Genius Family Company 6 of 6, Half an Apple 6, Daydreaming 1 by Yoshimura Akemi (Level Comics 9 February 2011 manga)

Yume no Mahiru © Yoshimura Akemi/Shogakukan
[Serialied in Flowers]
Published in Indonesia as Daydreaming by Elex Media/Level Comics

Level Comics debuts Yoshimura Akemi's Yume no Mahiru as Daydreaming this Wednesday. In the manga, Odagiri Suzuko moves out of the apartment she unwillingly shares with her inconsiderate older sib and into cheap lodgings run by a crotchety landlady. It's a destined meeting between wimpy Suzuko and a drill sergeant of a grandmother that stands to change Suzuko's life.

Genius Family Company 6 of 6 by Ninomiya Tomoko

Before Ninomiya Tomoko's Genius Family Company wraps, Nagasawa misunderstands the relationship between geniuses Katsuyuki and Yuika and resolves to leave the country (running away to Paris, for studies); Katsuyuki continues trying to make a success of the business and take revenge on Yano; and Haru resolves the thing with Yi Ling.

Half an Apple 6 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

Hikaru's out of sight, out of mind plan to forget Shindo by throwing herself into work falls into shambles after Shindo is transferred to her division because of office power struggles.

Level Comics manga (2011.02.09)

1. [Series Premiere] Daydreaming (Yume no Mahiru) 1 of 2+ by Yoshimura Akemi

Yume no Mahiru 「夢の真昼」 by Yoshimura Akemi Shogakukan Flowers, josei Volume 1 first published in Japan 2007.12

2. Genius Family Company (Tensai Family Company) 6 of 6 by Ninomiya Tomoko [Finale]

Tensai Family Company 「天才ファミリー・カンパニー」 by Ninomiya Tomoko Gentosha Comics Manga Bunko, josei Volume 6 (bunko) first published in Japan 2008.12

Other languages
French Tensai Family Company - Génies en tous genres (Asuka Comics)

Adaptations
Audio drama starring seiyuu Hirakawa Daisuke, Mitsuishi Kotono, Namikawa Daisuke, Inoue Kazuhiko, Ueda Yuuji and Noto Mamiko (Tensai Family Company drama CD 1 and 2 released by Geneon Entertainment 2008.08.27 and 2008.10.22)

3. Gun Smith Cats 8 of 8 by Sonoda Kenichi [Finale]

Gun Smith Cats 「ＧＵＮ　ＳＭＩＴＨ　ＣＡＴＳ」 by Sonoda Kenichi Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 8 first published in Japan 1997.07

Related series
Sequels: Gun Smith Cats Burst (5 volumes) and Gunsmith Cats: Misty's Run

Other languages
English Gunsmith Cats (Dark Horse Comics; nine volumes + four volumes revised/omnibus editions) and French (Glenat)

Adaptations
Oriental Light and Magic animated three Gunsmith Cats anime OAV episodes, released between November 1995 and September 1996: Neutral Zone, Swing High!, and High Speed Edge, starring seiyuu Neya Michiko (Rally Vincent) and Araki Kae (Minnie May Hopkins). The OAV was repackaged into the Bulletproof movie in 1997.

4. Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) 6 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 by Koyama Yukari Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 6 first published in Japan 2007.01

5. Hikayat Genji (Asakiyumemishi) 6 of 13 by Yamato Waki

Asakiyumemishi 「あさきゆめみし」 by Yamato Waki Kodansha Mimi, shoujo Volume 6 first published in Japan 1985.11

Related
Adapted from Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu

Others languages
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial)

6. Jio 12 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi

Jio 「６６６～サタン～」 by Kishimoto Seishi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 12 first published in Japan 2005.10

Volume 12 chapters:
45. Top Floor
46. Evil King Icarus
47. Heart
48. Kaballah's Devil

Other languages
English O-Parts Hunter (VIZ Media; 19 volumes), French (Kurokawa tome 19 released 2008.12) and Italian (JPOP)

7. Magister Negi Magi (Mahou Sensei Negima!) 24 of 33+ by Akamatsu Ken

Mahou Sensei Negima! 「魔法先生ネギま！」 by Akamatsu Ken Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 24 first published in Japan 2008.11

Volume 24 chapters:
214. I'm So Glad to See You ♥
215. Operation: Return to the Real World! Begin!!
216. Is Love an Illusion??
217. Now Is the Time to Face the Darkness!
218. Boobies in Peril!!
219. A Wonder to Behold! Magia Erebea!!
220. The Hearts of the Negima Club Are One!
221. Let the Festivities Begin ♥
222. Negi vs. Fate

Other languages
English Negima! (Del Rey until volume 28; Kodansha Comics by volume 29 [2011.05.17 street date] and Chuang Yi: volume 27 scheduled 2011.02.09), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: volume 31 per 2010.10), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan), French (Pika Édition: Tome 28 shipped 2010.12), Spain (Glènat España), Germany (Egmont Manga & Anime; Band 30 ships 2011.05), Norway (Schibsted Forlag), Brazil (Editora JBC) and Croatia (Algoritam).

