Antarctic Press
GOLD DIGGER #118 (MR) 05/26/10 SRP: $2.99
GOLD DIGGER TP 05 GOLD BRICK COLL 05/26/10 SRP: $49.95
CHIP #2 (OF 2) 05/26/10 SRP: $3.99

Bandai
CODE GEASS KNIGHT GN VOL 01 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99
GUNDAM 00F GN VOL 03 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99
LUCKY STAR GN VOL 05 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99

CMX
NADESHIKO CLUB VOL 01 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
APOTHECARIUS ARGENTUM VOL 09 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
RAMPAGE VOL 02 (MR) 06/23/10 SRP: $12.99
DEKA KYOSHI VOL 03 06/16/10 SRP: $9.99
TALE OF AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY VOL 03 06/23/10 SRP: $9.99
TENJHO TENGE VOL 19 (MR) 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
VENUS IN LOVE 06/30/10 SRP: $9.99

Dark Horse
CARDCAPTOR SAKURA OMNIBUS ED VOL 01 07/14/10 SRP: $19.99
GANTZ TP VOL 12 (MR) 07/28/10 SRP: $12.99
KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE TP VOL 11 (MR) 07/28/10 SRP: $10.99

Del Rey
FAIRY NAVIGATOR RUNA GN VOL 01 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99
MOYASIMON GN VOL 02 (RES) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99
NEGIMA GN VOL 26 (MR) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99
NIGHT HEAD GENESIS GN VOL 02 (MR) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99

DMP
YASHAKIDEN DEMON PRINCESS NOVEL VOL 02 (OF 4) 05/26/10 SRP: $13.95
YOUR LOVE SICKNESS GN (MR) 05/12/10 SRP: $12.95
HONEY CHOCOLATE GN 05/26/10 SRP: $12.95
WHEN THE HEAVENS SMILE GN 05/26/10 SRP: $12.95
COLD FEVER NOVEL (MR) 05/26/10 SRP: $8.95
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE NOVEL VOL 02 (OF 2) (MR) 05/12/10 SRP: $8.95

801 Media
DEEPLY LOVING A MANIAC GN (A) 05/26/10 SRP: $15.95
ZE GN VOL 06 (OF 6) (A) 05/12/10 SRP: $15.95

FanFare
KOREA AS VIEWED BY 12 CREATORS TP 05/26/10 SRP: $19.95

:01 FIRST SECOND
FOILED GN 05/19/10 SRP: $15.99

Icarus
A G SUPER EROTIC ANTHOLOGY #110 (RES) (A) 05/26/10 SRP: $4.99
TEKA PITA GN (A) 05/26/10 SRP: $19.95

WARCRAFT SHADOW WING GN VOL 01 DRAGONS OF OUTLAND (RES) (NOTE PRICE) 05/26/10 SRP: $12.99 = $
MAR10 1147 WARCRAFT MAGE GN 05/26/10 SRP: $12.99 = $
MAR10 1148 DEADMAN WONDERLAND GN VOL 02 (OF 6) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1149 PRIEST PURGATORY #3 (OF 4) (C: 0-1-2) 05/26/10 SRP: $3.99 = $
MAR10 1150 ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF HEARTS GN VOL 03 (OF 3) (C: 0-1-1) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1151 FUTURE DIARY GN VOL 06 (OF (MR) (C: 0-1-1) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
PAGE 297
SPOT MAR10 1152 NEKO RAMEN VOL 01 (OF 3) HEY ORDER UP 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1153 PORTRAIT OF M & N GN VOL 02 (OF 6) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1154 KARAKURI ODETTE GN VOL 03 (OF 6) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1155 GAKUEN ALICE GN VOL 11 (OF 19) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1156 SILVER DIAMOND GN VOL 06 (OF 10) (C: 0-1-1) 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99 = $
MAR10 1157 FRUITS BASKET ULTIMATE ED GN VOL 05 (OF 4) 05/26/10 SRP: $14.99 = $
MAR10 1158 GRAVITATION COLLECTION GN VOL 05 (OF 6) (MR) 05/26/10 SRP: $14.99 = $
MAR10 1159 ISLE OF FORBIDDEN LOVE GN (A) (C: 1-0-0) 05/26/10 SRP: $14.99 = $
MAR10 1160 MADNESS GN VOL 02 (OF 2) (A) (C: 1-0-0) 05/26/10 SRP: $14.99 = $
PAGE 298
UDON ENTERTAINMENT CORP
MAR10 1161 STREET FIGHTER WORLD WARRIOR ENCYCLOPEDIA SC (C: 0-0-1) 05/26/10 SRP: $13.99 = $
MAR10 1162 SILENT MOBIUS COMPLETE ED GN VOL 04 (C: 0-0-1) 05/26/10 SRP: $14.99 = $
PAGE 299
MAR10 1163 DARKSTALKERS TP VOL 02 NIGHT WARRIORS (C: 0-0-1) 05/26/10 SRP: $12.99 = $
OA MAR10 1164 DARKSTALKERS TP VOL 01 (O/A) 05/05/10 SRP: $12.99 = $
SS MAR10 1165 DARKSTALKERS TRIBUTE SC (JUN091087) 04/28/10 SRP: $39.99 = $
OA MAR10 1166 DARKSTALKERS GRAPHIC FILE SC (O/A) 05/05/10 SRP: $34.99 = $
PAGE 300
TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
SS MAR10 1167 FLASH COMPANION SC (MAY084165) 04/28/10 SRP: $26.95 = $
OA MAR10 1168 WORKING METHODS COMIC CREATORS PROCESS SC (O/A) 05/05/10 SRP: $21.95 = $
VANGUARD PRODUCTIONS
MAR10 1169 FRAZETTA DEFINITIVE REFERENCE SC NEW PTG 05/26/10 SRP: $29.95 = $
MAR10 1170 HAL FOSTER PRINCE OF ILLUSTRATORS SC NEW PTG (NOTE PRICE) 05/26/10 SRP: $24.95 = $
VEROTIK
MAR10 1171 MORELLA PRESENTS VEROTIKA RETURNS SPEC FAN CLUB CVR (MR) 05/26/10 SRP: $9.95 = $
OA MAR10 1172 DRUKIJA CONTESSA OF BLOOD LIMITED SC (O/A) (MR) 05/05/10 SRP: $24.95 = $
VERTICAL INC
TEZUKAS BLACK JACK TP VOL 11 05/19/10 SRP: $16.95
FLOWERS OF EDO NOVEL HC 05/26/10 SRP: $26.95
CHI’S SWEET HOME TP VOL 1 06/02/10 SRP: $13.95

