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 2, Team Medical Dragon 18, Bambino 13 (Level Comics 10 August 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Skipped GTO 4 this sked, per Elex's more recent (15 August) advisory.

GTO Shonan 14 Days © Fujisawa Toru/Kodansha
[Serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

Updated with Level artwork and editor resources (not the only one babbling here :D)

Thorn-up-Onizuka's-side Katsuragi apparently just craves attention, not getting any from her father. Even when she's actually kidnapped, Pops doesn't lift a finger, thinking it's all a bluff. What else is Onizuka to do, but save Katsuragi in his own inimitable way...

Level editor Adisti-san observes that Katsuragi's problems are outed in the second GTO Shonan 14 Days. Whether that's what leads to the heart-pounding chase on the streets of Shonan, you'll have to GET! volume 2 to confirm ^_^

Team Medical Dragon 18 of 25 by Nogizaka Taro/Nagai Akira

Professor Takeo's daughter-in-law is rushed to the operating room after an accident. Professor Takeo orders surgical team head Izaka to prioritize his in-law's life, even as the mother insists that the doctor save her baby. At a crucial moment, Akira appears to assist in the operation. Will she choose to uphold the mother's wishes, or that of the Professor?

Team Medical Dragon editor Lenny-san promises that we also understand why Akira affects callous all this time.

Lenny-san also likens the medical drama supervised by Yoshinuma Mie-sensei to the House TV series that stars an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital (PPTH) in New Jersey. (Thanks, Wiki.) I get unconventional medical genius, but misanthropic? Really? (I don't read TMD because Ryu-chan scares me ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶).

Bambino! 13 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

To pay for the bottle of wine he broke, Ban decides to accept Coyote's offer to "cook for the Mafia." But can Ban satisfy the palates of the Italian mafiosi? Or will he end up rueing his decision?

Talk about living dangerously. Ganbare, Ban-chan! p(^^)q

European comics/ROMICs: Dangerous Skies!

Tanguy et Laverdure,
tome 3: Danger dans le Ciel
© Charlier & Uderzo/
Dargaud
Published in Indonesia as
Tanguy & Laverdure -
Bahaya Di Angkasa

Topping the bande dessinée Do Want! list is Jean-Michel Charlier & Albert Uderzo's Tanguy & Laverdure - Bahaya Di Angkasa (Tanguy et Laverdure, tome 3: Danger dans le Ciel). Tanguy and Laverdure are assigned to Creil's squadron 1/10, also known as the Cigognes or Storks squadron, and pilot the SMB2 (Super Mystère B2) fighter-bomber. Their first mission: patrolling the airspace of Melun-Villaroche military base, declared a No-Fly zone to test a highly-classified French aircraft. One night, a secret transmission is intercepted around Melun-Villaroche; Tanguy scrambles and is forced to chase an enemy reconnaissance jet in the skies above the Seine.

Boule & Bill - Sirkus Keren! (Boule et Bill, tome 29: Quel cirque!) by Verron Laurent also streets this week. Here we see that Bill is not only a cute cocker spaniel, but also a...gardener!? (He buries bones in the hope that they will grow into more bones.)

Rounding out the BD trio is Yakari - Yakari dan Si Tanduk Bercabang (Yakari, tome 23: Yakari et les cornes fourchues) by Derib + Job, in which Yakari and Little Thunder race to save a baby antelope trapped in a wildfire.

Back to manga previews after the release list.

Level Comics manga (2011.08.10)

1. Bambino! 13 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! 「バンビ～ノ！」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 13 (chapters 132-142) first published in Japan 2008.08

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards, tied with Kuromaru- & Natsuhara Takeshi's The Black Swindler (Kurosagi).

Related series
Bambino! Secondo (sequel; eight volumes as at 2011.08.30)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action adaptation starring Matsumoto Jun (Shogo Ban) and Kitamura Kazuki (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.

