Sky of Love 8, Team Medical Dragon 21, Blade of Immortal 19 (Level Comics 7 December 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Add Fight!! Ippo 86 and ROMICs (BDs) Boule & Bill: Sama Saja, Jojo di Asrama and Rantanplan: Korban Sandera—with which I lead this post for want of a big enuf Sky of Love or Team Medical Dragon artwork—and the post practically wrote itself :p NOT! Still the value sets to enumerate.

Rantanplan, Tome 3: Rantanplan otage
© by Morris, Jean Léturgie, Xavier Fauche/Lucky Comics
Published in Indonesia as Rantanplan - Korban Sandera by Elex Media/Level Comics

In Rantanplan: Korban Sandera, escaped prisoner Ransom kidnaps (dognaps?) Rantanplan, and demands 10,000 dollars to release the jail guard dog. Can the prison officers rescue Rantanplan from...whatever fate awaits the pooch Lucky Luke's horse Jolly Jumper disses as one of Nature's great mistakes?

Meanwhile, in the other European comics also streeting this date, Bill's dad's boat explodes in Boule & Bill: Sama Saja and Jojo has to go stay in a dorm while grandma recuperates in the hospital in Jojo: Jojo di Asrama.

I'll try to fill in the manga blurbs sometime before the next batch of Level Comics releases on the 14th. The operative word is try. *sheepish grin* «.:big grin of accomplishment:.

Level Comics manga (2011.12.07)

1. Blade of Immortal (Mugen no Juunin) vol 19 of 28+ by Samura Hiroaki

Mugen no Juunin 「無限の住人」 by Samura Hiroaki Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 19 first published in Japan 2006.04

Volume 19 chapters:
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū Ichi Maku Kawauso no Su (Sono San)
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū Ni Maku Oni no Su (Sono Ichi)
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū San Maku Oni no Su (Sono Ni)
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū Yon Maku Oni no Su (Sono San)
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū Go Maku Oni no Su (Sono Yon)
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū Roku Maku Oni no Su (Sono Go)
Dai Hyaku Ni Jū Nana Maku Oni no Su (Sono Roku)

Awards
1997 Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Prize

Other languages
English Blade of the Immortal (Dark Horse Comics: 24 volumes per 2011.11.08), French (Casterman: L'habitant de l'infini Tome 26 shipped 2011.06 • Tome 27 street date: 2012.05.02), Italian (Planet Manga), German and Polish (Egmont), Portuguese (Conrad Brazil) and Swedish (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB; serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 13-episode anime starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Manji) and Satou Rina (Rin) aired in Japan on AT-X from July to December 2008.

Related
The 小説無限の住人　刃獣異聞/Blade of the Immortal: Legend of the Sword Demon novel written by Ohsako Junichi and illustrated by Samura Hiroaki was published under the KC Novels imprint in 2008.07 and by Dark Horse Comics in 2009.11.

The 艶（あだ）浪　「無限の住人」画集/The Art of Blade of the Immortal illustration book was released 2008.06 in Japan, 2010.06 in North America by Dark Horse.

2. Fight!! Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) vol 86 of 97+ by Morikawa Joji

Hajime no Ippo 「はじめの一歩」 by Morikawa Joji AKA Fighting Spirit Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 86 first published in Japan 2008.12

Volume 86 contains:
Round 817: Strange Atmosphere
Round 818: KO Sakura
Round 819: Worse Than a Hard Time
Round 820: Their Fathers
Round 821: Wild Animals Caged
Round 822: Deathmatch in the Corner
Round 823: The Person I've Chased
Round 824: The Unstoppable Punch
Round 825: World Class
Round 826: A Cut Man
[*NOT Level chapter titles]

Awards
Winner, 1991 Kodansha Manga Awards in the Shounen category

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

Other languages
French (Kurokawa: Ippo, Saison 2 Tome 16 per 2011.09) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 第一神拳 96 per 2011.08)

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 26-episode second season Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger was telecast from January to June 2009.

3. Sky of Love (Koizora: Setsunai Koi Monogatari) vol 8 of 10 by Haneda Ibuki, Mika

Koizora: Setsunai Koi Monogatari 「恋空～切ナイ恋物語～」 by Haneda Ibuki, Mika Futabasha Comic Mahou no iland, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2009.02

Related
Based on the best-selling coming of age/romance novel written by Mika (two volumes published by Starts Publications), originally posted on the cell phone website "Mahou no iLand."

Adaptations
Loosely adapted into a movie (2007.11.03 premiere), starring Aragaki Yui as Mika and Miura Haruma as Hiro, and a six-episode live-action series on TBS from August to September 2008 with Mizusawa Erena as Mika and Seto Koji as Hiro.

