Ouran High Host Club 18 of 18, Karneval 5, Twinkle Stars 6 (Chuang Yi 5 September 2011 English manga) [UPDATE2]

Also, Metal Fight Beyblade 5, omitted from the post title because...you can guess why :) »Edit: Which turned out prophetic because Chuang Yi postponed it to the 20th of September. Nanoboy 1 by Scrawl Studios replaces.

Ouran Koukou Host Club © Hatori Bisco/Hakusensha [First serialized in LaLa]
Published in Singapore as Ouran High Host Club by Chuang Yi

I was actually introduced to Haruhi and the Host Club with Chuang Yi's Ouran High Host Club volume 1. So, this particular uproarious, yet moving finale is DO WANT MAX! »Edit: Not just for me, apparently; this volume is already out of stock.

Previews, covers after the English and simplified Chinese release lists.

Chuang Yi English manga (2011.09.05)

1. Karneval 5 of 7+ by Mikanagi Touya

Karneval 「カーニヴァル」 by Mikanagi Touya
AKA K∀RNEVAL
Ichijinsha Comic Zero-Sum, josei
Volume 5 (Scores 25-30) first published in Japan 2010.03

Other languages
French (Editions Ki-oon: Tome 1 and 2 double launch: 2011.10.13)

Adaptations
Adapted into a series of drama CDs: the first Karneval - Flightless Wings / Mermaid's Bottle, spanning Scores 12 through 15, initially offered only to Zero-Sum readers in late 2009, but eventually made commercially available. Frontier Works released the second Karneval Circus CD, covering Scores 3-8 in March 2010 (the same street date as volume 5). The drama starred seiyuu Shimono Hiro (Nai), Kamiya Hiroshi (Gareki), Miyano Mamoru (Yogi), Ono Daisuke (Hirato) and Endo Aya (Tsukumo). A third drama CD Karneval Rinoru (Scores 16-20) featuring the same voice cast, in addition to Hirakawa Daisuke (Akari) and Suwabe Junichi (Uro), went on sale in Japan 2010.09. A fourth drama CD Vinto streeted 2011.04.27. [Info from karnevalesque, the Karneval manga community]

2. [Series Premiere] Nanoboy 1 by Scrawl Studios
3. Ouran High Host Club (Ouran Koukou Host Club) 18 of 18 by Hatori Bisco [Finale]

Ouran Koukou Host Club 「桜蘭高校ホスト部」 by Hatori Bisco
Hakusensha LaLa, shoujo
Volume 18 first published in Japan 2011.04

Other languages/serializations
Alternative English Ouran High School Host Club (VIZ Media: 16 volumes per 2011.06 • volume 17 street date: 2011.12.06), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 樱兰高校男公关部 #17 per 2011.01), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 櫻蘭高校男公關部 18 released 2011.08.13), Indonesian (Elex Media; serialized in HanaLaLa [discontinued]), French and Spanish (Panini Comics; Marvel Panini France Host Club: Le lycée de la séduction Tome 17 shipped 2011.06), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 17 street date: 2011.09.29), Polish (Japonica Polonica Fantastica/JPF)

Adaptations
BONES' 26-episode anime adaptation aired in Japan from April through September 2006, preceded by a mail-order only Host Club anime DVD from LaLa. The anime starred seiyuu Sakamoto Maaya (Fujioka Haruhi), Miyano Mamoru (Suou Tamaki), Matsukaze Masaya (Ootori Kyouya), Suzumura Kenichi and Fujita Yoshinori (twins Hitachiin Hikaru and Kaoru), Saito Ayaka (Haninozuka Mitsukuni) and Kirii Daisuke (Morinozuka Takashi). The cast reprised their roles in two anime drama CDs and a CD compile of fan favorite manga quotes to celebrate the manga finale in 2010.

Three pre-anime audio dramas (2003 vintage) featured different actors: Hisakawa Aya (Haruhi), Midorikawa Hikaru (Tamaki), Suwabe Junichi (Kyouya), Hoshi Souichirou (Hikaru), Ohtani Ikue (Hani-senpai) and Tsuda Kenjirou (Mori-senpai). Suzumura Kenichi (Hikaru in the anime) portrayed Hitachiin Kaoru. The audio-only ensemble also recorded dramas for the LaLa 28th Anniversary LaLa Memorial Drama CD and LaLa 29th Anniversary LaLa Kirameki Drama CD.