VIZ MEDIA
AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA TP VOL 01 06/16/10 SRP: $12.99
CHILDREN OF THE SEA TP VOL 03 06/16/10 SRP: $14.99
NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 09 06/16/10 SRP: $12.99
DETROIT METAL CITY GN VOL 05 (MR) 06/09/10 SRP: $12.99
TORIKO GN VOL 01 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
YU GI OH R GN VOL 05 (OF 5) 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
NARUTO TP VOL 48 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
CLAYMORE TP VOL 16 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
BLEACH TP VOL 31 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
ONE PIECE TP VOL 49 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
ONE PIECE TP VOL 50 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
ONE PIECE TP VOL 51 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
ONE PIECE TP VOL 52 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
ONE PIECE TP VOL 53 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
SHONEN JUMP JULY 2010 06/02/10 SRP: $4.99
ARATA THE LEGEND TP VOL 02 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
HAYATE COMBAT BUTLER TP VOL 15 06/16/10 SRP: $9.99
INU YASHA TP VOL 49 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
BATTLE ANGEL ALITA LAST ORDER TP VOL 13 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
GESTALT GN VOL 07 06/16/10 SRP: $9.99
LIBRARY WARS GN VOL 01 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
VAMPIRE KNIGHT TP VOL 10 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
FUSHIGI YUGI VIZBIG ED GN VOL 06 (OF 6) 06/16/10 SRP: $17.99
BOBOBO-BO BO-BOBO SHONEN JUMP ED GN VOL 04 06/09/10 SRP: $9.99
BUTTERFLIES FLOWERS GN VOL 03 (MR) 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
CACTUS SECRET GN VOL 02 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
CRIMSON HERO TP VOL 13 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
HAPPY HAPPY CLOVER GN VOL 05 06/02/10 SRP: $7.99
HONEY & CLOVER GN VOL 10 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
HOSHIN ENGI TP VOL 19 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
LA CORDA DORO TP VOL 12 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
MAGIC TOUCH GN VOL 08 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
MUHYO ROJIS BUREAU SUPER INVEST TP VOL 17 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
POKEMON ADVENTURES TP 07 2ND ED 06/02/10 SRP: $7.99
RASETSU GN VOL 05 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
SLAM DUNK GN VOL 10 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
ST DRAGON GIRL GN VOL 07 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99
WILD ONES GN VOL 10 06/02/10 SRP: $9.99

Yen Press
YEN PLUS MAGAZINE VOL 3 #7 JULY 2010 06/23/10 SRP: $8.99
BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 01 05/26/10 SRP: $10.99
BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 02 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
CAT PARADISE GN VOL 04 (MR) 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
KOBATO GN VOL 01 05/19/10 SRP: $11.99
KOBATO GN VOL 02 05/19/10 SRP: $11.99
LAON GN VOL 02 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
MY GIRLFRIENDS A GEEK GN VOL 01 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
ONE FINE DAY TP VOL 02 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
ONINAGI GN VOL 03 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
PANDORA HEARTS GN VOL 02 05/19/10 SRP: $10.99
TWILIGHT MANGA GN VOL 01 (OF 2) 05/12/10 SRP: $19.99

King of RPGs
By: Jason Thompson and Victor Hao
Publisher: Del Rey
Price: $10.99
Rating: 16+/Older Teen

It’s freshman year at the fictional University of California Escondido for Sessions Maccabee and, while it’s a brand-new start, he’s hiding a big secret — he was addicted to online role-playing games in high school, resulting in a serious mental breakdown, hours of therapy and now regularly taking psychoactive drugs. With his best friend and fellow freshman, Mike, Sesh is trying to keep “clean” and stay away from World of Warfare, his drug of choice. That is, until they meet tabletop RPG master Theodore, who sees an amazing amount of game-playing potential in Sesh. With new friend Jen in tow, Sesh, Mike and Theodore enter the wide world of Escondido’s tabletop gaming underground where they encounter elves, snake men, vampires and more.