4. Team Medical Dragon (Iryuu -Team Medical Dragon-) vol 21 of 25 by Nogizaka Taro/Nagai Akira

Iryuu -Team Medical Dragon- 「医龍」 by Nogizaka Taro, Nagai Akira, Yoshinuma Mie (Medical Supervision) Shogakukan Big Comic Superior, seinen Volume 21 first published in Japan 2009.09

Awards
Winner, 50th Shogakukan Manga Awards in the Seinen/General category

Other languages
French (Glénat: Tome 18 shipped 2011.10 • Tome 19 street date: 2012.02.08)

Related
My First BIG Special limited edition releases: Iryū Oyasumi (Japan release: 2011.01); Iryū Yōchi (2010.12); Iryū Tokken (2010.11); Iryū sennō (2010.10); Iryū Himitsu Heiki (2010.09); Iryū Sōtei-gai (2007.12); Iryū Hakui (2007.11); Iryū Kyōju no Shishitsu (2007.11); Iryū Kiken na masui (2007.10); Iryū Kango-shi to Isha (2006.06); and Iryū Kanja no Ishi (2006.04)

Adaptations
Three 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; Season 3: October to December 2010). The first season won the Best Drama award at the 49th Television Drama Academy Awards.

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

[Value sets] Paket Komik *Harga Spesial*

1. Angel Heart, Vols. 1–5 (of 33) by Hojo Tsukasa [IDR 45,000/set]
2. Harlequin: On the Way to a Wedding... by Ingrid Weaver and Karino Mao [IDR 24,000/set] *
3. Subaru, Vols. 1–10 (of 11) by Soda Masahito [IDR 90,000/set]
4. To Be Beautiful, Vols. 1–6 of 6 by Yorita Miyuki (Kirei ni Naritai!) –Complete– [IDR 54,000/set]
5. Tomo'o, Vols. 1–10 (of 18+) by Oda Tobira (Danchi Tomoo) [IDR 90,000/set]
6. Until Death Do Us Part, Vols. 1–5 (of 15+) by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S (Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made) [IDR 45,000/set]

Volume tallies represent volume totals in country of origin, which may or may not coincide with Level Comics's latest releases. Level's most recent volumes: Angel Heart 11 (released 2011.10.26); Tomo'o 12 (7.06); and Until Death Do Us Part 9 (11.16). Subaru concluded with the release of finale volume 11 in December 2010.
*Comprises four books or three other Harlequin titles in addition to On the Way to a Wedding

European comics/BDs (2011.12.07)

1. Boule & Bill: Sama Saja (Boule et Bill, Tome 1: Tel Boule, Tel Bill) by Jean Roba (Dupuis)
2. Jojo: Jojo di Asrama (Jojo, Tome 12: Jojo au pensionnat) by André Geerts (Dupuis)
3. Rantanplan: Korban Sandera (Rantanplan, Tome 3: Rantanplan otage) by Morris, Jean Léturgie, Xavier Fauche (Lucky Comics)

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Love Affair 8, Half an Apple 9, Blade of Immortal 15 (Level Comics 20 April 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Love Affair 8 and Half an Apple 9 actually tied for Most Wanted manga, but since the former continues to serialize (volume 11 released February), Kotori can has the lead.

Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta © Miyasaka Kaho/Shogakukan
[Serialized in Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Love Affair by Elex Media/Level Comics

Determined to change, Yukito takes on a part-time job to pay for his dream bike, with which he plans to pursue Kotori, now even more of a sweetie after Natsume's makeover. Thanks to Abecchi, Kotori ends up working alongside Yukito. Their relationship has nowhere to go but up, that is, until a guy who once confessed to Kotori starts working at the same place.

Now for the Really Complicated —

Half an Apple 9 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

Look straight ahead. I am not there behind you.

After learning of Shizuka's love for Amano, Hikaru decides to throw her support behind her friend. But despite striving not to rely on Amano anymore, Hikaru realizes how much he means to her. Meanwhile, Shindo, suspicious of his wife, fast approaches his limit on restraining his love for Hikaru.

What happens next!? Level asks; you know what to do to dig out the answer.

ROMICs/BDs: Boule & Bill

Roba's Boule & Bill - Terserah Bill, deh! BD also quizzes: What if Bill were a king? What's going to happen to Boule's plan to enroll his beloved dog into K-9 training? For sure there go Bill's dreams of yummy bones and a soft bed all his own.

