Update Blog regular KiRai-san reports (see comment below) that she got xxxHOLiC 12 last week. Keeping it here per the Elex STO 16 March 2011
Also, Smart is sexy
Atty. Makoto Narita returns—still running, I presume—in The Fugitive Lawyer Makoto Narita volume 4. (Sankyuu~ freakenari-san for the delish snap profiling. Another tweep—wenzara-san—is actually my first Makoto Narita evangelist ^^)
But before we go rejoicing about teh Level manga for tomorrow, let's #prayforJapan and/or do something more today to help the people hardest hit by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
The Drops of God's Agi Tadashi-sensei—actually the brother and sister team Kibayashi Shin and Yuko—have checked in safe, according to ANN. Means Ando Yuma (Psychometrer Eiji); Amagi Seimaru (Kindaichi Case Files); Aoki Yuya (Get Backers); Ryuumon Ryou (Bloody Monday series); Arimori Jōji (Asobotto Senki Gokū); and Igano Hiroaki (Area no kishi) are also safe (Kibayashi Shin-sensei also writes under these pseudonyms). ANN has no word on Okimoto Shu-sensei yet.
Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu © Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu/
Kodansha [Serialized in Morning]
Published in Indonesia as The Drops of God by Elex Media/Level Comics
Shizuku decides to help Mr. Watanuki whose restaurant teeters on bankruptcy, following a scathing critique from Tomine. He looks into why Tomine found fault with Watanuki's place, but evidently, Tomine just made a reservation. Can Shizuku manage to pleasantly surprise Tomine on his revisit with his ‘marriage’? Check out The Drops of God 3 for answers.
Shining the spotlight on a different Watanuki —
xxxHOLiC 12 of 19+ by CLAMP
Since meeting Sakura, Watanuki has been dreaming more often; the frequency escalates to the extent he can no longer distinguish between dream and reality. What is actually happening?
(The second Syaoran
:D)
CLAMP have also reported in safe post the quake and tsunami.
New Level titles: XBlade by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi
XBlade © Ida Tatsuhiko
& Shiki Satoshi/
Kodansha [Shonen Sirius]
Level rolls outs X Blade, a post-apocalyptic action drama serialized in Shonen Sirius. Given current events, you can understand that it was a little hard translating the summary. (I apologize to those who are feeling sensitive and give you leave to skip the blurb below.)
Four years ago, Haru survived the mysterious disaster that hit Tokyo and took away his family. These days, Haru lives a relatively normal life with friends Sanae and Kazunari.
But Haru's new normalcy is replaced by violence when he finds himself pursued by a pack of MIBs. At the height of the chase, Haru lucks into a venerable sword — one that takes the form of a young girl, Mana.
But was it really luck that led Haru to the sentient weapon?
[Additions from Baka-Updates Manga's XBlade description]
Wondering why X Blade 1 retails for IDR 20,000? Prolly because of the color pages. (Seeing Shiki Satoshi-sensei's name attached to this shounen manga reminds me that I've yet to finish the also swords Kamikaze >.<)
More previews below the list.
Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.03.16)
- Angel Heart 5 of 33 by Hojo Tsukasa
- The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) 3 of 28+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu
- The Fugitive Lawyer Makoto Narita (Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto) 4 of 6 by Takada Yu & Go Hideki
- Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 7 of 10 by Miyasaka Kaho
- Psychometrist Eiji (Psychometrer Eiji) 19 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi
- Strange Tales of Tokyo (Toukei Ibun) 4 of 4 by Kajiwara Niki & Ono Fuyumi [Finale]
- X Blade 1 of 12+ by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi
- xxxHOLiC 12 of 19+ by CLAMP
 | Kami no Shizuku 「神の雫」 |
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); 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
Other languages
French (Glénat: Les Gouttes de Dieu tome 17 shipped 2011.02.16 • tome 18 street date: 2011.04.20), traditional Chinese 神之水滴 (Sharp Point Press Taiwan), English Drops of God (Vertical: volume 1 street date: 2011.09.13)
Adaptations
A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Shizuku aired from January to March 2009 in Japan on NTV. Another adaptation, Korean, starring Bae Yong Joon (Winter Sonata) has been greenlit but delayed.
 | Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto |
Related series
Shin Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto (sequel by Okamoto Sou; three volumes as at 2011.04.28)
Adaptations
A live-action adaptation, Toubou Bengoshi, starring Kamiji Yusuke (Tsutsumoto Shoji, Crows ZERO live-action movies) aired from July to September 2010 on Fuji TV.
 | Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta |
 | Psychometrer Eiji 「サイコメトラーＥＩＪＩ」 |
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 Taiwan)
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.
 | Toukei Ibun 「東亰異聞」 |
Reissues
Re-released in two volumes under the Birz Comics Special imprint (2008.03)
 | XBlade 「ＸＢＬＡＤＥ」 |
 | xxxHOLiC 「×××ＨＯＬｉＣ」 by CLAMP |
Other languages
English xxxHOLiC (Del Rey: 16 volumes per 2010.10 • volume 17 street date: 2011.09.13), French (Pika Édition; tome 17 shipped 2011.01.19), 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). 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 theatrical 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 Feature Films 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 three 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)
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
Level Comics European comics/BDs (2011.03.16)
- Boule & Bill - Bwoufallo, Bill? by Roba
Angel Heart 「エンジェル・ハート」
by Hojo Tsukasa
Shinchosha (Coamix) Comic Bunch, seinen
Volume 5 first published in Japan 2002.11
Related series
City Hunter (Adapted from; 35 of 35 volumes), Angel Heart 2nd Season (sequel; one volume per 2011.03.19)
Other languages
French (Génération Comics and Panini Comics)
Adaptations
Adapted into anime by TMS, starring seiyuu Kamiya Akira as Saeba Ryo and Kawasaki Mao as Shan-In Lee. Fifty episodes adapting manga volumes 1 to 18 aired in Japan from October 2005 to September 2006.