Black Butler 10, Sanzoku Ou 12, Boy Friend 1-3 of 3 by Yamada Daisy (Elex Media 2 March 2011 manga)

Corrected Black Butler 9 typo advised by Dancer-san

Boy Friend © Yamada Daisy/Kodansha [First serialized in Nakayoshi]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media

Before I get to the premieres —

Phantomhive Manor plays unintentional host to a serial killing. A butler-less master attempts to solve the crime. Just as the mystery deepens, who should appear but one hell of an arrogant...clergyman?

Who is this man of the cloth sporting a cynical smirk? Find out in Black Butler 10, streeting this Wednesday.

Black Butler X contains chapters 43-47: That Butler, Robust; That Butler, Wailing; That Butler, Transfer; That Butler, Unnecessary; and That Butler, Contemplating. (*NOT Elex Media's chapter titles)

Sanzoku Ou: King of Bandits 12 of 13 by Sawada Hirofumi

The Six marked by the star finally assemble in the penultimate volume of Sanzoku Ou: King of Bandits. Bound by a common goal, Ashikaga and Masashige are joined by Akamatsu, thus swelling the ranks of the fortress defenders and allowing them to defeat the largest amassing of shogunate troops in Rokuhara.

Meanwhile, Nagato and Nitta's troops forge their way to Kamakura, the joint forces bearing down on the bakufu.

New Elex Titles

Elex finally compiles one of Nakayoshi Gress!'s most popular series, Yamada Daisy's Boy Friend. I would've preferred the first XX Me! tankou, but as Elex is triple-launching the Doctor, Friendship, Bullying, Prodigy, Outsider, Runaway shoujo drama, all's good.

Second-year junior high student Hijiki has just transferred to a new school, but already she's gained a lot of friends. Only one person knows that Hijiki hides something behind her cheerfulness — the guy who's always beside her, Utsugi Horai.

Earlier, Elex published Yamada Daisy-sensei's Innocent World and Love Honor.

The other debut is the short soonjung manhwa, Sweet Recipe by Yun EHyeon. Elex provides no blurb, just these chapter titles:
Recipe 1. Nasi super lezat! (Super delicious rice)
Recipe 2. Telur, ratunya protein (Egg, The Queen of Protein)
Recipe 3. Langkah awal memasak (The first step in cooking)

Elex Media manga, manhwa and manhua (2011.03.02)

1. Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) 10 of 11+ by Toboso Yana

Kuroshitsuji 「黒執事」 by Toboso Yana Square Enix GFantasy, shounen Volume 10 (chapters 43-47) first published in Japan 2010.09

Other languages
English Black Butler (Yen Press: four volumes per 2011.01 • volume 5 street date: 2011.04.26 and Chuang Yi: volume 4 released 2011.02.22), French (Kana: Black Butler tome 5 per 2010.11 • tome 6 ships 2011.03.04), German (Carlsen Comics: Black Butler Band 6 street date: 2011.04.22), traditional Chinese (Tong Li: 黑執事 10 per 2010.11) and simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 黑执事 #8 released 2010.02.24)

Adaptations
The 24-episode A-1 Pictures anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Ono Daisuke (Sebastian Michaelis) and Sakamoto Maaya (Ciel Phantomhive), aired in Japan from October 2008 to March 2009. An unaired OAV side story, Kuroshitsuji: Sono Shitsuji, Kōgyō, shipped with DVD volume 9.

A 12-episode second series—Kuroshitsuji II—aired between July and September 2010. The new master and butler pair designed by Toboso Yana, butler Claude Faustus and master Alois Trancy, were voiced by Sakurai Takahiro and Mizuki Nana.

Two audio dramas preceded the anime. The first Kuroshitsuji Drama CD, released August 2007 by Geneon Entertainment, featured seiyuu Morikawa Toshiyuki, Takashiro Genki, Suzuki Chihiro, and Seki Tomokazu. The second Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) Karei Naru Drama CD, released November 2008 by Sony Music Entertainment, featured the anime cast.

A musical adaptation—That Butler, Friendship—enjoyed a theater run from May 28, 2009 to June 7, 2009. The second Musical Black Butler, The Most Beautiful Death in The World, A Thousand Soul and The Fallen Grim Reapers stage musical had Matsushita Yuya reprising his role as Sebastian Michaelis. Nishii Yukito replaced Sakamoto Shougo as Ciel Phantomhive in the second musical that ran between 3 and 23 May 2010 in Japan.