Level Comics manga (2011.04.20)

1. Blade of Immortal (Mugen no Juunin) 15 of 27+ by Samura Hiroaki

Mugen no Juunin 「無限の住人」 by Samura Hiroaki Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 15 first published in Japan 2004.01

Awards
1997 Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Prize

Other languages
English Blade of the Immortal (Dark Horse Comics: 23 volumes per 2011.02), French (Casterman: L'habitant de l'infini tome 25 per 2010.10 • Tome 26 ships 2011.06.29), Italian (Planet Manga), German and Polish (Egmont), Portuguese (Conrad Brazil) and Swedish (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB; serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 13-episode anime starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Manji) and Satou Rina (Rin) aired in Japan on AT-X from July to December 2008.

2. Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) 9 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 by Koyama Yukari Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 9 first published in Japan 2007.12

3. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 8 of 11+ by Miyasaka Kaho

Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta 「僕達は知ってしまった」 by Miyasaka Kaho AKA We Experienced the Affair Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2009.12

4. Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 7 of 12+ by Yonezawa Rika

30 Kon Miso-com 「３０婚　ｍｉｓｏ‐ｃｏｍ」 by Yonezawa Rika Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 7 first published in Japan 2009.02

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 待嫁熟女 11 per 2011.02)

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

European comics/BDs (2011.04.20)

• Boule & Bill - Terserah Bill, deh! (Boule et Bill, Tome 4: Système Bill) by Roba

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To be Beautiful 6 of 6, Historie 4, Love & Collage 12 of 12 (Level Comics 19 January 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Changed title to reflect the Most Wanted Level Manga

Historie © Iwaaki Hitoshi/Kodansha [Serialized in Afternoon]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

Beauty makeover genius Kichijoji Misako appears on TV looking like she just rolled out of bed and didn't even bother splashing water on her face before going out? What's gives in To be Beautiful volume 6? Apparently, no longer content to just make others ecstatic, Misako now wants to snatch her own happiness. To this end she invents a machine—a mold, actually—that can churn out pretty girls and wants to market it.

Will this beauty shortcut actually gladden anyone? Find out for yourself in the To be Beautiful finale.

Speaking of finales, volume 12 of Inoue Kazurou's Love & Collage dumps Hachibe in hot water, after Sakurako, who takes it upon herself to clean out his room, discovers Hachibe's parts photo collection. This as Taniyama tells Hachibe that he and Sakurako have rekindled their relationship.

Will Sakurako really depart for England? And what will Yukari do to cheer up the despondent Hachibe? And will Hachibe ever end up regretting his love and lust for discrete female parts?

Now for a detour to ancient Greece. In volume 4 of Iwaaki Hitoshi's award-winning Historie, troops from Tios launch an assault upon Boa, the village where Eumenes lives. As the soldiers surround the village, Eumenes hatches up a surprising counterattack.

What has Eumenes planned for the Tios aggressors? Will it be enough to secure a victory for the Boa residents?

Level Comics manga (2011.01.19)

1. Historie 4 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi

Historie 「ヒストリエ」 by Iwaaki Hitoshi Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 2007.07

Volume 4 chapters:
30-35: In Palphlagonia (Part 7 - 12)
36: Odysseus
37-38: Island of Lesbos - Biological Institute - (Part 1 - 2)

Awards
Finalist, 10th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

2. Kyoko Karasuma's Case Files (Karasuma Kyouko no Jikenbo) 4 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 4 first published in Japan 2006.01

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)

3. Love & Collage (Ai Kora) 12 of 12 by Inoue Kazurou [Finale]

Ai Kora 「あいこら」 by Inoue Kazurou Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 12 first published in Japan 2008.10

Other languages
French (Kurokawa: 12 volumes per 2009.11)

4. Nurse Aoi (Ns' Aoi) 18 of 32+ by Koshino Ryo

Ns' Aoi 「Ｎｓ’あおい」 by Koshino Ryo Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 18 first published in Japan 2008.03

Recognitions
Jury Recommended Work for Story Manga, 12th Japan Media Arts Festival

Related
Ns' Aoi - Those Days (side story; 2 of 2 volumes)

Adaptations
Live-action renzoku starring Ishihara Satomi (Misora Aoi) aired on Fuji TV from January to March 2006, followed by a special in September the same year.

5. Priest 13 of 16+ by Hyung MinWoo

Priest 「프리스트」 by Hyung MinWoo Daiwon C.I. Champ Comics, seinen Volume 13 first published in Korea 2003.03 Series on hiatus from volume 16

Other languages
English Priest (TOKYOPOP: 16 volumes), French (Tokebi; 16 volumes), German (Tokyopop Germany), Polish (Kasen Comics), Italian (J POP), Portuguese (Lumus Brazil) and Japanese (Enterbrain Beam comix)

Adaptations
A film adaptation starring Cam Gigandet, Paul Bettany and Maggie Q is expected to premiere on 13 May 2011 in the U.S. (Indonesian screening is slated to begin 12 May 2011.)