Adaptations
A 26-episode anime TV series starring seiyuu Satou Rina as Negi Springfield (January-June 2005), three pre-anime OAVs (2004), two post TV series OAVs (Mahou Sensei Negima!: Haru and Mahou Sensei Negima!: Natsu, 2006.10.25 and 2006.11.22), an alternate retelling anime series (Negima!?, 2006.10-2007.03), OADs or Original Animation Disc bundled with the manga (Mahou Sensei Negima!: Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba, 2008.08.17-2009.02.17; Mahou Sensei Negima!: Mō Hitotsu no Sekai, 2009.09.17, 2009.12.17, 2010.05.17 and 2010.07.17; and Mahou Sensei Negima! ~Ariadone-hen~ per 2010.11.17), an anime movie for the Magic World arc expected to premiere in 2011 and a live-action drama (TV Tokyo, 2007.10-2008.03)

8. Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 5 of 11+ by Yonezawa Rika

30 Kon Miso-com 「３０婚　ｍｉｓｏ‐ｃｏｍ」 by Yonezawa Rika Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 5 first published in Japan 2008.01

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

Level Comics European comics (2011.02.09)

1. Lucky Luke - Billy The Kid (Lucky Luke, tome 20: Billy the Kid) by Morris, René Goscinny
2. Lucky Luke - Pertikaian di Painful Gulch (Lucky Luke, tome 19: Les Rivaux de Painful Gulch) by Morris, René Goscinny

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

Read more »

Bloody Monday 1, Sky of Love 1, Eternal Sabbath 2 (Level Comics 5 January 2011 manga)

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

This Level manga release should gladden the hearts of a couple of blog regulars. The hacker thriller Bloody Monday finally debuts, along with the weepy Bad Boy/Shy Girl shoujo romance Sky of Love. Before blurbing, want to note that actor/singer Miura Haruma stars in the live-action adapt of both (as Fujimaru/Falcon in the Bloody Monday TV series and as Hiro in the 2007 Koizora movie). Let teh squeeing commence.

Bloody Monday 1 of 11 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji

A Russian spy is murdered in Japan, but not before he manages to secrete a memory chip from his killer. The Public Security Intelligence Agency ropes in high school student Fujimaru Takagi—actually the genius hacker Falcon—to decode the chip. Fujimaru doesn't realize the time bomb he holds in his hand, not until his father, a high-ranked official in the Agency's Third-I branch, is framed for the murder of his own boss, leaving Fujimaru with only the words ‘Bloody Monday’ to make sense of the growing mystery.

It is now up to Fujimaru to put together the pieces of dangerous information, information that points to a lethal virus and a Japanese woman named Maya...

[Additions from Wikipedia and Chuang Yi's Bloody Monday: Season 1 Vol.1 synopsis]

Author Ryumon Ryou also wrote other manga under diverse pseudonyms: Psychometrist Eiji (as Ando Yuma), Remote and the new Kindaichi Case Files (as Amagi Seimaru), The Drops of God (as Agi Tadashi), Get Backers (as Aoki Yuya), Monkey Typhoon (as Arimori Jōji) and Area no kishi (as Igano Hiroaki).

Sky of Love 1 of 10 by Haneda Ibuki

From a friend's prank call, ordinary high school student Mika comes to know Hiro and promises to meet him at the end of summer vacation. While Hiro doesn't turn out as Mika expected, his presence changes her life, painting it in the full spectrum of colors.

So, love begins to blossom...

From Level's synopsis, you wouldn't expect this manga—based on the best-selling coming of age/romance novel by Mika (yes, that Mika)—to have Weak Female Lead, Rape, Teen Pregnancy, Bad Boy, Shy Girl, Opposites Attract, Cancer tags associated with, but it does. And from that Baka-Updates Manga laundry list, tragedy is a foregone conclusion. Consider yourself warned.

Manga-ka Haneda Ibuki-sensei's other works include shoujo romances Oujisama to Watashi, Koiseyo Otome! and Sono Koe, Sono Yubi, Sono Kuchibiru.

Funnily enough, the Koizora TV dorama (with Seto Koji as Hiro) preceded the Bloody Monday TV Season 1 on TBS. Koizora aired from August to September 2008, while Bloody Monday S1 broadcast from October through December.

A note on the Lucky Luke ROMIC: In the absence of a cover, assumming that Lucky Luke - Berburu Jejak Dalton was originally the Lucky Luke, Tome 17: Sur la piste des Dalton BD. The Dalton brothers are always escaping—and in Berburu Jejak Dalton, they're at it again—so it's a little hard to be sure. In any case, the Daltons make their getaway here because of the jail guard dog Rantanplan. The stupid dog now has to redeem himself by leading Luke to the Daltons' hideout.

