Level Comics April 2010 manga score card: 0.87 manga/day

ヒストリエ　１

Historie © Iwaaki Hitoshi/Kodansha

Level had 31 manga, manhwa, and manhua titles on tap for April and scheduled 23 of them. There were seven European comics slated in the April Komikologi, but by month's end, Level will have made good on only three of them. Still, not so bad; that's 0.87 manga/comic per day.

In terms of new series/standalones, Level planned for two and only liberated the one-volume disaster manga Pandemic (Kansen Rettou) by Kakizaki Masasumi [4.21], reserving the first volume of Iwaaki Hitoshi's Historie, about the life of Eumenes, a secretary and general to Alexander the Great, for a post April street date. Like Elex's, Level's planned series conclusions—Doubt, Tonogai Yoshiki's “Ten Little Murder Victims” shounen mystery, and the paranormal josei romance My Lovely Honey (Barairo My Honey) by Ohmi Tomu—fared better. Both caught the 14 April boat.

Level Comics manga, manhua, and manhwa (April 2010 advisory)

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  1. AirGear 10 of 28+ by Oh! Great ✓ [4.14]

    2. AirGear 「 エア・ギア 」 by Oh! Great
    Kodansha Shuukan Shounen Magazine, shounen
    Volume 10 (containing Tricks 78-86) first published in Japan 2005.05
    AirGear published in English by Del Rey (volume 14 released 2009.10.27)

    AWARDS: Won the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award for best shounen manga

    A 25-episode anime adaptation produced by Toei Animation and starring seiyuu Kamakari Kenta as Ikki aired in Japan from April to September 2006.

  2. Angel Heart 3 of 32+ by Hojo Tsukasa ✓ [4.28]

    3. Angel Heart 「 エンジェル・ハート 」 by Hojo Tsukasa
    Shinchosha Comic Bunch, seinen
    Volume 3 first published in Japan 2002.03

    Related series: Spin-off of City Hunter (35 volumes, complete)

    Adapted into anime by TMS, starring seiyuu Kamiya Akira as Saeba Ryoand Kawasaki Mao as Shan-In Glass Heart Lee. Fifty episodes adapting manga volumes 1 to 18 aired in Japan from October 2005 to September 2006.

  3. ARMS 17 of 22 by Minagawa Ryoji and Nanatsuki Kyoichi ✓ [4.21]

    4. ARMS 「 ＡＲＭＳ 」 by Minagawa Ryoji and Nanatsuki Kyoichi
    Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen
    Volume 17 (containing 11 chapters/stories) first published in Japan 2001.05
    Series re-released in 12 volumes from 2007.06 to 2008.05
    Project ARMS published in English by VIZ Media (22 volumes)

    AWARDS: Won the 44th Shogakukan Manga Awards for best shounen manga

    A 26-episode anime adaptation produced by TMS Entertainment (formerly Tokyo Movie Shinsha) aired on TV Tokyo from April to September 2001, with seiyuu Canna Nobutoshi as Takatsuki Ryo, Takayama Minami as Kuruma Kei, Ueda Yuji as Tomoe Takeshi, and Miki Shinichiro as Shingu Hayato. The sequel Project ARMS: The 2nd Chapter (episodes 27-52) was telecast from October 2001 through March 2002.

  4. Basara 12 of 27 by Tamura Yumi ✓ [4.07]

    5. Basara 「 ＢＡＳＡＲＡ 」 by Tamura Yumi
    Shogakukan Flowers, shoujo
    Volume 12 first published in Japan 1994.08
    Re-released in 15 bunko volumes
    Basara published in English by VIZ Media (27 volumes)

    AWARDS: Won the 38th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shoujo category.

    A 13-episode anime adaptation by KSS, starring seiyuu Kimura Akiko as Sarasa, aired in Japan from April to June 1998.

  5. The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) 9 of 20 by Kuromaru, Natsuhara Takeshi ✓ [4.21]

    6. Kurosagi 「 クロサギ 」 by Kuromaru and Natsuhara Takeshi
    Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen
    Volume 9 (comprising chapters 87-97) first published in Japan 2006.04

    AWARDS: 53rd Shogakukan Manga Award for seinen/general manga (2007) along with Sekiya Tetsuji's Bambino!.