Related
Black Butler Character Guide “That Butler, Assembles” (2008.02) • The TV Animation Black Butler Black Record (2009.03) • Rainbow Butler official comics anthology (2009.03)

2. [Series Premiere] Boy Friend 1 of 3 by Yamada Daisy

Boy Friend 「ボーイフレンド」 by Yamada Daisy Kodansha Nakayoshi, shoujo Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.07

Serializations
Serialized in Indonesian in Nakayoshi Gress!

3. Boy Friend 2 of 3 by Yamada Daisy

Volume 2 first published in Japan 2009.12

4. Boy Friend 3 of 3 by Yamada Daisy [Finale]

Volume 3 first published in Japan 2010.04

5. Crayon Shinchan 4 of 50 by Usui Yoshito

Crayon Shin-chan 「クレヨンしんちゃん」 by Usui Yoshito (deceased) Futabasha Weekly Manga Action, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 1992.11

Other languages
English (partially translated by ComicsOne and CMX), French (J'ai Lu, then, Casterman), Spanish and Catalan (Planeta DeAgostini Comics Spain), German (EMA), Italian ( Panini Comics) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

Adaptations
Shin'ei Doga's anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Yajima Akiko (Shin-chan), ran from April 1992 to December 2010. At least 18 movie sequels have been released between July 1993 and April 2010.

6. Cynical Kanoko (Warau Kanoko-sama) 2 of 3 by Tsujita Ririko

Warau Kanoko-sama 「笑うかのこ様」 by Tsujita Ririko Hakusensha LaLa DX, shoujo Volume 2 first published in Japan 2009.02

Related series
Koi dano Ai dano (sequel; two volumes per 2011.02, ongoing)

Other languages
English The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko (TOKYOPOP: one volume; volume 2 ships 2011.04.05)

7. Doraemon: Gadget Cat from the Future 3 of 10 by Fujiko F. Fujio (Shogakukan English Comics)
8. Dodge Fighters (Ganbare! Dodgeball Fighters) 3 of 10 by Murakami Toshiya & Saito Muneo

Ganbare! Dodgeball Fighters 「がんばれ！ドッジファイターズ」 by Murakami Toshiya & Saito Muneo Shogakukan Tentoumushi Comics, kodomo Volume 3 (chapters 27-39) first published in Japan 2004.02

9. Dr. Koto (Dr. Koto Shinryoujo) 4 of 25+ by Yamada Takatoshi

Dr. Koto Shinryoujo 「Ｄｒ．コトー診療所」 by Yamada Takatoshi AKA Dr. Coto's Clinic Shogakukan Weekly Young Sunday (later moved to Big Comic Original in 2008), seinen Volume 4 (chapters 34-44) first published in Japan 2001.11

Awards
Best General/Seinen Manga, 49th Shogakukan Manga Awards

Serializations
Indonesian Shonen Star (ongoing)

Other languages
French (Kana: Dr Kotô tome 18 per 2011.01) and traditional Chinese 離島大夫日誌 (Ching Win Taiwan)

Adaptations
Dr. Coto's Clinic, an 11-episode live-action TV drama starring Yoshioka Hidetaka as Dr. Coto (Goto Kensuke) aired from July to September 2003 on Fuji TV, followed by two specials (the first aired between 9 and 10 January 2004 and the second from 12 to 13 December of the same year). The first season won the 38nd Television Drama Academy Awards for Best Drama and a Best Actor award for Yoshioka Hidetaka. A second 11-episode season followed between October and December 2006. This season was recognized with a Special Award for the Production Team in the 44th Galaxy Awards.

Related
Dr. Koto My First BIG Specials: The Advent!, Miracle in the hand (2006.10) and My First BIG editions: Suspected, Despair (2006.11) and Consider (2006.12)

10. Fantastic Tales 3 of 5 by Ihuan

Fantastic Tales 「星月幻境」 by Ihuan Tong Li, shoujo Volume 3 first published in Taiwan 2005.05

11. Hitohira 2 of 7 by Kirihara Idumi

Hitohira 「ひとひら」 by Kirihara Idumi Futabasha Comic High!, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2006.05

Other languages
English Hitohira (Aurora Publishing: three volumes [hiatus]) and traditional Chinese (Ever Glory Publishing Taiwan: 女優大試煉 4 per 2008.02)

Related series
Sequels: Hitohira Encore (one volume, complete) and Sakaki Mirei no Tame nara Boku wa...!! (one volume per 2011.02.12, ongoing serialization in Comic High!)

Adaptations
A 12-episode anime adaptation by XEBEC M2, starring seiyuu Kimoto Orie (Asai Mugi), Kawasumi Ayako (Ichinose Nono), Narita Ken (Katsuragi Takashi), Hikami Kyoko (Nishida Risaki) and Kishio Daisuke (Nishida Kai), aired from March to June 2007 in Japan.

