Soul Eater 13, Yugo in Tokyo - Tanegashima, Giant Killing 10 (Level Comics 28 December 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

The rest of Level's covers and NikBabble™ to follow...whenever :P Update: "Whenever" cometh in January

Yugo: Tokyo Tanegashima-hen © by Akana Shu & Makari Shinji
Kodansha [Serialized in Evening]
Published in Indonesia as Yugo in Tokyo - Tanegashima
by Elex Media/Level Comics

As is obvious from the lead pix, we get the third Yugo II arc, Yugo in Tokyo - Tanegashima:

Yugo is suddenly arrested by "old acquaintances" Kamijo and Omaki. They grill him about the case of an aerospace researcher's abducted wife, whose kidnappers specifically asked for Yugo to negotiate on their behalf. Apparently the case is connected with the rocket launch of an intel satellite.

One wrong move and Japanese-American relations could sour... fast.

Telor Ceplok contributor Lina-chan gives Yugo in Tokyo - Tanegashima an 8 of 10 in the comments and considers it a definite collectible, especially for Yugo fans. (Yoo, hoo! Andrea Tezumo-sensei... :D)

Soul Eater vol 13 of 20+
By Ohkubo Atsushi

The infiltration team led by the witch Medusa manage to sneak into Baba Yaga's castle, headquarters of the sprawling organization Arachnophobia. The reunion between Ox and Kim has finally arrived, but things have changed greatly since Kim's brainwashing by the morality machine, switching Kim's allegiance to Arachne. Black*Star chooses this moment to return to the stage, stronger and more determined than ever to dispatch Samurai Mifune!

Soul Eater 13 compiles chapters 49 through 52: Operation: Capture Baba Yaga's Castle (Parts 4-7). [*NOT Level's chapter title(s)]

Level Comics manga (2011.12.28)

1. Giant Killing vol 10 of 21+ by Tsujitomo & Tsunamoto Masaya

Giant Killing 「ＧＩＡＮＴ　ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ」 by Tsujitomo and Tsunamoto Masaya Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 10 first published in Japan 2009.04

Awards
34th Kodansha Manga Award for General Manga

Adaptations
Studio DEEN's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Tatsumi Takeshi), Okiayu Ryotaro (Murakoshi Shigeyuki), Mizushima Takahiro (Tsubaki Daisuke) and Ono Daisuke (Yoshida Luigi) aired between April and September 2010 on NHK.

2. Red Eyes vol 15 of 15+ by Shindo Jun

red Eyes 「ｒｅｄ　Ｅｙｅｓ」 by Shindo Jun Kodansha Magazine E-no, shounen Volume 15 first published in Japan 2011.03

Other languages
French, German and Italian (Panini Comics)

3. Soul Eater vol 13 of 20+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul Eater 「ソウルイーター」 by Ohkubo Atsushi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 13 (chapters 49–52) first published in Japan 2008.10

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
English Soul Eater (Yen Press: seven volumes as of 2011.10 • volume 8 street date: 2012.02.28), French (Kurokawa: Tome 18 per 2011.12.08 • Tome 19 street date: 2012.03.08), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 14 shipped 2011.12.16 • Band 15 street date: 2012.02.08) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: SOUL EATER噬魂者 18 released 2011.08)

Related series
Soul Eater Not! (spin-off; began serialization in Shonen Gangan 2011.01.12; volume 1 released in Japan 2011.09.22)

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.