Later LaLa furoku audio dramas featured the anime cast: LaLa Gorgeous Drama CD (November 2006 issue), LaLa Treasure Drama CD (October 2007), LaLa Premium Drama CD (May 2008), LaLa Excellent Drama CD (November 2008). [Info from For Richer or Poorer, an Ouran High School Host Club fansite]

The live-action Ouran High School Host Club premiered 22 July 2011 on TBS starring Kawaguchi Haruna (Haruhi), Yamamoto Yusuke (Tamaki), Daito Shunsuke (Kyouya), Nakamura Masaya (Mori-senpai), Chiba Yudai (Hani-senpai), Takagi Shinpei (Hikaru) and Takagi Manpei (Kaoru). A live-action movie is expected to cap the TV series (theatrical release in March 2012).

An Ouran High School Host Club PlayStation 2 visual novel, featuring four new characters, was released in April 2007 by Idea Factory. A Nintendo DS port of the game shipped March 2009.

4. Twinkle Stars (Hoshi wa Utau) 6 of 11 by Takaya Natsuki

Hoshi wa Utau 「星は歌う」 by Takaya Natsuki
Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 6 first published in 2009.09

Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 星歌恋曲 #6 per 2010.06), traditional Chinese (Tong Li: 星歌戀曲 9 released 2011.03), Indonesian (Elex Media; serialized in HanaLaLa [discontinued]), French (Delcourt Twinkle Stars: Le Chant des Etoiles Tome 10 shipped 2011.07), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 3 street date: 2011.10.28), Italian Le stelle cantano (Panini Comics) and Spanish La melodía de las estrellas (Norma Editorial Spain)

Adaptations
Geneon Entertainment's Hoshi wa Utau drama CD, starring seiyuu Tomatsu Haruka, Kondo Takashi and Takahashi Hiroki, released 2010.02 in Japan.

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

Simplified Chinese manga and manhua (2011.09.05)

1. Defense Devil #9 of 10 by Youn InWan & Yang KyungIl »Postponed to 9.20
2. 吸血鬼骑士 (Vampire Knight) #14 of 14+ by Hino Matsuri Postponed to »9.20
3. 火凤燎原 (Huo Feng Liao Yuan: The Ravages of Time) #42 of 42+ by Chan Mou
4. 铁拳小子 Legends (Tekken Chinmi Legends) #11 of 11+ by Maekawa Takeshi

Read more »

Ciuman Dewa 5, Spiral - The Bonds of Reason 13, Twinkle Stars 1 by Takaya Natsuki (Elex Media 22 June 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

07-Ghost 1 should've headlined this post as it led the 22 June DO WANT! by a   w—i—d—e   margin. But it got postponed to 6 July. So what emerges as the Most Wanted manga is Ciuman Tomoe, I mean, Ciuman Dewa :D

Kamisama Hajimemashita © Suzuki Julietta/Hakusensha
[Serialized in Hana to Yume]
Published in Indonesia as Ciuman Dewa by Elex Media

Thanks to Mizuki, Nanami gets Tomoe out of that giant oyster and free of the Dragon King's clutches. Tomoe, of course, is one unhappy camper, especially after learning that he's no longer Nanami's sole familiar. To stop Tomoe and Mizuki from drenching the temple with blood every day, Nanami drags her familiars off to a festival to ‘make nice.’

But the fox and snake refuse to cease bickering. What will it take to enforce a truce?

Tweep @freakenari-san was actually the first to rename this series Ciuman Tomoe (Tomoe's Kiss); I would add Ciuman Mizuki. :D

Later, Nanami has to face the truth that townsfolk consider her shrine “haunted” and regard it only good for kimodameshi. To banish that misconception, our teen deity decides to hold a festival of her own. This attracts the attention of a sissy god, and before Nanami can even master the kagura dance, she is flung into a dream world where Tomoe clings to her like...whatever it is that clings plus looks on adoringly.

Spiral - The Bonds of Reason 13 of 15 by Shirodaira Kyo & Mizuno Eita

Kirie tries to determine whether Ayumu and Hizumi are blood brothers to Narumi Kiyotaka and Mizushiro Yaiba. But the DNA test she conducts produces results beyond expectations...

I can add this bit from Yen Press's Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, Vol. 13: Big brother Kiyotaka has always cast a shadow over Ayumu's life, but what kind of despair has Hizumi known that would make him so ready to die? Hizumi still hasn't laid all of his cards on the table, and his next play could take out one of the Blade Children for good.