    Related: Shin Kurosagi (sequel; six volumes per 2010.03)

    An 11-episode live-action renzoku drama, starring Yamashita Tomohisa (Kusano Akira, Nobuta wo produce) as Kurosagi/Kurosaki and Horikita Maki as Yoshikawa Tsurara (Kotani Nobuko/Nobuta, Nobuta wo produce), aired on TBS from April to June 2006. A movie starring the same leads premiered in Japan in 8 March 2008 (Singapore: 18 September 2008).

  6. Chocolat 3 of 7 by Kubonouchi Eisaku

    7. Chocolat 「 ショコラ 」 by Kubonouchi Eisaku
    Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen
    Volume 3 (containing 11 chapters/stories) first published in Japan 2000.12

  7. Doubt 4 of 4 by Tonogai Yoshiki ✓ [4.14]

    8. Doubt 「 Ｄｏｕｂｔ 」 by Tonogai Yoshiki
    Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen
    Volume 4 first published in Japan 2009.05

    Related: Judge (sequel; serialization started in Shonen Gangan January 2010)

  8. Eagle 10 of 11 by Kawaguchi Kaiji ✓ [4.28]

    9. Eagle 「 イーグル 」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji
    Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen
    Volume 10 (comprising chapters 73-81) first published in Japan 2001.01
    Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President published in English by VIZ Media (five volumes, complete)

    AWARDS: Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President was nominated for five Eisner Awards (The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards), including Best New Series, Best Continuing Series, Best Writer/Artist, Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material (2001 and 2002)

  9. Genius Family Company (Tensai Family Company) 2 of 6 by Ninomiya Tomoko ✓ [4.14]

    10. Tensai Family Company 「 天才ファミリー・カンパニー 」
    by Ninomiya Tomoko
    Gentosha Gentosha Comics Manga Bunko, josei
    Volume 2 (bunko) first published in Japan 2008.06

  10. Gun Smith Cats 4 of 9 by Sonoda Kenichi

    11. Gun Smith Cats 「 ＧＵＮ　ＳＭＩＴＨ　ＣＡＴＳ 」
    by Sonoda Kenichi
    Kodansha Afternoon, seinen
    Volume 4 first published in Japan 1994.01
    Gunsmith Cats published in English by Dark Horse Comics
    Related: Gun Smith Cats Burst (sequel, five volumes, complete)

    Three episodes of the Gunsmith Cats OAV animated by Oriental Light and Magic were released between November 1995 and September 1996. The anime starred seiyuu Araki Kae as Minnie May Hopkins and Neya Michiko as Rally Vincent

  11. [Premiere] Historie 1 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi

    12. Historie 「 ヒストリエ 」 by Iwaaki Hitoshi
    Kodansha Afternoon, seinen
    Volume 1 (containing chapters 1-9) first published in Japan 2004.10

    AWARDS: 10th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award finalist

  12. Ice Forest 4 of 7+ by Saito Chiho ✓ [4.21]

    13. Ice Forest 「 アイスフォレスト 」 by Saito Chiho
    Shogakukan Flowers, josei
    Volume 4 first published in Japan 2009.02

  13. Jio 5 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi ✓ [4.28]

    14. Jio 「 ６６６～サタン～ 」 by Kishimoto Seishi
    Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen
    Volume 5 (containing chapters 18-22) first published in Japan 2003.06
    Published in English as O-Parts Hunter by VIZ Media (19 volumes)

    An anime adaptation by BONES was reported to have been scheduled to premiere on Fuji TV on 6 June 2010, but has been cancelled until further notice.