4. [Premiere] Yugo in Tokyo - Tanegashima (Yugo: Tokyo Tanegashima-hen) by Akana Shu & Makari Shinji

Yugo: Tokyo Tanegashima-hen 「勇午　東京・種子島編 」 by Akana Shu & Makari Shinji Kodansha Evening, seinen First published in Japan 2006.03; Kodansha Manga Bunko reissue: 2011.09

Related series
Part of the Yugo II side stories that include Yugo: Shimokita Hantou-hen (2004.09), published by Level Comics as Yugo - Shimokita Peninsula; Yugo: Kitakyushu Tsushima-hen (2005.05), released as Yugo in Tsushima, Kitakyushu; Yugo: Osaka-hen (Volume 1 per 2006.10, volume 2: 2007.02); Yugo: Yokohama Yokosuka-hen (V1: 2008.01 - V2: 2008.02); Yugo: Toyako Summit-hen (V1: 2008.09 - V2: 2009.05); Yugo: Philippines Oda-Hen (V1: 2010.02 - V3: 2010.08), Yugo: Taiwan-hen (V1 2011.06 - V2: 2011.10.21)
Main story: Yugo (22 volumes)

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

European comics/BDs (2011.12.28)

• Leonard: Jenius Selamanya (Léonard, Tome 5: Génie a toute heure) by Turk - De Groot (Le Lombard)

Postponed title(s)
Suske & Wiske: Setengah Havelaar by Willy Vandersteen (pending new street date)

Read more »

The Drops of God 9, Love Affair 11 and The Black Swindler 15 (Level Comics 9 November 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

As I mentioned over on the Elex side, it's slim pickins for synops and covers, so MinimaList—and ROMICs for lead—for nau. «Edit: Sorry, Leonard and Marsupilami fans, but I went and replaced the lead pix.

Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu © Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu/Kodansha [Serialized in Morning] · Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta © Miyasaka Kaho/Shogakukan [Serialized in Cheese!]. Published in Indonesia as The Drops of God and Love Affair by Elex Media/Level Comics

In The Drops of God 9, we interrupt the regularly-scheduled Apostles treasure hunt for a new mission —

Shizuku wants to make Kido, the wine division newbie, like wines and he's willing to go all the way to his father's vacation house for clues to a certain special vintage. Does Shizuku find it? More to the point, what secrets does Shizuku unearth in the memory-filled house?

(You can bet that whatever Shizuku discovers, it will still have bearing on the Third Apostle.)

Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu will have compiled 31 volumes in Japan by 17 November. We have quite a way to go.

Meanwhile, memory plays some tricks in Love Affair 11:

Yukito and Kotori's relationship improves after both come clean about their feelings. Yukito even gets to stay with Kotori after her older sib leaves him alone to look after the sick Kotori. How good are Yukito's nursing skills? More importantly, can he keep up the platonic bedside manner when there's no one else in the house?

Kotori doesn't help matters any when she calls out for Kenken...

The 13th Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta tankou streets 26 December in Japan.

More previews of ongoings after the release list. Up here, the Ranko The Governor premiere.

Chiji Ranko
© Takahashi Noboru
Shogakukan [Big Comics]
Published in Indonesia as
Ranko The Governor
by Level Comics

Beautiful young widow Akatsuki Ranko is elected governor of the (fictitious) Waga prefecture. Gossip has it she won on a sympathy vote after her politician husband's death. Little wonder that many look down her, including one shady businessman colluding with an equally shady politico to embezzle public funds. But is Madam Governor as callow as people think?

Ranko The Governor volume 1 compiles chapters 1–7 and 8. Four Chiji Ranko volumes have been published in Japan as of November 2005.

Other Takahashi Noboru manga
More current than Chiji Ranko is Mogura no Uta, the ongoing Big Comic Spirits seinen action drama that will have logged 29 volumes in Japan by 27 December. Takahashi Noboru-sensei also created Ahoudori no Uta serialized in Business Jump (Young Jump Comics volume 2 per October 2010) and the psychological drama series Riman Gambler Mouse, first serialized in Morning (four of four volumes per 2001.11), and its one-volume sequel, Riman Gambler Mouse: Jotai Jigokuhen, serialized in MiChao! (KCDX MiChao KC: 2008.09).

Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.11.09)

1. The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) vol 15 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosagi 「クロサギ」 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen Volume 15 (chapters 153-155 and 156-163) first published in Japan 2007.10

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards (2007), along with Sekiya Tetsuji's Bambino!

