Manga Xanadu

Since Shojo manga doesn’t tend to get the attention shonen does, its encouraging when it gets a big update like this, especially to a site mainly known for US comics that doesn’t cater to feminine tastes. There are a lot of really good titles in this update. I would personally recommend Library Wars: Love and War, Otomen, and Skip Beat. Please Save My Earth and Ouran High School Host Club are on my list to check out as well. They all should be on yours too if you haven’t. Most of them are complete and there’s no waiting for the next volume.

Every week, the New York Times and Amazon posts the top ten bestselling books. The New York Times gets their numbers from print sales from retailers, while Amazon and Vizmanga.com calculates their own numbers. Once a month the Nielsen Bookscan posts their top twenty graphic novels of which manga is included. Offered here is a listing of these books with their status this week compared with the previous week, and some way-off analysis of the activity.   New York Times Bestseller List for the week ending March 14, 2015 Monster Musume Vol 6     ↑ 1 Naruto Vol 69      ↓ 1 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds Vol 7     ↑ 1 Nisekoi False Love Vol 8     ↑ 4 JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 1 Phantom Blood Part 1     ↓ 2 Kamisama Kiss Vol 17     ↑ 1 Seraph of the End Vol 4     ∗ Attack on Titan Vol 1     ↓ 2 Unofficial Hatsune Remix     ↑ 1 Wolf Children Ami and Yuki     ↵ 10 Monster Musume Vol 6 was finally able to climb Mount Naruto to stick its flag at the top, taking the #1 spot, but the orange-suited ninja only fell down one to stay hot…

Taichi Hiraga-Keaton, the son of a Japanese zoologist and a noble English woman, is an insurance investigator known for his successful and unorthodox methods of investigation. Educated in archaeology and a former member of the SAS, Master Keaton uses his knowledge and combat training to uncover buried secrets, thwart would-be villains, and pursue the truth… When a life insurance policy worth one million pounds takes Master Keaton to the Dodecanese islands of Greece, what will he discover amidst his scuffles with bloodthirsty thieves and assassins? Master Keaton Volume 1 By Naoki Urasawa; Story by Hokusei Katsushika, Takashi Nagasaki Publisher: Viz Medial Age Rating: 16+ Genre: Drama Price: $19.99 Rating: Master Keaton is one of those licenses that was always talked about but never dreamed it would become reality. Or maybe, dreaming was all fans of the series could do. A 24 episode anime was released here by Pioneer/Geneon back in 2003, but that was as much of the story as fans could hope to get. I was so thrilled when Viz Media announced it last year. It is one of the few titles I will pre-order, sight unseen. I almost had my doubts at first. Urasawa has been hit and miss with…

Well, this is much better! At least there’s an actual selection to choose from. Seven Seas Entertainment has a decent drop this week including the debut of their new series Servamp vol 1. I think I was curious about the series when it was announced, but it’s low on the priorities list. Kodansha scores much higher with both of their releases; My Little Monster and Seven Deadly Sins, both vol 7. I need to catch up with My Little Monster, but I have been wanting to know what happens next in Seven Deadly Sins. The last volume ended on such a cliffhanger, and I really want to see those Holy Knights get the stuffing kicked out of them! Especially that obnoxious-smirking Guila! I want that smirk wiped off of her face! I would be greatly remiss if I didn’t mention Viz Media’s Master Keaton. I have said how much I love this series? No? Let me tell you so more then. Volume 1 was just great, with a perfect balance of action, humor, and drama. It’s exactly how I like my media to be, so not only is this series a must buy, it’s a preorder! The only problem I…

Back in September it was announced that Hiroshi Shiibashi’s latest original manga, Illegal Rare was ending, and the final two volumes were to be released in October and November. Shiibashi is the creator of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, a series about Yakuza yokai and ran for 25 volumes. Illegal Rare is another ensemble series about the supernatural. Humans and supernatural creatures live together in the same world, but these “Rares” are being hunted to extinction. To protect them, the Illegal Rare Counter-Protection Unit was formed. It is championed by Fukumen, a police officer that wears a mask. He goes to Axl, a member of the very rare and highly hunted Black Vampyr clan, to help him. In the first chapter, he rescues a mermaid, Mirror and she joins the unit as well. Illegal Rare is similar to Nura. It has a big cast, and features supernatural monsters. The monsters have branched out beyond the traditional Japanese monsters, yokai, and now include western monsters such as vampires, mermaids, and werewolves. The lead is a good-looking monster, and the main female is timid by loyal to the lead. Maybe it was too similar to Nura, and that’s why it didn’t succeed. I…

Viz announces lots of new debuts in digital including digital editions of print titles as well as new additions to the Viz Select line, all former Tokyopop titles. They are offering more bundles, mostly starter sets this time featuring classic manga, Signature titles, and mature manga. All have good titles and at $20, they’re a good deal if you looking to sample.

