Soul Eater 4, Bloody Monday 2, Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files 5 (Level Comics 9 March 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Edited because Elex postponed xxxHOLiC 12 to next week (16 March 2011 release)

Update2 Blog regular KiRai-san reports that she got xxxHOLiC 12 this week. Keeping it in the 3.16 post per the Elex STO 16 March 2011

Soul Eater © Ohkubo Atsushi/Square Enix [Serialized in Shonen Gangan]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

The witch Medusa connives to have the undying werewolf Free sprung from prison to test the black blood Soul has been infected with during the fight with Crona. Maka and Soul rout Free, but Maka later learns that she has been contaminated with Soul's black blood.

The above I think refers to Soul Eater chapters 10 and 11, The Experiment (Part 1) and The Experiment (Part 2), c/o Wikipedia (because Level's blurb simply translates Yen Press' Soul Eater, Volume 4 description and I don't want to transliterate back when there's no need). The other Soul Eater chapters are Ultimate Written Exam, the principal DWMA exam that Soul, Black Star and Kid fail and Maka aces, and Black Dragon (Part 1) andBlack Dragon (Part 2). (You know, right, that these are NOT Level's chapter titles?)

Bloody Monday 2 of 11 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji

Fujimaru uncovers proof that Ms. Orihara was not in Russia during Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Ryunosuke witnesses in horror as Professor Shikimura is gunned down before his eyes. The hitman Jack Damon later kidnaps Fujimaru's sister Haruka and Dr. Tominaga. With Tominaga's husband and a Third-i operative under his father, Fujimaru struggles to rescue Haruka. Does he succeed?

He does, but according to Level, there's a spy in the ranks because Haruka gets abducted again.

Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files 5 of 9+ by Hiroi Ohji & Kozaki Yusuke

The war between the Oni and humankind throws Japanese politics and the economy into chaos. Kano pushes through with the plan to make North-East Japan an Oni state. Why does Kano want to establish a country for Oni?

☆ Also, the finales of A Hint of Purple by Saito Chiho and The Hunting of The Snark by Miyabe Miyuki & Ohishi Hiroto (both series end at volume 3; previews after the manga list)

Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.03.09)

1. 3x3 Eyes 36 of 40 by Takada Yuzo

3×3 EYES 「３×３ＥＹＥＳ」 by Takada Yuzo Kodansha Weekly Young Magazine, seinen Volume 36 first published in Japan 2001.05

Other languages
English 3x3 Eyes (Dark Horse Comics; till volume 8), Korean (Young Movie Comics), French (Pika Édition; 40 volumes), Spanish (Planeta DeAgostini Comics; dropped), Italian (Editions Star Comics) and German 3x3 Augen (Carlsen Comics)

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 1993 Kodansha Manga Awards

Adaptations
Two anime OAVs starring seiyuu Tsujitani Kouji (Fujii Yakumo) and Hayashibara Megumi (Ayanokouji Pai)

2. Bloody Monday 2 of 11 + Ver. 0 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji

Bloody Monday 「ブラッディ・マンデイ」 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 2 first published in 2007.09

Other languages
English Bloody Monday: Season 1 (Chuang Yi: volume 8 per 2010.08 and Kodansha Comics: Bloody Monday volume 1 street date: 2011.08.23), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 11 volumes, concluded), traditional Chinese 血色星期一 (Tong Li Taiwan; 11 volumes) and French (Pika Éditions: Tome 4 per 2011.03.04)

Related series
Bloody Monday Season 2 - Zetsubou no Kou (sequel, AKA Bloody Monday Season 2 ~Pandora no Hako~, seven volumes as at 2011.03.17)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action renzoku aired from October through December 2008 on TBS, followed by a second season, Bloody Monday Season2 ~Pandora no Hako~ (January to March 2010, nine episodes). Actor/singer Miura Haruma returned as protagonist Fujimaru Takagi/Falcon in the sequel.

3. A Hint of Purple (Honoka ni Purple) 3 of 3 by Saito Chiho [Finale]

Honoka ni Purple 「ほのかにパープル」 by Saito Chiho Shogakukan Flower Comics, shoujo Volume 3 first published in Japan 1987.04

Related series
My Knight (side story; published by Elex Media ca. 1998-1999)

4. The Hunting of The Snark (Snark Gari) 3 of 3 by Miyabe Miyuki & Ohishi Hiroto [Finale]

Snark Gari 「スナーク狩り」 by Miyabe Miyuki & Ohishi Hiroto Shinchosha Comic Bunch seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2009.02

Related
Based on the Snark Gari novel by Miyabe Miyuki

5. Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files (Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo) 5 of 9+ by Hiroi Ohji & Kozaki Yusuke

Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo 「烏丸響子の事件簿」 by Hiroi Ohji & Kozaki Yusuke AKA Kyoko Karasuma - Detective of the Asakusa Police Department Gentosha Comic BIRZ, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2006.12

Other languages
French (Taifu Comics: Kyoko Karasuma, Inspecteur à Asakusa tome 8 per 2010.10), German (Carlsen Comics: Kyoko Karasuma: Detective of the Asakusa Police Department latest - Band 8), Russian (Comix-ART)

6. Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 6 of 12+ by Yonezawa Rika

30 Kon Miso-com 「３０婚　ｍｉｓｏ‐ｃｏｍ」 by Yonezawa Rika Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 6 first published in Japan 2008.09

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

7. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 8 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 火凤燎原 (Chuang Yi: volume 40 shipped 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.

8. Soul Eater 4 of 18+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul Eater 「ソウルイーター」 by Ohkubo Atsushi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 4 (chapters 10-14) first published in Japan 2005.08

Related series
First appeared as one-shots in two Gangan Powered special editions (Summer and Fall 2003) and Gangan Wing's 26 November 2003 issue. (Regular Monthly Shonen Gangan serialization commenced May 2004.)

Other languages/serializations
English Soul Eater (Yen Press: five volumes per 2011.02.22 • volume 6 street date: 2011.06.28; serialized in Yen Plus), French (Kurokawa tome 14 ships 2011.03.10), German (Carlsen Comics Band 10 street date: 2011.04.22) and traditional Chinese 噬魂者 (Sharp Point Press Taiwan)

Related series
Soul Eater Not! (side story; began serialization in Shonen Gangan 2011.01.12)

Adaptations
Manga volumes 1 to 12 adapted to anime by BONES. Fifty-one episodes starring seiyuu Omigawa Chiaki (Maka Alban) and Uchiyama Kouki (Soul Eater) aired in Japan from April 2008 to March 2009.

Square Enix bundled an audio drama, Soul Eater (Vol. 1): Special Social Studies Field Trip, with an artbook in August 2005. The drama CD featured different actors (Takeuchi Junko as Maka; Hoshi Souichirou as Soul Eater); only Kobayashi Yumiko reprised her Black☆Star role in the TV series.

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

Level Comics European comics/BDs (2011.03.09)

1. Lucky Luke - Bayangan Menara Minyak (Lucky Luke, tome 18: À l'ombre des derricks) by Morris, René Goscinny
2. Yakari - Rahasia Halilintar Kecil (Yakari, tome 6: Yakari et le secret de Petit Tonnerre) by Job, Derib

Read more »

Ice Forest 5, Bambino! 4, Historie 2 (Level Comics 23 June 2010 manga)

Also: The Ravages of Time manhua (volume 2) and Michel Vaillant and Yakari BDs: Michel Vaillant - Di Balik Angka 13 and Yakari dan si Anjing Hutan

Ice Forest © Saito Chiho/Shogakukan (Serialized in Flowers)
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

Contains [SPOILERS!]

Despite a runner-up finish in the All-Japan Ice Dancing contest, Yukino and Romain fail to stop Ikki's uncle from closing down FSC Arc. Ikki himself has to step down as FSC Arc's head. Amid all the bad tidings, some good news comes. What is about to happen? And can Ikki overturn his ouster and defeat his uncle? Find out in Ice Forest volume 5, streeting 23 June.

Summary for the second Saito Chiho manga this Level release—the penultimate A Hint of Purple (Honoka ni Purple volume 2), which should've released last year—is after the manga list. (If it can afford to wait seven months for a street date, it can afford to wait the few more seconds required for you to scroll down.)

Bambino! 4 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

A customer's sharp critique fires up aspiring chef Shogo Ban's resolve to become better, and off he goes to reconnoiter several restaurants with co-worker Asuka. While on recce, the pair bumps into Hayama Yasuhide, Baccanale's former head chef and Asuka's ex. Ban and Hayama get into a fight when the latter hits Asuka. Chef Shishido who happens on the fracas proposes to settle things with a cookout between Ban and Hayama.

Can Ban beat Hayama?

Hey, Ban, this is your Chance! to leave the floor and return to where you belong: the kitchen.

Historie 2 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi

After freeing himself from his fetters and manacles, Scythian slave Thrax embarks on a killing spree, slaughtering even Eumenes' father Hieronymus in revenge. Hieronymus' untimely death triggers the revelation of Eumenes' true identity.

What secret lies within Eumenes?