Spiral The Bonds of Reason 13 spans chapters 62-66: Holy Invasion, Wing's Rustle, In a Graceful Hand That Can Go Out of Order, Toward the Zeroth Hour and The Lost World. [*NOT Elex Media's titles]

New Elex manga and manhwa

In addition to Twinkle Stars by Takaya Natsuki, Elex launches Casting by KITT & Park Sang-yong, the Comic Champ manhwa set in the world of showbiz and...wait for it...PSME Next Generation, I mean, The Moonlight That Surrounds Me, the sequel to Hiwatari Saki's Please Save My Earth science fiction classic. The Moonlight That Surrounds Me, originally Boku wo Tsutsumu Tsuki no Hikari, top-bills Alice and Rin's son Ren. Longer previews for the latter two after the release list; Above The Cut is reserved for —

Hoshi wa Utau
© Takaya Natsuki
Hakusensha [Hana to Yume]
Published in Indonesia as
Twinkle Stars by Elex Media

Shiina Sakuya has always turned to stargazing whenever she's down. Orphaned, she lives with her cousin Miyako Kanade. On her eighteenth birthday, a mysterious boy named Chihiro gifts her with a pink dress. Sakuya thinks Chihiro is Kanade's friend, while Kanade assumes that Chihiro is Sakuya's boyfriend.

So, who exactly is Chihiro?

Elex Book Reviews recommends Twinkle Stars (despite its Angst, Star Admirer, Unrequited Love, Painful Past, Absent Parents, Depression, Nice Girl, Tsundere Male Lead, Person with an Attitude baggage) for the art, the compelling story and Only 11 volumes! Though you don't really need the hype if you already followed Twinkle Stars before HanaLaLa was axed.

Everyone knows Takaya Natsuki-sensei, right? *cough*Fruits Basket*cough*

New serials also on tap on the mangazine side. Your Melody by Fukushima Haruka and Love is the Devil by Pedro Toriumi debut in Nakayoshi Gress! 6/2011 , while The World God Only Knows by Tamiki Wakaki starts its serial run in Indonesia's Shonen Sunday, Shonen Star, Issue 11/2011. [NikBabble™ continued after the release list]

Box sets: Moar Kariage kun Hilarity Ensues!

Volumes 21 to 30 of Ueda Masashi's 4-koma Kariage kun ships as a boxed set, but unlike the volumes 1-10 and 11-20 predecessors, this value bundle costs Rp 5,000 more (IDR 150,000). Oh, and Kariage kun 43? It's skedded for next week, 28 June.

Elex Media manga and manhwa (2011.06.22)

1. Arsène Lupin 2 (Kaitou Lupin Series 2. Fushigi na Ryokousha) of 5 by Maurice Leblanc and Kazumine Daiji

Kaitou Lupin Series 2. Fushigi na Ryokousha 「怪盗ルパン」 Original story by Maurice Leblanc; Illustrations by Kazumine Daiji The Kumon Manga Library, educational manga Volume 2 first published in Japan in 1998

2. [Series Premiere] Casting 1 of 8 by KITT & Park SangYong (Daewon C.I./Comic Champ)
3. Ciuman Dewa (Kamisama Hajimemashita) 5 of 9+ by Suzuki Julietta

Kamisama Hajimemashita 「神様はじめました」 by Suzuki Julietta Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo Volume 5 (chapters 25-30) first published in Japan 2010.01

Other languages
English Kamisama Kiss (VIZ Media: three volumes per 2011.06 • volume 4 street date: 2011.08.02)

4. Doraemon 8 of 45 by Fujiko F. Fujio (right-to-left edition)

Doraemon 「ドラえもん」 by Fujiko F. Fujio Shogakukan Coro Coro Comics, kodomo Volume 8 first published in Japan 1975.07 Premiered in Indonesia: 1994 (left-to-right format)

Awards
Best Children's Manga, 27th Shogakukan Manga Awards, Grand Prize, the first Osamu Tezuka Culture Award (1997) and the Excellence Award, Japan Cartoonists Association Awards (1973)

Related series
Doraemon Plus (sequel; 5 of 5 volumes), Daichouhen Doraemon (side story; 24 of 24 volumes); Dorabase: Doraemon Chouyakyuu Gaiden (spin-off; 22 volumes as at 2011.05, ongoing) and The Doraemon's Special (spin-off; 12 volumes)

Adaptations
A 52-episode anime adaptation by Nippon TV (1973.04 - 1973.09), a 1,787-episode series by Shin-Ei Animation (broadcast on TV Asahi from 1979.04 - 2005.03), a 2005 adaptation by Shin-Ei Animation and Studio Pierrot (premiered 2005.04.15; 300+ episodes) and numerous movies

5. Hitohira 4 of 7 by Kirihara Idumi

Hitohira 「ひとひら」 by Kirihara Idumi Futabasha Comic High!, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 2007.06

Other languages
English Hitohira (Aurora Publishing: three volumes [hiatus]) and traditional Chinese (Ever Glory Publishing Taiwan: 女優大試煉 4 per 2008.02)

Related series
Sequels: Hitohira Encore (one volume, complete) and Sakaki Mirei no Tame nara Boku wa...!! (one volume per 2011.02.12, ongoing serialization in Comic High!)

