Cruise © Yajima Masao & Kikuta Hiroyuki/Shogakukan [Serialized in Big Comic]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics
Before I get to Level's manga premieres —
A tap on the back by keeyoot crush Himawari sends Watanuki diving to the ground from the school's second floor. His life is spared, however, thanks to the “payment” of three people. Who are they? And will Himawari-chan always bring Watanuki misfortune — just like Yuko sez?
Find out the answers in xxxHOLiC 10: Because it was necessary for her to enter,
which—like that other CLAMP manga over on Elex's side (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle 16)—is the top DO WANT!
I am a hacker. But not your average hacker; I hack into people's brains. I read the memories the mind contains, change them, adapting them to my liking. I can pretend to be whomever I want in anybody's eyes.
A scientific experiment leaves university student Akiba Ryousuke with “ES” or the “Eternal Sabbath” gene that allows its carrier to live for up to two centuries, without falling prey to viral sickness. ES was initially conceived to prove immortality is not just theoretical, but the gene has memory alteration and mind control side effects. Ryousuke now uses these psychic powers to survive, hiding among Tokyo's masses, that is, until he runs into neurophysiologist Kujo Mine at a crime scene. Kujo recognizes Ryousuke for the ES subject that he is, and together, they pursue a fugitive also possessed of the ES gene — but one with motives less noble than Ryousuke. [From Glénat's French ES, tome 1 blurb, Wikipedia's write-up, and Del Rey's ES Vol. 1: Mind Control preview, in addition to Level's back cover blurb]
So that's the lowdown on Eternal Sabbath, half of the seinen manga Level debuts this Wednesday. Baka-Updates Manga users tag this series Psychic Powers, Experiment, Genetic Modification, Clone, ESP, Older Female Younger Male, Strong Female Lead, Romantic Subplot
— a laundry list formidable enough to cater to any trope preference.
Aside from ES, Souryo Fuyumi-sensei has another Level title ongoing: the Italian Renaissance-ambienced Cesare that, unfortunately, appears to stuck on volume 2. She also created the twin-troped shoujo drama Mars.
Cruise, meanwhile, is the story of Yamada Kohei, a doctor who gives up a landlubber medical career to serve as a ship's physician, and the people he meets on board Japan's largest luxury liner, the Phoenix. He rejects a university colleague's insistence that he turn to teaching instead, preferring to stay and learn about life as it happens from the ship's passengers.
Big Comic serializes this beautifully sad human drama.
One of the stories compiled in the first Cruise features a passenger suffering from terminal cancer. Only songs can lift his heart, heavy with regret. (I apologize if the snap synopsis for story 1 misses the mark; if it does, consult your nearest クルーズ 医師山田公平航海誌 １ preview.)
Author Yajima Masao-sensei also wrote SORA, a seinen manga about a crybaby flight attendant. So from airplane passengers' stories, we go to cruise ships'. Kikuta Hiroyuki-sensei, meanwhile, illustrated the Monga's Earth shounen manga published by m&c!
Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.
- A Spirit of The Sun (Taiyou no Mokushiroku) 6 of 17 by Kawaguchi Kaiji
- [Premiere] Cruise 1 of 2+ by Yajima Masao & Kikuta Hiroyuki
- [Premiere] Eternal Sabbath (ES) 1 of 8 by Souryo Fuyumi
- K2 volume 3 of 13+ by Mafune Kazuo
- Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 4 of 11+ by Yonezawa Rika
- Psychometrist Eiji (Psychometrer Eiji) 15 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi
- xxxHOLiC 10 of 18+ by CLAMP
- Spirou dan Fantasio di Tokyo (Spirou et Fantasio, tome 49: Spirou à Tokyo: Le ronin de Yoyogi) by José-Luis Munuera and Jean-David Morvan (Dupuis SA; 2006.09.14)
¹ Sources: Elex STO 6 October 2010 (release schedule) and Komikologi and/or Gramedia Shop (synopses, unless indicated otherwise)
² Manga are priced at IDR 18,500 each except Eternal Sabbath 1 (SRP: IDR 20,000). Spirou dan Fantasio di Tokyo is priced at IDR 38,000/volume.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).
Volume previews continued
Munakata Misao, the Japanese youth whose future radically changed after Japan split into north and south, draws the attention of Rockwell who then sends Misao to Harvard for further studies. Ten years hence, Misao returns to a government position as Rockwell's right-hand man.