Every week, the New York Times and Amazon posts the top ten bestselling books. The New York Times gets their numbers from print sales from retailers, while Amazon and Vizmanga.com calculates their own numbers. Once a month the Nielsen Bookscan posts their top twenty graphic novels of which manga is included. Offered here is a listing of these books with their status this week compared with the previous week, and some way-off analysis of the activity.   New York Time Bestseller List for the week ending March 7, 2015 Naruto Vol 69     ∗ Monster Musume Vol 6      ∗ JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 1 Phantom Blood Vol 1     ↓ 2 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Vol 7     ∗ Akame ga Kill!Vol 1     ↓ 2 Attack on Titan Vol 1     ↓ 2 Kamisama Kiss Vol 17     ∗ Nisekoi: False Love Vol 8     ∗ All You Need Is Kill     ↵ 3 Unofficial Hatsune Mix     ↓ 1 A new Naruto volume means a new top title on the NYT list this week. Vol 69 debuts at #1, followed closely behind by the monster girls of Monster Musume. Vol 6 would be #1 if it weren’t for…

When looking for legal manga to read, the selections in English is pretty slim. Readers are limited to eBooks of titles already available in English, the apps Manga Box and Comic Walker which are online only and/or available for a limited time, or Crunchyroll’s all-you-can-read manga which does have several titles not available legally anywhere else, but skews heavily toward the more shonen/senien crowd. If you want more titles directed at women, you need to look elsewhere. Right now, that best elsewhere is Renta!, a Japanese eBook seller that is pushing its English website. Renta! isn’t a new site. It’s been around since the early 2000s, and has been making manga available in English since 2011. They have recently redesigned the site to attract more female readers by pushing romance, shojo, and ladies titles. At first glance, this looks like a really good site. Just a cursory glance over the site shows lots of titles that aren’t available in English, or would ever be on any publisher’s radar. The translations look well done and the lettering is clean. They even have a section on the site that shows the full translation process to reassure people who there is quality control….

Tsukimiya is a cursed mixed blood. Half angel and half vampire, she is shunned by both angels and demons. The only way to rid herself of the curse is to drink the blood of a pure demon, but they are had to come by. Hinata is another mixed blood looking for the same cure. They finally find in it in Tsuzuki, a candidate for godhood and must collect God’s Relics during the current Crusade in order to attain it. Satsuki, a fallen angel, has the same goal. In between the two sides is the human organization Arcana, who has their own ideas about godhood. Tsukimiya finds herself tangled up in the web all these groups have woven, when all she wants is to live a long and normal life. Bloody Cross Volume 1-5 By Shiwo Komeyama Publisher: Yen Press Age Rating: Older Teen Genre: Fantasy/Action Price: $11.99 Rating: I had my doubts about Bloody Cross. Considering the publisher, both here and in Japan, I feared this series might have a heavy male gaze aspect to the art. I wasn’t wrong. Sadly that isn’t this title’s worse problem. I decided to give it a try after seeing some positive comments about…

Due to Diamond Distributors shipping Viz Media titles early last week, there isn’t much of a list this week. In fact, I don’t think you can call it a list really. Only two titles are coming out this week; Knights of Sidonia from Vertical Comics and Girls Und Panzer Little Army from Seven Seas Entertainment. I’m really only familiar with Knights of Sidonia. I’ve read up to at least vol 5. Of course, the series is now up to vol 13. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far. Nihei has created a fun and interesting world filled excitement and danger. I reviewed the first to volumes at Good Comics for Kids. I’ll have more coming down the pike later. Seven Seas is releasing Girls Und Panzer Little Army vol 2 this week. This is a title that’s easy to chalk up to the whole moe thing with cute girls in tanks, but I’ve heard that there is a lot more substance to the title. At least, I’ve heard enough that I would consider checking it out. Full list per Diamond Distributors: SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT Girls Und Panzer Little Army Volume 2 GN, $12.99 VERTICAL Knights Of Sidonia Volume 13 GN, $12.95

I love to do crafts and have dabbled in quite a few, including beading. I’ve made mostly earrings back when my eyes could see the tiny beads and my more nimble hands could hold them and string them on the needle and thread. Now, I am more content to read about it. Otokomae! Bead Club is a one shot volume by Kyousuke Motomi. Her name is well-known among western shojo manga fans. Two of her titles, Beast Master and Dengeki Daisy were licensed and released in the US by Viz Media. Her newest title, QQ Sweeper has also just been picked up, with the first volume out later this year. This title is an earlier series first published in 2004 in Shogakukan’s Betsucomi magazine. It ran for three chapters, and the compiled volume includes a side story and extra. The story follows Oikawa Ibuki, a high school girl who has just transferred schools so she can start over. She is very strong and versed in the martial arts, but she wants to be more gentile and feminine, and find a boy who is stronger than her. On her way to her first day, she meets Takumi Urabe, a mysterious boy…

I have been waiting for this series since is was announced in Japan. I’ve always had a fascination with the War of the Roses, and with Richard III being in the news lately, my interest in the much maligned monarch has grown. I’m really interested in seeing this mangaka’s take on the character and the time period.