills are terrible, and she’s just such an airhead that the whole thing becomes hysterical. The author posted the first 4 chapters – in Japanese and English – on their Twitter, I can’t wait to read more of it.

ANNA: Every summer Kaze Hikaru comes out and every summer I must pick the latest volume!

ASH: While I am intrigued by Happy Kanako’s Killer Life, my heart belongs to Viz this week. Both Haikyu!! and Kaze Hikaru are highlights for me, but the debut of Golden Wind gets my official pick!

SEAN: Despite the temptation of picking Ghost Ship’s Booty Royale… OK, it’s not that much of a temptation… I’m making Captivated, by You my pick this week. I actually don’t know much about it, but it’s a one-shot hardcover and the title ran in Comic Beam, so I’m in.

MICHELLE: I am really looking forward to checking out Captivated, by You, but this week also sees a new installment of one of my favorite manga, The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window, and I can’t pass up the chance to pick it once again. This series is getting an anime in October, which I hope inspires more people to check out the manga. It’s great.

ASH: I so want The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window to be released in print! Until then, Captivated, by You is the debut I’m most curious about this week, so it earns my official pick. Though, I’m interested in reading Seaside Stranger, too, having heard good things about it…

ANNA: I’ll go for Seaside Stranger this week!

KATE: If you’d told me five years ago that VIZ would be re-issuing Taiyo Matsumoto’s No. 5, I’d have chuckled and thought, “Boy, is this person naïve! VIZ couldn’t *give* copies of this series away back in 2001! It’s weird! It’s surreal! American readers aren’t ready for it!” I’m happy to say that I’m wrong, and that VIZ is about to release a gorgeous new edition of No. 5 that will give everyone a chance to luxuriate in Matsumoto’s spooky, slithery, beautiful artwork again. If you liked Tekkonkinkreet or Ping Pong, call your local comic shop NOW and ask them to pull a copy of No. 5 for you.

ANNA: I agree, No. 5 is the clear pick of the week for me as well.

MICHELLE: Now that I’ve gotten over my panic at the sheer influx of manga, I must concur—No. 5 is the standout here.

SEAN: Clearly it’s No. 5, yes, but I know the way I read manga, and I know Matsumoto and I have struggled before. As such, I’m going to actually pick the 5th volume of Tearmoon Empire, a hilarious “villainess makes good when she goes back in time” novel with a heaping helping of social conscience to it as well. Now with a stage show!

ASH: As soon as Tearmoon Empire is released in print, I suspect that I’ll wholeheartedly be onboard with that series. But, yeah, No. 5 is where it’s at for me this week, too. I think the time is finally right for the the manga to hit its mark in English, and I’m glad for it.

MELINDA: I hate to be a sheep, but it’s gotta be No. 5 for me, too! Weird and surreal feels exactly right when we’re living in a reality like the one we have now. Count me in!

SEAN: Gee, what could it be? Moto Hagio? Cute smug-looking cats standing on their back paws? Sign me up for L’il Leo!

KATE: I’ve developed a reputation for being the most predictable member of the MB Battle Robot, and I won’t disappoint anyone by picking, say, The Hero Is Overpowered But Cautiously Optimistic or I’m Deeply Skeptical of the New Power I Just Manifested. OF COURSE Lil’ Leo is my first choice this week, for all the reasons Sean listed. But I’m also intrigued by Hello World, which is giving me serious orange vibes–and that’s never a bad thing.

MICHELLE: Any time there’s Moto Hagio, my pick is spoken for. That said, I am also looking forward to getting caught up on Ace of the Diamond and Giant Killing, both of which have new volumes out this week. The latter, being seinen sports manga about a professional team rather than high schoolers aiming for nationals, is particularly good.

ANNA: The idea of not picking Moto Hagio is inconceivable!

ASH: S’truth! If Moto Hagio is an option, that is the pick. And a cat manga, too? There really is no other choice. Lil’ Leo it is!

MELINDA: Moto Hagio and cats is an obvious and irresistible choice. My pick can only be Lil’ Leo!

MICHELLE: I don’t know much about Kageki Shojo!!, hence my surprise and delight upon discovering there’s a lot more of it to come. I don’t see how I could possibly resist picking Takarazuka-adjacent josei this week!

