kelakagandy's ramblings

Real Love

kelakagandy — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:49:47 +0000

Real Love
by: Mitsuki Oda
Published by: Aurora – LuvLuv imprint
from the publisher: Can happiness be found in the delicate balance between passion and love? Twins Shun and Shu have had no luck in love. However, a chance encounter reunites former lovers Shu and Naomichi after their breakup of three years ago. While the two had a budding relationship in the past, things fell apart and they went their separate ways. Now, fate brings them back together once again. Could it be that a relationship like the one they shared in the past is what they have been looking for all along? Can they both find the meaning of real love?
my ramblings: I have incredibly mixed feelings about this volume. At times it really just felt like porn for women (that explicit content label isn’t just for show kiddies!), but at other times I kind of enjoyed it… The two extras in the volume, Baby and Love Star, are far and above the main “series” Real Love, which just fell flat for me. The two extras were tied and I really wish it had been the main focus of the volume. For one, there was less sex, which was not really what I wanted (though not totally unexpected from other reviews), and the characters were actually likeable and much more realistic.

If I didn’t know better, I would swear that the art was Ai Yazawa’s. It’s a dead ringer for her art, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.

LuvLuv seems to have done an alright job with the adaptation, it flowed well for the most part. The image editing wasn’t great however, as often there was still Japanese left in text bubbles (though with translations), and I don’t mean just sfx, I mean actual speech left and then translations smushed in as an afterthought. I vaguely remember hearing about Aurora/LuvLuv when they were still in business, but really, they suffered from a lack of publicity and, based solely on this title, some not-so-great licenses, so it’s not surprise that they’re gone.

I would tentatively suggest this to those old enough to deal with the material, but only for the second two stories, certainly not for the first three chapters (hence the tentatively). For anyone curious, it looks like it’s still in print from most online retailers (including Amazon and Barnes and Noble); considering how long it’s been out of print, that’s probably saying something.

I Am Here! Volume 2

kelakagandy — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:02:55 +0000

I Am Here! volume 2
by: Ema Toyama
Published by: Kodansha Comics
from the publisher: After the sudden disappearance of Black Rabbit from her blog, a series of surprises continues to shake up Hikage’s world. What if someone you met online turned out to be someone you knew in real life? In this volume, Hikage, Hinata, and Teru overcome jealousy and betrayal, and together learn valuable lessons about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
my ramblings: This is like a watered-down version of Kimi ni Todoke. I don’t dislike I Am Here!, but I certainly prefer the former. That’s really all I can think of to say about the story, except that if you’re looking for a definite ending to the love triangle, search for another series (you get a pretty good idea, but nothing definite). Well, that and that the side story at the end of the volume about Mega Pig is absolutely adorable and possibly more interesting than the rest of the volume.

Kodansha published this 5-volume series in 2 omnibus volumes, the first containing volumes 1 and 2 of the original release and the second containing volumes 3-5. One of my biggest complaints about omnibus volumes is usually about the binding, and I have a bit of a strange complaint about this particular one; It’s almost too tight. The binding was definitely better than in the first volume (which was definitely on the loose side), but it was almost so tight that it made it a bit hard to read some of the pages where there were text bubbles close to binding.

I noticed one small typo (a case of “the” should have been “then”), but it was a drastic improvement over what I’d come to expect from Del Rey. Things are certainly looking up for Kodansha Comics!

New Viz Licenses

kelakagandy — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:22:50 +0000

I’m sure these will be announced in the coming days at SDCC, but they’re already up on simonandschuster.biz, so I thought I’d share the fun and excitement. The following are new licenses and as they haven’t been announced they could be incorrect, but I’m not sure that a series has even been leaked and then not announced/released.

A Devil and Her Love Song, by: Miyoshi Tomori
-volume 1 February 2012
-volume 2 April 2012
I’m personally pretty excited about this series (Akuma to Love Song in Japanese)! It’s been on my wishlist for a while now, because the art is gorgeous and I’ve read lots of lovely things about it. (Also, this one seems pretty definite, as the first volume already has English cover art released.)

The Earl and The Fairy, story by: Mizue Tani, manga by: Ayuko
-volume 1 March 2012
Known as Hakushaku to Yosei in Japan, this one is a kind of interesting pick-up for me, as it’s got a pretty strange release schedule in Japan. The manga is based on a light novel of the same name, which also has an anime adaptation (which I remember as not having very good reviews).

The Navidad Incident: The Downfall of Matías Guili, by: Natsuki Ikezawa
-March 2012
I’m guessing this will be part of the Haikasoru line, as it appears to be a novel. According to the author’s site, the novel has won an award and is already translated into German. I’m sure it will be an awesome addition to the already amazing Haikasoru lineup.

Bleach MASKED: Official Character Book 2, by: Tite Kubo
-March 2012
Feel free to correct me if this has already been announced, I don’t really keep up with most shonen announcements. I’m sure this will please the Bleach fans though!

Also of interest are 3-in-1 editions of Hana-Kimi and Skip Beat!, and the (I believe) previously announced Voltron books. There is also a book titled, The Future is Japanese: Stories From and About the Land of the Rising Sun with no listed author for May 2012.

