Manga Xanadu

It’s the day before Christmas and Yen Press decides to flood the bookstores with their new releases! Don’t they realize most of the money is gone by the 24th? How am I suppose to not only keep up with my favorite regular releases, but also pick up the new ones?! Spice and Wolf Volume 10 comes out this week, and as soon as I get volume 7 I will binge read to catch up. That’s how I got hooked in the first place, binge reading volume 1-6, so another binge can only be a good thing. While not a regular release, it is one that is good to see return. Tena on S-String hasn’t had a volume released since 2010, where the first arc ended, but nothing was resolved just yet. It returns this week in an omnibus 2-in-1, starting up a new arc. I wasn’t enamored by the series, but I grew to like the characters well enough that I wouldn’t mind seeing how the next arc starts. Of the new releases, I do have some interest in the new light novel series A Certain Magical Index, and I wouldn’t mind seeing if Milkyway Hitchhiking read better as a…

It’s a week until Christmas! Time to fill a manga lover’s stocking with their favorite titles! Only four publishers are offering new volumes this week. Kodansha has the second volume of Manga Dogs already. It feels like it just came out, and already volume 2 is out. Seven Seas Entertainment dumps the rest of their titles this week, including their first volume of their yuri series Citrus. They’ve really been pushing this one on social media. If you want Seven Seas to keep licensing yuri titles, then throw your support behind this one. The first volume of the second series of Dance In The Vampire Bund, Scarlet Order, also comes out. If you’ve been lamenting the end of the last series, lament no more! Vertical only has one volume, but it’s a big one. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Volume 8 hits the streets, and covers on of the bloodiest battles in the series. Viz Media releases a near handful of Signature titles. I knew Dorohedoro was still coming out, albeit slowly. Currently at volume 14, it’s coming up close to the end. I was really surprised to see that Afterschool Charisma was not only still going, but had reached volume…

Several publishers have books coming out this week, just not a lot. Gen Manga Entertainment is back in the print game. Over the last couple of months they’ve been releasing books in print. This month it’s Stones of Power. The third volume of Attack on Titan Before the Fall, the manga adaptation of the second two light novels is out this week from Kodansha. I still want to see the first volume adapted. Vertical Comics has #2 volumes of Ajin and Witchcraft Works out, two titles that appear to be doing well for small publisher. Alice in Wonderland could almost be considered a genre on its own  with all the titles that have come out of Japan lately that are based, however loosely, on the original story. Seven Seas Entertainment jumped on that bandwagon with I Am Alice Body Swap In Wonderland, a gender-bending take on the story. If you like gender-bending stories, and aren’t completely burned out on Alice derivatives. In a different Wonderland, Deadman Wonderland, Viz Media finally surpasses the original Tokyopop releases and comes out with all new material with Volume 6. If you’ve been waiting for the rest of the story, it starts here.  Full list…

It’s the first Tuesday of the month, and publishers have manga to release! If you haven’t been following the weekly releases, DC finally has the first volume of Batman: The Jiro Kuwata Batmanga collected, and perfectly timed for landing under the Christmas tree. It’s mix of Batman action and 60s insanity will be a double treat for Batman/manga fans. Or just something for non-Batman fans to laugh at. For not so laughing material, Vertical Comics releases volume 12 of Knights of Sidonia, their popular sci-fi series. This series will be caught up with the Japanese release with its next volume. Fans will then have to endure a long and excruciating wait to get their next fix. Can they hold out? Viz Media has the lion’s share of titles this week with their shonen and shojo titles making landfall. Assassination Classroom, the title about an alien threatening to destroy the Earth that takes on a class of middle school misfits is finally out. I’m seriously considering this one. New in shojo is Yukarism, a gender-bending, time-traveling title by Chika Shiomi. I will pick up the first volume of any series by her. She is one of the few mangaka I have that…

It’s the last Wednesday of the month and just before a holiday, usually not a big week for manga releases. But considering that holiday leads into the biggest shopping weekend of the year, you’d think publishers would have a little more to try to entice readers out. Dark Horse Comics seems to be thinking that way a little with their only manga release; Satoshi Kon’s OPUS. Fans of the anime director have been waiting for this title not so patiently. Younger readers will want to pick up the fourth volume of Cardfight! Vanguard. I really enjoyed the first two volumes, and they do seem to be doing well for Vertical. I hope they can find more all ages gems like this one. Kodansha has been doing well by me lately, but not so much this week. I have the first volume of Attack on Titan Junior High, but I just haven’t been able to make myself read it. The preview chapter I read left me very underwhelmed, but I hadn’t read the beginning volumes at that time. Maybe the humor will improve now that I have a context and will find volume 2 more appealing. I’ll just have to try…