Level Comics manga (2011.01.05)

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

1. [Series Premiere] Bloody Monday 1 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 1 first published in 2007.08

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 2 per 2010.11 • Tome 3 street date 2011.01.05)

Related series
Bloody Monday Season 2 - Zetsubou no Kou (sequel, AKA Bloody Monday Season 2 ~Pandora no Hako~, six volumes as at 2011.01.17)

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.

2. Eternal Sabbath (ES) 2 of 8 by Souryo Fuyumi

ES 「ＥＳ」 by Souryo Fuyumi Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.08

Other languages
English ES (Del Rey: eight volumes), French (Glénat: eight volumes), Italian (Editions Star Comics)

Reissues
Re-released in five bunko volumes (2006.10 - 2007.02)

3. Priest 12 of 16+ by Hyung MinWoo

Priest 「프리스트」 by Hyung MinWoo Daiwon C.I. Champ Comics, seinen Volume 12 first published in Korea 2002.08 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.)

4. Shadow Skill 2 of 6+ by Okada Megumu

Shadow Skill 「ＳＨＡＤＯＷ　ＳＫＩＬＬ」 by Okada Megumu Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.11

Adaptations
Studio DEEN's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Matsuoka Akio (Gau Ban) and Hayashibara Megumi (Elle Lagu), aired in Japan from July to December 1998. Four OAVs preceded the series (four episodes released between 1995 and 1996).

5. [Series Premiere] Sky of Love (Koizora) 1 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 1 first published in Japan 2007.06

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.

Level Comics European comics/ROMICs (2011.01.05)

• Lucky Luke - Berburu Jejak Dalton by Morris

Read more »

Until Death Do Us Part 3, Zipang 5, Shattered Knife 6 (Level Comics 29 December 2010 manga)

And with that, this Level manga sked is done. Buh-bye.

Kidding! There's still the Lucky Luke - Menyusuri Sungai Mississippi or Lucky Luke: En remontant le Mississippi BD, which takes Luke down the Mississippi with Captain Barrows in a race to reach Minneapolis, all the while disrupted by rival skipper Lowriver. But over, above, beyond, obverse Luke — Mamoru!!

Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made © Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S
Square Enix [Serialized in Young Gangan]
Published in Indonesia as Until Death Do Us Part by Elex Media/Level Comics

The international terrorist organization “Plunder” launches an assault on the Ex Solid research center to steal the bio-chip the company developed in secret. The terrorists threaten to detonate bombs all over the metro—each C4 explosive weighing 100kg, which would claim casualties in the thousands and result in over ¥ 750 million in damages—if Mamoru & Co. do not hand over the bio-chip and Haruka. Mamoru counters with his terms: two billion dollars for both the chip and Haruka or no deal. [Additions from Ki-oon's Jusqu'à ce que la mort nous sépare, tome 3 summary and Nihil Sine Nefas scans]

What is Mamoru planning? Find out in Until Death Do Us Part 3, on sale today. (Mamoru fangirls, you can also drool over the blind swordsman's ripped abs while you're at it.)

Zipang 5 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

The JDS Mirai is ordered to dock to pave the way for talks to evacuate the Japanese soldiers in Gualdacanal. But while the Mirai crew get some needed R&R, Kusaka covertly meets with ex-military officer Ishihara and tells the story of Japan 60 years into the future, and the Mirai's role.

What is Kusaka's intention?

Shattered Knife 6 of 11+ by George Asakura

Not only does Natsume get marginalized after the kidnapping, she and Ko grow apart. From Otomo, Natsume learns that she's not alone in noticing how Ko has changed. Despite their distance, however, Natsume can't stop thinking about Ko...

Level Comics manga (2010.12.29)

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

1. Shattered Knife (Oboreru Knife) 6 of 11+ by George Asakura

Oboreru Knife 「溺れるナイフ」 by George Asakura Kodansha Betsufure, shoujo Volume 6 first published in Japan 2007.07

2. Until Death Do Us Part (Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made) 3 of 13+ by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S

Shi ga Futari wo Wakatsu Made 「死がふたりを分かつまで」 by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S Square Enix Young Gangan, seinen Volume 3 (chapters 17-24) first published in Japan 2006.10

Other languages
French (Ki-oon; Jusqu'à ce que la mort nous sépare, tome 12 per 2010.12.09), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan and Jade Dynasty Hong Kong)

3. Zipang 5 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Zipang 「ジパング」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2001.10

Awards
Best General Manga, 26th Kodansha Manga Awards (2002)

Other language versions
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial), French (Kana; tome 28 shipped 2010.08 • tome 29 street date: 2011.02.04) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press)

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

Level Comics European comics (2010.12.29)

• Lucky Luke - Menyusuri Sungai Mississippi (Lucky Luke, tome 16: En remontant le Mississippi) by Morris

Read more »

Soul Eater 3, Cesare 3, Psychometrist Eiji 16 (Level Comics 18 November 2010 manga)

Also ROMICs/BD: What are blue, white-hatted and love sarsaparilla? repurpose a bubbling cauldron—in which they're the main ingredient—into a hot tub. (I refer to Smurf - Sup Para Smurf, half the bande dessinée shipping this 18th.)