  14. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 5 of 8+ by Miyasaka Kaho ✓ [4.28]
  15. Master Of Sea (Waga Na wa Umishi Master Of Sea) 14 of 15 by Takemura Yuji and Komori Yoichi
  16. My Lovely Honey (Barairo My Honey) 3 of 3 by Ohmi Tomu [Finale] ✓ [4.14]
  17. Nanase Fire Investigator (Kasai Chousakan Nanase) 2 of 7 by Hashimoto Izo & Ichikawa Tomoshige ✓ [4.21]

    18. Kasai Chousakan Nanase 「 火災調査官ナナセ 」
    by Hashimoto Izo & Ichikawa Tomoshige
    Shinchosha Bunch Comics, seinen
    Volume 2 first published in Japan 2006.03
    Fire Investigator Nanase published in English by CMX (volume 3 released 2009.11.10; volume 4 street date: 2010.04.20)

  18. Nurse Aoi (Ns' Aoi) 11 of 29+ by Koshino Ryo ✓ [4.21]

    19. Ns' Aoi 「 Ｎｓ’あおい 」 by Koshino Ryo
    Kodansha Morning, seinen
    Karte No.11 first published in Japan 2006.07

    Adapted into an 11-episode live-action renzoku drama that aired on Fuji TV from January to March 2006 (a special aired in September of the same year), starring Ishihara Satomi as Misora Aoi.

  19. Officer Monju (Seigi Keikan Monju) 4 of 9+ by Miyashita Hiroki ✓ [4.14]
  20. Over Rev 12 of 31 by Yamaguchi Katsumi

    21. Over Rev! 「 オーバーレブ！ 」 by Yamaguchi Katsumi
    Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen
    Volume 12 (containing 11 chapters/stories) first published in Japan 2000.02
    Re-released in 15 volumes as Over Rev! A legend of ultimate hot rodder (2008.02 to 2009.04)

  21. [New] Pandemic (Kansen Rettou) by Kakizaki Masasumi ✓ [4.21]

    22. Kansen Rettou 「 クロサギ 」 by Kakizaki Masasumi
    Original Story by Eiga [Kansen Rettou] Seisakuiinkai
    Shogakukan Big Comic Superior, seinen
    This volume first published in Japan 2008.12

  22. Priest 4 of 16+ by Hyung MinWoo ✓ [4.14]

    23. Priest 「 프리스트 」 by Hyung MinWoo
    Daiwon C.I. Champ Comics, seinen
    Volume 4 first published in Korea 1999.09
    Series on hiatus from volume 16
    Priest published in English by TOKYOPOP (16 volumes; Priest: Purgatory is slated for release August 2010)

    A Screen Gems film adaptation starring Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, Christopher Plummer, Brad Dourif, Stephen Moyer, Lily Collins, Madchen Amick, and Alan Dale is scheduled for a 14 January 2011 in 3D premiere in the U.S. It has been formerly slated for an August 2010 release.

  23. Psychometrist Eiji (Psychometrer Eiji) 12 of 25 by Ando Yuma, Asaki Masashi ✓ [4.21]

    24. Psychometrer Eiji 「 サイコメトラーＥＩＪＩ 」
    by Ando Yuma (Agi Tadashi) and Asaki Masashi
    Kodansha Shuukan Shounen Magazine, shounen
    Volume 12 first published in Japan 1998.08
    Series re-released in 12 volumes from 2007.06 to 2008.05
    Psychometrer Eiji published in simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi

    Adapted into live-action renzoku drama. Alternatively known as Simply Psychic, it ran for two seasons on NTV (January to March 1997 and October to December 1999). A one-episode, 45-minute anime OAV Eiji was released in August 1990.

  24. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 2 of 37+ by Chen Mou

    25. Huo Feng Liao Yuan 「 火鳳燎原 」 by Chen Mou
    Tong Li New Youth, seinen
    Volume 2 first published in Japan 2001.07
    Published in simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi (latest: volume 36)

  25. Restore Garage 251 volume 5 of 32+ by Tsugihara Ryuji ✓ [4.28]

    26. Restore Garage 251 「 レストアガレージ２５１ 」 by Tsugihara Ryuji
    Shinchosha Comic Bunch, seinen
    Volume 5 first published in Japan 2002.12