It takes all kinds to make a fandom, and manga is no exception. In fact, that is one of the things that makes manga so great. You can find something to suit just about any taste. The unfortunate part is that it means a lot of things will come out that you don’t care for. This week’s new releases is sadly filled with titles I really don’t care for. Seven Seas Entertainment has itself a niche in one such area I really like to avoid. It’s titles Dragonar Academy and surprise hit Monster Musume are the kind of male gaze I can do with out. Yen Press is Seven Seas’ sempai in this with High School DxD, and new titles Ani-Imo and Gou Dere Sora Nagihara. I try to walk past these titles quickly, trying not to look. Fortunately, these are just as many titles I love or would love to pick up. Kodansha prepares for the holidays with two Attack on Titan Box Sets for easy catch up. I enjoyed the first volume of Noragami, despite my initial feelings, so I’m looking forward to picking up volume 2. I am tempted by Seven Seas’ Devils and Realist. I just wish…

Kodansha pleases male gaze fans this week with new releases of Air Gear, Cage of Eden and UQ Holder. I wish there were more female gaze, non-YAOI titles available, but few to no publishers seem to appreciate us female gaze, non-YAOI inclined readers. Viz Media releases new volumes 07-Ghost and Rin-Ne. Remember Rin-Ne, the Shonen Sunday series that started as a simultaneous release, that just faded away without a word? It’s up to volume 16! What on earth keeps this series going? It’s not really that funny, and is only mildly entertaining at best, and what irks me most; no digital releases available. People are actually paying full price for this series. Amazing! Omnibuses have really taken off with manga publishers, as is evident on this week’s list. All three publishers with releases this week have at least one omnibus of an older series coming out. Dark Horse’s only release is an omnibus of Samurai Executioner. Kodansha has two with Air Gear and  Tsubasa, and Viz Media has Fullmetal Alchemist and Ranma 1/2. I think omnibuses are a great idea, especially for older titles with a lot of volumes. What would make them better is if they were also available…

It’s the beginning of the month, and that means Viz releases its torrent of shonen and shojo titles. Among the new releases are the debut of the shojo Kiss of the Rose Prince and the 2-in-1 omnibus of All You Need I Kill. For those who don’t want to pick up volumes one at a time, a prefer getting a bundle at a time, Viz has box sets just in time for the holiday season. The One Piece box set covers the “Skypeia” and “Waters Seven” arcs. This is worth looking at just for the “Waters Seven” arc, possibly the best one in the series. Vampire Knight is done, so now you can get rest of the series with the second box set. Seven Seas Entertainment releases several volumes, including the first print release of Lucifer and The Biscuit Hammer, a title originally only available in digital from Jmanga. Also out are new volumes of Sacred Blacksmith and Zero’s Familiar Chevalier, but its the new Alice in the Country of Clover Knight’s Knowledge vol 3 that’s gonna get the attention. I’m personally looking forward to  Attack on Titan vol 14 from Kodansha, Pokemon Adventures Volume 25 from Viz/Perfect Square, and…

This week is a good week for shojo readers. Kodansha releases the 4th volume of Say I Love You, their new shojo title that I was surprised I not only liked but also managed to distinguish itself from other titles by taking a more direct approach to teens, their relationships and feelings. Viz Media has a lot of shojo titles I like, and this week releases three that are high on my list. My Love Story is a new series that I’m hoping will end my bad luck with romantic comedies. Volume 2 is out this week. Natsume’s Book of Friends is a title I would call a comfort manga. It’s relaxing story and engaging characters is perfect to relax to after a rough day. Volume 17 is out this week. Happy Marriage?! is a shojo for a more mature crowd. I’ve enjoyed watching Chiwa’s and Hokuto’s relationship get over the bumpy spots and grow. It’s sad that the series is almost done with Volume 8 now out, but I’m looking forward to a Happy Ending. It’s not all shojo this week, as the title of this post says. Seven Seas Entertainment releases a title that has me curious but…

It’s time to check the results of another week at Manga Village! And in honor of Super Tuesday that just passed, we’ve got some reviews that fit political life. Charles Tan starts off with the classic political drama Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President Book One from Viz. This is definitely worth a look in light of the current campaigns. If you can find it. Do some womanizing with Lissa Pattillo’s review of Ral Omega Grad Vol 1 from Viz, and then face the conseqences with Nana Vol 8 from Viz. reviewed by me. And finally, get rid of that pesky rival with a visit from Hell Girl Vol 1 from Del Rey reviewed by John Thomas. If you’re in politics, you know you’re going to Hell anyway…. Check out what we recommend to pick up this week in our Picks ‘n’ Mix column. Come check us out, leave a comment, and we promise not to ban or censor you.