SEAN: The first episode of the anime reminded me why I love this series so much, so yes, absolutely Kageki Shojo!! for me as well.

KATE: Add me to the Kageki Shojo!! fan club; who doesn’t love a good backstage drama?

ANNA: I’m all in for Kageki Shojo!! too!

ASH: Kageki Shojo!! is likewise my pick! I greatly enjoyed the first omnibus and am definitely looking forward to reading more of the series; I’ll take all the Takarazuka-adjacent manga that I can get!

MELINDA: Count me in for Kageki Shojo!! as well!

SEAN: What’s that, you say? A new light novel series that isn’t a) a fantasy, b) an isekai, or c) a high school romcom? And it’s highly acclaimed? And it’s getting an anime starting next week? Sold! The Detective is Already Dead is definitely my pick this week.

MICHELLE: I’m definitely interested in The Detective Is Already Dead, but I’ll choose the final volume of Atsumori-kun’s Bride-to-Be. It had something of an old-school shoujo feel, a la Itazura Na Kiss, and I have enjoyed it quite a bit.

ANNA: I don’t usually go for light novels but The Detective is Already Dead sounds quite intriguing.

KATE: There’s a LOT this week, but I’ll be honest: not much of it is in my wheelhouse. The one title that caught my eye was Heterogenia Linguistico, which sounds like the kind of manga that will make my nerdy heart sing. A monster linguist? Yeah, I’d read that.

ASH: Since this week is its debut, my pick goes to The Detective is Already Dead, but monster linguistics is certainly a strong contender, too.

ASH: One interesting trend of late has been the release of manga inspired by the Ring franchise. Granted, there have been new film installments produced relatively recently, so maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising that there have been manga additions, too. Either way, Sadako-san and Sadako-chan is the volume I’m most curious about this week!

MICHELLE: There isn’t one particular volume that I’m most looking forward to, but there are several Kodansha digital offerings that appeal to me, so I’ll just sort of pick them all generally.

ANNA: My pick is Those Snow White Note. One day I will read it!

SEAN: I’ll throw my pick this week to a long running title that always makes me laugh, the 15th volume of D-Frag!.

KATE: Behind the scenes, Sean was speculating that the delay of Blood on the Tracks would give me an excuse to make Shuzo Oshimi’s latest series my pick of the week, and… well, he’s right. It’s a gripping, creepy psychological thriller, and about the only thing on this week’s new arrival list that I’m truly jazzed about. So yeah, that’s my choice. Sorry/not sorry for being so predictable!

MELINDA: There isn’t a lot I’m excited about this week, but though Sean suggested the new Sword Art Online short stories to me, I think I have to go with Sadako-san and Sadako-chan as my pick. I mean. Just look at it. Sounds like it might be hilarious and fun.

SEAN: Barring an unforeseen crossover between Fist of the North Star and Ooku, I suspect Manga Bookshelf is going to be leaning one way or the other this week. I’m going to go with FotNS, even though I’m not sure I can stay with it for too long, simply because of the sheer influence it had on so many later series.

MICHELLE: I’m in the same boat. That cover art for the first volume basically says, “Michelle, I am not for you,” but I’m just so grateful that VIZ is releasing this that I have to at least check it out. A little trepidatious about those exploding limbs, though. Not gonna lie.

ANNA: “….you’re already dead!!!”

KATE: My inner historian is thrilled to see Fist of the North Star back in print, but my inner reader is more excited about the latest volumes of Maison Ikkoku and Even Though We’re Adults, two series I’m actively enjoying and collecting at the moment. I’ll probably pick up FotNS to satisfy my curiosity, but I won’t lie: I share Michelle’s general reservations about exploding limbs.

ASH: Out of everyone here, I may be the person for whom Fist of the North Star most fully aligns both interest-wise and reading habits-wise. It’s admittedly been a while since I’ve read the incomplete older English edition/s, but I loved those volumes; I am so incredibly excited that this series is finally getting another chance in print in English.

MELINDA: Okay, I know I usually say that Fumi Yoshinaga always wins, but I can’t deny that I’m excited by the prospect of actually reading Fist of the North Star after all this time. It’s gotta be my pick this week.