But even before the cataclysm, Misao has envisioned rebuilding Japan. Rockwell disapproves of Misao's dream, forcing Misao to initiate moves to establish a new nation, one free from Chinese or American control. Little does Misao know that America has possession of a document written by Dr. Morimura; the document details the energy “M Resources” that could bring about a new world order.
What fate awaits Japan? Status quo? Revolution? Or restoration?
National treasure, kabuki artist Nakagawa Zenjuro, stands to lose his sole heir when his grandchild has to undergo a cardiac transplant. The child's mother is prepared to become a donor, but she herself suffers from heart valve disease. What other choices are open for Dr. K?
After deciding marriage to boyfriend Hayato, Emi learns the difference between just being in a relationship and being wed. She likewise understands why passive women don't make it to the altar. But will the knowledge help her realize her dream of marrying Hayato?
Eiji and Ryoko go after former police inspector Todoroki Shogo, the man responsible for the serial teen murders. But Ryoko's shared past with Todoroki, who resorted to vigilante vengeance after his granddaughter's suicide, only muddies up the investigation.
UP NEXT: m&c! 6 October 2010 manga
m&c!: White Paper Ark 7 of 7 · Lovers In Paris by Akimoto Nami · Welcome to Rakuan-Inn by Minami Sachi · Dawn Aria 6 · School Baby by Shibano Yuka · Cyboy 1 by Nishikata Mai · Sandwich Girl 3
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.
other upcoming manga (10 October 2010 street date)
Elex Media: Detektif Conan 20 +Plus Super Digest Book · New Legenda Naga 6 · Crayon Shinchan - Mari Mengenal Serangga by Usui Yoshito · Tsuba Kiyo - 28K4 volume 1 by Hara Asumi · Ruler of the Land 49 · Fairy Tail 8 · Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 16 · BECK 22 · Dr. Koto 2 · Ogawa & Team Saito 2 · Sanzoku Ou: King of Bandits 4 · Sora, The Wingless Duck 18 · Tena on S String 3 · Spiral: The Bonds Of Reason 7 · Penguin Revolution 7 of 7 · Tokkyu! 15 · A Story of Heroes 32 · Kaiser Z 16 of 16
currently available manga (29 September 2010 street date)
- Elex Media: Angin Musim Gugur (Deluxe) by Hikawa Kyoko · Detektif Conan Special 33 · Yakitate!! Japan 18 · Dear Boys Act.3 vol. 4 · Vampire Knight 4 · Rakka Ryuusui 2 · Wild Life 9 · Hell Girl 8 · Kurozakuro 6 · Legend of The Cursed Sword 32 · Shonen Star 73/2010 · Shonen Magz 77/2010
- Level Comics: Fight!! Ippo 78 · The Duke and I by Hara Chieko · Love & Collage 11 · Love Affair 6 · Priest 9 · Aflame Inferno 3 · New Comic Bomber 4 · Gun Smith Cats 6 · Haruka 17 vol. 9
- m&c!: Sugar Family 4 · Shanimuni GO 31 · Jun x Ai Sensation 3 · Anemone Flower Shop by Minami Maki · Sky Blue Beach 1 by Yamada Nanpei · Shimokita Sundays by Katsuma Ayahito/Ishida Ira · Yowamushi Pedal, Go! 9 · You Are My Wing by Kitagawa Yuka · Rasetsu's Flower 7 · A Badboy Drinks Tea! 9 · Lady and the Sea 1 by Abiko Miwa · Female Wolf's Boy 5 · Confucius 4 · Cherry 47/2010
related monthly schedules
September 2010
Premiering Sky of Love by Mika & Haneda Ibuki and The Duke and I by Hara Chieko
August 2010
Premiering The Running Bus by Sahara Mizu and Until Death Do Us Part by Takashige Hiroshi & DOUBLE-S
other invaluable resources
Wikipedia · Baka-Updates Manga · 7net Shopping · Amazon France · ANN
Taiyou no Mokushiroku 「太陽の黙示録」
by Kawaguchi Kaiji
Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen
Volume 12 (chapters 80-86) first published in Japan 2006.07
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's Spirit of The Sun, tome 17: per 2009.12)
Adaptations
Adapted into an anime special by Madhouse (two episodes)