Whatever that secret is, it will effect a 180-degree turn in the life of the boy destined to become secretary to Alexander the Great.

NEW TITLES: 1 or W by Takahashi Rumiko

1 or W © Takahashi Rumiko
Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia
by Level Comics

Level releases the next Rumic World collection of Takahashi Rumiko classic short stories: the 1 or W (“1 or double”) anthology.

The 1 or W omnibus actually contains nine shorts, including the titular １orW（ワン・オア・ダブル）, but I still don't know to which story the blurb below alludes:

Miyamoto ditches kendo practice and with Ichiyanagi, flees from Wakatabe, the kendo coach in hot pursuit. But when the brakes on Wakatabe's bike fail, the trio plunges from a cliff and drowns in the river below. Miyamoto and Ichiyanagi are rescued, but Wakatabe can't be found. What's more, since the accident, Ichiyanagi's personality seems to have undergone a sea change. What really happened? And can they still find and save Wakatabe?

Level Comics manga and manhua (2010.06.23)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.

1. [New] 1 or W by Takahashi Rumiko

1 or W 「 １　ｏｒ　Ｗ　高橋留美子短編集 」 by Takahashi Rumiko
Shogakukan, seinen
This volume first published in Japan 1995.09

Contains:

1. スリム観音
2. 犬で悪いか!!
3. お婆さんといっしょ
4. がんばり末世
5. グランド・ファザー
6. 宝塚への招待～INVITATION TO TAKARAZUKA～
7. １orW（ワン・オア・ダブル）
8. ハッピー・トーク
9. うちが女神じゃ!!

RELATED
Part of the Rumic World series of classic Takahashi Rumiko short stories

2. Bambino! 4 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! 「 バンビ～ノ！ 」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 2006.04

Volume 4 contains chapters:

• 32 カメリエーレ（ウェイター）2
• 33 エッシッカーレ（干す）
• 34 アンモラール（水に浸けてもどす）
• 35 アンティパスト（前菜）
• 36 プリモ・ピアット（第一の皿）
• 37 セコンド・ピアット（第二の皿）
• 38 ブラーチェ（残り火）
• 39 ブラーチェ 2
• 40 ブラーチェ 3
• 41 ジラーレ（回す）
• 42 ペスターレ（つぶす

AWARDS
Best seinen/general manga in the 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards (tied with Kuromaru- and Natsuhara Takeshi's The Black Swindler/Kurosagi)

RELATED SERIES
Bambino! Secondo (sequel; four volumes as at 2010.06.30)

ADAPTATIONS
An 11-episode live-action adaptation starring Matsumoto Jun as Shogo Ban and Kitamura Kazuki as Yonamine Tsukasa/Yona-san aired on NTV from April to June 2007. The TV series reaped four awards at the 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor (Matsumoto Jun), Supporting Actor (Kazuki Kitamura), Best Director, and a Special Award.

3. Exit 3 of 11+ by Fujita Takami

Exit 「 ＥＸＩＴ 」 by Fujita Takami Gentosha Birz Comics Girls Collection, josei Volume 3 first published in Japan 2002.12

4. A Hint of Purple (Honoka ni Purple) 2 of 3 by Saito Chiho

Honoka ni Purple 「 ほのかにパープル 」 by Saito Chiho Shogakukan Flower Comics, shoujo Volume 2 first published in Japan 1986.05

RELATED SERIES
Saratte Watashi no Knight (side story; Indonesian My Knight published by Elex Media ca. 1998-1999)

5. Historie 2 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Historie 「 ヒストリエ 」 by Iwaaki Hitoshi Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2004.10

Volume 2 contains chapters:

• 010. Image of Victory
• 011. Footsteps
• 012. Thrax's War (Part 1)
• 013. Thrax's War (Part 2)
• 014. Thrax's War (Part 3)
• 015. Two Corpses
• 016. Testimony
• 017. A Different World
• 018. Library (Part 3)
• 019. Pendant

AWARDS
Finalist, 10th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award

OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Historie is published in traditional Chinese by Tong Li (Taiwan)

6. Ice Forest 5 of 7+ by Saito Chiho

Ice Forest 「 アイスフォレスト 」 by Saito Chiho Shogakukan Flowers, josei Volume 5 first published in Japan 2009.07

7. Jio 7 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi

Jio 「 ６６６～サタン～ 」 by Kishimoto Seishi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 7 (containing chapters 25-28) first published in Japan 2004.02

OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Published in English as O-Parts Hunter by VIZ Media (19 volumes); in French by Kurokawa; and in Italian by JPOP

8. Officer Monju (Seigi Keikan Monju) 6 of 10+ by Miyashita Hiroki

Seigi Keikan Monju 「 正義警官モンジュ 」 by Miyashita Hiroki Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 6 first published in Japan in 2008.10

OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS
Seigi Keikan Monju is published in French as Monju, au service de la justice by Kana and as 正義警官毛九 in traditional Chinese by Taiwan Tohan.

9. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 3 of 38+ 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 Volume 3 first published in Taiwan and Hong Kong 2001.10

OTHER LANGUAGE VERSIONS
The traditional Chinese 火鳳燎原 is published in simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi (latest volume 37). The manhua is also released in Mainland China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan (by Media Factory as 三国志群雄伝　火鳳燎原; ongoing serialization in Comic Sangokushi magazine).

Level Comics European comics (2010.06.23)

1. Michel Vaillant - Di Balik Angka 13 (Michel Vaillant, Tome 5: Le 13 est au départ) by Jean Graton (Le Lombard, 1963)
2. Yakari dan si Anjing Hutan (Yakari, Tome 12: Yakari et le coyote) by Derib, Job, Dominique (Casterman, 1986)

NOTE
¹ Sources: Elex Media STO 23 June 2010 and Komikologi (synopses, except where noted)
² All listed GN are priced at IDR 17,000 each, except 1 or W (SRP: IDR 22,000), Exit 3 and Officer Monju 6 (IDR 18,000/volume) and the ROMIC BDs: Michel Vaillant - Di Balik Angka 13 (IDR 35,000) and Yakari dan si Anjing Hutan (IDR 27,000)
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

A Hint of Purple 2 of 3 by Saito Chiho

Methinks we need a refresher. Here's the blurb I wrote for the premiere:

Shino and Akio accidentally meet in the legendary Manyo library in Doumeikan University, where first time encounters between couples lead to love. Auspicious encounter aside, the two later discover they are actually step-siblings and have to live under one roof. Despite initial awkwardness, their love does deepen, but can this romance amount to anything? Or will their newly-wed parents have something to say about it?

K, now that we have the backstory —

Shino's father suspects Shino and Akio's relationship is the farthest from platonic and sends Akio to study in the U.S. for a year. Shino and Akio acquiesce to dad's demand, to give their newly-wed parents' marriage a chance. The year passes and Akio returns. But what is he doing, bringing with him a girl named Akiko and her father?

Jio 7 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi

We enter the next Jio story arc:

Jio and companions finally reach the ruins of Dustom, where they lodge at the home of husband and wife Wick and Basil. There they also stumble upon the Kabbalah purportedly associated with Alucard Spirits, the man who brought the world to its knees with the legendary O-Parts.

Does this mean Jio is close to finding the fabled O-Parts?

Volume 6 contains chapters:

• 25. The Legend of Spirit (スピリッツの伝説 Supirittsu no Densetsu)
• 26. Kabbalah (カバラ)
• 27. Mom and Dad (父さん 母さん Tōsan Kaasan)
• 28. Black Market Caravan (闇のキャラバン Yami no Kyaraban)

Officer Monju 6 of 10+ by Miyashita Hiroki

Mitsuhori schemes with Hazuki to get hands on Fugen, the Red Monju prototype, and succeeds. Mitsuhori then sneaks Fugen into a Tokyo slums to eliminate a gang of arms dealers, but inscrutably decides to leave Fugen there alone.

What are Mitsuhori's actual plans for Fugen?

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

other currently available manga (23 June 2010 street date)

• Elex Media: Crayon Shinchan: Keajaiban Ilmu Pengetahuan by Usui Yoshito · Crows 9 · Detektif Conan 57 · Godhand Teru 24 · The Great Detective KIYOSHIRO YUMEMIZU 9 · Hell Girl 2 · Kindaichi Special Case: The Phantom Of The Opera 3rd Murder 1 of 2 by Amagi Seimaru & Sato Fumiya · Let's Play! 3 · New Sexy Simpleton 3 · The Pitcher 72 · Weapon Master 2 · Yotsuba&! 9 · Shonen Star 67/2010
• m&c!: Shanaou Yoshitsune: Genpei War 3 · My Prince by Aikawa Saki · The Impeccable Twins Final Chapters 9 · Cherry 44 · 10 AMERO comics too many to list

related monthly schedules

Level Comics June 2010 manga
Premiering Dark Edge by Aikawa Yu, Ghost Mum Investigator by Sato Tomokazu · Standalones: 1 or W by Takahashi Rumiko and Bus Hashiru by Sahara Mizu

APR-10 | NOV-09

other invaluable resources

7net Shopping · Baka-Updates Manga · Amazon FR · Wikipedia · ANN

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