Shugo Chara! Volume 11

kelakagandy — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 22:44:21 +0000

Shugo Chara! volume 11
by: Peach-Pit
Published by: Kodansha Comics
from the publisher: As graduation approaches, Amu’s guardians, Ran, Miki, and Su disappear. Led by Diamond, Amu takes a journey on the road of stars to find her missing guardians. Will Amu find her guardians or will she find more then she could have expected?
my ramblings: As much as I’ve whined and complained about the past two volumes of this series, volume 11 is much more well done. There were still a few minor errors, like in one place Amu says something about her pants, while she’s clearly wearing a skirt (though again, minor) and then there was one panel with text bubble that were reversed (in this case it was not entirely clear what was going on, so it wasn’t a major detraction, but still slightly annoying). One thing that did make me sad, but isn’t an error is that the title is no longer “puffy” on the front cover. I really am not sure how to explain it in words, but the earlier covers had the title slightly elevated and puffed out from the main cover.

The adaptation flowed well and other than the above errors I don’t think I noticed anything horrendously wrong with the editing. There was also an extremely useful note on “Benten Kozo,” which was extremely helpful, as I wouldn’t have understood the running gag at all (though it was still humorous). I really liked that the translation notes weren’t just some silly unnecessary note, as they seem to often be. It gives me much more hope for future volume from Kodansha.

The story itself kind of drags here, as I know it will in the following volume as well. I still enjoyed it, and it certainly had it’s moments, but this volume seems just like an almost unnecessary follow-up to the ending that we got in volume 10. It’s fun seeing how some of the character relations play out (and as Peach-Pit says in one of their notes in this volume, that’s what volume 12 will be as well), but it still feels not quite needed and the road of stars is way too gimmicky.

The Demon Ororon: The Complete Collection

kelakagandy — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:59:40 +0000

The Demon Ororon: The Complete Collection
by: Hakase Mizuki
Published by: Tokyopop
from the publisher: Relive the ill-fated romance between a devil with a bounty on his head and the Archangel Michael’s orphaned daughter–collected here in one complete volume. Chiaki is the orphaned daughter of a human woman and the Archangel Michael. Ororon is a demon with a bounty on his head. Sworn enemies, their lives change forever when their hatred is transformed into love–for one another. Bound together by passion but torn apart by the world around them, their love becomes a struggle for survival as the battle between demons and the angelic order rages around them.
my ramblings: This series is strange. Not bad, but definitely strange. The art for one takes some getting used to. It’s lanky; somewhat like CLAMP’s Tsubasa or Clover, but also very different. At first I didn’t really like the art, and at some times it honestly makes it hard to understand what’s going on, but by the end of the series, I found myself at the very least not disliking it.

The story is also kind of odd. The main character is the daughter of the archangel Michael and a human, and God is suggested to be not the original creator, but another child of an angel and human. It’s a very strange use of Christianity (honestly one of the oddest Christian imagery that I’ve ever seen used in a manga or anime).

One of the only things I can think of to compare this to that I’ve read would be CLAMP’s Clover. It’s extremely different, but storytelling-wise it’s somewhat similar, with plenty of textless panels and seemingly lyrical or poetic exposition. This is not going to be to most people’s liking, as was the case with Clover, but it’s not awful and not quite so overused as in Clover.

I hate to stomp on graves, but it’s a little sad that Tokyopop didn’t bother to go back and edit this before slapping it into an omnibus collection to sell more copies. There are obvious differences in spellings of places and names between the different volumes (which are separated in the collection). It’s made even more obvious when you have the whole series right in front of you, as opposed to maybe having read the previous volume a few months prior.

Overall, I would suggest this title if you can find it cheap. I got my copy for around $9 on eBay, it retailed for $19.99, though the individual volumes were $9.99 each, so anything less than that is a good deal at this point, since all Tokyopop titles are now offically out of print. If you don’t get this title you’re not missing much, but if you get the chance to read it, I think it’s worth it. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Mizuki’s other translated works (Baku, Asian Beat, and the incomplete Demon Flowers).

Sidenote: Hey! It’s been a while, I know… I’m not really saying that I’m back now, I just really felt the urge to write a review of this series while I was reading it and thus I actually managed to post something. Hopefully I’ll be more in the review writing mood, but who knows. I don’t go back to school until the first week of September, but I’ll be researching and writing my Independent Study from then to December on top of my other classes, so I probably won’t have much time. Hopefully my IS isn’t as stressful and I’m making it out to be… :]

General Update

kelakagandy — Sun, 08 May 2011 19:24:29 +0000

Hi guys! Again, I’m still here, I just have completely failed at blogging lately (I never did do BEDA…). I would say that I’d get back to blogging right now because I have Spring Term right now (aka, I have class from 9-noon every day and then have nothing to do), but I’m leaving for China on Tuesday (and landing there on my birthday!! :D ), so it’ll have to wait until after I get back on the 27th. Hope you’re all doing well and I can’t wait to get back to blogging this summer!!