12. Katsu! 10 of 16 by Adachi Mitsuru

Katsu! 「ＫＡＴＳＵ！」 by Adachi Mitsuru Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 10 (chapters 89-98) first published in Japan 2003.12

Reissues
Re-released in 8 volumes in Japan from 2009.07 to 2010.02.

Other languages/serializations
Serialized in Indonesian in Shonen Star
French (Pika Édition: 16 of 16 volumes)

13. The Recipe For Gertrude (Gertrude no Recipe) 2 of 5 by Kusakawa Nari

Gertrude no Recipe 「ガートルードのレシピ」 by Kusakawa Nari Hakusensha LaLa DX, shoujo Volume 2 (chapters 5-8 + side story) first published in Japan 2002.02

Other languages
English The Recipe For Gertrude (CMX: five volumes)

14. Sanzoku Ou: King of Bandits 12 of 13 by Sawada Hirofumi

Sanzoku Ou 「山賊王」 by Sawada Hirofumi Kodansha Magazine Great, shounen Volume 12 first published in Japan 2009.02

Serializations
Indonesian Shonen Magz (concluded)

15. Sweet Recipe 1 of 2 by Yun EHyeon

Sweet Recipe 「스위트 레시피」 by Yun EHyeon Daiwon C.I. soonjung Volume 1 first published in Korea 2004.06

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

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[Review] Together in Love 1 by Sakamoto Miku

This shoujo manga review is written in Bahasa Indonesia.

Ai no Moto ni Tsudoe © Sakamoto Miku/Hakusensha
[First serialized in Bessatsu Hana to Yume]
Published in Indonesia as Together in Love by Gramedia/m&c!

Together in Love 1 by Miku Sakamoto
Review by Lina-chan (Some rights reserved)
Rating: 8/10

Quick Summary

Iwase Yuki, 18 tahun, mahasiswi miskin yang ditinggal pergi oleh ayahnya karena terlibat hutang.

Takeshita Yumeji, 18 tahun, mahasiswa dengan 10 saudara kandung yang berebut tempat tinggal.

Tozawa Ai, 28 tahun, pemilik kost Cinta Abadi, dosen sastra modern, sering disapa Ai-chan, tampan tapi tidak pandai berkomunikasi, memiliki ambisi menjadi penulis novel.

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Hana Yori Dango across the dorama board: A retrospective

This retrospective is written in Bahasa Indonesia. (Some rights reserved)

Hana Yori Dango © Kamio Yoko/
Shueisha [First serialized in Margaret]

Prestasi manga Hana Yori Dango karya Kamio Yoko yang diadaptasi menjadi dorama di Taiwan, Jepang, dan Korea Selatan (dan China walaupun tidak mendapat lisensi dari penerbit Jepang Shueisha) tentunya tidak lepas dari prestasi penjualan manganya yang laku 54 juta copy.

Sebenarnya, jauh sebelum era F4 Taiwan, Hana Yori Dango telah diadaptasi menjadi film layar lebar di tahun 1995 (dibintangi oleh Tanihara Shosuke, Uchida Yuki, dan Naohito Fujiki). Hingga akhirnya produser versi Taiwan Angie Chai dan sutradara Cai Yuexun berkolaborasi dan merilis Meteor Garden di tahun 2001. Sejak saat itu, Jepang dan Korea Selatan seakan tidak mau ketinggalan dan mencoba mengadaptasi kisah Cinderella modern ini.

Berikut ini adalah pendapatku mengenai masing-masing doramanya.

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[Review] Cynical Kanoko 1 by Tsujita Ririko

Cynical Kanoko 1 by Tsujita Ririko
Review by Kia (Some rights reserved)
Rating: 7.5/10

Summary
Kanoko Naedoko has one hobby a student doesn't normally have, observing others in the wild. How? Her notebook is her best friend. After leaving the first 10 pages clean for safety reasons, she would then write her daily log on classmates she finds interesting. First target lock-on: the school's most popular people love triangle! Tsubaki-Hanai-Natsukusa. Just as she gets engrossed in her lab bunnies, Kanoko who proclaims to be a loner starts to interact with her targets and builds a brand-new relationship we normally call friendship (which she never thought of having). But her “stalking” isn't quite done yet. There are still drama queens, wannabes, narcissists and other interesting classmates ready to fill her notebook. And it seems observing just one school-worth isn't enough? Plus Tsubaki has millions of reasons to show up wherever Kanoko is at?

