Contains [SPOILERS!], sometimes in the form of (TV) Trope identification. Also, hearts ♥.
Chou yo Hana yo © Yoshihara Yuki/Shogakukan (First serialized in Petit Comic)
Published in Indonesia as Oh Butterfly Oh Flower by Elex Media/Level Comics
[Artwork provided by Level Comics]
Bankruptcy boots the Kuze family out of a manor complete with That Thing That Goes Doink, landing them in a plebeian soba-ya and downgrading ojou-sama Choko to Office Ladyship.
Choko's hopes for a peaceful life from here on out go down the drain (rotation otherwise unaffected by the Bad Coriolis urban myth) when she interviews for a job with a top real estate firm: her Inquisitor interviewer asks questions that transcend nosy.
What is he thinking?? Who IS this guy??
As TV Tropes reveals, he's “Say it with ♥! ‘Director Domoto ♥,’” the absolutely droolicious (need baskom/basin here) and LOLarious former baby-sitter, now turned slave-driver romantic lead of Yoshihara Yuki's Chou yo Hana yo, released in Indonesia as Oh Butterfly Oh Flower.
LMAO! attends Administrative Department Director Domoto ♥ Masayuki's shenanigans (look forward to Gundam. Snort.), but its dem “♥”s that yank out emotional investment. The pull ♥ is such that not only readers/fangirls rejoice in Level's release of this josei manga. Oh Butterfly Oh Flower editor Lenny-san admits to ^__^ grinning non-stop over her luck in being assigned this title. She recommends it as a must-have for romance comedy lovers,
pointing out that Yoshihara-sensei is the best ♥ in combining these two aspects in her comics,
before punctuating with: The art is beautiful!
(I agree on all points, but I still would've dearly wubbed ♥ to have been a (butter)fly on the wall during the Level To License or Not to License discussions. They must've been hilarious, given that Oh Butterfly Oh Flower's not exactly stingy on smut.)
To keep teh ‘Director Domoto ♥.’s undiluted, summaries for Black Lagoon 6, Rainbow 17, Eagle 11 of 11, and the rest of the Level manga streeting this Wednesday have been relocated to after the manga and reissues lists.
Level Comics manga (2010.05.26)
Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.
- Black Lagoon 6 of 9+ by Hiroe Rei
- Chocolat 3 of 7 by Kubonouchi Eisaku
- Eagle 11 of 11 by Kawaguchi Kaiji [Finale]
- Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files (Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo) 2 of 8+ by Hiroi Ouji and Kozaki Yusuke
- Master Of Sea (Waga Na wa Umishi Master Of Sea) 14 of 15 by Takemura Yuji and Komori Yoichi
- [Premiere] Oh Butterfly Oh Flower (Chou yo Hana yo) 1 of 8 by Yoshihara Yuki
Even If It Breaks, It'll End
Candy and Whip and Caramel
Secret Secretary
Love Sickness
108
- Rainbow 17 of 22 by Abe George and Kakizaki Masasumi
 | Chocolat 「 ショコラ 」 by Kubonouchi Eisaku |
ADAPTATIONS
A live-action adaptation aired in Japan from May to July 2003, starring Otsuka Chihiro, Natsuyagi Isao, Takahashi Kazuya, and Ishii Teruyuki.
 | Eagle 「 イーグル 」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji |
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)
OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS/SERIALIZATIONS
Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President was published in English by VIZ Media (five volumes, complete); in French by J'ai Lu (discontinued after 8 volumes) and Casterman; and in German by EMA.
 | Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo 「 烏丸響子の事件簿 」 |
OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS/SERIALIZATIONS
Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo is published in German by Carlsen Comics and in Russian by Comix-ART.
 | Waga Na wa Umishi Master Of Sea |
 | Chou yo Hana yo 「 蝶よ花よ 」 by Yoshihara Yuki |
OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS/SERIALIZATIONS
Butterflies, Flowers is published in English VIZ Media (volume 2 released 2010.04.06 • volume 3 street date: 2010.06.01). The manga is translated into French by Soleil and in traditional Chinese by Tong Li (Taiwan).
Volume 1 contains chapters:
*Chapter titles from Serenus-Dreamers' scanlation
 | Rainbow - Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin |
AWARDS
Won the 51st Shogakukan Manga Award for the Seinen/General category (tied with A Spirit of the Sun by Kawaguchi Kaiji)
OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS/SERIALIZATIONS
Rainbow - Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin is published in French by Editions Kabuto and in traditional Chinese by Tong Li (Taiwan).
ADAPTATIONS
A 13-episode anime adaptation by Madhouse premiered in Japan on NTV in April 2010 (latest episode 8 Freedom
aired 2010.05.25). Oguri Shun stars as Minakami Mario (his first broadcast anime lead role), with actor Koyama Rikiya as Sakuragi Rokurouta (An-chan), seiyuu Park Romi as Maeda Noboru (Suppon/Turtle), Fujiwara Keiji as Nomoto Ryuuji (Baremoto), Waki Tomohiro as Matsuura Mansaku (Cabbage), Kuroda Takaya as Tooyama Tadayoshi (Heitai/Army Corps or Soldier), Hasome Tatsuya as Yokosuka Jou (Joe), Kanjiya Shihori as Setsuko, and Hayashibara Megumi as the Narrator.