2. Devil Devil 4 of 15 by Miyoshi Yuuki

Devil Devil 「デビデビ」 by Miyoshi Yuuki Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 4 (chapters 28-37) first published in Japan 1999.06

Other languages
French (PIKA Édition: 15 volumes per 2005.10), German (Planet Manga)

3. GTO Shonan 14 Days 2 of 7+ by Fujisawa Toru

GTO Shonan 14 Days 「ＧＴＯ　ＳＨＯＮＡＮ　１４ＤＡＹＳ」 by Fujisawa Toru Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2009.12

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)

4. Jio 17 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi

Jio 「６６６～サタン～」 by Kishimoto Seishi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 17 first published in Japan 2007.06

Volume 17 chapters:
65. The Ruins' Traps!
66. Heart
67. Brothers Face Off! Memories of the Scars!
68. Father's Thoughts
[*NOT Level's chapter titles]

Other languages
English O-Parts Hunter (VIZ Media: 19 volumes), French (Kurokawa: 19 volumes) and Italian (JPOP)

5. Karakuri Circus 4 of 43 by Fujita Kazuhiro

Karakuri Circus 「からくりサーカス」 by Fujita Kazuhiro Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 4 (chapters 27-36) first published in Japan 1998.09

Other languages
French (Delcourt: Karakuri Circus Tome 21 per 2007.12)

6. Kowloon's Seekers (Shin Kijou no Kowloon) 3 of 3 by Aoki Tomo & Nagasaki Takashi [Finale]

Shin Kijou no Kowloon 「真　机上の九龍　下」 by Aoki Tomo & Nagasaki Takashi AKA Shin Kijou no Kuryuu Shinchosha Comic Bunch, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2009.09

Related series
Prequel: Kijou no Kowloon (one volume published under Shogakukan's Big Comics Special imprint; 2002.12)

7. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 10 of 12+ 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 10 first published in Japan 2010.08

Other languages
German (Egmont Manga & Anime: Lebe deine Liebe Band 10 released 2011.07 • Band 11 street date: 2011.10), French (Marvel Panini France: A Romantic Love Story Tome 10 per 2011.06)

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)

8. Officer Monju (Seigi Keikan Monju) 9 of 11+ by Miyashita Hiroki

Seigi Keikan Monju 「正義警官モンジュ」 by Miyashita Hiroki Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 9 first published in Japan in 2010.03

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 volume 7 per 2011.06)

9. Shattered Knife (Oboreru Knife) 8 of 12+ by George Asakura

Oboreru Knife 「溺れるナイフ」 by George Asakura Kodansha Betsufure, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2009.08

10. Team Medical Dragon (Iryuu -Team Medical Dragon-) 18 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 18 (chapters 141-149) first published in Japan 2008.07

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

Other languages
French (Glénat: Tome 17 shipped 2011.07 • Tome 18 street date: 2011.10.19)

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.]

European comics/BDs (2011.08.10)

1. Boule & Bill - Sirkus Keren! (Boule et Bill, tome 29: Quel cirque!) by Verron, Roba (Dargaud)
2. Tanguy & Laverdure - Bahaya Di Angkasa (Tanguy et Laverdure, tome 3: Danger dans le Ciel) by Charlier & Uderzo (Dargaud)
3. Yakari - Yakari dan Si Tanduk Bercabang (Yakari, tome 23: Yakari et les cornes fourchues) by Derib + Job (Le Lombard)

Read more »

Bloody Monday 4, xxxHOLiC 13, Oh Butterfly Oh Flower 4 (Level Comics 18 May 2011 manga)

Bloody Monday © Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji/Kodansha
[First serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

During interrogation, Orihara Maya offers to barter coordinates to Terrorist HQ for freedom. Fujimaru agrees, and with Hosho and Kano, heads for the location Maya specifies. En route, Fujimaru lucks on to a clue about the THIRD-i spy, but a thin line separates friend from foe. [Additions from Chuang Yi's Bloody Monday: Season 1, Vol. 4 synopsis]

Sez Level's Bloody Monday editor Adisti-san: Excitement ratchets as, despite the revelation of the THIRD-i spy's identity, the terrorists' moves remain unpredictable.

xxxHOLiC 13 of 19 by CLAMP

People beat up “Liar!” Kohane on national TV, but the exorcist's suffering isn't enough to make her mother back off. Watanuki tries to intervene, but Kohane's mom, believing Watanuki responsible for Kohane's loss of powers, decides to... [Additions from PIKA Édition's xxxHOLIC, tome 13 summary]

What happened to Watanuki? How will Kohane-chan's torment end? See xxxHOLIC 13 for answers.

Oh Butterfly Oh Flower 4 of 8 by Yoshihara Yuki

The pervy guy who stole a kiss from Choko was none other than the company president! Choko has several bones to pick with the goukon-crashing prez, the utmost of which is his monopolizing Masayuki. Worse, he isn't even through toying with Choko; he forces her to become his 24/7 private secretary, threatening to destroy Masayuki should she refuse.

So, of course, it's Chaa-chan to milady's rescue!