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

The Whoa! That was fast! Soul Eater 3 sees Tsubaki and Black☆Star hunting down a rogue blade—the Uncanny Sword Masamune—who has sunk to devouring human souls.

Masamune who also happens to be Tsubaki's oniisan has long harbored jealousy over Tsubaki inheriting their clan's multiple weapon forms. To defeat her older brother, on the verge of transforming into a kishin, Tsubaki must discard her usual gentleness or else face absorption into darkness. [Additions from Wikipedia and Yen Press' Soul Eater, Vol. 3 descriptions]

The third Soul Eater tankou compiles chapters 6-9: Holy Sword (Black☆Star and Kid's pursuit of the legendary Excalibur); Uncanny Sword, Parts 1-2 (blurbed above); and Persevering Soul, which I suppose switches the focus back to Maka, striving to conquer her dependence on weapon partner Soul.

Cesare: The Creator of Destruction 3 of 8+ by Souryo Fuyumi

Meanwhile, without basis whatsoever, I say we thank Eternal Sabbath 1 for streeting last October because—in whatever non sequitur way—it made Level speed up Il Creatore che ha distrutto's resurrection.

I doubt you've forgotten Cesare, but in case its eight-month sabbatical makes you blank out on the premise, Souryo Fuyumi's seinen manga revolves around a young Cesare Borgia, long before the end justifies the means model of Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince was appointed a cardinal. We witness the genesis of Cesare's ambitions through the eyes of naive geek Angelus da Canossa, a fellow University of Pisa student (thus the series' Renaissance, Politics, Italy, All Boys School, Church, College, College Students tags).

Wiki lets slip that the manga-ka works with a Dante scholar—I assume that's supervisor Hara Motoaki-sensei who shares cover billing with Souryo Fuyumi-sensei—to paint a historically correct picture of Renaissance Italy.

As for what's in store in Cesare volume 3 —

Henry, the ringleader of the French group, humiliates Miguel and evicts him from the meeting just for being a Jew. This ignites Cesare's ire, prompting Cesare to exchange blows with Henry to avenge his friend.

The combatants' grappling end up smashing the Virgin Mary statue intended for display in the Chapel. What's worse, Henry loses consciousness from injuries Cesare inflicted. The authorities then summon Cesare to explain himself.

Level Comics manga and manhua (2010.11.18)

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

1. Cesare: The Creator of Destruction 3 of 8+ by Souryo Fuyumi

Cesare 「チェーザレ　破壊の創造者」 AKA CESARE: Il Creatore che ha distrutto by Souryo Fuyumi Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2007.04

2. Fight!! Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) 79 of 94+ by Morikawa Joji

Hajime no Ippo 「はじめの一歩」 by Morikawa Joji AKA Fighting Spirit Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 79 (chapters 746-756) first published in Japan 2007.02

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 36 released 2010.11.10) 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.

3. Psychometrist Eiji (Psychometrer Eiji) 16 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi

Psychometrer Eiji 「サイコメトラーＥＩＪＩ」 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 16 first published in Japan 1999.04

Other languages
French Psychometrer Eiji (Kana/Dargaud; 25 volumes), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi Singapore 感应少年 Eiji 25 volumes), traditional Chinese (Tong Li)

Reissues
Re-released in 12 bunko volumes (2003.06 to 2003.11)

Adaptations
The live-action renzoku alternatively known as Simply Psychic ran for two seasons on NTV (January to March 1997 and October to December 1999). A one-episode, 45-minute anime OAV Eiji was released in August 1990.

4. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 5 of 39+ 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 #39 per 2010.09) 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.

5. Soul Eater 3 of 18+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul Eater 「ソウルイーター」 by Ohkubo Atsushi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 3 (chapters 6-9) first published in Japan 2005.04

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; volume 4 street date: 2009.10.27; serialized in Yen Plus), French (Kurokawa tome 11 shipped per 2010.09), German (Carlsen Comics Band 7 released 2010.10.29; Band 8 street date: 2010.12.24) and traditional Chinese 噬魂者 (Sharp Point Press Taiwan)

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.