  26. Rumiko Takahashi's Best Short Story Collection (Rumic World) 2 of 3 by Takahashi Rumiko

    27. Rumic World (Takahashi Rumiko Kessaku Tanpenshuu)
    「 高橋留美子傑作短編集 」 by Takahashi Rumiko
    Shogakukan Rumic World, shounen
    Volume 2 first published in Japan 1995.03
    Rumic World published in English by VIZ Media (three volumes)

  27. Strange Tales of Tokyo (Toukei Ibun) 2 of 4 by Kajiwara Niki and Ono Fuyumi ✓ [4.14]

    28. Toukei Ibun 「 東亰異聞 」 by Kajiwara Niki and Ono Fuyumi
    Gentousha Comic Birz, seinen
    Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.10

  28. Subaru 4 of 11 by Soda Masahito ✓ [4.14]

    29. Subaru 「 昴 」 by Soda Masahito
    Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen
    Volume 4 first published in Japan 2001.02
    Related series: Moon (sequel; six volumes, ongoing)

  29. Under the Rose (Under the Rose - Haru no Sanka) 4 of 6+ by Funato Akari

    30. Under the Rose - Haru no Sanka 「 Ｕｎｄｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　Ｒｏｓｅ　春の賛歌 」
    by Funato Akari
    Gentosha Birz Comics Deluxe, josei
    Volume 4 first published in Japan 2006.11

    Related series: Honey Rose (prequel; one volume, complete)

  30. xxxHOLiC 7 of 17+ by CLAMP ✓ [4.14]

    31. xxxHOLiC 「 ×××ＨＯＬｉＣ 」 by CLAMP
    Kodansha Young Magazine, seinen
    Volume 7 (containing chapters 43-47) first published in Japan 2005.10
    Series on hiatus until June 2010
    xxxHOLiC published in English by Del Rey (volume 15 released 2010.03.23)

    A 24-episode anime adaptation by Production I.G aired from April to September 2006 in Japan, followed by a 13-episode sequel xxxHOLiC: Kei (2008.04 to 2008.06) and a two-episode OAD xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki (2009.02 to 2009.06). The xxxHOLiC Rō OAD is slated for release 23 April 2010, along with manga volume 17. A theatrical film adaptation xxxHOLiC the Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream premiered in Japan before the first anime season (2005.08.20). Seiyuu Fukuyama Jun and Ohara Sayaka play the roles of Kimihiro Watanuki and Ichihara Yuko in all adaptations.

  31. Zenith (Jinasu - Zenith) 4 of 6 by Yoshida Satoshi & Big O ✓ [4.21]

Level Comics ROMICs (April 2010 advisory)

  1. Lucky Luke - Nabi Palsu (Lucky Luke, tome 39: Le Prophète) by Patrick Nordmann, Morris ✓ [4.28]
  2. Lucky Luke VS Joss Jamon (Lucky Luke, tome 11: Lucky Luke contre Joss Jamon) by Morris ✓ [4.28]
  3. Michel Vaillant - Di Balik Angka 13 (Michel Vaillant, tome 5: Le 13 est au départ) by Jean Graton
  4. Kekacauan Negeri Smurf (Une histoire des Schtroumpfs, tome 20: La Menace Schtroumpf) by Peyo, Thierry Culliford, Luc Parthoens, Alain Maury
  5. Spirou - 4 Petualangan Spirou dan Fantasio (Spirou et Fantasio, tome 1: 4 aventures de Spirou... et Fantasio) by Franquin
  6. Spirou - Penyihir di Champignac (Spirou et Fantasio, tome 2: Il y a un sorcier à Champignac) by Franquin
  7. Yakari dan Sang Rajawali (Yakari, tome 1: Yakari et Grand Aigle) by Derib, Job✓ [4.28]

NOTE
(1) Source: Komikologi April 2010 issue
(2) Despite its exclusion from the April list, included Angel Heart 3 as its volume preview appears in the bulletin
(3) Links like this are Amazon.com search and/or product links (commercial), in case you're interested in another language version.

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who is itching to draft Level's May manga advisory because of Yoshihara Yuki's Chou yo Hana yo premiere

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