Tokyopop Is Essentially Dead

kelakagandy — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:39:53 +0000

News broke this afternoon that Tokyopop will stop work in North America on May 31. Honestly, I can’t say I’ll miss it too much. I’m pretty obviously biased towards Viz Media and their Shojo Beat line (and others like some of the bigger shonen properties that I don’t often talk about but do follow). I do miss that Tokyopop was once the head of the “manga revolution” as they called it. And I will most certainly miss the ending volumes of Alice in the County of Hearts, Happy Cafe, and Demon Sacred, which were currently the only Tokyopop titles still being published that I was following (other than Fruits Basket Ultimate, which I know I can just get the regular editions of now).

This probably sounds like I’m saying “good riddance,” which really is not the case at all. I really do appreciate that Tokyopop was one of the first publishers in the US to be able to hit a slightly more “mainstream” market (though I’m not sure I’d call manga completely mainstream, though certainly a lot of more people know what it is now). I really do have mixed feelings on the subject. I can’t find it easy to completely mourn a company that hasn’t produced much I’ve liked in recent years, simply because that gives me less attachment, but I really have to give them props for originally bringing Sailor Moon to the US, which was definitely the first manga I read and bought (though Viz’s Alice 19th was what really got me into manga).

I especially also mourn the loss of the Tokyopop light novel imprint. They hadn’t done much lately, with the exception of a few .hack// novels and the most recent Full Metal Panic! omnibus, but a good majority of the light novels I own are from Tokyopop and I definitely love them for that.

The one saving grace in the news is that Tokyopop has said that, “TOKYOPOP will announce the future of specific titles and other releases in the coming weeks.” Hopefully we’ll be able to get the last volume of Alice in the Country of Hearts in July and they’ll let their other licenses out for other publishers to pick up (though chances are certainly slim for many of them), and Tokyopop can rest in peace.

Sailor Moon Is Back~

kelakagandy — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:32:12 +0000

ANN just announced that Kodansha USA just released a press release that they’re going to be releasing Sailor Moon!! They’re also going to be publishing the never-before-in-English Codename Sailor V! I’m super stoked (in case you couldn’t tell, haha)! I was literally looking at my incomplete collection of Sailor Moon volumes from Tokyopop, when I get a tweet on my phone about Kodansha USA licensing the series, along with the prequel! (Have you ever seen so many exclamation points in one post before?!) The ANN article makes me think that the release will be the pretty new shinsoban editions (as it says there will be 14 volumes as opposed to 18 and Sailor V will be 2 as opposed to the original 3 volumes), which is definitely alright with me, as the covers are gorgeous (at left).

Also, hey guys, I’m not dead! Just totally swamped with school and a lack of funds which means I have to prioritize some other things over manga currently. :[ I’m working on a review of Arina Tanemura’s Mistress Fortune (one of the few manga I’ve purchased recently), and I’m going to try to do BEDA again, but I’m not sure how well it’s going to work out this year.

Finally, I’m sure by now you’ve all heard about the devastating earthquake and tsunami that recently happened in Japan. If you’re at all able, PLEASE donate to an organization like the Red Cross (I only suggest them because they’re one of the most reputable and they’re definitely in Japan); they’re accepting donations through their website and they go directly to Japan to help (and even if your money ends up somewhere else, it will be helping someone in need, and that’s always a good thing!).

2011 Preview Part 3: Oneshots

kelakagandy — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 05:05:24 +0000

Part 3 of the 2011 manga preview is oneshot volumes. I personally love oneshots for the simple fact that they’re a tiny investment. It’s one volume and you’re done. Plus I’m a bit biased towards this list in particular because Mistress Fortune by Arina Tanemura is one of my most-looked-forward-to titles for early next year. It’s dorky and adorable and Arina in-jokes abound. Like I said, I love oneshots.

Hopefully I’ll fail less at getting all the known oneshots coming out in 2011, but as always, definitely let me know if I’m missing something!! And as always, enjoy~

Mistress Fortune by: Arina Tanemura
Publisher: Viz Media/Shojo Beat
Release Date: February 1
From the Publisher: Fourteen-year-old Kisaki Tachikawa has psychic powers. She works for PSI, a secret government agency that fights aliens. She’s in love with her partner Giniro, but PSI won’t allow operatives to get involved. Just when Kisaki thinks she may be getting closer to Giniro, she finds out she is to be transferred to California!
My Ramblings: Like I said above, I love everything about this oneshot~ It’s cute and admittedly kind of nonsensical, but Kisaki is love and beware that I’m going to fangirl the crap out of it when it gets released. I have a feeling it’s not going to get good reviews because it is so silly, but really people, it’s just a fun little oneshot, 3 chapter series. Love it for what it is, I beg you!

Dance in the Vampire Bund Gaiden: Dive in the Vampire Bund by: Nozomu Tamaki
Publisher: Seven Seas
Release Date: March 29
From the Publisher: The Vampire Bund, a peaceful island nation of vampires off the coast of Tokyo, ruled by Princess Mina Tepes, has seen its share of conflict and turmoil. Yet there are times of relative tranquility when the Bund is a popular tourist destination.
When two teenage tourists visit the Bund and are unexpectedly turned into vampires, they appeal to Mina and her loyal lycanthrope bodyguard, Akira, for help. Their only hope is to find a cure to reverse their vampirism within forty eight hours, or they will be stuck as vampires forever.
Unfortunately for them, their race against time turns into a game of cat and mouse that takes them across the entire Bund in pursuit of the one person who holds the key to their salvation.
My Ramblings: Not something I’m particularly interested in, though it’s nice to see that Dance in the Vampire Bund has been doing at least relatively well for Seven Seas if they’re licensing a one-shot companion volume.