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My Sweet Kaicho 9, Bleach 37, Oresama Teacher 4 (m&c! 23 February 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Edited to take out Spring Love by Suetsugu Yuki and If Only You Were Here by Morio Rina; m&c! moved these two titles to next week

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! © Fujiwara Hiro/Hakusensha
[Serialized in LaLa]
Published in Indonesia as My Sweet Kaicho by Gramedia/m&c!

Misaki runs for a second term as student council president, but this time, she's facing a daunting opponent in...Kanou Soutarou, the male students' draft pick to Take. Down. The Evil Kaichou. See what hijinks ensue as the anti-Misaki faction (and perforce, its victim Kanou) snoops for Misaki's weakness in the much-much-Much! awaited My Sweet Kaicho 9.

Meanwhile, in another high school, with another student body prez —

Oresama Teacher 4 of 10+ by Tsubaki Izumi

Hayasaka-kun special training under Mafuyu, Start-OH!, after Mafuyu deems him the likeliest target of the enemy bodyguard club set at odds against the ethics club by the cunning student council chairman.

Bleach 37 of 48+ by Tite Kubo

The aptly-subtitled Beauty is So Solitary Bleach 37 features narcissist Ayasegawa Yumichika on the cover to mark the return to the Las Noches action. But before Yumichika can reveal his zanpakutō's true form in combat, the 11th Division's 5th Seat must first wait for the Pendulum to swing to a stop. Means letting Aizen first admit to masterminding the Shinigami Hollow transformation that led to attrition among soul reaper ranks and—after Shinji and his troop turn into Hollows—allowing Urahara and Kidō company captain Tessai to go after Aizen. (Refers to flashback chapters -99 to -97, Turn Back The Pendulum 10, Turn Back The Pendulum 11 and Let Stop The Pendulum.)

Before I get to the newbs, have to note that Lovely Make-up - Myon & Fuku-chan's Beauty Learning wraps this m&c! release with volume 2. Actually, Myon, Fuku-chan and Tetsuya's quest to makeover girls with self-confidence issues would've led this post for sheer prettiness of cover—toggle the Lovely Make-up list link below—but. (UsuiMisa. 'Nuff sed.)

The only newbie is the Debt, Almost Certainly a Love Triangle Together in Love 1, Sakamoto Miku's ex-Bessatsu HanaYume Ai no Moto ni Tsudoe:

After her mother's passing away and her father's disappearance post amassing a huge debt, de facto orphan Iwase Yuuki finds herself the newest tenant of the “Eternal Love” boarding house and the object of attention of two bishies: her landlord Ai and her university classmate Yumeji.

Find our review of the first volume here (in Indonesian).

In addition to Together in Love, m&c! also published Sakamoto Miku-sensei's Gokuraku Smile, Nadeshiko Club and Nekomachi Shop Guide. It has yet to conclude Prisoner of the Heart (latest volume 3, if I'm not mistaken).

SEER - The Genchildren
© Erwin Prasetya
& MAZJOJO/m&c!

KOLONI local comics

We get a KOLONI volume 2 daily (actually, weekly) double: the sequel to Ockto, Seta & Bayu's B.O.C.A.H., the Kodansha Selection/3rd Morning International Manga Competition awardee, as well as the next installment to Erwin Prasetya- & MAZJOJO's fantasy action SEER - The Genchildren, which promises to reveal the secrets behind Anak Dewa (God's Child) and Tio's past.

m&c! manga and manhua (2011.02.23)

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

1. Bleach 37 of 48+ by Kubo Tite

Bleach 「ＢＬＥＡＣＨ－ブリーチ－」 by Kubo Tite Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump, shounen Volume 37 first published in Japan 2009.02

Volume 37: Beauty is So Solitary chapters:
-99. Turn Back The Pendulum 10
-98. Turn Back The Pendulum 11
-97. Let Stop The Pendulum
316. Swang the Edge Down
317. Six Hearts Will Beat As One
318. Five Towers/Four Pillars
319. Ants And Dragons
320. Beauty is So Solitary
321. Black Briers and Brambles
322. Oath Under The Rose

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 50th Shogakukan Manga Awards

Other languages
English Bleach (VIZ Media: volume 33 per 2010.12 • volume 34 street date: 2011.03.01), French (Glénat; tome 40 shipped 2011.01.05), Spanish (Glénat in Spain, Grupo Editorial Vid in Mexico), German (TOKYOPOP Germany), Dutch (Kana), Russian (Эксмо), Polish (JPF), Portuguese (Planet Manga) and simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: volume 48 per 2011.01.18)

Related
Kubo Tite and Makoto Matsubara co-authored two Bleach novels: BLEACH-letters from the other side: The Death and The Strawberry (Japan release: 2004.12) and BLEACH: The Honey Dish Rhapsody (2006.10).

