Also, Franco-Belgian bande dessinée or as Level styles it, ROMICs (Lucky Luke - Sang Hakim, Smurf Magang, Michel Vaillant - Tragedi Bercy, and Yakari - Terbang Laksana Gagak).
Ai Kora © Inoue Kazurou/Shogakukan (First serialized in Shonen Sunday)
Published in Indonesia as Love & Collage by Level Comics (Elex Media)
[Artwork provided by Level Comics]
Contains [SPOILERS!]
Woe is Hachibe! A new teacher blows into his class, and this Sajima-sensei apparently hates him with a passion uncontested. As if it weren't enough that Sajima-sensei constantly singles Hachibe out for punishment, the teacher also precipitates both Hachibe's eviction from the girls' dorm AND his out and out expulsion from school.
Just what is the deal with Sajima-sensei and what connection does he have to the blue-cat-eyed girl in the photograph Hachibe stumbled on in the teacher's house? Find this out, as well as what more's in store for the bullet train breasts (and other discrete attributes) fetishist, in volume 10 of Love & Collage, Inoue Kazurou's endearingly warped and ecchi take on harem comedies,
streeting this Wednesday.
Jio 8 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi
If you followed the Wiki-excerpted suggestion of IGN critic A. E. Sparrow-san to read this series when you feel you've outgrown Naruto,
you'll have been anticipating Jio's further exploits. Wait no more; in Jio 8, our hero and his allies return, still questing for the legendary O-Parts. As plot luck would have it, they run into the giant Orphen O-Parts, the ancient relic of a transport bearing for Rock Bird City, site of the O.P.T. Olympics. Ruby, who wants the grand prize, orders Jio and Ball to enter, but it ain't going to be that easy: the pair first has to go through an elimination round to determine the two participants to the Rock Bird event. Can Jio and Ball make it past the qualifying contest?
Adding to blurb above (thanks to VIZ, already finished with it O-Parts Hunter run):
A chance encounter and a case of mistaken identity pit Jio and Cross against each other in a battle that almost seems foreordained—and though Cross is unaware of the creature lurking inside Jio's heart, he can't fight the strange feeling that they've met somewhere before. Will Ruby be able to intervene before these two formidable O.P.T.s tear each other apart?
[From O-Parts Hunter 8 description (VIZ Media edition)]
Volume 8 contains chapters (29) The Fated Two
(30) The Kabbalah's Angel
(31) Olympia's Prelim Round
and (32) The Chosen Two.
NEW TITLES: Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy by Nishi Yuuji & Hikino Shinji
A new month and we get a new seinen series: Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy. Originally Kachuu Hana, the Big Comic serial is another cooking manga, albeit not quite Bambino! (despite superficial similarities such as our hero(ine) Hana also dreaming of becoming Top Chef and working for a premier restaurant like Ban). This manga sees ghosts! But I'm getting ahead of myself; backtracking:
Nakamura Hanako, trainee cook at the famous Yokohama Chinatown restaurant Manten Daihanten, meets Yokihi, the ghost of a Tang empress from way, waaaay back. New status as a haunt has not precluded the former empress from enjoying delicious food. Now, how does “fly lice” cooked by idle royalty—who has had all this time to turn into the fried rice expert—taste? And can genki Hana's own version stand up in comparison?
The chapter titles beg inference that Hana will be introduced to other ghosts by Yokihi — which makes me think: Ghost Only (m&c!), rather than Level's Bambino!. Editor Tika-san recommends Nishi Yuuji- & Hikino Shinji-sensei's manga for the fried rice you will encounter (just how many varieties are there?) that come complete with yum detailed recipes. (Tika-san also edits the Bambino! series; don't you just envy her her deli-shus job?)
Level Comics manga (2010.08.04)
Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.
- ARMS 18 of 22 by Minagawa Ryouji and Nanatsuki Kyouichi
- Happy Hello Work at Age 21 (Takunabi) 3 of 5+ by Yamaguchi Katsumi, Watanabe Chiho
- 20 あの頃の僕ら。
- 21 仙台←→湯布院...1000km
- 22 「ユクカワノナガレ」
- 23 東京という戦場へ!!
- 24 面接の素人VSプレゼンの達人!?