Lychee Light Club by: Usamaru Furuya
Publisher: Vertical
Release Date: April 19
From the Publisher: The Lychee Light Club is considered Usamaru Furuya’s breakthrough work. Originally designed as an experiemental project Lychee’s themes of youthful rebellion and deus ex machina destruction, and attractive designs eventually won over a new generation of readers and critics, leading the way for Furuya to take on his many recent high profile properties.
A surreal yet touching horror comedy Furuya’s Lychee Light Club that mixes elements of French Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol and with modern day pop culture tropes and is set in modern day Tokyo. Shocking, sexy and innovative, the Lychee Light Club is at the pinnacle of modern day Japanese seinen manga (young adult comics).
My Ramblings: Um, this is an utterly shallow thing to say, but I’m probably going to check this out because I love lychee. Yeah. But in all seriousness, Furuya seems to be getting a lot of attention here in the US lately, so this is probably going to be something to pick up! Also, this is technically an omnibus as well, since it’s 2 volumes in one, but I thought it fit a little better here.

Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by: Shigeru Mizuki
Publisher: drawn and quarterly
Release Date: May
From the Publisher: Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, is his first book to be translated into English and is a semi-autobiographical account of the desperate final weeks of a Japanese infantry unit at the end of World War Two. The soldiers are instructed that they must go into battle and die for the honor of their country, with certain execution facing them if they return alive. Mizuki was a soldier himself (he was severely injured and lost an arm) and uses his experiences to convey the devastating consequences and moral depravity of the war.
My Ramblings: I’m going to be honest and say that I know nothing about this, but it will probably be top notch since it’s from D&Q.

The Strange Tale of Panorama Island by: Suehiro Maruo
Publisher: Last Gasp Books
Release Date: July 1
From the Publisher: Follow the twisted path of failed novelist Hitomi Hirosuke, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a former classmate, the son of a rich industrialist family. Learning of the rich man’s sudden passing, Hitomi fakes his own death, digs up and hides the other man’s body, and then washes himself up starving on a beach near the home of the dead man’s family.
My Ramblings: Another title I know very little about, but from the previews on Last Gasp’s website, this should be really interesting!

Book of Human Insects by: Osamu Tezuka
Publisher: Vertical
Release Date: July 12
From Deb Aoki: Ruthless and seductive Toshiko Tomura is the mistress of reinvention. As she becomes an actress, a designer and a novelist, she leaves a path of destruction in her wake.
My Ramblings: This is, uh, not what I typically think of when I think Tezuka, and I have a feeling many people are going to think that as well. But it certainly grabs the eye! (Though Vertical usually does something interesting/artsy with their covers, so I’m sure it won’t be the same thing as it is here [Japanese cover].) Honestly, I’m really curious about this title.

La Quinta Camera by: Natsume Ono
Publisher: Viz Media/Viz Signature
Release Date: July 19
From the Publisher: A charming suite of linked stories from the acclaimed author of not simple and House of Five Leaves, set in an apartment in Italy. In four of the rooms live four single men with singular personalities. Into this peculiar ménage steps an exchange student, the new tenant of the fifth room. Brought together by chance, friends by choice, they pursue their dreams together as the days drift gently by.
My Ramblings: Viz seems to have licensed a lot of Natsume Ono’s works lately. I watched the anime adaptation of her House of Five Leaves manga since FUNimation streamed it as part of their noitaminA deal, and it was really interesting, so I may pick up this one shot from her.

Velveteen & Mandala by: Jiro Matsumoto
Publisher: Vertical
Release Date: August 9
From the Publisher: Teenage girls, Velveteen and Mandala, take refuge along a river in the Tokyo outskirts of Suginami. Residing together in a fully-equipped army tank the pair are essentially all the separates their neighborhood and the rest of Tokyo from a full-on zombie invasion. While the countless undead may appear to threaten their survival, cohabitating with each other may expedite their ultimate demise, as they fight over technology, sustenance, and personal space.
My Ramblings: From what I’ve read, this doesn’t really interest me in the least. A lot of people in the ANN forums were excited about the license announcement, but it just doesn’t seem like the kind of thing I go for at all.

With the Light (final posthumous volume) by: Keiko Tobe
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: September
From the Publisher: TBA
My Ramblings: This is the posthumous final volume of the series. I’ve heard incredible things about the series, but it’s not one I follow at all. I love that Yen was able to license it though, for those who do follow it. I have a feeling this is the kind of series that one could use to get their parents into manga.

Cigarette Girl by: Masahiko Matsumoto
Publisher: Top Shelf
Release Date: TBA
From ANN: This 2009 collection of short stories by an early artist in the alternative gekiga movement will ship in 2011.
My Ramblings: Another title I know very little about, but it sounds interesting, and I’ve heard really positive things about Top Shelf’s other titles.