Domoto, I love you ♡.
(That's not Choko speaking; it's president Yanagi *sweatdrop*)

Volume 4 of the LMAO! office romance Oh Butterfly Oh Flower compiles chapters 16 through 20: Before Winter Comes, Dance of the Butterfly, Dance of the Flower.... Sleeping Beauty, Valentine Crisis and Beside You... [*NOT Level's chapter titles; Serenus-Dreamers × Aerandria translations]

New Level manga: Escape Express by Shinohara Chie

Natsumi stumbles onto a crime scene on her way home. The investigating officers are keeping a lid on the case, forcing the news reporter to observe from afar. But instead of staying hidden from all eyes, Natsumi bumps into the alleged murder suspect, Satoru.

[Natsumi and Satoru]
From Toubou Kyuukou © Shinohara Chie/Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia as Escape Express by Level Comics

Satoru claims he's innocent and he and Natsumi head to Switzerland in pursuit of the real perp, contributes Baka-Updates Manga in its Toubou Kyuukou description.

Gushes editor Nickyta-san: A new manga from Shinohara Chie — with an unexpected ending! (If I were Natsumi, I wouldn't want the story to end :D) You know Shinohara Chie-sensei, right? She's only responsible for Red River, which Level also publishes. (Volume 7 is slated for a 25 May release.)

Escape Express also contains the Missing city short in addition to the Escape Express cover story. And speaking of covers, based on Level's cover art, this volume appears to be the 2008 Flower Comics Alpha reissue. (Toubou Kyuukou was first published in 1996 under the Flower Comic Special imprint and then again in 2002 as a bunko. Different covers.)

☆ Teh other debuting series is a BD—Peyo's Johan & Pirlouit, the sword-and-sorcery tale of medieval page Johan and his dwarf sidekick Pirlouit, prolly most famous for introducing the Smurfs. (The blue-skinned critters actually debuted there.) Level double launches Johan & Pirlouit's Seruling Enam Smurf and Malam Para Penyihir.

Speaking of Smurfs, Smurf - Smurf Kecil, part of the Histoires des Schtroumpfs (Les p'tits Schtroumpfs et le Schtroumpf robot) also streets, introducing four new characters, promises editor Niken.

Level Comics manga (2011.05.18)

1. 3x3 Eyes 40 of 40 by Takada Yuzo [Finale]

3×3 EYES 「３×３ＥＹＥＳ」 by Takada Yuzo Kodansha Weekly Young Magazine, seinen Volume 40 first published in Japan 2002.11

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. A Spirit of The Sun (Taiyou no Mokushiroku) 10 of 17 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Taiyou no Mokushiroku 「太陽の黙示録」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen Volume 10 (chapters 66-72) first published in Japan 2005.12

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 51st Shogakukan Manga Awards
Grand Prize winner for the comic category, 10th Japan Media Arts Festival

Other languages
French (Tonkam Spirit of The Sun, tome 17: Le troisième pays per 2009.12)

Adaptations
Adapted into an anime special by Madhouse (two episodes)

3. Bloody Monday 4 of 11 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 4 first published in 2008.02

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 Édition: five volumes per 2011.05.04 • Tome 6 street date: 2011.06.29)

Related series
Bloody Monday Season 2 - Zetsubou no Kou (sequel, AKA Bloody Monday Season 2 ~Pandora no Hako~, eight volumes as at 2011.05.17)

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.

4. Cesare: The Creator of Destruction (CESARE: Il Creatore che ha distrutto) 5 of 8+ by Souryo Fuyumi

CESARE: Il Creatore che ha distrutto 「チェーザレ　破壊の創造者」 by Souryo Fuyumi Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2008.07

5. [Premiere] Escape Express (Toubou Kyuukou) by Shinohara Chie

Toubou Kyuukou 「逃亡急行」 by Shinohara Chie Shogakukan Flower Comics Alpha, shoujo This anthology first published in Japan 2008.11

Related
Earlier released Toubou Kyuukou anthologies (one published under the Flower Comic Special imprint, 1996.05 and as Shogakukan Bunko: 2002.08)

6. Fight!! Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) 82 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 82 first published in Japan 2007.12

Volume 82 chapters:
Round 778: Malfunctioning Machine
Round 779: Other Than Boxing
Round 780: Two Things To Remember
Round 781: These Fists Aren't Heavy
Round 782: Insane Connection
Round 783: Magic Punch
Round 784: Counterattack vs. Counterattack
Round 785: Preparing to Enter the Ring
Round 786: Another Trick
Round 787: I Can See!!
*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 12 per 2011.05.12 • Tome 13 street date: 2011.06.09) 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.