The Bleach All Colour But The Black artbook, compiling color spreads from manga volumes 1 through 19 with original art and author annotations, released in Japan (2006.12), USA (The Art of Bleach, 2008.10) and France (All colour but the black: Recueil des illustrations de Bleach, 2008.11).

Companion guidebooks have also been published: Bleach SOULs and Bleach VIBEs released 2006.02 in Japan (The English Bleach SOULs. Official Character Book shipped 2008.11 in North America, while the French version streeted 2009.11). A third Bleach Official Bootleg: KaraBuri+ guidebook released 2007.08 in Japan. (English Color Bleach+: The Bleach Official Bootleg street date: 2010.08.10.)

Adaptations
Studio Pierrot's Bleach anime adaptation first broadcast in October 2004, continuing to this day. Season 14 opened with episode 266 in April 2010; latest episode 305 aired 2011.01.18). Seiyuu Morita Masakazu and Orikasa Fumiko star as Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia, with Park Romi and Namikawa Daisuke playing 10th Division captain Hitsugaya Toshiro and Arrancar Ulquiorra Cifer respectively. Two OAVs and four theatrical movies—Memories of Nobody, The DiamondDust Rebellion, Another Hyōrinmaru, Fade to Black, I Call Your Name and Bleach: The Hell Verse—have been released. Additionally, Warner Bros. has confirmed it will be producing a Bleach live-action film.

At least eight drama CDs have been produced. Featuring the original anime cast, the drama CDs were bundled with the DVDs.

Bleach has also been adapted into rock musicals (spanning the the Substitute and Soul Society arcs). The first musical had its performance run in August 2005.

2. How to be a Man (Otona ni Naru Houhou) 6 of 8 by Yamada Nanpei

Otona ni Naru Houhou 「オトナになる方法」 by Yamada Nanpei Hakusensha, shoujo Volume 6 first published in Japan 2001.09

Related series
Part of Yamada Nanpei's Kumiko & Shingo series (Series 6).

3. The Impeccable Twins Final Chapters 15 of 20: Dalang Iblis (bagian keempat) by Khu Lung, Cai Jing Dong
4. Long Hu Men (Oriental Heroes) 175: Ancaman Mata Langit! by Tony Wong
5. Lovely Make-up - Myon & Fuku-chan's Beauty Learning (Kosume no Tessoku) 2 of 2 by Takashima Eri, Mimori Kaori [Finale]

Kosume no Tessoku 「コスメの鉄則～みょんとふくちゃんのキレイ修行～」 by Takashima Eri, Mimori Kaori Kodansha Betsufure, shoujo Volume 2 first published in Japan 2010.07

6. Momokan 7 of 7+ by Shirakawa Kikuno

Momokan 「モモ缶」 by Shirakawa Kikuno Kodansha Be Love, josei Volume 7 first published in Japan 2010.07

7. My Sweet Kaicho (Kaichou wa Maid-sama!) 9 of 12+ by Fujiwara Hiro

Kaichou wa Maid-sama! 「会長はメイド様！」 by Fujiwara Hiro Hakusensha LaLa, shoujo Volume 9 first published in Japan 2010.04

Awards
Fujiwara Hiro-sensei won the 'Outstanding Debut' award at the 31st Hakusensha Athena Newcomers Awards in Japan for this manga.

Other languages/serializations
English Maid Sama! (TOKYOPOP: seven volumes per 2010.11 • volume 8 street date: 2011.03.01), French (Pika Édition: Maid Sama! tome 6 ships 2011.03.02), German (Carlsen Comics: Maid-sama Band 6 per 2011.03.18; serialized in Daisuki), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 会长是女仆 #11 street date: 2011.02.22), traditional Chinese (Ever Glory Taiwan: 學生會長是女僕！ 10 per 2010-12-07)

Adaptations
J.C. Staff's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Fujimura Ayumi (Ayuzawa Misaki) and Okamoto Nobuhiko (Usui Takumi) aired from April through September 2010 on TBS and Animax Asia. An earlier released Kaichou wa Maid-sama! drama CD featured Kobayashi Sanae and Sugita Tomokazu as Misaki and Usui.