First things first, I’m no RPG gamer, online or otherwise. But, I absolutely loved this book because of all the cool references to places and things familiar to me. From name-dropping Escondido (located in San Diego County, where I live) to mentioning Japanese anime, I couldn’t help but smile every time. Considering Jason Thompson’s manga expertise, I expected this series to be good, but I never expected it to be this good, especially considering the plot. Even though I expected jokes to use a lot insider terminology that would break up the flow of the story, I didn’t find myself skipping a beat when things got a little jargon-y. The story here really flows and there’s plenty of zany activities that seem almost plausible.

But, this introductory volume really touched a newsworthy point for me — when Sesh and Mike enter freshmen orientation their first day, they role-play in a minority sensitivity exercise. At first, I laughed, being fully aware that University of California San Diego — where Thompson completed his undergraduate degree — was being skewered here. Unfortunately, controversy recently erupted on the campus and showed how far the campus had to go towards acceptance. Regardless, it was a fleeting connection to reality in an otherwise great shonen-esque book that expects readers to play along while momentarily suspending disbelief.

While this is artist Victor Hao’s first series, he does an amazing job with character design and setting scenes, from Sesh’s dorm room to the fantasy world of Mages & Monsters, a play on Dungeons & Dragons. Theodore’s love of RPGs really comes through in his rosy, apple cheeks and Jen’s penchant for renaissance faires is a nice unexpected bit of comedy. Hao’s action scenes are well plotted with none of the “whose this, whose that?” jumble of bodies and speed lines. I also liked the various incarnations of the characters; when playing Mages & Monsters, the cast is transformed into their RPG characters, yet still recognizable. It’s a surprisingly well done effort by someone new to the art of paneled storytelling.

Overall, I can’t recommend King of RPGs enough — its tongue-in-cheek humor, pop culture references aplenty and name-dropping of all things nerdy gives enough cultural touchstones for anyone to enjoy it. If you don’t laugh at this story at some point, you have no soul (or at the very least an underdeveloped sense of humor). As Jen’s ren faire character might say, “Get thee to a bookseller!” and pick up this title pronto.

君に届け #1
by: 椎名 軽穂

Kimi ni Todoke #1
by: Shiina Kahoru

Hakusensha/Viz Media/shoujo - $8.99 - Rated 13+

You kids aren’t going to like this but I’m gonna have to tell you how to read your manga today. Why? Cause Kimi ni Todoke is here and it like few shoujo titles recently teaches readers that the foundation of every great manga is always and only…CHARACTERS! Screw narrative! Forget character design! If you cannot feel passionate about the leads in your favorite sequential stories then you aren’t getting it. (Please turn in your manga card and unbookmark this site, you are part of the problem.)

Kimi to Todoke from the very first chapter presents the least likely of leads and immediately presents a case where anyone who can properly read manga will immediately fall in love with her. Yes! In love with the character everyone in mangaland is afraid of. Why? Because she is pure malable youth desperate to grow, learn and be loved.

Taking the best from the world of shounen and placing it squarely in the drama and romance of shoujo, KnD doesn’t do anything fancy or rely on genre tropes. Nah, this is plain high school rom-com…maybe even sit-com built upon character tension. Those simple moments when we doubt ourselves–like as we anxiously ready ourselves before a date; wait nervously for a test to start; or when we are making new friends… This concepts are so universal, so easy to relate to that we could all at one point be Sawako. Yes even the egomaniacs, cause hey…Sawako can speak with spirits!!

From Me to You…It’s funny how the English title has crazy meaning. And if you ain’t reading this you sure as heck aren’t part of what manga is trying to tell you.

WINNER!!! My 2009 Manga of the Year!! 2009 Shoujo Manga of the Year!!! 2009 Best New Manga of the Year!!

No other title had me laugh so loud, cry so much and cheer for its lead more! (literally tearing up as a type this) I [HEART] SAWAKO and I need more Kimi ni Todoke!

Click on badge to listen download the review (16min .mp3).

Up Next… Name of the Flower, Red Snow, Read Me, the Box Man

Stolen Hearts, vol. 1
By Miku Sakamoto
Publisher: CMX
Price: $9.99
Rating: T for Teen/13+

Koguma is misunderstood — everyone at school is afraid of him because he’s big and looks intimidating. When petite Shinobu spills a drink on his bag one day, he tells her she’s ruined an expensive kimono and she must repay him for the damage. Frightened for her life, she does as he says and ends up at the kimono shop of Koguma’s entrepreneurial grandmother. Paid to dress in kimonos and hand out fliers each day to advertise the shop to younger customers, Shinobu gets to know Koguma better each day. Will Shinobu discover a side to Koguma that no one else knows?

Just like tiny Shinobu, Stolen Hearts has quite a bit of cute appeal. But, it’s also without romantic tension; it’s obvious the author originally meant this to be a one-shot as the first chapter gets our couple together quickly. The lack of conflict usually counts against a story, but I found myself too distracted by all the pretty kimonos to care. There was even a “how to” on wearing kimonos!