Related
Shin Kurosagi (sequel, volume 13 street date: 2011.12.27)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action renzoku starring Yamashita Tomohisa (Kurosaki) and Horikita Maki (Yoshikawa Tsurara) aired on TBS from April to June 2006. A movie starring the same leads premiered in Japan on 8 March 2008.

2. Brave Story (Brave Story - Shinsetsu) vol 6 of 20 by Miyabe Miyuki and Ono Yoichiro

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 6 first published in Japan 2005.03

Related
Adapted from Miyabe Miyuki-sensei's Brave Story light novel

Other languages
English Brave Story (TOKYOPOP: five volumes; the Brave Story novel was published by VIZ Media 2009.11), French (Kurokawa: Tome 20 shipped 2011.02) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

3. The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) vol 9 of 31+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu 「神の雫」 by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 9 first published in Japan 2006.11

Awards
Special Award of the Year - La Revue du vin de France (French wine magazine); Nominee (Glénat's Les Gouttes de Dieu, tome 1), French Angoulême Comics Awards; Nominee, 1st Keitai Comic Taishō (Mobile Phone Comic Award, along with Hiura Satoru's Hotaru no Hikari, Miyasaka Kaho's Kare First Love and 17 other manga)

Other languages
French (Glénat: Les Gouttes de Dieu Tome 21 shipped 2011.10.19 • Tome 22 street date: 2012.02.08), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: 神之水滴 29 per 2011.09), English Drops of God (Vertical: one volume per 2011.09 • volume 2 street date: 2011.12.13)

Adaptations
A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Shizuku aired from January to March 2009 in Japan on NTV.

4. Lost Man vol 5 of 14+ by Kusaba Michiteru

Lost Man 「ＬＯＳＴ　ＭＡＮ」 by Kusaba Michiteru Shogakukan Young Sunday (later moved to Big Comic Spirits after 31 July 2008), seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2009.08

5. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) vol 11 of 13+ 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 11 first published in Japan 2011.02

Other languages
German (Egmont Manga & Anime: Lebe deine Liebe Band 11 released 2011.11.04 • Band 12 street date: 2012.01), French (Marvel Panini France: A Romantic Love Story Tome 11 per 2011.10.19 • Tome 12 street date: 2012.02.15)

Adaptations
The Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta ~ Kare to Kanojo to Aitsu no Himitsu light novel written by Takase Yunoka was released under the Flower Comics Lululu novels label on 2011.07.26.

Related
The official Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta Kōshiki Fanbook (JP release: 2011.07)

6. Over Rev vol 21 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 21 (chapters 229-239) first published in Japan 2002.05

Reissues
Released in 13 wide-ban from 2007.05 to 2008.05 and in bunko as OVER REV! A Legend of Ultimate Hot Rodder (15 volumes published as at 2009.04)

7. [Series Premiere] Ranko The Governor (Chiji Ranko) vol 1 of 4 by Takahashi Noboru

Chiji Ranko 「知事ラン子」 by Takahashi Noboru Shogakukan Big Comics, seinen Volume 1 (chapters 1-7 and 8) first published in Japan 2004.09

8. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) vol 14 of 43+ 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 #42 released 2011.09.05), Japanese (Media Factory 三国志群雄伝　火鳳燎原 9 per 2009.12), Vietnamese Hỏa Phụng Liêu Nguyên. The manhua is also published in Mainland China, Korea and Thailand.

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

[ROMICs] European comics/BDs

1. Leonard - Jenius Tingkat Tinggi (Léonard, Tome 4: Hi-Fi génie) by Turk - De Groot (Le Lombard)
2. Marsupilami - Fordlandia (Le Marsupilami, Tome 6: Fordlandia) by Franquin, Batem & Yann (Marsu Production)

Read more »

GTO Shonan 14 Days 3, Bronze Angel 5, Pet Shop of Horrors 1 by Akino Matsuri (Level Comics 19 October 2011 manga) [UPDATED, FWIW]