- 25 ソフォクレス曰く！
- 26 エネルギー注入
- 27 掌（てのひら）のぬくもり
- 28 暗示
- 29 グループワークは戦争です!?（前編）
- 30 グループワークは戦争です!?（後編）
- 31 OVER
- Hikayat Genji (Asakiyumemishi) 3 of 13 by Yamato Waki
- Jio 8 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi
- Love & Collage (Ai Kora) 10 of 12 by Inoue Kazurou
- 91 油坂と小夜
- 92 遊びたガール
- 93 負け犬局長
- 94 弾圧
- 95 鎖島の過去
- 96 傷心
- 97 復活
- 98 意外なパーツ
- 99 手フェチで悪いか
- 100 ゆれる乙女心です
- Over Rev 13 of 31 by Yamaguchi Katsumi & Team39
- 足元の穴
- 郷田策動！
- 乱入者あり！
- 限界への招待
- 滑走
- 奈落へのドリフト
- 決死のアクセル
- 悲しみの父
- 荒野に乾杯！
- 冒険者の過ち
- Tomo'o (Danchi Tomoo) 10 of 16+ by Oda Tobira
- 最後の最後にきまったなともお
- 死ぬかと思ったよなともお
- キミたちに明日はないのかともお
- ジ・アンダーテイカーかよともお
- 太く長～～いのがいいけどなともお
- まだ魔法だったようだともお
- 休みにも上手と下手があるともお
- さて右か左か前か後かともお
- ガツンと言ってやれよともお
- 気分次第が過ぎるぜともお
- 死ぬかと思ったよなともお
- 想像した者勝ちともお
- 珍しくとは失敬だよなともお
- パンチとハングリーで最強だともお
- 心は透けて見えないねともお
- ぐんぐん伸びるよなともお
- どこまでも続いていないのかよともお
- [Premiere] Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy (Kachuu Hana) 1 of 12+ by Nishi Yuuji, Hikino Shinji
- 1 熱烈娘と幽霊
- 2 芋娘と幽霊
- 3 幽霊と消えた鍋
- 4 幽霊と親切娘
- 5 幽霊と寂しん坊
- 6 幽霊と姉妹愛
- 7 幽霊と姑娘（クーニャン）
- 巻末付録
- 楊貴妃直伝!!星の数ほどチャーハンレシピ物語
 | Takunabi 「 たくなび 」 by Yamaguchi Katsumi, |
Volume 3 contains chapters:
 [NOT Level's cover] | Asakiyumemishi 「 あさきゆめみし 」 by Yamato Waki |
Related
Adapted from the Japanese classic Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu
Alternative language versions
Partially translated into English as part of the Kodansha Bilingual Comics educational series.
 | Jio 「 ６６６～サタン～ 」 by Kishimoto Seishi |
Alternative language versions
Published in English as O-Parts Hunter by VIZ Media (19 volumes as at 2009.12.08); in French by Kurokawa (tome 19 released 2008.12); and in Italian by JPOP
 | Ai Kora 「 あいこら 」 by Inoue Kazurou |
Volume 10 contains chapters:
Alternative language versions
Published in French by Kurokawa (tome 12 released 2009.11)
 | Over Rev! 「 オーバーレブ！ 」 |
Volume 13 contains chapters:
 | Danchi Tomoo 「 団地ともお 」 by Oda Tobira |
Volume 10 contains stories:
Recognitions
Nominated for the 11th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize
 | Kachuu Hana 「 華中華 」 |
Volume 1 contains:
Level Comics bande dessinée (BD)/ROMICs (2010.08.04)
- Lucky Luke - Sang Hakim (Lucky Luke Tome 13: Le Juge) by Morris, René Goscinny
- Michel Vaillant - Tragedi Bercy (Michel Vaillant Tome 61: La fièvre de Bercy) by Jean Graton, Philippe Graton
- Smurf - Smurf Magang (Les Schtroumpfs Tome 7: L'Apprenti Schtroumpf) by Peyo
- Yakari - Terbang Laksana Gagak (Yakari Tome 14: Le vol des corbeaux) by Derib, Job
¹ Sources: Level Comics (artwork and summaries, unless indicated otherwise) and Elex Media STO 04 August 2010 (release schedule). Cover images and source summaries used here for reference with permission are © their respective intellectual rights holders.
² Level manga are priced at IDR 18,500 each except Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy 1 (SRP: IDR 19,500). All ROMICs go for IDR 30,000 each.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links for other language versions.
Volume previews continued
ARMS 18 of 22 by Minagawa Ryouji, Nanatsuki Kyouichi
Defeat Keith Black and rescue Katsumi!!
