Manga Xanadu

Due to Diamond shipping Viz’s shonen and shojo titles early last week, this week is looking very bare. Only three titles are coming out this week, one of which is from Viz’s BL line Sublime. One Peace Books is a small boutique publisher that has gotten into manga just recently. They’ve had some good word of mouth with Whispered Words, a yuri title. Their new title to be released this week is much more of a shonen action title, Aquarion Evol. It is the sequel to the anime Genesis of Aquarion which had some elements that could be called problematic. This series might be traversing the same road. We’ll see. Vertical Comics continues its release of the action-horror title Ajin with Volume 4 this week, but looks close to catching up to the Japanese release. Ajin keeps getting good word of mouth press from readers and critics, so hopefully sales are matching even with Crunchyroll running new chapters digitally. Kei Nagai’s trials continue to intrigue, and with more demi-humans coming out of the woodwork with this volume, the story can just only get more intriguing. While I don’t fully endorse the Vizmanga app, they do have some good bundle sales going. This…

Look at all this manga this week, and it’s no April Fool’s joke! Kodansha has a bunch of their heavy hitters with two Attack on Titan volumes and the latest Fairy Tail. But the series that’s gotten quite a bit of talk-up is Yamada-Kun and the Seven Witches. It is available on Crunchyroll digitally with the newest chapters, but Kodansha is also releasing it in print. It’s a shonen harem comedy, so that’s not too surprising. It’s rare when that kind of series doesn’t sell. The first volume debuts today. Seven Seas has a couple of titles that do not involve monsters, and they involve girls. Citrus is one of their yuri titles, and volume 1 did well, so it will be interesting to see if volume 2 does just as well. Volume 4 of Arpeggio of Blue Steel is also out, the sub warfare series that still manages to get in cute girls. Some series are finishing up this week as well. Vertical Comic’s social media thriller, Prophecy ends it’s run this week with volume 3. The first two volumes are fantastic, so I can’t wait for this volume to see how it all ends. Diamond ships the huge…

Kodansha and Seven Seas Entertainment are back this week, but their selections just aren’t speaking to me. Kodansha is top-loaded with titles I have no interest in. I gave up on Vampire Cheerleaders a while ago, even though that interest was mild at best, and I lost track of the Alice In the Country Of… awhile ago. So, I leave it to Yen Press again to spark my interest and they do a pretty good job this week. Second volumes of Demon From Afar and Love at Fourteen are out this week. The first volume of Demon From Afar felt like a prologue, so I’m curious to see where it goes in the second. Love at Fourteen is a pretty cute romance, so I can’t wait to see where things go in volume 2. Yen Press is releasing a few new titles as well that I want to read. I unexpectedly really enjoyed the first Puella Magi Oriko Magica series, so I’m really looking forward to reading Extra Story. I love the glimpses at alternate universes the spin offs give us. I’m curious about Devil is a Part-Timer. I think the idea of a Demon Lord having to work as a…

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…

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

It’s a big Viz week with both their shonen and shojo titles as well as plenty of Pokémon from their kid imprint Perfect Square. Everyone else is slumming it with one volume each. Dark Horse has New Lone Wolf and Cub Vol 4, while Kodansha releases the 5th omnibus of xxxHolic. Whispered Words from One Peace Books and is a yuri series about a girl who is secretly in love with her best friend, but who isn’t her type. It keeps getting good word of mouth, so it might be worth picking up even with the higher price point Viz’s avalanche of shonen and shojo is hard to escape. I recently re-read the first volume of Kamisama Kiss, and now I’m feeling the itch to binge read, but catching up will hurt the pocket-book with volume 17 coming out this week, even if it were available as an e-book! Rose lovers have two titles to choose from this week, with Kiss of the Rose Princess Vol 3 being released, but even more exciting, and a week early, is Requiem of the Rose King Vol 1. This historical shojo by Aya Kanno, the creator of Otomen, is based on Shakespeare’s play Richard III, and…

Some interesting titles debut this week. Dark Horse releases the second of their two manga by Satoshi Kon, Seraphim 266613336 Wings. Kon does the art while the writing was done by Mamoru Oshii, another anime director. It’s been highly anticipated by fans of both creators. Kodansha Comics’ new title is Maria the Virgin Witch. It’s by Masayuki Ishikawa, the creator of the short-lived release Moyashimon by earlier publisher Del Rey. The subject of this series, a witch who must remain a virgin to keep her powers is more up the alley of western readers than germs were. Seven Seas Entertainment releases the first volume of Nurse Hitomi’s Monster Infirmary. I wasn’t too sure about the series, but a fair-to-middling’ review has me curious enough to flip through it. Yen Press has a whole lot of nope in their releases this week. Ani-Imo, Gou-Dere Sora Nagihara and BTOOOM! are all titles I pass by on guilt free. I keep wondering if I would be curious enough to check out High School DxD, but fortunately, I’ve got a lot of other titles to keep distracting me. I do still need to dig into Barakamon. I have the first two volumes sitting in…

