The Level minimal-list mutates...and how! :D *sotto voce* BTW, I already have Level's release skeds clear to 6 July, thanks to Editor-in-Chief Demonbasher-san. Just have to get through this... and 22... and 28...
Tokyo23 © Hashimoto Eiji and Arashida Takeshi/Shinchosha
[First serialized in Comic Bunch]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics
Someone designs a game to lure the increasing numbers of NEET and hikikomori back into the mainstream. Competitors are fitted with bracelets, and whoever retains the bracelet till the end walks away with a cool 100 million yen. For the washouts, however, death by bizarre means awaits...
Talk about a “novel” way of coping with a societal concern... >,<
ANN points out that Tokyo 23 takes place within the 23 wards of Tokyo and centers on Noboru, an unemployed youth whose dream is to become a martial arts fighter
and rival Dan who also signs up for the ‘X Game.’ Level editor Nickyta-san raves about NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training
) and hikikomori in the starring role and thumbs ups the meeting between aloof Dan and gung-ho Noboru. TC critic Lina-chan finds the premise similarly compelling, rates the series premiere an 8 of 10 and recommends it as a GET~!
Hashimoto Eiji- and Arashida Takeshi's Comic Bunch seinen manga was adapted into a live-action series—TOKYO23: Survival City—starring Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Yagira Yuya as Arai Noboru and Hongō Kanata (Nishi Joichiro, GANTZ Perfect Answer) as Komori Dan. The five-episode series aired between September and October 2010 on WOWOW.
Manga-ka Hashimoto Eiji-sensei's ongoing series include Chiruran: Shinsengumi Chinkonka; the alternate history Tenshou no Ryoma (in which Sakamoto Ryōma, the visionary leader of the anti-Shogun movement doesn't die by an assassin's hand); and the Yankee-troped Gakuen Heiki Mitsumaru. Wrapped up like Tokyo 23 is E.D.D. (Eliminate Dangerous Doctors). All quite intriguing titles.
Daydreaming 2 of 2+ by Yoshimura Akemi
One of Drill Sergeant Granny's grandchildren, Takato Akira, goes to live in the house where Suzuko boards. Akira's rudeness leads to squabbles with Suzuko, but Hatoko falls for Akira at first sight. Akira's susceptibility to spiritual possession further complicates the situation as the two ancestor spirits possessing him both drool over Suzuko!
Editor Adisti-san observes that this tank contains musings about the world we live in and life in general, par for the course for a Yoshimura Akemi manga. Adisti-san also asks for your patience regarding the next installment because even in its home country, the third Yume no Mahiru tankou has yet to release. This When is the next coming out? uncertainty also prompts Lina-chan to hold off buying the volumes, but she does approve of the escalating supernatural fantasy and gives Daydreaming 2 an 8 of 10.
ROMICs: Franquin's Marsupilami series premieres
André Franquin's series about a fictional black-spotted yellow monkey-like species, the Marsupilami, double launches with Marsupilami - Menangkap Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 0: Capturer un Marsupilami!) and Marsupilami - Ekor Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 1: La Queue du Marsupilami), the latter featuring art by Batem and story by Greg, originally published by Marsu Productions. The Marsupilami's arch-nemesis is the hunter Bring M. Backalive who lives to capture the critter, what else but breathing?
Other BDs this release: Boule & Bill - Empat Musim by Roba and Yakari dan Hantu Kayu by Derib & Job.
Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.06.15)
- Daydreaming (Yume no Mahiru) 2 of 2+ by Yoshimura Akemi
- GoGo♪ Hanasaki Detective Office. (Go-Go♪ Kochira Shiritsu Hanasaki Tantei Jimusho) 4 of 4 by Watanabe Wataru [Finale]
- Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) 11 of 14 by Koyama Yukari
- Hikayat Genji (Asakiyumemishi) 9 of 13 by Yamato Waki
- Historie 6 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi
- Ice Forest 7 of 9+ by Saito Chiho
- Jio 16 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi
- Jormungand 3 of 9+ by Takahashi Keitarou
- Officer Monju (Seigi Keikan Monju) 7 of 11+ by Miyashita Hiroki
- The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 10 of 42+ by Chan Mou
- [Series Premiere] Tokyo 23 Volume 1 of 3 by Hashimoto Eiji and Arashida Takeshi
 | Go-Go♪ Kochira Shiritsu Hanasaki Tantei Jimusho. |
 | 1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 by Koyama Yukari |
 | Asakiyumemishi 「あさきゆめみし」 |
Related
Adapted from Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu
Other languages
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial)
 | Historie 「ヒストリエ」 by Iwaaki Hitoshi |
Awards
Finalist, 10th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award
Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 歷史之眼 6 per 2010.10)
 | Ice Forest 「アイスフォレスト」 by Saito Chiho |
 | Jio 「６６６～サタン～」 by Kishimoto Seishi |
Volume 16 chapters:
61. Welcome Home
62. All Members Gather
63. Full Moon
64. Zenom's Headquarters
*NOT Level Comics' titles
Other languages
English O-Parts Hunter (VIZ Media: 19 volumes), French (Kurokawa: 19 volumes) and Italian (JPOP)
 | Jormungand 「ヨルムンガンド」 |
Other languages
English Jormungand (VIZ Media: seven volumes per 2011.05 • volume 8 street date: 2012.01.10)
 | Seigi Keikan Monju 「正義警官モンジュ」 |
Other languages
French (Kana Monju, au service de la justice Tome 8 per 2011.02 • Tome 9 street date: 2011.09.23), traditional Chinese (Taiwan Tohan: 正義警官毛九 6 per 2010.11)
 | Sanguozhi Qunxiongzhuan: Huo Feng Liao Yuan |
Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese 火凤燎原 (Chuang Yi: 火凤燎原 #41 released 2011.05.03) 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.
 | Tokyo23 「ＴＯＫＹＯ２３」 |
Adaptations
The live-action TOKYO23: Survival City, starring Yagira Yuya (Arai Noboru) and Hongō Kanata (Komori Dan) aired from September to October 2010 in Japan on WOWOW.
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
European comics/BDs (2011.06.15)
- Boule & Bill - Empat Musim (Boule & Bill 28: Les quatre saisons) by Roba
- [Premiere] Marsupilami - Ekor Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 1: La Queue du Marsupilami) by Franquin, Batem, Greg
- [Series Premiere] Marsupilami - Menangkap Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 0: Capturer un Marsupilami!) by Franquin
- Yakari dan Hantu Kayu (Yakari, Tome 20: Le diable des bois) by Derib + Job
Yume no Mahiru 「夢の真昼」
by Yoshimura Akemi
Shogakukan Flowers, josei
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2008.12