Of course, I enjoyed Shinobu’s endearing drive to show everyone the Koguma that she knows, even if it will eventually take away the running gag this comic is built on. Thankfully, there’s still the size difference between the 4′10″ Shinobu and 6′2″ Koguma for a few laughs. But, the real star of this story is Koguma’s dollar-driven granny — she had me hooked as soon as she smacked Koguma with her house slipper; she’s a tough cookie that even the local yakuza are afraid of! Her constant teasing of Koguma never grows tired, and it provides a nice balance to Shinobu’s growing adoration.

The artwork here really plays on the differences between Shinobu and Koguma. She’s a wide-eyed, small girl, while he’s the large, mysteriously handsome type. As mentioned earlier, their size difference is played up for laughs. Then there’s the ever-present kimonos — they’re cute, but I also found myself a little overwhelmed by all the patterns. Otherwise, the art is pleasant and there are plenty of colorful characters outside of Koguma’s grandmother. Lastly, even though I’m a little old for them, I really liked the “Coloring Pages for Young Maidens” at volume’s end.

All in all, Stolen Hearts is an innocent and entertaining little love story with plenty of effortless charm. There’s a chaste sweetness, and while it veers precariously close to becoming saccharine, it breaks in with a joke at bashful Koguma’s expense. If you’re looking for a few laughs and cute kimonos alongside some high school romance, you would be hard pressed to find a story as unique as Stolen Hearts.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

For more reviews by Lorena Nava Ruggero, visit her manga review blog, i ♥ manga.

Blast from the past this week. Remember when TenTen was a big deal? No really a few years ago Oh! Great’s title was the scandal of the year which somehow lead manga coverage outside of the niche web-fandom to printed media. Suddenly not only were major anime sites devoting forum space and news coverage to Japanese comics, but the subculture media started to take notice as PW Comics Weekly, ICv2, and other outlets began to look at this growing J-pop sector with (quasi-)professional scrutiny.

It is easy to forget Descendants of Darkness as the anime property was a relatively short CPM property and the manga release might not have been the biggest hit. Still DoD still found relative success collectively selling more than over 6 figures lifetime and like TenTen also had it’s share of controversy. Like Oh! Great’s comic this series also got a little retouch love at one point. I do not recall if there was much of a fan fury at the time, but I do recall there was always a buzz around the property just because of the shonen-love.

Nowadays neither title is really getting much attention. I believe CMX and Viz still have options for both. But years after their launch and in the case of DoD years after its last release, where is the interest coming from and is either property still viable in this market? Japanese schedules happen to be some of the most volatile factors in the manga licensing process.

Initial success is often built on the popularity of the series even before a volume is released in English. And in general sales always drop off with subsequent volumes, so adding additional time between volumes can be a drain to properties if marketing money is not available. What is the other option, though? Some pubs drop titles but readers trust can be lost. I have always believed putting titles on hiatus is worse than killing a title as it creates fan resentment. There is no way to ask Japan to release faster. And as some publishers have shown, simultaneous manga releases are possible, but if people want them in print the logistics can get really complicated.

So how will TenTen and DoD find their way to bookshelves next year? I guess their license holders could try to push them again using social media tools and marketing resources. Social media could done on the cheap, but is either title worth it when more contemporary hits might still need some support? Review copies could be sent out, but then will reviewers be able to properly review titles that are more than 10+ volumes in. When considering this factor, I almost start to worry about promotion of any long series if the property doesn’t have a media mix tie-in (or unless the series is a collection of short stories).

Got to say, I’d love to be proven wrong when these volumes hit stores in the coming months. There are few things I dislike more as an analyst and industry insider than seeing intriguing properties whither on the vine. But the way sales are currently within this industry, it is almost becoming too risky to license 1) long titles and 2) titles currently being serialized (especially if they are released monthly in Japan…And as I have said before the future of manga is going to be bi-monthly and monthly serializations).

So if you recall picking up either property…back in the day…Why not go to your shelves, dust off volume 1 and getting reunited with an old friend. Don’t just jump in blindly. Re-evaluate the property. And then make yourself a note or pre-order the title if you’re still interested. There is a reason why some titles live forever. Don’t stop believing!!

And now let’s move on to some rankings…

1
天上天下　２１
Tenjo Tenge 21
by: 大暮　維人
(Oh! Great)
Publisher: Shueisha/CMX
Price: 540
ISBN: 4-08-877797-2
Pub date: 2010/01/19
Demo: Seinen

2
ハヤテのごとく！　２２
Hayate the Combat Butler! 22
by: 畑　健二郎
(Hata Kenjiro)
Publisher: Shogakukan/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-09-122135-1
Pub date: 2010/01/16
Demo: Shounen

3
ＦＡＩＲＹ　ＴＡＩＬ　１９

by: 真島　ヒロ
(Mashima Hiro)
Publisher: Kodansha/Del Rey
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-384233-9
Pub date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Shounen

4
バガボンド　３２
Vagabond 32
by: 井上　雄彦
(Inoue Takehiko)
Publisher: Kodansha/Viz Media
Price: 560
ISBN: 4-06-372866-8
Pub date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Seinen

5
君に届け　１０
Kimi ni Todoke 10
by: 椎名　軽穂
(Shiina Karuho)
Publisher: Shueisha/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-08-846481-8
Pub date: 2010/01/13
Demo: Shoujo