After numerous protracted battles, Ryou reaches the Alice Chamber, stage of the ultimate showdown. But despite being reunited with his girlfriend, Ryou has to yet to overcome Keith Black who resorts to the cruelest of tactics, forcing Ryou to activate Jabberwock.
Will the Alice Chamber become Ryou's final resting place, or can the other Arms and their super nanotech prosthetics stop Jabberwock from destroying them all?
(The VIZ Project Arms 18: The Fourth Revelation: Remembrance blurb gives away what lies ahead for Ryou and friends: despite Ryo's amazing physical powers, he finds he's no match for Keith Black's powers of mind control. Instead of enemies, Ryo and his friends must fight the illusions in their own minds!
Happy Hello Work at Age 21 vol. 3 of 5+ by Yamaguchi Katsumi, in collaboration with Watanabe Chiho
Taku's struggle for gainful employment continues: this time, he tries to get past his innate laziness with Maki's help. But Taku soon loses his focus after hearing that Akane has gone on a trip to Yufuin — with another guy! Does this mean there's really no hope for a Taku x Akane Happy Ever After? And what of Maki, back in the glare of acting lights?
Hikayat Genji 3 of 13 by Yamato Waki
The Okami's death throws the palace into shambles, the vacuum sparking a fierce power struggle among the Fujiwara clans. The situation escalates when an enemy who detests Genji tries to eliminate the royal prince. What fate awaits Shining Genji?
Over Rev 13 of 31 by Yamaguchi Katsumi & Team39
The Drift Contest piques Acrobat's interest in Sawako and Ryoko, but the vote to recruit the pair is not unanimous. Gohda the Gorilla is totally against the idea, prompting a race to the death between him and Sawako.
Tomo'o 10 of 16+ by Oda Tobira
Keriko sees a balloon caught in a tree. Unable to get it herself because of her sore eye, she asks Tomo'o to retrieve the balloon for her. Tomo'o refuses because of a toothache, and eventually, Yoshinobu, after being stung by a bee, brings the balloon down. On the balloon, however, is a piece of paper that makes our trio angry — furious enough to actually want to hunt down the balloon's original owner.
What was on the piece of paper? And can they find the writer of the message?
ROMICs
Lucky Luke - Sang Hakim
Lucky Luke - Sang Hakim (Lucky Luke - The Judge) by Morris, René Goscinny
Originally Lucky Luke Tome 13: Le Juge by Morris, René Goscinny (Dupuis, 1959)
Lucky Luke, who has to drive cattle to the distant New Mexican town of Silver City, passes through some wild territory, the most treacherous being that which only knows one law: the Law of the Judge. Lucky Luke gets on the wrong side of the “justice” who controls the region west of the Pecos and is put on trial for unspecified crimes. Can Lucky Luke teach this amateur judge a lesson he won't forget?
Michel Vaillant - Tragedi Bercy
Michel Vaillant - Tragedi Bercy (The fever of Bercy) by Jean Graton, Philippe Graton
Originally Michel Vaillant Tome 61: La fièvre de Bercy by Jean Graton, Philippe Graton (Graton Editeur, 1998)
Michel Vaillant and best friend Steve Warson come to Bercy to participate in a race that lets them meet the world's number one race driver. But Michel and Steve won't be driving their F1 cars; instead, they will be racing in go-karts. The pair also meets John Cabral, owner of the Fastnet IT company that not only sponsors the Bercy race but also launched an innovative chronometer program. Michel is forced to help Fastnet out after a young driver, Billy, makes off with a Fastnet program CD. A dangerous high speed go-kart chase ensues on the Parisian streets, but can Michel retrieve the stolen disk?
Smurf - Smurf Magang
Smurf - Smurf Magang (The Smurf Apprentice) by Peyo
Originally Les Schtroumpfs Tome 7: L'Apprenti Schtroumpf by Peyo (Dupuis, 1971)
A Smurf wants to apprentice to Papa Smurf and help the elder Smurf in his lab experiments, but Papa Smurf turns down the wannabe apprentice, saying the Smurf's too young. The curious Smurf, itching to get blue hands on the magic potion, steals into Gargamel's laboratory and tries to snaffle Gargamel's magic book. But sadly...
This volume also contains the stories Pièges à Schtroumpfs
(Smurftraps
) and Roméo et Schtroumpfette
(Romeo and Smurfette
).
