Also: the simplified Chinese Arata Kangatari #5, Vagabond #32, and three other latest Chuang Yi manga (and manhwa) installments
Arata Kangatari © Watase Yuu/Shogakukan (Serialized in Shonen Sunday)
Published in Singapore by Chuang Yi
May contain [SPOILERS]
(Please to be jumping to the Chuang Yi synopses section if you want more substantial blurbs.)
Not surprised at all that Chuang Yi's premiering Arata Kangatari in English; Watase Yuu-sensei's first shounen manga only had its simplified Chinese debut last December. I personally wanted fugitive Arata × bored high schooler Arata's Because Destiny Sed So! exchange earlier.
Meanwhile, over at (also destiny-problematic) Clone High, I mean, St. Kleio Academy—where they actually cloned Hitler—oddball Kamiya Shiro meets his double (that's the prob with a high school filled with clones, the allure of meeting Young Future Famous People aside). Shiro is Understandably Shaken in the third volume of Afterschool Charisma, but is that a luxury he can afford, seeing as how Kennedy's Assassins The Next Generation are plotting to widen their murderous scope?
Shiro's not the only perturbed one. Over in (relatively) normal Ginyuri High, otomen "cursed" with feminine thinking, interests and abilities remain under siege. Otomen-averse enforcer Kasuga, having failed to out Asuka, now has Tachibana in the crosshairs in Otomen volume 9.
Chuang Yi English manga (2010.04.20)
Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.
- Afterschool Charisma (Houkago no Charisma) 3 of 3+ by Suekane Kumiko
- [Premiere] Arata Kangatari 1 of 6+ by Watase Yuu
- Black Lagoon 4 of 9+ by Hiroe Rei
- Otomen 9 of 10+ by Kanno Aya
- World Embryo 6 of 6+ by Moriyama Daisuke
Arata Kangatari ～Engaku Kougatari～ 「 アラタカンガタリ～革神語～ 」
by Watase Yuu
Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen
Volume 1 first published in 2009.01
Alternative English Arata: The Legend published by VIZ Media (volume 1 released 2010.03.09; volume 2 street date: 2010.06.08)
Black Lagoon 「 ＢＬＡＣＫ ＬＡＧＯＯＮ 」 by Hiroe Rei
Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2005.07
Series on hiatus at volume 9
Alternative English Black Lagoon published by VIZ Media (volume 8 released 2009.10.13; volume 9 street date: 2010.07.13)
Published in Indonesian by Level Comics (latest release: volume 5)
A 12-episode anime adaptation produced by Madhouse, starring seiyuu Toyoguchi Megumi as Revy and Namikawa Daisuke as Rock, aired in Japan from April tp June 2006. The Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage second season (episodes 13 to 24) was telecast from October through December of the same year. An OAV sequel is expected this 2010.
Other media: Black Lagoon light novel by Urobuchi Gen (Shogakukan Gagaga Bunko, 2008.07.18)
Otomen 「 オトメン（乙男） 」 by Kanno Aya
Hakusensha Bessatsu Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 9 first published in Japan 2009.09
Alternative English Otomen published by VIZ Media (volume 5 released 2010.02.02; volume 6 street date: 2010.05.04)
Published in Indonesian by Elex Media (latest tankoubon: volume 7)
A live-action drama adaptation starring Okada Masaki (as Asuka) and Kaho (Ryo) aired on Japan's Fuji TV from 1 August to 3 November 2009. Okada-san and Kaho-san both appeared in the 2007 movie, Tennen Kokekkou or A Gentle Breeze in the Village. Okada-san (also Sekime Kyogo in Hana-Kimi Ike-para) played Osawa Hiromi, boyfriend of Tennen Kokekkou's lead Migita Soyo (Kaho-san).
World Embryo 「 ワールドエンブリオ 」 by Moriyama Daisuke
Shonen Gahosha Young King Ours, seinen
Volume 6 first published in Japan 2009.12
Alternative English World Embryo licensed by Dark Horse Comics (volume 1 street date: 2010.08.15)
NOTE
(1) Source: Chuang Yi (per 20 April 2010)
(2) Links like this are Amazon.com search and/or product links (commercial), in case you're interested in another language version.