2011 Preview Part 2: Omnibus Volumes

kelakagandy — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 03:02:32 +0000

I decided to do a separate post this year for all the omnibus volumes, since there are some really interesting ones coming in the next year, and some notable continuing series being re-issued in omnibus format. As always, in order by release date, and if there are two with the same date, then they are alphabetical. All titles behind the cut. Enjoy~

EDIT: Updated with Blood Alone and Gunslinger Girl, both Seven Seas titles. Thanks to Adam and utilsabound for the tips!

EDIT 2: Updated with The Betrayal Knows My Name, Higurashi When They Cry: Demon Exposing Arc, Sasameke, and Dragon Girl, all from Yen Press. Thanks to Abriel for the tip! (I really need to check all the publishers next time, though I did have some of these for the next post, I just didn’t realize some of them were going to be omnibus format.) Abriel also mentioned Goong, which Yen has switched over to an omnibus format, but I have decided to do a manwha post as well, so it will be listed there instead of in this list.

EDIT 3: Added Inukami and Hayate Blade from Seven Seas. Double checked the site and these are the only other omnibus volumes from them. Thanks to Loreli for reminding me.

EDIT 4: Added Negima from Kodansha and Venus Versus Virus volume 2 from Seven Seas (not listed on their site, but listed on Amazon). Thanks to sylphalchemist!

Death Note – Black Edition by: Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Jump Advanced imprint
Release Date: volume 1 – January (technically December 28, 2010)
volume 2 – March 1; volume 3 – May 3; volume 4 – May 3; volume 5 – September 6
From the Publisher: Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. Will Light’s noble goal succeed, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?
My Ramblings: This whole omnibus thing is seriously awesome for me! I watched the Death Note anime on [Adult Swim], but didn’t ever get the manga, so this is the perfect way for me to get the whole thing. Plus these are supposed to be really nice. They’ve been released in this format in a few other countries already and they look awesome! Even the edges of the pages are black! ~~It looks like the French version has color pages, but I’m not sure if that holds for the US release.~~ Saw some copies in the bookstore and they do in fact have color pages!

Cross Game by: Mitsuru Adachi
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Sunday imprint
Release Date: volume 2 – January 11; volume 3 – April 12; volume 4 – July 12
From the Publisher: Cross Game is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change your perception of what shonen manga can be.
My Ramblings: I really need to get the first volume of this series. The anime is amazing (watch it on Hulu right this instant if you haven’t already!), I cried so much at the first episode. I don’t even like baseball, but this series makes me want to watch baseball non-stop.

Magic Knight Rayearth by: CLAMP
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: January 18
From the Publisher: Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu are three schoolgirls out on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, whisked suddenly away by a strange voice and light to Cephiro, a world full of spirits and sorcery. They were summoned here through the last remaining strength of the Princess Emeraude, who hopes that they are the trio destined to become the magic knights legend says can save her realm! But how are a bunch of junior-high-school kids supposed to defeat the dark might of the sinister Lord Zagato . . . with only an exceedingly strange bunny creature named Mokona as their guide . . . ?
My Ramblings: I’m kind of worried, since this has disappeared from the Dark Horse website. I’d really like to be able to purchase this, so hopefully it will still be released.

Gunslinger Girl by: Yu Aida
Publisher: Seven Seas
Release Date: volume 1 – February 1; volume 2 – May
From the Publisher: The Social Welfare Agency in Italy is not what it seems. Yes, it rescues young girls who have been brutalized, but it then brainwashes them and turns them into ruthless killers for an elite and secret counter-terrorism unit for the Italian government.
Enter a young girl named Henrietta. After witnessing the savage murder of her family and barely surviving, the Agency takes her in and repairs her injuries using the latest in cybernetic technology. All traces of Henrietta’s past are wiped from her mind, as she becomes one of the Agency’s most lethal assassins.
My Ramblings: Thanks to both Adam and utilsabound for tipping me off about this one! Gunslinger Girl is one title I haven’t read much about, though I do know about the anime. The cover looks gorgeous, so I’m going to try and check this one out.

Magic Knight Rayearth 2 by: CLAMP
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: February 1
From the Publisher: Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu have returned to Earth from Cefiro, but all three know they have been forever changed by their adventures there. Haunted by the decisions they made and the unresolved war between Zagato and Emeraude, the Magic Knights journey to Cefiro once more, this time with a sense of duty. But who was it that had the strength of heart to summon them again, if it was not the Princess Emeraude? Is it the person who, as Clef says, could replace her as the Pillar of Cefiro?
My Ramblings: Like the first volume, this has disappeared from the Dark Horse website. :[ Same as the first volume.