Level Comics European comics (2010.11.18)

1. Lucky Luke - Pelarian Dalton Bersaudara (Lucky Luke, tome 15: L'Evasion des Dalton) by Morris, René Goscinny (Dupuis)
2. Smurf - Sup Para Smurf (La soupe aux Schtroumpfs, tome 10) by Peyo, Yvan Delporte (Dupuis)

¹ Sources: Elex STO 18 November 2010 (release schedule) and Komikologi and/or Gramedia Shop (synopses, unless indicated otherwise)
² Manga are priced at IDR 18,500 each except Cesare 3 (SRP: IDR 19,500). ROMICs Lucky Luke - Pelarian Dalton Bersaudara and Smurf - Sup Para Smurf retail for IDR 30,000/volume.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).

Previews continued

Fight!! Ippo 79 of 94+ by Morikawa Joji

Miyata fights a “comeback” match before his title unification bout with OPBF interim champ, Randy Boy Junior. Miyata finishes off his opponent with a boxing counter supposedly reserved for Ippo. Such goes his farewell message to Ippo.

Meanwhile, Ippo meets with Mr. Sakaguchi who insists that the same counter will prove useless against Randy. Just what kind of pugilist is Randy? And what is his connection with Miyata?

I gotta thank Level's Fight!! Ippo 79 blurb for making me research Undisputed Champion. (Gugel, if you must.)

Volume 79 comprises chapters:
Round 746: Look Up At the Lightning
Round 747: A Piercing Counter
Round 748: Miyata's Aim
Round 749: A Message from Miyata
Round 750: Conspiracy
Round 751: The Destined Boxer
Round 753: Racoon Boy
Round 754: As the Challenger
Round 755: Red Yellow Blue
Round 756: The Mysterious Trainer

Psychometrist Eiji 16 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi

The painted faces of serial murder victims send Ryoko and Eiji to the home of a genius artist to investigate. They find that the artist's mountain hideaway presents evidence of poltergeist activity.

Are the paranormal manifestations linked to Ryoko and Eiji's serial killing case? If so, how is the career detective and the high school psychometrist supposed to solve the mystery?

Psychometrist Eiji does The X-Files. Me likes. And I know I've sed this, like, a thousand times but lemme reiterate: Ando Yuma-sensei also writes under the pennames Agi Tadashi (The Drops of God), Aoki Yuya (Get Backers), Ryuumon Ryou (Bloody Monday), Arimori Jōji (Monkey Typhoon) and Igano Hiroaki (Area no kishi). As Amagi Seimaru, he wrote Remote and pens the new Kindaichi Case Files and the Kindaichi Special Cases. (Speaking of, the third Special Case—Kindaichi Special Case: Private School Murder—is scheduled to premiere on 24 November.)

The Ravages of Time 5 of 39+ by Chan Mou

Dong Zhuo takes the emperor hostage and relocates the capital. Meanwhile, flames engulf the city of Luoyang, and the Guandong military commander Yuan Shao falls into enemy hands. At this juncture, Commander Canbing shows up to save the day.

But just as Canbing thinks the situation is firmly under control, Lu Bu attacks.

UP NEXT: m&c! 18 November 2010 manga

m&c!: Nube 28 · Lady and the Sea 2 of 2 · Ijime Escape from Hell by Igarashi Kaoru · My Cheerful Boyfriend by Satori Tae

other upcoming 18 November 2010 manga

• Elex Media: C.M.B. 13 · Topeng Kaca 3 Deluxe · Bakeru-kun Pika Pika 1 by Fujiko F. Fujio · Lys Lily 1 by Hibiki Wataru · Mixim 11 v1 by Anzai Nobuyuki · Demon King 31 · Crayon Shinchan: Buku Pengetahuan Apa & Mengapa by Usui Yoshito · Hayate the Combat Butler 23 · Wild Life 10 · Animal Doctor 3 · Global Garden 2 · Look Up! 5 · Natural Honey Dormitory 4 · Ogawa & Team Saito 3 · Hell Girl 9 of 9 · Want You 2 · Juvenile Remix 5 · Lum, The Invader Girl 27 · HanaLaLa 54/2010

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography

disclaimer

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

currently available manga (10 November 2010 street date)