7. Jepang Tenggelam! (Nihon Chinbotsu) 13 of 15 by Komatsu Sakyou, Ishiki Tokihiko

Nihon Chinbotsu 「日本沈没」 by Komatsu Sakyou, Ishiki Tokihiko AKA Japan Falling, Japan Sinks Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 13 (chapters 104-112) first published in Japan 2008.11

Related
Based on the award-winning disaster novel by Komatsu Sakyou, also adapted into film and live-action TV.

8. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 9 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 9 first published in Japan 2010.04

9. Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 8 of 12+ by Yonezawa Rika

30 Kon Miso-com 「３０婚　ｍｉｓｏ‐ｃｏｍ」 by Yonezawa Rika Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 8 first published in Japan 2009.07

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

10. Oh Butterfly Oh Flower (Chou yo Hana yo) 4 of 8 by Yoshihara Yuki

Chou yo Hana yo 「蝶よ花よ」 by Yoshihara Yuki Shogakukan Petit Comic, josei Volume 4 (chapters 16-20) first published in Japan 2007.05

Other languages
English Butterflies, Flowers (VIZ Media: six volumes per 2011.03.01 • volume 7 street date: 2011.06.07), French (Soleil Ma petite maîtresse tome 8 released 2010.05) and traditional Chinese (Tong Li)

11. xxxHOLiC 13 of 19 by CLAMP

xxxHOLiC 「×××ＨＯＬｉＣ」 by CLAMP AKA xxxHolic Rō (starting volume 16) Kodansha Young Magazine (Bessatsu Shonen Magazine from 2010.06), seinen Volume 13: Hon no Sasai na Deai de mo, Kokoro to Karada mo Kawatte iku. (chapters 80-84) first published in Japan 2008.06

Other languages
English xxxHOLiC (Del Rey: 16 volumes per 2010.10 • volume 17 street date: 2011.09.13), French (PIKA Édition; tome 17 shipped 2011.01 • Tome 18 street date: 2011.06.15), Spanish (Norma Editorial Spain and Grupo Editorial Vid Mexico), Italian (Star Comics), German (Egmont), Swedish (Bonnier Carlsen), Portuguese (JBC Brazil)

Adaptations
A 24-episode anime adaptation by Production I.G aired from April to September 2006 in Japan, followed by a 13-episode sequel xxxHOLiC: Kei (2008.04 to 2008.06) and a two-episode OAD xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki (2009.02 to 2009.06, bundled with volumes 14 and 15). The xxxHOLiC Rō OAD shipped 23 April 2010, along with manga volume 17. A second xxxHolic Rō OAD, xxxHolic: Rō Adayume, is scheduled for March 2011 release with manga volume 19.

A feature film adaptation xxxHOLiC the Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream premiered in Japan before the first anime season (2005.08.20). The movie was a finalist in the 2006 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Seiyuu Fukuyama Jun and Ohara Sayaka play the roles of Watanuki Kimihiro and Ichihara Yuko in all adaptations.

Related
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (crossover) · xxxHoLic: ANOTHERHOLiC Landolt-Ring Aerosol by NisiOisiN (Novel; side story) · Soel to Larg: Mokona=Modoki no Bouken (Novel; side story)

At least four official fanbooks have been released in Japan: Gekijōban ×××HOLiC Official Fanbook (2005.08.17) · TV Animation ×××HOLiC Extra Official Guide (2006.05.17) · Shinpan ×××HOLiC Dokuhon (2006.11.17) · xxxHolic Complete Book (2011.03.17)

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European comics/ROMICs (2011.05.18)

1. Cubitus - Warisan Pastaga (Cubitus, tome 35: L'héritage du Pastaga) by Dupa
2. [Premiere] Johan & Pirlouit - Seruling Enam Smurf (Johan et Pirlouit, tome 9: La flûte à six Schtroumpfs) by Peyo
3. [Premiere] Johan & Pirlouit - Malam Para Penyihir (Johan et Pirlouit, tome 5: Magie et exotisme) by Peyo
4. Lucky Luke - Pony Express (Lucky Luke, tome 28: Le Pony Express) by Morris, X. Fauche & J. Léturgie
5. Smurf - Smurf Kecil dan Smurf Robot (Les p'tits Schtroumpfs et le Schtroumpf robot, tome 13) by Peyo

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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)

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European comics/BDs (2011.04.20)

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

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