6
神のみぞ知るセカイ　７
A World Only God Knows 7
by: 若木　民喜
(Wakaki Tamiki)
Publisher: Shogakukan
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-09-122137-8
Pub date: 2010/01/16
Demo: Shounen

7
ゆるゆり　２
YuruYuri 2
by: Namori
Publisher: Ichijinsha
Price: 900
ISBN: 4-7580-7070-9
Pub date: 2010/01/18
Demo: Seinen

8
闇の末裔　１２
Descendants of Darkness 12
by: 松下　容子
(Matsushita Yuuko)
Publsiher: Hakusensha
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-592-17416-X
Pub date: 2010/01/19
Demo: Shoujo

9
ダイヤのＡ　１９
Ace of Diamonds 19
by: 寺嶋　裕二
(Terajiam Yuuji)
Publisher: Kodansha
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-384232-0
Pub date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Shounen

10
生徒会役員共　３
Seitoukai Yakuindomo 8
by: 氏家　ト全
(Ujie Dozen)
by: Kodansha
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-384240-1
Pub date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Shounen

continue reading "Weekly Taiyosha Rankings ~ Jan 25, 2010"

オトメン #1
by: 菅野文

OtoMen #1
by: Kanno Aya

Hakusensha/Viz Media/shoujo - $8.99 - Rated 13+

So I am a little late to the game. Yeah, I have been aware of Otomen for a while now. I have actually been reading this series for months now. Furthermore, I actually recorded part of this review back in August. But as you all know by now life sometimes gets in the way.

Life always seems to interfere with the life of the lead in Otomen. Poor dude just happens to like knitting and shoujo manga, but when his mom finds out he is shamed into becoming a manly man. I believe this is the Jason Thompson biography, as our man-made man is something of a bishie with budding shoujo tendencies. In a few years he might be a full-blown Hana to Yume otome or who knows he might be drawing his own yaoi to sell at Comiket. Jason is kinda the same way.

Then said dude finds his perfect match…A gal so macha she feels she has to protect her manfriend! Love hurts…the pride sometimes in manga. But really, that’s why we read it.

OtoMen is a crack up from start to finish. While on the surface it doesn’t appear to be doing anything completely original, there is something sinister lurking underneath the surface that almost pushes this title from shoujo to shounen for me. Furthermore, the charm factor for this title is through the roof. Every personality seems to be tempered purposely. No one overwhelms the dialogue or tone. There is almost a balance to the relationship that allows for readers to not only support and feel for the cast, but also laugh with the cast.

Most importantly, Otomen is refreshing as it is clearly a title that understands readers needs but does not fall for gimmicks. The cast is hot, but these teens not completely shallow or jerks. We have well-timed comedy, a budding friendship, and dashes of action to replace over-dramatic romance…Basically, it’s a well-crafted rom-com for the shoujo-liking dude. Not sure why that would appeal to a traditional shoujo fan, but maybe the change of pace was appreciated.

There’s a little more in the podcast but I wanted to point out that Otomen is not only one of the best shoujo titles of 2009, one of my favorites from last year as well!

Click on badge to listen download the review (16min .mp3).

Up Next… Kimi ni Todoke, Name of the Flower, Red Snow, Read Me, the Box Man

GAH!!

That’ll teach me to back up my writing before I even touch our WordPress page. Wrote up a nice piece to go along with this about shoujo over the last couple decades and after a minor brain freeze where I reloaded my page before saving…Well all that is history. I should get back to it sometime soon, but in the meantime here is the week’s Taiyosha rankings.

Check it Kimi ni Todoke is on top and well deserving too. Go check it out, if you haven’t yet.

1
君に届け　１０
Kimi ni Todoke 10
by: 椎名　軽穂
(Shiina Karuho)
Publisher: Shueisha/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-08-846481-8
Release date: 2010/01/13
Demo: Shoujo

2
バガボンド　３２
Vagabond 32
by: 井上　雄彦
(Inoue Takehiko)
Publisher: Kodansha/Viz Media
Price: 560
ISBN: 4-06-372866-8
Release date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Seinen

3
ＦＡＩＲＹ　ＴＡＩＬ　１９

by: 真島　ヒロ
(Mashima Hiro)
Publisher: Kodansha/Del Rey
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-384233-9
Release date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Shounen

4
ＮＡＲＵＴＯ　４９

by: 岸本　斉史
(Kishimoto Masashi)
Publisher: Shueisha/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-08-874784-4
Release date: 2010/01/04
Demo: Shounen

5
生徒会役員共　３

Seitokai YaukinDomo 3

by: 氏家　ト全

(Ujie Dozen)

Publisher: Kodansha
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-384240-1
Release date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Shounen

6
ハヤテのごとく！　２２ 生写真付き初回限定版
Hayate the Combat Butler! 22 with Photo Collectio
by: 畑　健二郎
(Hata Kenjiro)
Publisher: Shogakukan/Viz Media
Price: 560
ISBN: 4-09-159071-3
Release date: 2010/01/16
Demo: Shounen

7
ハヤテのごとく！　２２
Hayate the Combat Butler! 22
by: 畑　健二郎
(Hata Kenjiro)
Publisher: Shogakukan/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-09-122135-1
Pub date: 2010/01/16
Demo: Shounen