• Elex Media: Inuyasha 49 · Kisah Edo di Abad 21: Chotto Edo Made 1 by Tsuda Masami · Kariage kun 35 · BECK 24 · Cross Game 17 of 17 · Magic Peddler Roma 2 · Sanzoku Ou: King of Bandits 6 · Spiral: The Bonds Of Reason 8 · Nakayoshi 86/2010 · Shonen Star 76/2010
• Level Comics: Until Death Do Us Part 2 · Air Gear 16 · The Strange Florist by Yohna · Genius Family Company 4 · Team Medical Dragon 13 · Bambino! 7 · The Hunting of The Snark 2 · Show Me the Money 2 of 2 · Blade of Immortal 12 · Zenith 5 · 3x3 Eyes 33 · Yakari dan Si Bulu Putih
• m&c!: Female Wolf's Boy 8 · Hai, Miiko! 22 · Shanimuni GO 32 of 32 · Togetherness by Wagata Konomi · Goal Den Age 1 by Takaoka Eisei & Tsunamoto Masaya · Bakugan Battle Brawlers 12 · How to make a Princess 2 of 2 · Go! Hiromi Go! 5 · Monika 136

related monthly schedules

November 2010
Premiering The Strange Florist by Yohna and Desert Love by Sachimi Riho (standalones) and Gun Smith Cats Burst by Sonoda Kenichi, Sky of Love by Mika & Haneda Ibuki (series)

other invaluable resources

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

Technorati tags

Level Comics · manga · manhua · ROMIC (BD) · seinen · shounen · Cesare · Hajime no Ippo · Psychometrist Eiji · The Ravages of Time · Soul Eater | Lucky Luke · Smurfs

Red River 1 by Shinohara Chie, Soul Eater 2, The Black Swindler 10 (Level Comics 27 October 2010 manga)

There will be Red River fangirling. That's the only warning you get.

Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori © Shinohara Chie/Shogakukan
[First serialized in Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Red River by Elex Media/Level Comics

Yuri leads a charmed life. She just passed her senior high admissions exams AND shared her first kiss with promoted-to-boyfriend childhood friend Himuro. Everything goes down the drain, however, when she realizes that water behaves weirdly around her. The weirdness peaks one day when disembodied hands reach out of a street puddle and yank her in!

Yuri surfaces in 14th century B.C.E. Hattusa, the Hittite Empire capital, in the central Turkey region now known as Anatolia. (The reason why Red River/Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori is more commonly known as Anatolia Story.)

Why was Yuri dragged back in time? asks Level's back cover blurb.

Before I answer that question (falling back on Wiki and VIZ's Red River, Vol. 1 description for assistance), lemme (1) note that at least this Yuri (Suzuki) should thank the stars she didn't get flushed down the toilet like another Yuri (Shibuya; Kyou Kara Maoh's) and (2) list the top Baka-Updates Manga tags for this award-winning shoujo manga:

♥ Time Travel ♥ Strong Female Lead ♥ Royal Family ♥ War
♥ Politics ♥ Possessive Lover ♥ Magic ♥ Mediterranean
♥ Love Polygon ♥ Social Hierarchy

I want you to pay attention to that Strong Female Lead and Possessive Lover and see if you don't wipe away the drool like I did.

Neway, to answer the question: Yuri was abducted by the maleficent queen Nakia, who intends to sacrifice the 15-year-old maiden to eliminate two princes vying for the crown. (Wiki shares that the Hittite Empire at the time was only rivaled by Egypt, ruled then by Pharaoh Tutankhamen.) But before Yuri's blood is spilled, Prince Kail Mursili rescues her by announcing that Yuri is no longer unsullied, that he had already taken her virginity. (Another aside here: compare a similar “she may be carrying my child” claim made by the time-slipping Emperor to save girlfriend Mi ju in New Sexy Simpleton 7.)

Later, the prince agrees to help Yuri return home, but for that to happen, they first have to retrieve the 20th century clothes Yuri came in from the queen. Not a simple task as—as Baka-Updates Manga points out—the queen's persistent schemes to kill them both, plus their growing interest in each other, keep those plans delayed.

Wiki also adds: Many of the people and events in the story are drawn from known history.

Breath-taking romance AND history? And for 28 volumes, at that? What more can you (I) ask for??

While best-known for Red River, Shinohara Chie-sensei also created the (likewise award-winning) Purple Eyes in the Dark josei horror manga.

Level Comics manga (2010.10.27)

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

1. 3x3 Eyes 32 of 40 by Takada Yuzo

3x3 Eyes 「３×３ＥＹＥＳ」 by Takada Yuzo Kodansha Weekly Young Magazine, seinen Volume 32 first published in Japan 1999.10

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. The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) 10 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosagi 「クロサギ」 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen Volume 10 first published in Japan 2006.07

Volume 10 contains chapters:
98～101 トリック詐欺（I～IV）
102～108 巨額投資詐欺（I～VII）
シロサギ・データ・ファイル

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

Related
Shin Kurosagi (sequel; eight volumes per 2010.09)

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.

3. Glass Chair (Garasu no Isu) 6 of 8 by Nakamura Mariko

Garasu no Isu 「ガラスの椅子」 by Nakamura Mariko Kodansha Be Love, josei Volume 6 first published in Japan 2006.07

4. Nurse Aoi (Ns' Aoi) 15 of 32+ by Koshino Ryo

Ns' Aoi 「Ｎｓ’あおい」 by Koshino Ryo Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 15 first published in Japan 2007.08

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 that same year.