Level Comics reissues (2010.05.26)
- [RE-STO] Harlequin: The Case of Mesmerizing Boss by Diana Palmer
- [RE-STO] Harlequin: Free Spirit by Penny Jordan
- [RE-STO] Harlequin: On The Way Wedding by Inggrid Weaver
NOTE
(1) Sources: Elex Media 26 May 2010 release schedule and Komikologi (synopses, except where noted)
(2) All listed manga are priced at IDR 17,000 each, except the reissued Harlequin manga: The Case of Mesmerizing Boss and On The Way Wedding (SRP: IDR 11,000) and Free Spirit (IDR 12,000)
(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.
Volume previews continued
Black Lagoon 6 of 9+
Rock and Revy! UST (if not DAL), please!*
The Black Lagoon crew members return to home base Roanapur for some needed R&R, but rest, never mind recreation**, proves elusive as they are contracted to protect counterfeiter Greenback Jane from the mafia she has rubbed the wrong way. With minimal weaponry at their disposal, can the Lagoon Company clear this latest mission?
(And get paid. That's the important thing. Especially if you follow Revy's guns + money = the world's a great place formula for happiness.)
Volume 6 contains chapters 38-43, Greenback Jane
Parts 1-6 of 6, and 44-46, El Baile de la muerte
Parts 1-3 (to be continued).
NIK SEZ...
*Yes, I know the lock 'n load action's supposed to be the draw in Black Lagoon and the Greenback Jane arc has this in (The Siege) spades. (If you want more of what TV Tropes calls bullet spam,
check out the Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail OAV premiering in July.) But albeit coming to this OTP late, I still want my Rock x Revy! Or should that be Revy x Rock? Either way, as TV Tropes (again) sez, the girlfriend part isn't confirmed yet, but the [UST] hints are there on both sides.
**Yes, I know, The Sequel: R&R is really Rest and Rehabilitation, but give me some artistic license here. In any case, more people think it stands for rest and relaxation (if not recreation).
Chocolat 3 of 7
After her debtor father is thrown into jail, Tatsumi Chiyoko lodges with past mobster/present legit pâtisserie owner Omugi Matsukichi and meets parolees like Katou Ichigo (now a baker) on a regular basis.
Level's blurb for Chocolat 3 is from the viewpoint of —
The name's Kurio. I'm a fighter and a lady-killer. My battle with the Inamushi group landed me in hospital, but I'm good now. When I returned home after a long absence, I found Ichigo and Chiyoko acting weird. What's up with them?
Volume 3 contains 11 chapters/stories (translate the titles on your own, please):
- それって寂しくない？
- 寂しいわけないでしょ!!
- 強がり言っちゃダメ！
- 強がってないわよ!!
- じゃあ、なんで泣いてるの？
- アタシにもよくわかんない...
- わかんない事だらけだよな...
- でもひとつわかったことがあるの。
- 何がわかったんだよ？
- 人は簡単に変われないって...
- 人ほど不確かなものはねぇ。
EAGLE 11 OF 11 [Finale]
Kenneth and Grant's bid for the U.S. presidency reaches its peak with the televised presidential debate. Despite Grant using up his trump cards to sway the war of words-watching electorate, Kenneth emerges the victor. Does this mean that the U.S. will have its first Asian-American president?
Meanwhile, journalist Takashi uncovers conclusive evidence of his mother's murder and sets out to entrap the killer who also threatens Takashi's life.
Whodunit? Who is the murderer? Find out in the Eagle series finale.
Volume 11 contains chapters:
- 82 首都の闇
- 83 最終遊説地
- 84 賭け
- 85 ３の動機
- 86 虚栄の果て
- 87 富子
- 88 富子（２）
- 89 話（最終話）
- 父と子
Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files 2 of 8+
The truth about monsters, a secret the police have concealed all this time, is blown wide open: the demons begin appearing and preying upon humans, apparently in retaliation against those who have failed to honor a century-old contract.
At the same time, Kyoko's memory of her true self starts to return.
What does the contract between the monsters and humans entail? Does this signal the start of a war? Who is Karasuma Kyoko? Lenny-san sez if you like the Blood+ anime, you'll definitely love the similarly dark Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files. Though the Asakusa PD paranormal detective's story reportedly doesn't spurt as much blood as, say, Hellsing, there's still enough Oni, Tengu and assorted monster fiends from Asian myths and legends to please Eastern supernatural buffs.
Master Of Sea 14 of 15
Rintaro's joint salvage with Eguchi successfully refloats the grounded construction ship and brings good fortune to Nanba Salvage. Eguchi recommends Nanba Salvage to oil and gas company Ocean Oil, currently locked in competition with Ginga Oil and its marine salvage partner. Can Rintaro's company take on SMATT, unarguably the world's most formidable salvors and their unblemished rescue record?
