NOTE
(1) Sources: Elex Media STO 12 May 2010 (release schedule) and Komikologi (synopses, except where noted)
(2) All listed manga are priced at IDR 17,000 each, except Officer Monju 5 and Under the Rose: Spring's Paean 4 (SRP: IDR 18,000). The reissued Harlequin manga retail for IDR 12,000 apiece; the Spirou ROMICS are IDR 35,000 per volume.
(3) Links like this are Amazon.com (or other online merchants) search and/or product links (commercial), in case you're interested in another language version.
Moar summaries
Junpei accidentally unearths a prototype of Red Monju and brings it to the police station. Christened Fugen,
Red Monju captures the hearts of everyone around, inciting Monju's envy. But all of a sudden, Fugen goes berserk and attacks Junpei and Monju! What caused Fugen to go nuts? And can Monju and Junpei stop the rampaging Fugen?
Finally, the deciding match in the N2 Division kicks off, but the rival team has the funding, player, and home team advantage. Can Kazusa Ole stay in N2 or will it be demoted to the amateurs' league?
Vascar de Guillon, the Holy Knight who has lost his faith in God after his wife and children were burned alive, finds Temazorela's “crypt” and is possessed by the fallen angel. Temozarela in Vascar de Guillon's body encounters Betheal, the priest who would later turn into Beliel. Thus marks the beginning of the protracted war between the two.
[With additions from Wikipedia's Priest article]
The retelling of the Three Kingdoms classic from the viewpoint of the Sima clan that would unite the warring Wei, Shu, and Wu nations continues with the Canbing assault to save Sima Lang—Sima Yi's brother—from the Luoyang prison.
Canbing leader Liaoyuan Huo succeeds in infiltrating the Guandong forces and Luoyang. But before the fearless Liaoyuan Huo can free Sima Lang, he first has to face the God of War,
Lu Bu.
Spirou and Fantasio, as Wikipedia points out, are the journalist protagonists of one of the most popular classic Franco-Belgian comic strips
around, along with Hergé's Tintin and Goscinny and Uderzo's Asterix. (Not to mention the also Level-released Smurfs and Lucky Luke series.) Accompanying the newshound pair on their exploits are Spip, Spirou's pet squirrel, and scientist friend, the Count of Champignac. Franquin (André Franquin) is considered the comics' definitive author,
even though it was originally created by Robert Velter (Rob-Vel) in 1938. Spirou et Fantasio would later be handled by a long line of cartoonists, among them, Jijé (Joseph Gillain); Jean-Claude Fournier; Yves Chaland; and Tome & Janry. Morvan (Jean-David Morvan) & Munuera (José-Luis Munuera) brought Spirou et Fantasio to the 21st century — with a hint of manga about it.
Level brings us two of Spirou and Fantasio's adventures in this release, one by the original Franquin and the other by the Morvan & Munuera team.
Spirou: Air Keabadian by Morvan & Munuera
Spirou et Fantasio, tome 48: L'homme qui ne voulait pas mourir (The Man Who Didn't Want To Die)
by Morvan & Munuera (Dupuis SA, 2005)
Spirou and Fantasio travel to Guaracha to help Fantasio's uncle Tanzafio hunt down Fantasio's cousin Zantafio, after Zantafio stole his uncle's journal containing the map to the fabled fountain of youth. The chase leads Spirou and Fantasio and squirrel Spip through the dense South American jungle, facing warring Guaracha Indian tribes along the way. But whatever happens, the trio will do everything to keep the petty (and not so petty) tyrant Zantafio from hogging the eternal springs.
[With additions from Spirou et Fantasio: L'homme qui ne voulait pas mourir (Amazon France)]
Spirou et Fantasio, tome 2: Il y a un sorcier à Champignac (There is a Sorcerer in Champignac)
by Franquin (Dupuis, 1951)
Spirou and Fantasio's bicycle camping trip is disturbed by strange happenings in the village of Champignac-en-Cambrousse, where they meet the egotistic windbag, Mayor Gustave Labarbe, and local aristocrat Pacôme Hégésippe Adélard Ladislas de Champignac, a genius inventor. The bizarre phenomena besetting the village include mushrooms sprouting everywhere, small animals suddenly becoming huge, calves turning into full-grown cattle only to die — all occurring in the space of mere hours. The villagers blame a passing gypsy, but the perp is actually...
[With addition's from Spirou et Fantasio: Il y a un sorcier à Champignac (Wikipedia)]
Written by Henri Gillain, this volume features the first appearance of the recurring character, the Mayor of Champignac, and the Count of Champignac who would go on to accompany Spirou and Fantasio in later adventures.
~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who owes a debt of gratitude to Priest editor Lenny-san for the Level covers and blurbs
disclaimer
Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.
manga currently available (12 May 2010 street date)
- Elex Media: Burning Pen by Shimamoto Kazuhiko · Cross Game 16 · Eyeshield 21 V37 of 37 · Fantastic Tales 2 · The Fifth Columnist 2 of 2 · K-ON! 1 by Kakifly · Kuro Memanggul Peti Mati 1 by Kiyuduki Satoko · Pangeran Kacamata 3 · School Rumble 10 · Shugo Chara! 9 Tokkyu! 11 · V.B. Rose 1 by Hidaka Banri · Vitamin Cat 1 by Sugiyama Ryoko · Wazabo 3 · Nakayoshi 80/2010
- m&c!: Beauty Pop 6 · Bleach 24 · Blizzard Axel 9 · Goong [Palace Story] 20 · Innocent Revenge by Hazuki Rei · Nekomachi Shop Guide 1 by Sakamoto Miku · Princess Bouquet 1 by Aomata Pink · Shanimuni GO 29 · Shanaou Yoshitsune volumes 18-22 box set
related monthly schedules
Level Comics May 2010 manga
Premiering Dolls of God by Yamamura Hajime, Oh Butterfly Oh Flower by Yoshihara Yuki · Second Engage by Aikawa Momoko (standalone)
Level Comics April 2010 manga
Premiering Historie by Iwaaki Hitoshi and Pandemic by Kakizaki Masasumi (one-shot) · Concluding Doubt and My Lovely Honey
other invaluable resources
7net Shopping ·Baka-Updates Manga · Wikipedia · manaworld.com · Amazon France
Technorati tags
manga · manhua · manhwa · ROMIC · Level Comics · josei · seinen · Diamond Life · Fire Investigator Nanase · Go Go Hanasaki Detective Office · Officer Monju · Ole! · Priest · The Ravages of Time · Spirou et Fantasio · Tomo'o · Under the Rose
Souten no Ken 「蒼天の拳」
by Hara Tetsuo & Buronson
Shinchosha (Coamix) Comic Bunch seinen
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.01
Related
Hokuto no Ken (sequel)
Other languages
English (Gutsoon! Entertainment; dropped), French (Marvel Panini France; KEN - Fist of the Blue Sky tome 20 shipped 2009.10) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan; 蒼天之拳 21 per 2010.01)
Adaptations
A 26-episode anime by Studio A.P.P.P., starring seiyuu Yamadera Kouichi (Kasumi Kenshiro), aired from October 2006 to March 2007 on TV Asahi.