5. Over Rev 14 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 14 first published in Japan 2000.08

Volume 14 contains chapters:
148 本当の所有者
149 父と娘
150 去りし者の遺産
151 第1日目の試練
152 免停1か月！
153 剛性強化
154 峠のヒッチハイカー
155 テストバトル
156 レインダンス
157 ドラテク求道者
158 再会の瞬間
159 ミラージュの挑戦

6. [Series Premiere] Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) 1 of 28 by Shinohara Chie

Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori 「天は赤い河のほとり」 by Shinohara Chie AKA Anatolia Story Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 1 (chapters 1-3) first published in Japan 1995.06

Awards
Best Shoujo Manga, 46th Shogakukan Manga Awards (2000)

Other languages
English Red River (VIZ Media; 28 volumes), Italian Anatolia Story (Editions Star Comics; 28 volumes), German (EMA/Egmont Manga and Anime), Vietnamese Dòng Sông Huyền Bí (Tre Publishing House) and traditional Chinese 赤河戀影 (Tong Li Taiwan)

Adaptations
Eight drama CDs were released between 1997 and 2003.

Related
An artbook (Japan release: 1999.02.24), fanbook (2002.07.26) and a two-volume novel adaptation 天は赤い河のほとり　外伝　魔が時代の黎明 written and illustrated by Shinohara Chie-sensei (2007.05 and 2007.09)

7. [Premiere] The Running Bus (Bus Hashiru) by Sahara Mizu

Bus Hashiru 「バス走る。」 by Sahara Mizu Shinchosha Bunch Comics Extra, seinen This anthology first published in Japan 2007.06

8. Soul Eater 2 of 18+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul Eater 「ソウルイーター」 by Ohkubo Atsushi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 2 (chapters 2-5) first published in Japan 2004.11

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; volume 4 street date: 2009.10.27; serialized in Yen Plus), French (Kurokawa tome 11 shipped per 2010.09), German (Carlsen Comics Band 7 ships 2010.10.29) and traditional Chinese 噬魂者 (Sharp Point Press Taiwan)

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.

9. Wilderness 4 of 7+ by Ito Akihiro

Wilderness 「ＷＩＬＤＥＲＮＥＳＳ」 by Ito Akihiro Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 4 (chapters 13-15) first published in Japan in 2005.07

Level Comics European comics/ROMICs (2010.10.27)

1. Cubitus - Cubitus Jadi Hijau (Cubitus Se Met au Vert tome 26) by Dupa
2. Lucky Luke - Legenda Barat (Lucky Luke, tome 41: La Légende de l'Ouest) by Morris, Patrick Nordmann
3. Lucky Luke - Washington Man (Lucky Luke : L'Homme de Washington) by Laurent Gerra, Achdé

¹ Sources: Elex STO 27 October 2010 (release schedule) and Komikologi and/or Gramedia Shop (synopses, unless indicated otherwise)
² GN are priced at IDR 18,500 each except The Running Bus (SRP: IDR 25,000) and 3x3 Eyes 32 and The Black Swindler 10 (IDR 19,500 each). ROMICs/BDs retail for IDR 30,000 each.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).

Volume previews continued

3x3 Eyes 32 of 40 by Takada Yuzo

Yakumo goes to Amara to save Pai, trapped in Neglowni's studio, and is attacked by Hahn who, by all rights, should already be dead.

Meanwhile, Kaiyanwan plans to blow up Amara. Can Yakumo and Pai escape before Amara disappears into oblivion?

The Black Swindler 10 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Convicted stock shirosagi Kuruma Kyosuke is up to his old tricks, evidently not learning repentance lessons from four and half years of incarceration. This time, using a dummy corporation as front, he lays traps for investors. Kurosagi wants to investigate Kuruma, but Katsuragi refuses to cough up any information on the white swindler.

Aided by Hayase, Kurosagi persists in his pursuit of Kuruma. But Hayase's information miss blows Kurosagi's cover. Can Kurosagi escape Kuruma's clutches?

Glass Chair 6 of 8 by Nakamura Mariko

Her suspicions piqued by her parents' reticence, Aoi digs through old documents to discover the truth about Izuru's birth. She unearths a photograph that just might be the key to solving the mystery. Meanwhile, Izuru regains part of his lost memories and breaks down upon remembering his childhood trauma.

Who is Izuru, really? And how will Aoi react after learning his identity?

Nurse Aoi 15 of 32+ by Koshino Ryo

“We need to be more proactive!”

Seeing Ushijima-san's condition worsening, Aoi proposes an aggressive medical care regime. Fortunately, ER head Misato agrees.

Ushijima's daughter seems to welcome the more aggressive treatment and acts cheerfully around her father. Ushijima's wife, however, loses hope and decides on a shocking course of action.