8
ダイヤのＡ　１９
Ace of Diamonds 19
by: 寺嶋　裕二
(Terajima Yuuji)
Publisher: Kodansha
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-384232-0
Pub date: 2010/01/15
Demo: Shounen

9
好きっていいなよ。　４
Suki tte Iina yo. 4
by: 葉月　かなえ
(Haduki Kanae)
Publisher: Kodansha
Price: 440
ISBN: 4-06-365585-7
Pub date: 2010/01/13
Demo: Shoujo

10
神のみぞ知るセカイ　７
A World Only God Knows 7
by: 若木　民喜
(Wakaki Tamiki)
Publisher: Shogakukan
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-09-122137-8
Pub date: 2010/01/16
Demo: Shounen

continue reading "Weekly Taiyosha Rankings - Jan 18, 2010"

Moyasimon 1: Tales of Agriculture

by Ishikawa Masayuki

Ages 16+

I actually found a bunch of great manga this year, but once again — Del Rey has delivered my favorite. What I look for in great manga is characterization, originality and that extra something the mangaka shares with us… I like to call it heart and soul.

 THIS HAS IT.

Masayuki sets the scene within the first couple of pages of what we can expect in this book. Two quirky but extremely likable country bumpkins studying agriculture in college. The original premise is that Tadayasu can see germs and such with the naked eye. Not like a microscope, but more like Pokemon except for the fact he can’t enslave them and use them to fight each other… um… anyway, we’re getting off track because the feel of the book is more slice of life rather than action, dramedy or documentary types.

We follow the weird adventures Tadayasu and Kei (his buddy) get into from the very beginning as they attend the freshman entrance ceremony. Kei is a bizarre character in that the mangaka draws “him” like a good looking guy… but slightly reminiscent of a female with short hair. It actually annoyed me at first but now I kind of find it interesting. Kei’s personality is unassuming and laid-back so it fits but it also kind of has a funny mysteriously ambiguous feel to it. It cracks me up in a weird way that the mangaka is doing this.

— Once again, the book is not about that but it has a lot of weird details in it that really captures your attention. —

Eventually, we meet other central (and weird) characters like the professor and his assistant who have been waiting for his arrival for years. The professor is a family friend who knows of his ability but it is yet to be seen whether he takes advantage of Tadayasu or not. You won’t be surprised that the Profesor is a germ loving maniac who is often the catalyst for the weird situations the charactersget into.

Sprinkled throughout the book is various facts about the different germ and microbes. Sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it’s gross, sometimes it’s educational — but it absolutely does not overshadow the weirdo characters and the crazy adventures they get into at the University.

 Last Word:

I’m in love with this book, as it has everything I want; characterization, originality, quality art — there is even a possible love interest introduced later in the book for Tadayasu named Hazuki!

Please do yourself a favor and check this book out.

Book was supplied by Del Rey Publishing.

Ooku, vol. 2
By Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: Viz
Price: $12.99
Rating: M for Mature/18+

In an alternate history of feudal-era Japan, a mysterious epidemic has hit the country’s male population. Known as the redface pox, it has killed 80 percent of the boys and men in the country, leaving the women in charge of everything from farming to the shogunate. When the newest shogun comes to power, she delves into Japan’s history and investigates the origins of the mysterious disease that has caused the country to close its borders to others in fear of attack.

Traveling back eight decades to the epidemic’s start, this volume starts with the death of the last male shogun. At a loss as to how to handle it, the top female advisor charges the shogun’s illegitimate child, a daughter named Chie, with producing a male heir. The young woman, now dubbed Lord Iemitsu, is also forced to dress as a teenage boy, developing some cruel tendencies in response.

Meanwhile, Arikoto, the abbot of Keiko-in, a Buddhist monastery in Kyoto, visits Edo to meet the shogun. While there, he catches the eye of Lord Iemitsu and is forced into joining the ooku, or inner chambers. What follows is filled with confusion, despair and frustration. Will Arikoto be able to leave his life of compassion behind to serve a selfish and troubled master?

While this started as an AU history lesson, it slowly developed into a twisted love story. Yoshinaga’s set-up of the redface pox receives more political detail and shows its role in starting the female line of shoguns. There’s also another wide cast of characters explored in this volume, with Kasuga, the female advisor to the late Lord Iemitsu and his daughter, as the most prominent role player. But, if there was a theme for this volume, it’s compassion — from the new Lord Iemitsu’s lack of it to Arikoto’s neverending capacity to extend it, Yoshinaga shows the importance of it in times of tragedy.

For artwork, Yoshinaga’s gift for creating beautiful men is once again exercised. Arikoto, even with a shaved head, is delicately beautiful with a strong jawline; all the other concubines are unattractive by nearly all standards of male attractiveness. But, Yoshinaga’s true gift is in subtle emotion and expression; each face is drawn with determination and emotional intent. There exist subtleties from one panel to the next, creating a minimalist aesthetic, but what is on the page is particularly meaningful. Namely, the historical detail across the volume, from clothing patterns to architecture, creates a vivid representation of the time.