The penultimate Master Of Sea contains chapters:
- 129 総力戦の結末
- 130 最強の敵、日本上陸
- 131 やりたい仕事（ヤマ）
- 132 過去の因縁と新たな因縁
- 133 鬼教官の恩人
- 134 弱小の強み
- 135 小さな勇者
- 136 女も度胸
- 137 改めて知った醍醐味
- 138 百獣の王の本気
Rainbow 17 of 22
Ruriko lucks into information about the group manipulating Setsuko's husband Yasuro, enabling Baremoto to draft a plan to halt Yasuro's further dealings with the criminals by stopping the contract signing. But the scheme excluding Mario and Serdadu (Heitai) fails and Baremoto, Penyu (Suppon), Kubis (Cabbage), and Joe are captured. Harry and his boss are thus free to pressure Yasuro to push through with the contract.
Volume 17 contains chapters:
- 172 Rock bottom
- 173 Super heroes
- 174 Trigger
- 175 Under the ice
- 176 Valley of the Kings
- 177 White evil
- 178 Xerces
- 179 You are the fire
- 180 Zero signal
- 181 Atomic
- 182 Bringing back the balls to rock
~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who huggles Lenny-san and thanks her for the artwork and summaries
P.S. And since she brought up Darling wa Namamono ni Tsuki in conjunction with Oh Butterfly Oh Flower, now expecting to see that other Yoshihara Yuki manga among Level's new licenses list.
UP NEXT: More 26 May 2010 manga
m&c!: Bakugan Battle Brawlers 5 · Bleach 26 · Hand 7 Vol. 3 of 3 · Hellboy 3 · Jinco From Room 203 Vol. 3 of 3 · Panta Pan 1 by Aomata Pink · Pendragon 3 · Red Devil of Onigawara Yokocho 2 of 2 · Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War 2 · The Story of Wang Fenglei 2 · KOLONI: I Want To Live by Kababonken · KOLONI: Shangrila by Mage · KOLONI: Xenopet by Rizky Arrydesta · Cherry 43
disclaimer
Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.
manga currently available (19 May 2010 street date)
- Elex Media: BECK 17 · Godhand Teru 23 · Katsu! 4 · The Moon & Lake by Ashihara Hinako · Pangeran Kacamata 4 · The Puppet Master Lin 7 · Spiral: The Bonds of Reason 3 · Summer Storm! 1 by Kobayashi Jin · V.B. Rose 2 · HanaLaLa 50/2010
- Level Comics: AirGear 11 · Bambino 3 · Blade of Immortal 7 · Dolls of God 1 by Yamamura Hajime · Gun Smith Cats 5 · Historie 1 by Iwaaki Hitoshi · Nurse Aoi 12 · Shattered Knife 3
- m&c!: Bleach 25 · C-blossom 2 of 2 · Fu & Dragon 1-2 of 2 by Li Zhi Qing/Zhuang Han Bo · Happy Café 13 · Innocent Dragon 5 · The Impeccable Twins Final Chapters 8 · Long Hu Men 167 · School Hotel 2 of 2 · White Paper Ark 6 · · Monika 134 · Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures 5 · Komik Malaysia: Dari Alam Angker Histeria by Oga · Komik Malaysia: Call from The Grave by Kash · Komik Malaysia: Illusive by Oga · Komik Malaysia: Eli by Zint · Komik Malaysia: Punch by Aliow
other next available manga (26 May 2010 street date)
- Elex Media: Alice Academy 13 · The Best Skilled Surgeon 3 · Crows 8 · Detektif Conan Animasi TV 21 · Fruits Basket 23 of 23 · Hell Girl 1 by Eeto Miyuki & Jigoku Shojo Project · K-ON! 2 · Kunai Legend 2 · Kuro Memanggul Peti Mati 2 · Libero Revolution 10 · Otoboke Section Chief 2 · Princess 31 · The Ruler of Nabari 10 · Tale of The Sea King 37 · With My Brothers 5 · Shonen Star 65/2010
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)
other invaluable resources
7net Shopping · Baka-Updates Manga · Wikipedia · ANN · TV Tropes · DramaWiki
Technorati tags
Level Comics · manga · josei · seinen · Black Lagoon · Chocolat · Eagle · Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo · Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files · Master Of Sea · Oh Butterfly Oh Flower · Rainbow
Black Lagoon 「 ＢＬＡＣＫ ＬＡＧＯＯＮ 」
by Hiroe Rei
Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen
Volume 6 (containing chapters 38-46) first published in Japan 2006.11
OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS/SERIALIZATIONS
Black Lagoon is published in English by VIZ Media (volume 8 released 2009.10.13 • volume 9 street date: 2010.07.13) and Chuang Yi (latest: volume 4). The manga is translated into French by Kabuto; in Spanish by Norma Editorial; in German by Carlsen Comics; and in Polish by Waneko.
ADAPTATIONS
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, Black Lagoon: Roberta's Blood Trail, is expected to premiere this July 2010, with the fourth Roberta's Blood Trail Blu-ray Disc scheduled for release in December 2010.
RELATED
Black Lagoon light novel by Urobuchi Gen (Shogakukan Gagaga Bunko, 2008.07.18)