Adaptations
A 12-episode anime adaptation by XEBEC M2, starring seiyuu Kimoto Orie (Asai Mugi), Kawasumi Ayako (Ichinose Nono), Narita Ken (Katsuragi Takashi), Hikami Kyoko (Nishida Risaki) and Kishio Daisuke (Nishida Kai), aired from March to June 2007 in Japan.

6. Mokke 3 of 9 by Kumakura Takatoshi

Mokke 「もっけ」 by Kumakura Takatoshi Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2004.03

7. [Series Premiere] The Moonlight That Surrounds Me (Boku wo Tsutsumu Tsuki no Hikari) 1 of 10+ by Hiwatari Saki

Boku wo Tsutsumu Tsuki no Hikari 「ボクを包む月の光」 by Hiwatari Saki AKA PSME Next Generation and Boku wo Tsutsumu Tsuki no Hikari - Boku Tama Jisedai-hen Hakusensha Bessatsu Hana to Yume, shoujo Volume 1 (chapters 1-3) first published in Japan 2005.06

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: 包圍我的月光 4 per 2011.03)

Related series
Please Save My Earth/Boku no Chikyuu wo Mamotte (prequel; 21 of 21 volumes per 1994.08)

8. Mystery Bride 4 of 5 by Huh KookHwa & Kim SuJin

Jeongchebulmyeong Saesaegsi [Unknown New Bride] 「정체불명새색시」 by Huh KookHwa & Kim SuJin AKA Pig Bride Haksan Party, soonjung Volume 4 first published in Korea 2008.07

Other languages/serializations
English Pig Bride (Yen Press: five volumes per 2010.07; serialized in Yen Plus)

9. Ruler of The Land (Yul Hyul Gang Ho) 52 of 54+ by Jeon KeukJin & Yang JaeHyun

Yul Hyul Gang Ho 「열혈강호」 by Jeon KeukJin & Yang JaeHyun AKA Yul Hyul Kang Ho or Yulgang Daiwon C.I. Young Champ, seinen Volume 52 first published in Korea 2010.05

Other languages
English (ADV Manga; till volume 8), French Sabre et Dragon (Tokebi) and simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 热血江湖 volume 40 per 2008.03.04)

Adaptations
MMORPG Yulgang or Scions of Fate (US)

10. Spiral: The Bonds of Reason (Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna) 13 of 15 by Shirodaira Kyo & Mizuno Eita

Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna 「スパイラル　推理の絆」 by Shirodaira Kyo & Mizuno Eita Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 13 (chapters 62-66) first published in Japan 2005.04

Other languages
English Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning (Yen Press: 15 volumes per 2011.04) and German (Carlsen Comics; Spiral - Gefährliche Wahrheit: Band 12 ships 2011.06.24 • Band 13 street date: 2011.09.29)

Related
Spiral Alive (prequel; five volumes); a series of light novels; Mizuno Eita artbooks: SPIRAL Mizuno Eita Gashuu (2003.03) and Spiral All Along (2006.02; released with volume 15); and the Life is Spiral 「スパイラル完全解説本　ライフ・イズ・スパ」 guide, which includes the first draft of the Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna 「Sore sae mo toutoki hibi de」 drama (2003.03)

Adaptations
A series of audio dramas and a 25-episode anime adaptation by J.C. Staff, based on the first six volumes of the manga, with an alternate ending that aired on TV Tokyo from October 2002 to March 2003, starring seiyuu Suzumura Kenichi (Narumi Ayumu), Asano Masumi (Yuizaki Hiyono) and Ishida Akira (Eyes Rutherford).