And another MinimaList first while I get my act together (check later for moar eyecandy and NikBabble™) »Update: I do pad with eyecandy and blurbs, but rather than subject you to clueless babble on Pet Shop of Horrors 1, lemme just quote initial reax from Tweeps in the Know ^^

Pet Shop of Horrors © Akino Matsuri/Ohzora Shuppan
[First serialized in Missy Comics DX]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

Raven-san gives Pet Shop of Horrors 4 of 5 stars:

Tiap bab menceritakan orang yang menginginkan hewan peliharaan ajaib karena motif yang berbeda. Kadang rasa sayang mereka pada hewan itu akan berbalik merugikan diri mereka sendiri. (Each chapter tells of people desiring magical pets for varying reasons. Sometimes their affection for the animals end up harming themselves. –Ed.)
–Raven's review of Pet Shop of Horrors

Tweep MayzMeOw-san warns:

So far no big plot yet but the pets are intriguing. A little bit gore at some point though =p
–@MayzMeOw

Backtracking with Level's Pet Shop of Horrors description:

Chinatown plays home to Count D's Pet Shop, which purveys mythical creatures to meet buyers' yen for love and dreams. Purchase, however, mandates agreement to three non-negotiable conditions.

Let the buyer beware: Breach the contract at your own risk.

Ten PSoH volumes were published in Japan from February 1995 to August 1998. The ongoing sequel Shin Pet Shop of Horrors sees Count D operating the same business in Tokyo's Shinjuku. (For moar deets, toggle the release link below.)

Level Box sets: Grit your teeth
The first time that Level bundles value sets — Cesare Vols. 1-5, Historie Vols. 1-5 and Sky of Love Vols. 1-5 retail for IDR 45,000 per set. Nuff sed :P

Level Comics manga (2011.10.19)

1. Bronze Angel (Bronze no Tenshi) vol 5 of 7 by Saito Chiho

Bronze no Tenshi 「ブロンズの天使」 by Saito Chiho Shogakukan Flowers, shoujo Volume 5 first published in Japan 2006.03

Other versions
Rereleased in five bunko volumes (per 2011.03)

Related series
Bronze no Tenshi Gaiden (one volume spin-off; 2009.01)

2. GTO Shonan 14 Days vol 3 of 9+ by Fujisawa Toru »EX 10.05

GTO Shonan 14 Days 「ＧＴＯ　ＳＨＯＮＡＮ　１４ＤＡＹＳ」 by Fujisawa Toru Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2010.03

Related series
Prequels: Shounan Junaigumi! AKA GTO: The Early Years (31 of 31 volumes); Bad Company (1 of 1 volume); and GTO (25 of 25 volumes)

Other languages
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: volume 4 per 2010.10), English GTO 14 Days in Shonan (Vertical: Volume 1 street date: 2012.01.31)

3. Hotaru's Light (Hotaru no Hikari) vol 13 of 15 by Hiura Satoru

Hotaru no Hikari 「ホタルノヒカリ」 by Hiura Satoru AKA IT'S★ONLY★LITTLE★LIGHT★IN★MY★LIFE Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 13 first published in Japan in 2009.01

Adaptations
The 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix award-winning Glow of Fireflies live-action adaptation aired between July and September 2007 on NTV. The 10-episode drama starred Ayase Haruka ((Amemiya Hotaru) and Fujiki Naohito (Takano Seiichi). The pair reprised their roles in the 11-episode second season that aired between July and September 2010 on the same network.

4. [Series Premiere] Pet Shop of Horrors vol 1 of 10 by Akino Matsuri

PetShop of Horrors 「Ｐｅｔｓｈｏｐ　ｏｆ　Ｈｏｒｒｏｒｓ」 by Akino Matsuri Ohzora Shuppan Missy Comics DX, josei Volume 1 first published in Japan 1995.02

Volume 1 chapters:
1. Dream
2. Despair
3. Daughter
4. Dreizehn

Related series
Reissued in seven bunkoban by Asahi Sonorama (Sonorama Comic Bunko, 2007.10)
Sequel: Shin Pet Shop of Horrors (nine ASAHI Comics volumes as at 2011.09.07, ongoing); AKA Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (English)

Other languages
English Pet Shop of Horrors (TOKYOPOP: 10 volumes); traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 10 恐怖寵物店 volumes), Russian (Comics Factory), German (Tokyopop Germany, 10 volumes)

Adaptations
Four-episode Pet Shop of Horrors anime produced by Madhouse aired from 1-22 March 1999 on TBS. Seiyuu Onosaka Masaya and Seki Toshihiko voiced Leon Orcot and Count D.