InuYasha VIZBIG by: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Sunday imprint
Release Date: volume 6 - February 8; volume 7 - May 10
From the Publisher: With the power granted by a large piece of the Shikon Jewel, Naraku's scheming is in high gear as his minions go forth to do his bidding. Kikyo, the priestess whose duty it once was to guard the jewel, gave the fragment to him, but why? Then Inuyasha takes on another of Naraku's evil offspring, a demon that inhabits the very sword his half brother Sesshomaru wields. Naraku's human origins may yet prove to be his downfall if Kikyo can exploit his weaknesses by forcing him to make a difficult choice, one that is mirrored by Inuyasha's lost love for Kikyo and a possible future with Kagome!
My Ramblings: I really should get the manga version of this. I watched the whole original anime on [Adult Swim] and then The Final Act anime simulcast by Viz, but I’d really like to try the manga as well. Thank goodness for omnibus volumes that make 50-some volume series seem less intimidating. ;]

Dragon Girl by: Toru Fujieda
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: volume 2 – February 22
From the Publisher: For all of her young life, fiesty, fierce Rinna Aizen has only had room in her heart for one man — Sakuya, the erstwhile captain of the most legendary cheering squad in the history of Shoryu Senior High…who also happens to be her dad! But as Rinna, following in her father’s footsteps, struggles to raise the Shoryu squad back to up to its former glory, will she also find a space opening up in her heart for one of the many boys in her life?!
My Ramblings: Thanks again to Abriel for the tip (this one just slipped my mind)! I am loving the covers Yen used for this series. I also love that they switched it to an omnibus series from the original 5 volumes. Plus that meant that they’re over-sized volumes and they’re gorgeous. I haven’t picked up the first volume yet, though I fully intend to as the series has gotten good reviews and it looks amazing in person! (The only reason I didn’t get it when I saw it was because I was looking for something specific at the time.)

Inukami by: Mamizu Arisawa and Mari Matsuzawa
Publisher: Seven Seas
Release Date: volume 2 – March
From the Publisher: Inukami: a sacred being with a dog-like appearance that forges a contract with a powerful human tamer to help them eliminate evil monsters and demons.
Though Kawahira Keita is the descendent of a long line of Inukami-tamers, he seems to lack the necessary ability and has been forsaken by his family. One day, he meets a cute Inukami named Yoko, who, at first glance, looks graceful, obedient, and beautiful…but upon forging a contract with her, Keita discovers that Yoko is a wild and mischievous Inukami that no one has ever been able to control.
My Ramblings: Don’t know much about this series, but it’s nice to see it being reprinted in an omnibus format. Thanks to Loreli for reminding me to add it!

Itazura na Kiss volume 5 by: Kaoru Tada
Publisher: DMP
Release Date: March 15
From the Publisher: Genius Naoki has finally figured out that he wants to be a doctor! But when Mr. Irie suddenly collapses, Naoki is forced to put aside his own dreams to help run his father’s company in its hour of need. Meanwhile, sweet Kotoko wants nothing more than to lend the stressed-out Naoki a helping hand…but will her efforts only cause more trouble? And who is this new beauty making eyes at her beloved housemate?!
My Ramblings: I’m guessing volume 6 will be released sometime next year as well, but I can’t find a definite date yet. DMP also recently announced on twitter that they’ve licensed volume 7 as well, so yay~ It must be doing fairly well for them to continue with it. I’m absolutely loving all that I’ve read of this series thus far.

Hayate x Blade by: Shizuru Hayashiya
Publisher: Seven Seas
Release Date: volume 2 – April
From the Publisher: The all-girls boarding school Tenchi Academy isn’t just known for its quality academics–it’s also known for training the top sword fighters in the country. Students in the special “Sword Bearer” program compete in a school-wide battle known as the Star Stealing, striving to win both money and fame.
Enter Kurogane Hayate. With her sister Nagi recovering from a lingering injury, the spunky and cheerful Hayate must take her place at the Academy until Nagi is well enough to return. When Hayate learns of the mountain of debt her old orphanage, the Dandelion Garden, owes to Yakuza loan sharks, she decides to become a sword-bearer and win the Star Stealing.
There’s just one problem…she needs a partner to compete and the one girl Hayate has her eye on wants nothing to do with her!
My Ramblings: Another series I don’t know much about at all, but yay for more omnibus volumes from Seven Seas! Thanks again to Loreli for reminding me of this one.

Blood Alone by: Masayuki Takano
Publisher: Seven Seas
Release Date: volume 1 – May; volume 4* – September
From the Publisher: Witness the touching relationship between young vampiress Misaki and her human companion, the former vampire hunter turned investigative author, Kurose Kuroe, whom she’d die to protect. For recently turned vampire Minato Misaki, vampirism and the beastly powers that come with it are something that she wouldn’t wish upon her worst enemy, let alone her beloved Kuroe. But Kuroe’s supernatural investigations make him a regular target of not only vampires but of all sorts of undead creatures of the night. The only way to save him from these deadly threats may be to do the one thing that Misaki fears the most: to turn Kuroe into a vampire for his own protection.
My Ramblings: Thanks again to Adam for letting me know about this one!! Apparently I just failed with the Seven Seas manga, I’ll definitely get their other releases for the next few posts! From their website, it looks like Seven Seas is going to release an omnibus of volumes 1-3 of the original and then begin releasing the next volumes in singles (*hence volume 1 then volume 4). Three volumes is usually a good indicator of how a series will be (though certainly exceptions exist), so this is a great way to push this series, which honestly I had not heard of before.