While the first volume of Ooku took some time to get going, I found this less burdensome that its predecessor. The dialogue is smoother and less painstakingly narrative, and there is a great deal of “showing” as opposed to “telling.” Of course, all of this is complimented by the (well-deserved) Viz Signature treatment. With a strong sense of characterization, historical accuracy, drama and elegant simplicity, Ooku hits all the right marks. Highly recommended

For more reviews by Lorena Nava Ruggero, visit her manga review blog, i ♥ manga.

Sigh… I forget who said this. Maybe it was my last cat or some cartoon character, but lately the quote–they never miss you until you are gone–seems to be haunting me on many levels. I won’t go into too much detail about why I feel tortured by those words, but after taking a break from the reviews and regular blogging looks like the hate mail came to a crawl and suddenly the site is in demand again. Contrary to logic the readership has crept up over the last few months. Hits to the homepage in particular have gone wild. It’s as if you all are desperately waiting for something to happen.

WHO KNEW!!

So while I cannot promise anything and I have never been someone to have new year’s resolutions or even keep the ones I have made, I wanna give the comeback a try. And since I have been out of practice let’s not blow our loads early and take things slow with a review a week, followed by a manga ranking post, and to celebrate 2010 properly maybe the debut of the Manga Canon–one post a week focusing on one of the fifty titles critical to the development of the North American manga industry.

I think we can do this. I know I don’t have the time to or the energy…or the will anymore, but with your collective support feeding the little flame of shame within me I should be able to keep the blog alive. For another week or two before I lose all motivation and hope.

With that PSA done, let’s get on to business with some rankings! Take it away Taiyosha–

General
1
ＨＵＮＴＥＲ×ＨＵＮＴＥＲ　２７
冨樫　義博
Pub: Shueisha/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-08-870065-1
Release date: 2009/12/25
Demo: Shounen

2
鋼の錬金術師　２４
Fullmetal Alchemis 24
by: 荒川　弘
(Arakawa Hiromu)
Publisher: SquareEnix/Viz Media
Price: 420
ISBN: 4-7575-2742-X
Release date: 2009/12/22
Demo: Shounen

3
ワールドエンブリオ　６
World Embryo 6
by: 森山　大輔
(Moriyama Daisuke)
Publisher: Shonen Gahousha/Dark Horse
Price: 590
ISBN: 4-7859-3287-2
Release date: 2009/12/28
Demo: Seinen

4
花粉少女　２
Pollination Girls 2
by: 小梅　けいと
(Koume Keito)
Publisher: Wani Magazine Co.
Price: 1260
ISBN: 4-86269-110-2
Release date: 2009/12/28
Demo: Adult

5
ムダヅモ無き改革　３
The Legend of Koizumi 3
by: 大和田　秀樹
(Owada Hideki)
Publisher: Take Shobo
Price: 680
ISBN: 4-8124-7218-0
Release date: 2009/12/26
Demo: Seinen

6
頭文字Ｄ　４０
Initial D 40
by: しげの　秀一
(Shigeno Shuichi)
Publisher: Kodansha/???
Price: 550
ISBN: 4-06-361854-4
Release date: 2009/12/26
Demo: Seinen

7
けいおん！　３
K-On! 3
by: かきふらい
(Kaki Fly)
Publisher: Houbunsha
Price: 860
ISBN: 4-8322-7869-X
Release date: 2009/12/18
Demo: Seinen

8
セキレイ　９
SekiRei 9
by: 極楽院　桜子
(Gokurakuin Sakurako)
Publisher: SquareEnix
Price: 540
ISBN: 4-7575-2757-8
Release date: 2009/12/25
Demo: Seinen

9
×××ＨＯＬＩＣ　１６

ＣＬＡＭＰ

Publisher: Kodansha/Del Rey
Price: 580
ISBN: 4-06-375851-6
Release date: 2009/12/22
Demo: Seinen

10
涼宮ハルヒちゃんの憂鬱　４
The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi-chan 4
by: ぷよ
(Puyo)
Publisher: Kadokawa Shoten
Price: 588
ISBN: 4-04-715352-4
Release date: 2009/12/25
Demo: Shounen

continue reading "Weekly Taiyosha Manga Rankings - Jan 3, 2010"

BLOOD+ 2
by: 桂明日香

Blood+ 2
by: Production IG with art by Katsura Asuka

Kadokawa Shoten/Dark Horse/shounen-mediamix - $10.99 - Rated 16+

I remember watching Blood years ago. Heck I remember playing the “game” on the PS2 even before watching the movie or reading the novel. The property was associated with Production IG so I had to give it a chance. The first property was not polished but it held its own. The designs for Blood were striking. I wouldn’t have picked up the PS2 game if not to take advantage of the fluid 2D art in all those cut scenes. Furthermore, Blood was a rare title outside of say Jinroh or PatLabor that took time to incorporate military politics into an anime. And while I cannot say that any of the many media arms of the original Blood really drove me to purchase more I thought I was mildly entertained at the time.

Now Blood+ should be the original and a little more. That plus should mean something outside of “IG is going to squeeze you for more money.” Sadly while I have not seen the animation, for the manga that bonus is nothing but awkward relationships, a pile for a plot and some horrible art. And while I was looking forward to seeing how the property would tie in the numerous geo-political issues of southeast Asia, instead I was given heavy unwanted doses of drugged up monsters, and confused and abused shoujo playing dress up in foreign seifuku… Sigh. Seifuku? Is that all they can drum up about Vietnam?!?