8. Oresama Teacher 4 of 10+ by Tsubaki Izumi

Oresama Teacher 「俺様ティーチャー」 by Tsubaki Izumi Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo Volume 4 first published in Japan 2009.02

Other languages
English Oresama Teacher (VIZ Media: volume 1 street date: 2011.03.01)

Adaptations
A drama CD was released in March 2009, featuring seiyuu Kitamura Eri, Narita Ken, Mizushima Takahiro, Miyake Kenta and Ono Daisuke (go here for their roles).

9. Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War (Shanaou Yoshitsune: Genpei no Kassen) 10 of 14+ by Sawada Hirofumi

Shanaou Yoshitsune: Genpei no Kassen 「遮那王　義経　源平の合戦」 by Sawada Hirofumi Kodansha Monthly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 10 first published in Japan 2010.02

Related series
Shanaou Yoshitsune (prequel, 22 of 22 volumes)

10. [Premiere] Together in Love (Ai no Moto ni Tsudoe) 1 of 4 by Sakamoto Miku

Ai no Moto ni Tsudoe 「愛のもとに集え」 by Sakamoto Miku Hakusensha Bessatsu Hana to Yume, shoujo Volume 1 first published in Japan 2008.05

m&c! KOLONI local comics (2011.02.23)

1. B.O.C.A.H. 2 by Ockto, Seta & Bayu
2. SEER - The Genchildren 2 by Erwin Prasetya- & MAZJOJO

[RE-STO] Reissues (2011.02.23)

• 7th Lesson Rhapsody by Tanaka Meca
• Doki-doki Night Class 1 of 2 by Majiko!
• Doki-doki Night Class 2 of 2 by Majiko! [Finale]

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Top 10 Male Seiyuu, My Picks

It's time for me to list my favorite male seiyuu! Actually, huamulan03 already made her list (read about it here). But I just wanted to list my personal faves because our taste was rather different xD
Without further ado, here it is.

1. Kamiya Hiroshi (神谷 浩史)

Favorite nickname: Kamiyan
Favorite roles:
Araragi Koyomi (Bakemonogatari)
Orihara Izaya (Durarara!!)
Tieria Erde (Gundam 00)
If you follow my Twitter, you must know how much I love him. He's like a God in the seiyuu world for me! Just hearing his voice is enough to make me enter 'Kyaaaa~' mode. As TV Tropes said, his character can be noble, cold, super smuggy, or even just plain hilarious. He won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Tieria Erde in the Second Seiyuu Awards. He also won Best Lead Actor for his role as Natsume Takashi in Natsume Yujincho and Best Personality in the Third Seiyuu Awards. Cool, isn't he?

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Only Black Butler 4 (Chuang Yi 22 February 2011 English manga)

Chuang Yi's manga advisory changed between the five(?) hours from when I first checked this morning till my latest afternoon reconfirm. The English Pokemon Adventures 35 and the simplified Chinese Defense Devil 6 went from Coming soon at 2011-02-22 to date-less in that interim.

Kuroshitsuji © Toboso Yana/
Square Enix [GFantsy]
Published in Singapore
as Black Butler
by Chuang Yi

Only one English release means I can quote CY's Black Butler 4 (ISBN 978-981-4341-13-4; SRP: SGD 8.90) preview up here:

London — the capital of the Great Empire — is once again under siege, as a string of bizarre attacks on British citizens returned from India sends rumours flying and casts a pall upon Queen Victoria's rule. Sent in by Her Majesty, young Earl Phantomhive and his most capable butler, Sebastian, follow a trail that collides head-on with an Indian youth who claims to be a prince. And this prince possesses an extraordinary butler of his own! As an intense rivalry between the two butlers begins to form, will the kitchen be the dueling duo's final battleground?

Black Butler 4 contains chapters 15 through 19: That Butler, Freeloader, That Butler, Foreigner, That Butler, Competing, That Butler, Shadow and That Butler, Different Talent (NOT Chuang Yi's titles).

Chuang Yi English manga (2011.02.22)

1. Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) 4 of 11+ by Toboso Yana

Kuroshitsuji 「黒執事」 by Toboso Yana
Square Enix GFantasy, shounen
Volume 4 (chapters 15-19) first published in Japan 2008.05

Other languages
Alternative English Black Butler (Yen Press: four volumes per 2011.01 • volume 5 street date: 2011.04.26), French (Kana: Black Butler tome 5 per 2010.11 • tome 6 2011.03.04), German (Carlsen Comics: Black Butler Band 6 street date: 2011.04.22), Indonesian (Elex Media: vol. 9 released 2010.11), traditional Chinese (Tong Li: 黑執事 10 per 2010.11) and simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 黑执事 #8 released 2010.02.24)

Adaptations
The 24-episode A-1 Pictures anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Ono Daisuke (Sebastian Michaelis) and Sakamoto Maaya (Ciel Phantomhive), aired in Japan from October 2008 to March 2009. An unaired OAV side story, Kuroshitsuji: Sono Shitsuji, Kōgyō, shipped with DVD volume 9.