Chuang Yi synopses
Afterschool Charisma 3
「 放課後のカリスマ 」 by Suekane Kumiko
ISBN: 978-981-4306-02-7
SRP: SGD 8.90
The arrival of the director's guest shocks the students present there, as Shiro's identity is called into question. Who is this mysterious person who bears an uncanny resemblance to Shiro, and what could this all possibly mean? Even as a shaken Shiro struggles for answers, the group responsible for the assassination of clone Kennedy is preparing to infiltrate St. Kleio and put to action their plan to wipe out all clones – renegades who themselves are searching for answers...
Arata Kangatari 1
「 アラタカンガタリ～革神語～ 」 by Watase Yuu
ISBN: 978-981-4306-26-3
SRP: SGD 8.90
This is a world where humans wield the very gods.
For 60 long years, the same Hime Queen has ruled Amawakuni, and the time has come to crown another. But the temptation of power has corrupted the elite few and driven them to commit an unthinkable murder. Now the unfortunate scapegoat, Arata flees into the legendary Forest of Kando, said to 'devour' humans...
In modern day Japan, Arata Hinohara embarks on his new high school life, only to find that oppression and betrayal have followed him from the shadows of his middle school. Disheartened, he longs to disappear from the world...
Now, Arata and Arata are about to meet and change each other's destinies forever.
Volume 1 contains chapters:
01. Revolution
02. Friends
03. Arata & Arata
04. Hayagami
05. Sho
06. Trial
07. Determination
Black Lagoon 4
「 ＢＬＡＣＫ ＬＡＧＯＯＮ 」 by Hiroe Rei
ISBN: 978-981-4297-58-5
SRP: SGD 8.90
The action shifts to chilly midwinter Tokyo, where Balalaika hires Rock as her interpreter, and Revy comes along as Rock's bodyguard. The Washimine-gumi, a Yakuza family on its way down, wants to make a deal with Hotel Moscow. Soon, however, the yakuza realize they might have been better off making a deal with the Devil himself! As the pressure builds, Rock faces the reality of his outlaw life, and Revy meets her match in the Washimine's number-one enforcer. The icy streets of Tokyo are about to burn red-hot!
Volume 4 contains chapters:
21: Goat, Jihad, Rock'N Roll Part 6
22: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 1
23: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 2
24: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 3
25: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 4
26: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 5
27: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 6
28: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 7
29: Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise Part 8
Otomen 9
「 オトメン（乙男） 」 by Kanno Aya
ISBN: 978-981-4297-57-8
SRP: SGD 8.90
An overzealous 'anti-otomen' enforcer has descended upon Ginyuri High, and with everyone carefully toeing the line, a decidedly artificial atmosphere now envelopes the school. Having tried and failed to expose Asuka, Kasuga now decides to focus attack on the people around him instead. The latest lamb to the slaughter? Tachibana, of course. And this time, with Asuka determined to help prove his 'innocence', Tachibana/Sachihana is trapped between a rock and a very hard place!
World Embryo 6
「 ワールドエンブリオ 」 by Moriyama Daisuke
ISBN: 978-981-4306-11-9
SRP: SGD 9.90
Trapped on all sides by Jinki-users, Riku is finally taken captive by the very determined F.L.A.G. manager, who will stop at nothing to find out more about Nene...
With Nene and Shizuru kidnapped by F.L.A.G. as well, Riku is on the verge of capitulating. Miraculously, Nene teleports to Riku, and they escape while taking the manager hostage instead. While on the run, Riku then receives a text message forwarded to him by Arisugawa. It was written by the very Agatsuma who has now apparently been forgotten by everyone. What could have happened to her? And could her connection to Takao really be something as simple as pure idolisation?
Chuang Yi simplified Chinese manga (2010.04.20)
Arata Kangatari © Watase Yuu/
Shogakukan (Shonen Sunday)
Aside from the fifth 革神語 (Arata Kangatari) and 流浪汉 (Vagabond) #32, Chuang Yi also has the simplified Chinese 名侦探柯南 (Meitantei Conan) #67, 魔帝 (Majeh) #33 by Ra InSoo & Kim JaeHwan, and XBLADE #9 by Shiki Satoshi & Ida Tatsuhiko streeting the same date/today.
~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)
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Houkago no Charisma 「 放課後のカリスマ 」 by Suekane Kumiko
Shogakukan Ikki, seinen
Volume 3 first published in 2009.11
Afterschool Charisma is also serialized in IKKI, VIZ' online manga magazine (latest chapter: 9 [per 2010.04.01]; volume 1 street date: 2010.06.15)