I almost feel bad for Saya, as she should not have to experience such horrors…brought on by this comic. I know I wanted to slay something after reading this. Blood+ misses to hit almost every button and yet somehow Kadokawa milked a handful of versions (including one with a BL twist).

Major minus for this title.

Click on badge to listen download the review (16min .mp3).

Up Next… Otomen, Kimi ni Todoke, Name of the Flower, Red Snow, Red Me

すももも、ももも＃２
ｂｙ：大塚忍

Sumomomo, Momomo #2
by: Ohtsuka Shinobu

SquareEnix/Yen Press/Seinen - $10.99 - Rated 16+

Being a teenager is always complicated. Being a teen in a manga makes survival even more difficult. With all the teenaged ninja and demon slayers running around hacking and slashing things left and right. Then you have yanki and sukeban beating everyone else up for lunch money, and for kicks. And that’s not even taking crazed parents that want to marry you off to maintain the family name or insane teachers with personal grudges they’ve been nurturing for a generation or two.

Yup being a teen is tough. So drawing a manga about a teen who doesn’t want to be involved in any of that must be just as hard. If Sumomomo, Momomo is any indicator, it must be darn right impossible, cause this is one fugly looking manga. But let’s not judge this series by its covers…wait by its art (cause those covers are pretty darn cute). Judge this series by its heart. A burning heart easily capable of powering at least three of our suns. One that can not only features yanki and ninja in fishnet stockings but also reminds us that true moe is about the fire the keeps you coming back to protect what you care about.

Whether its a pink-haired girl with a dragon punch or the class nerd with his fiery ambitions to be a trial lawyer, there is something within Sumomomo, something so honest and simple, that despite its flaws I could not help but recommend this highly. So yeah, Ohtsuka’s quirky action-based rom-com is bound to offend and might seem a bit cliche at times, but those very flaws that I want to point out and share with you all. Manga should be entertaining. They should be comical. And Sumomomo, Momomo does that with so little effort it is almost perfect in its ugliness.

One of my top ten titles of the year!

Click on badge to listen download the review (16min .mp3).

Up Next… Blood+, Vagabond BIG, OtoMen, Red Snow

Reviewed by Jack

Akira #1

Author: Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira

 List Price: $24.99

Mature

Now that us humans are smashing particles together via the Hadron Collider thing of a ma jigga in Europe, the potential for a black hole is imminent. I kid of course, but it did remind me of how Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira totally and completely pulled me into it’s storyline in a matter of seconds!

That’s not an easy feat as I’m like a raccoon, frequently distracted by shiny things like My Heavenly Hockey Club and Princess Resurrection chainsaw guts flying through my imagination. Somehow, I did pull it together for a few days and focused on getting through Akira (not that I had any choice in the matter).

First and foremost — I’m thankful this Thanksgiving (sorry for posting this late) for Kodansha having a licensing agreement with DelRey and Random House to distribute their title. The reason? Simple, they respect the medium and they treat works of art like they should be treated. The book’s quality is off the charts and you can tell the second you have it in your hand. It’s a typical graphic-novel type softcover, which I think is the right approach as hard-cover stuff just never comes across as the right spirit IMO (whatever that means…sorry). The price is better and you get the option of treating it more disposable-y as I often do with manga. Looks great, color pages to start, paper feels nice, good binding and the graphic design is interpreted well to boot.

The story and art is what makes this a masterpiece though. I’ve never read this series before (I know right, I’m a total manga hack) and it hits on all cylinders right from the start. Volume 1 starts off with a Japanese motorcycle gang in a post-nuclear world in which technology has advanced but not much of the social injustices. Violence, poverty, class and terrorism is still pronounced and the citizens still try to survive despite of it.

Within the gang, Kaneda and Tetsuo are the big players and the mangaka pits these two against each in a race within the first chapter. Their friendship is tinged with competitiveness, angst and a edge that is a theme we see that rings out throughout the book. I love manga where the authors take the time and make the effort to build a foundation of characters that are deep and complex.

We follow these two and the gang as their lives are turned upside down as they encounter an escaped Esper on one of their motorcycling jaunts. For right now, an Esper as I understand them are test subjects/powered beings that resulted from the nuclear war in some way. Regardless of what the hell they are, they are ridiculously creepy looking. Their appearance instantly adds a sense of mystery and foreshadowing to the storyline. That combined with the hints to what the heck is an “Akira” at all - make me very impatient for the next volume.

The only negative comment I’ll make is that they should not have flipped the book. I’ve been waffling a bit to the argument that this piece should be interpreted a bit to appeal to a mass audience… but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a good chance to introduce to mass audience the notion of non-flipping! This is a tiny nit-pick actually, I didn’t even notice that it was flipped until I was finished with the book (but I do read flipped manga and American style books interchangeably these days).

 LAST WORD

Don’t be an idiot like me and wait until you’re practically thirty and go buy this book right now — Perfect timing for that last minute stocking stuffer.

Akira Vol 1 @ Amazon / $16.49

Book was supplied by Kodansha Publishing.