A 12-episode second series—Kuroshitsuji II—aired between July and September 2010. The new master and butler pair designed by Toboso Yana, butler Claude Faustus and master Alois Trancy, were voiced by Sakurai Takahiro and Mizuki Nana.

Two audio dramas preceded the anime. The first Kuroshitsuji Drama CD, released August 2007 by Geneon Entertainment, featured seiyuu Morikawa Toshiyuki, Takashiro Genki, Suzuki Chihiro, and Seki Tomokazu. The second Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) Karei Naru Drama CD, released November 2008 by Sony Music Entertainment, featured the anime cast.

A musical adaptation—That Butler, Friendship—enjoyed a theater run from May 28, 2009 to June 7, 2009. The second Musical Black Butler, The Most Beautiful Death in The World, A Thousand Soul and The Fallen Grim Reapers stage musical had Matsushita Yuya reprising his role as Sebastian Michaelis. Nishii Yukito replaced Sakamoto Shougo as Ciel Phantomhive in the second musical that ran between 3 and 23 May 2010 in Japan.

Related
Black Butler Character Guide “That Butler, Assembles” (2008.02) • The TV Animation Black Butler Black Record (2009.03) • Rainbow Butler official comics anthology (2009.03)

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

¹ Source: Chuang Yi per 21 February 2011
² Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).

As for the simplified Chinese titles streeting Tuesday — can you identify these two?

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Until Death Do Us Part 4, Team Medical Dragon 15, Red River 4 (Level Comics 23 February 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Edited based on blog regular Junya-san's tip that Team Medical Dragon has concluded. [More on this below.]

May contain   [SPOILERS!]

Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made © Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S
Square Enix [Serialized in Young Gangan]
Published in Indonesia as Until Death Do Us Part by Elex Media/Level Comics

The future in which Haruka “sees” herself married to Mamoru remains as distant as her name; for now, the precog tot remains in Mamoru's custody, but goes back to junior high at Igawa's suggestion. Quiet descends upon the Element Network but not for long as out of the shadows sneaks Fang, hired to eliminate Mamoru.

Find out how the blind swordsman visits retribution upon the assassin who dares to kill him in Until Death Do Us Part 4, streeting this Wednesday.

Team Medical Dragon 15 of 25 by Nogizaka Taro & Nagai Akira

[Medical Supervisor: Yoshinuma Mie]

To help Kihara, Gunji covers up for his operation snafu; the same “good deed,” however, only makes Noboru lose all hope and fall into depression. Can Noboru regain enough confidence to save the patient who experiences bleeding just as Gunji is not around?

Edit: As mentioned above, this series has ended. Baka-Updates Manga advises here (excerpted below):

After 210 installments, Tarō Nogizaka will end his Iryū - Team Medical Dragon manga in this year's fourth issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior magazine on January 28.

This book detail confirms that volume 25 is the series finale.

Red River 4 of 28 by Shinohara Chie

Prince Kail, Prince Zannanza and Yuri push off for Malatya to battle the Mitanni forces. Calculations put the siege of Malatya at two to three months, but Prince Kail declares they can retake the occupied city in five days, with minimal casualties. What exactly is Kail planning?

[Previews continued after the manga list.]

Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.02.23)

1. Fight!! Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) 80 of 95+ by Morikawa Joji

Hajime no Ippo 「はじめの一歩」 by Morikawa Joji AKA Fighting Spirit Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 80 first published in Japan 2007.05

Volume 80 chapters:
Round 757. Seeking It With Him
Round 758. The Man Known as the Magician
Round 759. Dojo Challenge
Round 760. Magic Inside the Ring
Round 761. Nature of the Magic
Round 762. Extending? Shrinking?
Round 763. Outside Training
Round 764. Different From Before
Round 765. Dual Exchange
Round 766. The Other Weakness
Round 767. A Fight Or A Job
*NOT Level chapter titles

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 1991 Kodansha Manga Awards

Related series
Hajime no Ippo Gaiden (one-shot prequel)

Other languages
French (Kurokawa: Ippo, Saison 2: Destins de Boxeurs tome 9 per 2011.02.10 • tome 10 street date: 2011.03.10) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

Adaptations
A 76-episode anime by Madhouse, starring seiyuu Kiyasu Kohei (Makunouchi Ippo), aired on NTV from October 2000 to March 2002. A sequel/special, Hajime no Ippo - Champion Road, came out in June 2003, followed by the spinoff Hajime no Ippo - Mashiba vs. Kimura OAV (2003.09). The second season Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger (26 episodes) was telecast from January to June 2009.

2. Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) 7 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 by Koyama Yukari Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 7 first published in Japan 2007.05

3. Happy Hello Work at Age 21 (Takunabi) 4 of 5+ by Yamaguchi Katsumi & Watanabe Chiho

Takunabi 「たくなび」 by Yamaguchi Katsumi, in collaboration with Watanabe Chiho Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 4 (chapters 32-42) first published in Japan 2006.03

4. Jormungand 2 of 9+ by Takahashi Keitarou

Jormungand 「ヨルムンガンド」 by Takahashi Keitarou Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 2 (chapters 6-11) first published in Japan 2007.04

Other languages
English Jormungand (VIZ Media: volume 6 per 2011.02.08 • volume 7 street date: 2011.05.10)

5. K2 volume 5 of 14+ by Mafune Kazuo

K2 「Ｋ２」 by Mafune Kazuo Kodansha Evening, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2006.10

6. New Comic Bomber (Shin Hoero Pen) 6 of 11 by Shimamoto Kazuhiko

Shin Hoero Pen 「新吼えろペン」 by Shimamoto Kazuhiko AKA New Be Growl, Pen Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 6 (chapters 20-23) first published in Japan 2007.01

Related series
Burning Pen and Comic Bomber (prequels)

7. Over Rev 17 of 31 by Yamaguchi Katsumi & Team 39

Over Rev! 「オーバーレブ！」 by Yamaguchi Katsumi & Team 39 Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen Volume 17 (chapters 183-193) first published in Japan 2001.05

8. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 7 of 40+ by Chan Mou

Sanguozhi Qunxiongzhuan: Huo Feng Liao Yuan 「火鳳燎原」 by Chan Mou AKA Fiery Phoenix Burns Steppes Tong Li New Youth, seinen

Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 火凤燎原 #40 street date: 2011.02.22) and Japanese (Media Factory 三国志群雄伝　火鳳燎原 volume 9 per 2009.12; serialized in Comic Sangokushi). The manhua is also released in Mainland China, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

9. Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) 4 of 28 by Shinohara Chie

Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori 「天は赤い河のほとり」 by Shinohara Chie AKA Anatolia Story Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 4 (chapters 11-12) first published in Japan 1996.03

Awards
Best Shoujo Manga, 46th Shogakukan Manga Awards (2000)

Other languages
English Red River (VIZ Media; 28 volumes), Italian Anatolia Story (Editions Star Comics; 28 volumes), German (EMA/Egmont Manga and Anime), Vietnamese Dòng Sông Huyền Bí (Tre Publishing House) and traditional Chinese 赤河戀影 (Tong Li)

Adaptations
Eight drama CDs were released between 1997 and 2003.

Related
An artbook (Japan release: 1999.02.24), fanbook (2002.07.26) and a two-volume novel adaptation 天は赤い河のほとり　外伝　魔が時代の黎明 written and illustrated by Shinohara Chie-sensei (2007.05 and 2007.09)

10. Team Medical Dragon 15 of 25 by Nogizaka Taro & Nagai Akira

Iryuu -Team Medical Dragon- 「医龍」 by Nogizaka Taro, Nagai Akira, Yoshinuma Mie (Medical Supervisor) Shogakukan Big Comic Superior, seinen Volume 15 (chapters 115-122) first published in Japan 2007.11

Awards
Winner, Best Seinen/General Manga, 50th Shogakukan Manga Awards

Other languages
French (Glénat: tome 15 per 2011.02.16)

Adaptations
Two seasons of the live-action adaptation, starring Sakaguchi Kenji (Asada Ryutaro), aired on Fuji TV (Season 1: April to June 2006; Season 2: October to December 2007). The series won the Best Drama award at the 49th Television Drama Academy Awards.

11. Until Death Do Us Part (Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made) 4 of 14+ by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S

Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made 「死がふたりを分かつまで」 by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S Square Enix Young Gangan, seinen Volume 4 (chapters 25-32) first published in Japan 2007.02

Other languages
French (Ki-oon; Jusqu'à ce que la mort nous sépare, tome 12 per 2010.12.09), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan and Jade Dynasty Hong Kong)

Level Comics European comics/BDs (2011.02.23)

• Michel Vaillant - Kairo! (Michel Vaillant, tome 63: Cairo!) by Philippe & Jean Graton

Read more »