5. Zipang vol 9 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Zipang 「ジパング」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 9 first published in Japan 2002.11

Awards
Winner, 26th Kodansha Manga Awards (2002) in the General category

Other language versions
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial), French (Kana: Pack Fidelite Zipang Tome 30+T31 per 2011.08 • Pack Fidelite T32+33 street date: 2011.10.21) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: 次元艦隊 43 per 2010.06)

Adaptations
Anime by Studio DEEN starring seiyuu Inada Tetsu (Executive Officer Kadomatsu Yosuke), Hoshino Takanori (Gunnery Officer Kikuchi Masayuki), Ueda Yuuji (Navigation Officer Oguri Kouhei), Yara Yuusaku (Captain Umezu Saburo) and Touchi Hiroki (Lt. Commander Kusaka Takumi) aired in Japan from October 2004 to March 2005

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
Postponed title(s)
Dawn of The Arcana vol 3; new street date: 2 November

Box sets AKA Paket Komik *Harga Spesial* (2011.10.19)

1. 16 Engage, Vols. 1-2 of 2 by Miyasaka Kaho –Complete– [IDR 18,000/set]
2. Aflame Inferno, Vols. 1-5 (of 6+) by Lim DallYoung & Kim KwangHyun [IDR 45,000/set]
3. Brave Story, Vols. 1-4 (of 20) by Miyabe Miyuki and Ono Yoichiro (Brave Story - Shinsetsu) [IDR 36,000/set]
4. Cesare: The Creator of Destruction, Vols. 1-5 (of 8+) by Souryo Fuyumi (CESARE: Il Creatore che ha distrutto) [IDR 45,000/set]
5. Ghost Mum Investigator, Vols. 1-3 (of 3+) by Sato Tomokazu (Ghost Mama Sousasen) [IDR 27,000/set]
6. Harlequin: Emma and The Earl, Vols. 1-2 of 2 by Paula Marshall & Hara Chieko (Emma to Hakushaku) –Complete– [IDR 18,000/set]
7. Historie, Vols. 1-5 (of 7+) by Iwaaki Hitoshi [IDR 45,000/set]
8. The Hunting of The Snark, Vols. 1-3 of 3 by Miyabe Miyuki and Ohishi Hiroto (Snark Gari) –Complete– [IDR 27,000/set]
9. Sky of Love, Vols. 1-5 (of 10) by Haneda Ibuki, Mika (Koizora: Setsunai Koi Monogatari) [IDR 45,000/set]
10. Strange Tales of Tokyo, Vols. 1-4 of 4 by Ono Fuyumi and Kajiwara Niki (Toukei Ibun) –Complete– [IDR 36,000/set]
11. Under the Rose, Vols. 1-4 (of 7+) by Funato Akari (Under the Rose - Haru no Sanka) [IDR 36,000/set]

Note: Volume tallies represent original volume totals, not (necessarily) Level Comics' latest release. Most recent Level releases: Aflame Inferno: vol 5 (per 3.30); Brave Story: vol 5 (8.15); Cesare: vol 7 (9.19); Ghost Mum Investigator: vol 3 (6.01); Historie: vol 6 (6.15); Sky of Love: vol 7 (9.28); and Under the Rose: vol 4 (2010.05.12).

European comics/BDs (2011.10.19)

• Leonard - Sekarang Apa Lagi, Nih? (Léonard, Tome 3: C'est un quoi, déjà?) by Turk - De Groot (Le Lombard)

Read more »