Can Aoi prevent a worst case scenario from happening?

Over Rev 14 of 31 by Yamaguchi Katsumi & Team 39

Shino Ryoko falls for a guy driving Roadstar, and how! She even goes as far as letting herself get drenched by rain, just so she can meet Dream(y) Guy. She justifies the extreme measures by saying, “His driving is perfect!”

The Running Bus by Sahara Mizu

Level sez this Bus, Variations on a Theme-tagged anthology compiles nine short stories, centering around bus stops and the dreams and yearnings of the people who wait there. Storm in Heaven (description excerpted by Baka-Updates Manga) meanwhile sez the omnibus contains two parts, Bus Hashiru (originally serialized in the seinen Comic Bunch) and Nanairo Sekai (shoujo Melody), and enumerates the following as the contents:

1. Sky-Winding Bus Stop
2. Sakura Street Bus Stop
3. Wasurena Hill Bus Stop
4. Weather Forecast
5. Dudleya Road
6. The Glasses Thief (ex Nanairo Sekai)
7. Adult-Uniform (ex Nanairo Sekai)

I suggest GET! to confirm the actual contents of this IDR 25,000-priced antho.

Sahara Mizu-sensei uses Sahara Mizu for her seinen works, among them, her current Comic Bunch serial, My Girl, the Shinkai Makoto-authored Hoshi no Koe or Voices of a Distant Star and Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho or The Place Promised in Our Early Days, as well as Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan, the manga adapt of South Korean author Gong JiYoung's novel. But she creates BL manga as Yumeka Sumomo.

Soul Eater 2 of 18+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul and Maka's remedial lessons proceed apace, with the pair battling Dr. Franken Stein, the most powerful Death Weapon Meister Academy alumnus and the culprit behind Sid-sensei's transformation. Franken Stein's immense soul outclasses even Black*Star that Soul and Maka can only quail before it.

Can Maka overcome her fear and emerge from the assignment unscathed?

[With additions from Yen Press' Soul Eater, Vol. 2 description]

Wiki meanwhile adds that a new student enrolls at the DWMA and faces off with Soul and Black*Star.

Soul Eater volume 2 contains chapters:
002. Remedial Lesson (Part 2)
003. The ‘New Student’ and ‘Soul Observation’
004. Demon Sword (Part 1)
005. Demon Sword (Part 2)

Wilderness 4 of 7+ by Ito Akihiro

Not only are Goldsmith and Broughton hunting them down, the police are also on the tail of the three Japanese nationals on the run in the Mexican desert.

As if mortal threats weren't enough, Ena is haunted by guilt over having killed someone. She succumbs to the strain and shoots Seruma, before going off to face death herself!

Wilderness volume 4 contains chapters:
13 Somebody to Remember (1-3)
14 ALL THE SCARED RABBITS (1-3)
15 Bloodline (1-3)

UP NEXT: m&c! 27 October 2010 manga and manhwa

m&c!: Ugly Duckling Become Swan 4 · Female Wolf's Boy 7 · Misunderstand Girl and Angry Prince by Shiumi Saki · Bakugan Battle Brawlers 11 · Shanaou Yoshitsune Genpei War 7 · Love Survival by Sugiyama Miwako · Be A Naughty Girls 1 by Yeon Doo, Kim YeVin · Memory Eater 2 of 2 · Long Hu Men 172 · KOLONI: Intan Permata Rimba 1 by Hans Jaladara · Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures 10 of 10 · Cherry 48/2010

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03) who thanks Level editor Lenny-san for the Red River artwork *bows*

disclaimer

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

other upcoming manga (27 October 2010 street date)

Elex Media: HanaLaLa 53/2010 · Detektif Conan 58 · Pokonyan Pika-pika 1 by Fujiko F. Fujio · English School Wars 1 by Matsumoto Tomo · Kindaichi Special Case - The Phantom Of The Opera 2 of 2 · Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 17 · Otoboke Section Chief 7 · Godhand Teru 27 · Buso Renkin 10 of 10 · Lum, The Invader Girl 26 · With My Brothers 9 · Shonen Star 75/2010

related monthly schedules

October 2010
Premiering Red River by Shinohara Chie,Gun Smith Cats Burst by Sonoda Kenichi andHunt for the Thumb by Yamada Yuusuke (standalone)

September 2010
Premiering Sky of Love by Mika & Haneda Ibuki and The Duke and I by Hara Chieko

other invaluable resources

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

Technorati tags

Level Comics · manga · ROMIC (BD) · josei · seinen · shoujo · shounen · 3X3 Eyes · The Black Swindler · Glass Chair · Nurse Aoi (Ns' Aoi) · Over Rev · Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori AKA Anatolia Story) · The Running Bus (Bus Hashiru) · Soul Eater · Wilderness · Cubitus · Lucky Luke