Yakari - Terbang Laksana Gagak
Yakari - Terbang Laksana Gagak (Flight of the Crows) by Derib, Job
Originally Yakari Tome 14: Le vol des corbeaux by Derib, Job (Dupuis, 1988)
Whilst sleeping, Slow Deer is abducted by a crow. Yakari and best friend Rainbow go after the thieving crow after being told that Slow Deer's life is in danger.
Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who thanks Level editor Lenny-san for the artwork and blurb provisioning
Other upcoming 4 August 2010 manga
Elex Media: Vampire Knight 2 · Topeng Kaca Bidadari Merah 11 · Claymore 15 · Coz We're Not Children 2 of 2 · Godhand Teru 25 · Hidamari Sketch 2 · Kurozakuro 5 · Look Up! 2 · New Sexy Simpleton 6 · Summer Storm! 3 ·Yureka 17 · Shonen Magz 75/2010
m&c!: Bleach 31 · ChimaChima Papetto by Hina · The Strawberry Marshmallow 6 · Triple Honey by Yamanaka Rico · Wizard in July by Tanaka Meca · Yowamushi Pedal, Go! 8 · Toutou and Friends - Ayam Panggang by Soffritti/Brrémaud/Reynès · Sejejak Harap by Gita/Rie
manga currently available (28 July 2010 street date)
- Elex Media: BECK 20 · Dear Boys Act 3 vol. 3 · Fullmetal Alchemist 23 · Hayate The Combat Butler 22 · Kariage-kun 31 · A Kiss For My Prince 5 of 5 · Legend of Nereid 9 · Legend of The Cursed Sword 31 · Ruler of the Land 48 · Tena on S String 2 · Vitamin Cat 2 · Wild Life 7 | Mangazine: HanaLaLa 52, Shonen Star 69/2010
- Level Comics: Angel Heart 4 · Bambino! 5 · Glass Chair 5 · New Comic Bomber 3 · Restore Garage 251 vol. 8 · Soul Eater 1 by Ohkubo Atsushi
- m&c!: Ah Dear Banchou 5 · Because I Love You 1 of 2 by Akira Shouko · Bleach 30 · Dragon Girl 5 of 5 · Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War 4 · Tell Me One Million Times 1 of 2 by Oobayashi Miyuki · You Can't Disappear from Me 1 of 4 by Aikawa Saki | Manhua: The Impeccable Twins Final Chapters 10 · The Story of Wang Fenglei 4 | AMERO: Quick & Flupke series: Maaf Bu!, Hidup Teknologi, Malapetaka, Kena Batunya, Tukang Kibul and Kencangkan Sabuk Pengaman | Mangazine: Cherry 45/2010 | KOLONI local comics: Satu Atap 2 · Merdeka: Di Bukit Selarong
related monthly schedules
July 2010
Premiering Soul Eater by Ohkubo Atsushi and Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy by Nishi Yuuji · Ending Diamond Life
other invaluable resources
7net Shopping · Amazon France · Baka-Updates Manga · Wikipedia · ANN · TV Tropes
Technorati tags
Level Comics · manga · seinen · shounen · ARMS · Happy Hello Work at Age 21 (Takunabi) · Hikayat Genji · Jio · Love & Collage (Ai Kora) · Over Rev · Tomo'o · Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy (Kachuu Hana) | ROMIC (BD): Lucky Luke · Michel Vaillant · Smurfs · Yakari
ARMS 「 ＡＲＭＳ 」
by Minagawa Ryouji and Nanatsuki Kyouichi
Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen
Volume 18 (containing 11 chapters) first published in Japan 2001.07
For those who can read Japanese, volume 18 contains chapters:
Related
Series re-released in 12 volumes from 2007.06 to 2008.10
Alternative language versions/serializations
VIZ Media published Project ARMS in English (22 volumes as at 2009.05.12). Other global releases: France (by Kana; tome 22 released 2006.11), Italy (Panini Comics/Planet Manga), Germany (Planet Manga), Taiwan and Hong Kong (Tong Li). Serialized in Bahasa Malaysia in Kreko Komik Remaja (Malaysia).
Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 44th Shogakukan Manga Awards
Adaptations
TMS produced a 26-episode anime adaptation that aired on TV Tokyo from April to September 2001. Seiyuu Canna Nobutoshi voiced Takatsuki Ryo, with Takayama Minami as Kuruma Kei, Ueda Yuji as Tomoe Takeshi and Miki Shinichiro as Shingu Hayato. The Project ARMS: The 2nd Chapter sequel (episodes 27-52) broadcast from October 2001 through March 2002.