Higurashi When They Cry: Demon Exposing Arc by: Ryukishi07 and En Kito
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: May 31
From the Publisher: It’s been almost a year since Natsumi and her family moved from the town of Onigafuchi. Her grandmother, a native of Hinamizawa village, fears that they will be cursed for abandoning the mountains, but Natsumi has never been happier, making new friends and enjoying school life. When a terrible gas explosion in Hinamizawa wipes out everyone in the village, her grandmother is convinced it is the wrath of the village god, Oyashiro-sama. Natsumi’s family has never taken Grandmother’s beliefs seriously, but her devotion to Oyashiro-sama has taken a frightening turn. Have the old woman’s fanatical convictions gone too far?
My Ramblings: I read some of one of the Higurashi series in the print edition of Yen Plus, and honestly it kind of freaked me out. Definitely not my cup of tea, but would definitely be good for horror buffs! Thanks to Abriel for the tip!

Cardcaptor Sakura volume 2 by: CLAMP
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: June 1
From the Publisher: The beautiful new teacher in Sakura’s class, Kaho Mizuki, soon reveals that she’s a shrine maiden with magic powers of her own. But, as always, the struggle to capture the Clow cards is woven together with the mysterious–and complicated–threads of love and affection between Sakura and all the people in her life. Will her heart be strong enough as she faces the one who will judge her worthiness to master the cards at last?
My Ramblings: Again, this has disappeared from the Dark Horse website, and Amazon now has it for release in June. I’d really love to actually have all of Cardcaptor Sakura, since I never got the Tokyopop version and let’s face it, the Dark Horse version would be so much nicer to have!

The Betrayal Knows My Name (Uraboku) by: Hotaru Odagiri
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: June 21
From the Publisher: As an infant, Yuki Sakurai was abandoned in the bushes near an orphanage. The mystery of his parentage deepens when Yuki discovers he has a strange ability: when he touches others, he can feel their emotions. Because of his upbringing, the teenage Yuki strives to be independent so that he won’t be a burden on those around him, but this attitude coupled with his powers can sometimes feel isolating. Little does he know that he has never really been alone. Someone has been watching him from the shadows ever since he was left in the bushes all those years ago…But can Yuki trust the silver-eyed boy who claims to be his protector…and to know the truth of Yuki’s past?
My Ramblings: Thanks to Abriel for the tip!! The series is streaming legally on crunchyroll, but I haven’t watched it. Honestly, I’m not into yaoi, or even really yaoi subtext (unless it just happens to be there, for example I love Black Butler for what it is, not because of the yaoi subtext), but I have a feeling this will do well for Yen for just that reason. I’ve heard a fair amount of fangirls wanting this series, so way to go Yen. ;]

Sasameke by: Ryuji Gotsubo
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: volume 2 – June 21
From the Publisher: Elementary school soccer whiz Rakuichi Nagahama drew national attention a few years back with his IMPRESSIVE athletic skills. After disappearing to Italy for three years, Rakuichi reluctantly returns to the remote town where he grew up. The local high school soccer team can’t wait to get their hands on the prodigy, despite the fact that he was obviously a FAILURE in Italy. But Rakuichi’s not sure he’s ready to get back on the field. Sure, his best friend from elementary school (now a hot babe) can’t wait to see him play again…and his childhood rivals are eager to have another go against him…and the entire school is counting on him…but how can Rakuichi live up to their expectations when he’s sworn off the sport for good?
My Ramblings: Thanks to Abriel for the tip! I really want to get the first volume of this sometime in the near future (aka before the second volume comes out). Honestly, what got me was that the author was the illustrator of the Twilight series in Japan, and I had seen the illustrations from them and loved the style. I’ve seen some good reviews of the series itself as well, so this one is definitely promising!

Tenjo Tenge by: Oh! Great
Publisher: Viz Media/Viz Signature imprint
Release Date: volume 1 – June 21; volume 2 – August 18
From the Publisher: Knuckle-busting brawls, badass babes, and the toughest student body ever to mix it up under one roof. Welcome to Todo High, where the only rule is: get strong or get schooled. Soichiro Nagi and Bob Makihara have always been the meanest street brawlers around. When they enter Todo High they plan on carving out a reputation as the strongest fighters in their new school—easier said than done in a place that’s dedicated to training its students in the art of combat!
My Ramblings: I watched the anime on Fuse, and this isn’t really my cup of tea. I am really glad for all the fans of the series though, that finally get to see the series finished in English (and not in an edited format!).

Bleach by: Tite Kubo
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Jump imprint
Release Date: volume 1 – June 7; volume 2 – July 5; volume 3 – August 2
From the Publisher: Ichigo Kurosaki never asked for the ability to see ghosts–he was born with the gift. When his family is attacked by a Hollow–a malevolent lost soul–Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits themselves find peace. (General summary for the series found on the Viz website.)
My Ramblings: This, and the Kekkaishi, Naruto, and Fullmetal Alchemist omnibus volumes are going to be $14.99 each and have 3 of the original volumes in each new omnibus. I’m guessing they’ll be like the One Piece: East Blue omnibus volumes, which means they won’t be the best quality, but they definitely serve the purpose of getting new readers into the series. If you plan on getting these, know that they’ll probably go out of print really quickly (again, if the One Piece: East Blue volumes are any indication), so buy them when you have the chance! On the subject of Bleach itself, I’ve heard the manga is better than the anime (less fillers and stuff obviously), but can’t really vouch for that myself.