It’s super light in manga this week. Kodansha has nothing that interests me. I finally read the first volume of Manga Dogs and was sadly disappointed by it. The manga references were cute, but the volume as a whole just wasn’t funny, so I’ll pass on volume 3’s release. While I like the Pokemon Adventures manga series more than the TV series, the manga adaptations of the movies have been decent. The adaptation of the last movie to be released, Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, comes out from Perfect Square, Viz Media’s kid imprint. Vertical Comics gets the thumb’s up this week with their all ages and comedy releases. I really enjoyed Cardfight! Vanguard. It’s a great combination of fun characters and collectible card games. Even if you can’t get the volumes with the limited edition game cards, pick up this series anyway. It’s just as fun to read as to play. Witchcraft Works has the kind of comedy I really enjoy; the deadpan protagonist. Takamiya keeps the same straight expression, no matter what is going on around her, whether she’s being attacked by witches or their giant bunny minions. It looks to be a great series and will be…

Wow, I know end of the month lists can be tough, but this one is seriously rough. There are only four different titles coming out from four different companies. The only title I would really have a lot of interest in getting is Fairy Tail vol 46 from Kodansha. I am so far behind on Fairy Tail I’m thinking just looking for the beginning of the latest arc and picking it up there and going back to read the backlog later. It worked for Attack on Titan, but then I wasn’t 41 volumes behind either. Seven Seas Entertainment has another male gaze oriented title with I Don’t Like You At All Big Brother that I am passing on guilt free, and Yen Press has just one title, Soul Eater. I know this has been a popular series for a long time, but I just couldn’t get into it. Not at the beginning, and especially not now. Vertical releases the final volume of From the New World with vol 7. I wasn’t thrilled by the first volume due to its heavy fan service, but I’d heard from friends that the story was good, so I’ll give it another try. I can power…

No matter how I look at it, it’s Yen Press’s fault I’m not caught up reading manga! Look at all these omnibuses that are coming out from them this week. Goong, Ubel Blatt, Umineko When They Cry, and Until Death Do Us Part. I can’t keep up with regular releases, as it is, and with so many omnibuses, my TBR pile just looks worse! There is one non-omnibus title from Yen Press I’d like to check out; Secret Vol 1. I haven’t read Judge or Doubt, but I’m considering giving Secret a try. It looks like it will have more of a mystery element to it than just a psychological thriller. Also new this week from Yen Press is Akame Ga Kill. I know a lot of people have been looking forward to it, but I’m gonna pass on it. It screams harem, with the one country bumpkin guy surrounded by hot girl assassins. I just don’t see the appeal of these harem comedies. The other publishers aren’t helping much either. Kodansha releases three titles I do enjoy, though My Little Monster and Noragami sit a little higher on the pile than Missions of Love. Seven Seas has the third volume…

Some of the smaller publishers pop up this week. BL readers will note Digital Manga Publishing has some print books coming out. Netcomics has the second volume of their new series Give to the Heart, and a one shot of the classic novel The Prince by Machiavelli. Seven Seas Entertainment pleases both the boys and girls with the new Alice in the Country of Clover: The Lizard Aide, and Strike Witches: One- Winged Witches. Kodansha only has one title this week, the sixth volume of Seven Deadly Sins, marking the half way for the current releases in Japan. After reading some older Case Closed titles, I’m back in the mood to read more. Viz Media releases volume 53, which isn’t even close to being caught up. This title has been running in serialization for 20 years, and doesn’t seem to show any signs of slowing down! At 85 volumes and counting, it may be another 20 years before we’ve caught up! Vertical Comics has the top manga of the week with their first volume of My Neighbor Seki. The description makes the title sound ridiculous, but it is so much better than that. It is so funny, I loved every…

It’s a new year with plenty of new manga to check out. There is a nice mix of titles this week in both shonen, shojo and the young reader demographics. Dark Horse releases the first volume in the sequel/continuation of the CLAMP series Legal Drug with Drug and Drop omnibus coming out. Viz’s kid imprint, Perfect Square has new Pokèmon, Adventures and Black and White. I’ve only just caught up with Vertical Comics’ What Did You Eat Yesterday Vol 4-5, and now I’ve got 6 breathing down my neck! Kodansha has the fifth volume of a shojo series I really enjoy, Say I Love You. I have vols 3-4 stacked up, so with vol 5 I can indulge in another binge read. This is always good and bad. I love getting big doses of my favorite titles, but then it’s a long wait for the new volume! This is Viz Media’s big shonen and shojo week, but it’s not as big usual. The Akira Toriyama One-shot Jaco the Galactic Patrolman finally makes it’s digital and print debut. Joining it is the new shojo title Meteor Prince Vol 1. I wasn’t wowed by the premise of Meteor Prince but those who…