Manga Village

Message to Adolf is a title I have heard a lot about, but never had a chance to read since it was first released in English by Viz back in the mid nineties, and volumes are difficult to come by. But Vertical has solved that problem by re-releasing the series in a 2 volume omnibus set in hardback. Finally being given the chance to read this, I had to take it and see what everyone was talking about. Like so many of Tezuka’s other thrillers, Message to Adolf is a provocative and compelling read, but like the subject matter, not for the faint of heart. By Osamu Tezuka Publisher: Vertical, Inc. Age Rating: Teen Genre: Thriller Price: $26.95 Message to Adolf is about three men named Adolf; Kamil, a Jew who lives in Kobe, Japan, Kaufman, the son of a German Consulate father and Japanese mother who also lives in Kobe, and of course, Hitler. At the heart of the story is some secret information about Hitler, that if is got out, could bring down Hitler and the Nazi party. Both of the boys as well as a Japanese reporter named Sohei Toge become involved in the search for the…

In the third volume of The Flowers of Evil, Takao must make a decision. He now has an opportunity to break free from the social shackles that Nakamura has placed on him, as he has a chance to be loved by someone he has affections for. This could also be an opportunity to be accepted by the masses in his small community. But with this choice comes fear and self-reflection. After having a chance trip to Nakamura’s place, where he got to experience the world his only “friend” has grown up in, he realizes that for both teens, there is very little future to look forward to as they are raised in the boonies. Their lives are mapped out before them. For most adolescents these days, life will continue to be blasé at best, miserable at worst. Can they change things together? Do they want to even bother? By Shuzo Oshimi Publisher: Vertical Age Rating: 13+ Genre: Psychological Price: $10.95 Takao becomes the center of Shuzo Oshimi’s third volume of The Flowers of Evil. Pushed against a proverbial brick wall, Takao decides to run from the masses instead of becoming one of them. Though he doesn’t break free according to…

Alice is having a nap n her garden when suddenly before her there appears a young man with rabbit ears! He whisks her away to a fantastic (but dangerous) world that seems straight out of a fairy tale, but one where every resident brandishes a weapon… Will Alice ever find her way back home?

When Roman architect Lucius is criticized for his “outdated” thermae designs, he retreats to the local bath to collect his thoughts. All Lucius wants is to recapture the Rome of earlier days, when one could enjoy a relaxing bath without the pressure of merchants and roughhousing patrons. Slipping deeper into the warm water, Lucius is suddenly caught in the suction and dragged through the drainage at the bottom of the bath! He emerges coughing and sputtering amid a group of strange-looking foreigners with the most peculiar bathhouse customs…over 1,500 years in the future in modern-day Japan! his contemporaries wanted him t modernize, and so, borrowing the customs of these mysterious bath-loving people, Lucius opens what quickly becomes the most popular new bathhouse in Rome — THERMAE ROMAE By Mari Yamazaki Publisher: Yen Press Age Rating: Older Teen Genre: Historical/Comedy Price: $34.99 When I first heard about Thermae Romae, I thought the premise was ridiculous, and couldn’t sustain itself for more than a few chapters. I have never been more wrong about a title in my life. It turned out to be a funny story with fascinating cultural elements. Thermae Romae is the story of Lucius Modestus, a bathhouse engineer who…

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Reira Bandou is an ordinary, average college student, until a group of strangers tell her she is the reincarnation of Ashura, the Buddhist god of war and a member of the Hachi Bushu. Demons are invading the world, so the other members must be found, while Reira must learn to control her powers and regain her past life memories. As her memories return, the truth about the past comes to light, which could tear the Hachi Bushu apart just as the final battle with the demons is about to begin. By Yuriko Matsukawa Publisher: Digital Manga Guild Localization: Translated by Todd Gunn; Edited by Angela Eastman; Lettered by Phileas J Fogg Age Rating: Teen Genre: Supernatural/Romance Price: $6.95 eManga/$7.95 Kindle/Nook/Wowio Having recently read the CLAMP manga RG Veda, Late Advent, which also features Ashura, the Buddhist god of war, interested me. The first volume started out with a lot of potential, but the rushed ending took a lot of wind out of its sails, leading to a less than satisfying story. Late Advent started out fairly strong. Reira is introduced as she is in Art History class, learning about the Hachi Bushu, lower gods who came to earth to protect…

The Manga Movable Feast for this month is talking about the manga we’re thankful for, the people who got until reading manga, those guilty pleasures we read and enjoy despite knowing better, and the companies that feed our soul. So, here are the Manga Villagers with what manga they are thankful for.

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Every week, the Manga Villagers will go through the new releases for the week and pick out the titles they are most looking forward to reading. Whether it’s buying or just window shopping, check out what we’re looking at every week!

Madoka Kaname is a happy, normal high school girl. She has a loving family and good friends. There’s nothing to cause her harm, until Kyubey, a strange, cat-like creature comes stumbling into her life, and introduces her, and her friend Sayaka, to the world of magical girls. It seems exciting at first, as she and Sayaka go on missions with Mami, the magical girl protecting their city. But it’s not all fun and games, as the girls quickly learn, but Kyubey’s offer of granting any wish becomes too tempting to Sayaka. But not everyone is cut out to be a magical girl. Story by Magica Quartet; Art by Hanokage Publisher: Yen Press Age Rating: Older Teen Genre: Action/Fantasy Price: $11.99 Being a magical girl sounds exciting. You get magical powers, a cool transformation, an awesome weapon and a cute mascot. You use all these things to fight the powers of darkness and protect the people around you. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to be for magical girls. Puella Magi Madoka Magica takes all those expectations and turns them completely on their head. I first heard about the anime that this manga is based on, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, back…