Fullmetal Alchemist by: Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher: Viz Media
Release Date: volume 1 – June 7; volume 2 – July 5; volume 3 – August 2
From the Publisher:In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother’s bodies…the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. (General summary for the series found on the Viz website.)
My Ramblings: Nice to see this series getting the omnibus treatment as well! This is probably my favorite shonen series, I do read a few, but this one definitely takes the cake. I highly suggest it!

Naruto by: Masashi Kishimoto
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Jump imprint
Release Date: volume 1 – June 7; volume 2 – July 5; volume 3 – August 2
From the Publisher: Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world’s greatest ninja! (General summary for the series found on the Viz website.)
My Ramblings: Maybe this will be the way for me to go to get the first couple of volumes that I’m missing (yes, I follow Naruto, it’s one of the very, very few long-running shonen series I do follow). It’s honestly fun, though the later volumes are kind of driving me nuts right now!

Kekkaishi by: Yellow Tanabe
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Sunday imprint
Release Date: volume 1 – June 7; volume 2 – July 5; volume 3 – August 2
From the Publisher: By night, teenager Yoshimori Sumimura is a “kekkaishi”–a demon-hunter who specializes in creating magical barriers around his prey. By day, Yoshimori’s got other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty neighbor and childhood friend, Tokine Yukimura, is also a kekkaishi, but their families are feuding over who is the true practitioner of the art. (General summary for the series found on the Viz website.)
My Ramblings: I really enjoyed the anime version (thanks to Viz for being awesome and putting it all on Hulu/VizAnime!), so I may just have to pick up the manga version this way, since everyone loves a nice omnibus, and I’d really like to follow the manga, as I believe the anime has an anime only ending.

Negima! Magister Negi Magi by: Ken Akamatsu
Publisher: Kodansha
Release Date: June 14
Del Rey’s description from volume 1: Ten-year-old prodigy Negi Springfield, has just graduated from magic academy. He dreams of becoming a master wizard. Instead he’s sent to Japan to teach English . . . at an all-girls high school! All the students are delighted with their cute new teacher—except for Asuna, who resents Negi for replacing the teacher she secretly has a crush on.
Although he is forbidden to display his magical powers, sometimes Negi can’t resist. And when Asuna discovers Negi’s secret, she vows to make his life as difficult as possible— just the thing to prepare Negi for the challenges of life as a master wizard!
My Ramblings: Some sources have this as being just an omnibus of the first 3 volumes (as in there will only be one omnibus) seemingly to fix the fact that the first three Del Rey volumes were apparently horrible (according to some readers on ANN, I myself don’t have Negima), so I’m not sure if there will be a Negima omnibus 2 or not, but we’ll see. In any case, Kodansha is also continuing the series from where Del Rey left off. Also, thanks to sylphalchemist for reminding me of this one!!

Vagabond VIZBIG by: Takehiko Inoue
Publisher: Viz Media/Viz Signature imprint
Release Date: volume 10 – July 19
From the Publisher: Musashi is at the greatest crossroads of his life. After surviving his single-handed battle against the seventy men of Yoshioka Clan, Musashi is left with an injury that may lead to the end of his sword-fighting days. Could this mean he will escape from the spiral of death and killing that has been at the very center of his being for so long, or will the way of the sword be too tempting for him to walk away from?
My Ramblings: Not something I follow, but good for those who do. The VIZBIG editions are top notch, and it’s great to see more of them.

I Am Here! by: Ema Toyama
Publisher: Kodansha
Release Date: July 26
From the Publisher: Invisible to her classmates, Hikage Sumino is an eighth grader with no self-esteem. Her only friends are the visitors to her Internet blog. One day, the most popular boy in the grade suddenly talks to her. Encouraged by this twist of fate, Hikage determines to transform her life.
My Ramblings: Definitely have to grab the first volume now! Can’t wait to read both at once~ Thank goodness this is one of the titles that Kodansha is finishing. :]

Venus Versus Virus by: Atsushu Suzumi
Publisher: Seven Seas
Release Date: volume 2 – August 2
From the Publisher: Sumire Takahana is a seemingly normal school girl cursed with the ability to see malevolent ghosts known as “Viruses.” Her life hits a crossroads after a run-in with a “gothic lolita” clad monster killer for hire, Lucia Nahashia. Not content to stay on the sidelines while these “Viruses” prey on the weak, Sumire decides to join forces with the mysterious eyepatch-wearing Lucia to hunt down these “Viruses” before they can hurt anyone else.
My Ramblings: This is actually a series I remember meaning to check out, but never got around to, so I may have to go back now and get the first omnibus volume and then this one.

unnamed Tezuka title by: Osamu Tezuka
Publisher: Vertical
Release Date: October
From the Publisher:
My Ramblings: This title is supposed to be fully announced in January, it’s an omnibus volume of some Tezuka series, which is already released in French. Whatever it is, it’s Tezuka, and it’s from Vertical, so it’s sure to be awesome!