6. red Eyes 14 of 14+ by Shindo Jun

red Eyes 「ｒｅｄ　Ｅｙｅｓ」 by Shindo Jun Kodansha Magazine E-no, shounen Volume 14 first published in Japan 2010.04

Other languages
French, German and Italian (Panini Comics)

7. To Be Beautiful (Kirei ni Naritai!) 6 of 6 by Yorita Miyuki [Finale]

Kirei ni Naritai! 「キレイになりたい！」 by Yorita Miyuki Kodansha KC Dessert, shoujo Volume 6 first published in Japan 2006.12

Level Comics manga (2011.01.19)

• Boule & Bill - Ayo, Bersenang-senang (Boule & Bill: 'Faut rigoler!) by Roba

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

Read more »

Basara 15, Air Gear 18, Brave Story 4 (Level Comics 12 January 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Basara © Tamura Yumi/Shogakukan [First serialized in Betsucomi]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

A night of sandstorms spent together provides little respite for Sarasa and Shuri who must return to the battlefield come the dawn. In the midst of battle, Sarasa as Tatara uncovers the true identity of the Red King. Will the shock prove too much for Sarasa? Find out in Basara 15, out now.

Level Comics manga (2011.01.12)

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

1. Air Gear 18 of 31+ by Oh! great

AirGear 「エア・ギア」 by Oh! great Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 18 (Tricks 156-165) first published in Japan 2007.08

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 2006 Kodansha Manga Awards

Other languages/serializations
English Air Gear (Del Rey: Volume 15-17 released 2010.08.31), Korean (Haksan), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi Singapore: volume 28 per 2010.08), French (Pika Édition tome 25 shipped 2011.01.05), Italy (Planet Manga), Germany (Heyne) and Sweden (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB/serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 25-episode anime by Toei Animation, starring Kamakari Kenta as Ikki, a series of Satelight-animated OADs shipped with the manga tankoubon (Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori -Break on the Sky- OAD streeted with volume 29 in July 2010 with seiyuu Okamoto Nobuhiko as Ikki; the second OAD is expected to street with volume 31 on 2011.03.17), and a series of musicals

2. Basara 15 of 27 by Tamura Yumi

Basara 「ＢＡＳＡＲＡ」 by Tamura Yumi
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 15 first published in Japan 1995.06

Awards
Best Shoujo Manga, 38th Shogakukan Manga Awards

Other versions/languages
Re-released in 15 bunko volumes
English Basara (VIZ Media; 27 volumes), French (Kana; 27 volumes), German (EMA; Band 24 shipped 2010.11 • Band 25 street date: 2011.03), Danish (Mangismo Danmark) and Swedish (Mangismo Sverige)

Adaptations
A 13-episode anime by KSS, starring seiyuu Kimura Akiko (Sarasa) and Inoue Kazuhiko (Shuri), aired in Japan from April to June 1998.

3. Brave Story (Brave Story - Shinsetsu) 4 of 20 by Miyabe Miyuki

Brave Story - Shinsetsu 「ブレイブ・ストーリー～新説～」 by Miyabe Miyuki and Ono Yoichiro AKA Brave Story: A Retelling of a Classic Shinchosha Comic Bunch, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 2004.09

Volume 4 chapters:
29. Ashikawa of the Shigdra
30. The Five Orbs
31. The Mirror of Enternal Darkness
32. Not Alone
33. The Unluckiest Assassin
34. The Act
35. The Girl Who Hungered for Love
36. Beserker
37. Answer
38. Demon

Related
Adapted from Miyabe Miyuki-sensei's Brave Story light novel, post its winning the Batchelder Award (for Most Outstanding children's book originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country and subsequently published in English).

Other languages
English Brave Story (TOKYOPOP: five volumes; the Brave Story novel was published by VIZ Media 2009.11), French (Kurokawa: Tome 19 shipped 2010.12) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li)

Adaptations
The novel was adapted into an anime feature by Gonzo, which premiered in Japan on 2006.07.08. Actress/singer Matsu Takako was cast as Mitani Wataru, Wentz Eiji as Ashikawa Mitsuru, Oizumi Yo as Ki-kima, and Imai Miki as the Goddess of Destiny. The film was nominated for Animation of the Year at the 2007 Japanese Academy Awards.

Level Comics European comics/BDs (2011.01.12)

1. [ID Series Premiere] Boule dan Bill - Bubble Bill (Boule et Bill, tome 5: Bulles et Bill) by Roba
2. Spirou dan Si Pria Gelembung (Spirou et Fantasio, tome 17 : Spirou et les hommes-bulles) by Franquin, Roba
3. Yakari - Yakari dan Nanabozo (Yakari, tome 4 : Yakari et Nanabozo) by Derib, Job

Read more »