11. [Series Premiere] Twinkle Stars (Hoshi wa Utau) 1 of 11 by Takaya Natsuki

Hoshi wa Utau 「星は歌う」 by Takaya Natsuki Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo Volume 1 (chapters 1-5 and Twinkle Ponta omake) first published in Japan 2008.01

Other languages/serializations
Serialized until chapter 7 in the Indonesian HanaLaLa [discontinued])
English and simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: English volume 5 per 2010.12; 星歌恋曲 #6 per 2010.06), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan; 星歌戀曲 9 released 2011.03), French (Delcourt Twinkle Stars: Le Chant des Etoiles tome 9 per 2011.04 • tome 10 street date: 2011.07.01), German (Carlsen Comics Band 3 street date: 2011.10.28), Italian Le stelle cantano (Panini Comics) and Spanish La melodía de las estrellas (Norma Editorial Spain)

Adaptations
Geneon Entertainment's Hoshi wa Utau drama CD, starring seiyuu Tomatsu Haruka, Kondo Takashi and Takahashi Hiroki, released 2010.02 in Japan.

12. Western Shotgun 37 of 40 by Park MinSeo

Western Shotgun 「웨스턴 샷건」 by Park MinSeo AKA Blazin' Barrels (TOKYOPOP, discontinued) Daiwon C.I., Comic Champ, sonyun Volume 37 first published in Korea 2009.07

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

Box sets (2011.06.22)

• [Box set @ IDR 150,000] Kariage kun, Vols. 21-30 (of 50+) by Ueda Masashi

Mangazines (2011.06.22)

1. Nakayoshi Gress! 6/2011
2. Shonen Star 11/2011

Read more »

Ouran High Host Club 17, Karneval 1 by Mikanagi Touya, Twinkle Stars 5 (Chuang Yi 21 December 2010 English manga)

Also, simplified Chinese manga: ONE PIECE #60 and 铁拳小子 Legends (Tekken Chinmi Legends) #10

Ouran Koukou Host Club © Hatori Bisco/Hakusensha [Serialized in LaLa]
Published in Singapore as Ouran High Host Club by Chuang Yi

No more Ouran hosts? The Chairman succeeds in mothballing the Host Club and Haruhi's fangirls are shocked to see their bifauxnen revert to her pre-Host Club “ugly duckling” self in Ouran High Host Club 17. Haruhi has her reasons, but...

Meanwhile, despite his father's meddling, Tamaki continues to pursue his grandmother's approval, which further levels up the drama. As Chuang Yi puts it: It's an emotional volume of Ouran High Host Club, not to be missed! (BTW, this Chuang Yi volume has caught up with the Japanese tankou, released last September.)

Karneval—which premiered at the recently-held STGCC 10—is also available now. Special Abilities, Friendship, Circus, Amnesia, Secret Organizations comprise the top Baka-Updates Manga tags for this ongoing josei fantasy adventure from Mikanagi Touya, but the real draw are the bishies, voiced by some of the most droolicious seiyuu in the biz. At least three drama CDs have been released (with a fourth on the way), featuring Shimono Hiro and Kamiya Hiroshi as leads Nai and Gareki, supported by Miyano Mamoru as Yogi, Ono Daisuke as Hirato and Endou Aya as Tsukumo.

Scroll down for Chuang Yi's manga previews and covers.

Chuang Yi English manga (2010.12.21)

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

1. [Series Premiere] Karneval 1 of 6+ by Mikanagi Touya

Karneval 「カーニヴァル」 by Mikanagi Touya
AKA K∀RNEVAL
Ichijinsha Comic Zero-Sum, josei
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2008.03

Adaptations
Adapted into a series of drama CDs: the first Karneval - Flightless Wings / Mermaid's Bottle, spanning Scores 12 through 15 was first offered only to Zero-Sum readers in late 2009, but eventually made commercially available by Ichijinsha. Frontier Works released the second Karneval Circus CD, covering Scores 3-8 in March 2010 (the same street date as volume 5). The drama starred seiyuu Shimono Hiro (Nai), Kamiya Hiroshi (Gareki), Miyano Mamoru (Yogi), Ono Daisuke (Hirato) and Endou Aya (Tsukumo). A third drama CD Karneval Rinoru (Scores 16-20) featuring the same voice cast, in addition to Hirakawa Daisuke (Akari) and Suwabe Junichi (Uro), went on sale in Japan last September. A fourth drama CD Vinto is expected to street 2011.04.27. [Info from karnevalesque, the Karneval manga community]

2. Metal Fight Beyblade 3 of 7+ by Adachi Takafumi

Metal Fight Beyblade 「メタルファイト　ベイブレード」 by Adachi Takafumi
AKA Beyblade: Metal Fusion
Shogakukan CoroCoro Comic, shounen
Shinsōban volume 3 (chapters 10-14) first published in Japan 2009.11

Related
Spin-off of the original Beyblade anime series

Adaptations
Tatsunoko Pro, Synergy SP and Nelvana collaborated on a Metal Fight Beyblade anime adaptation. Fifty-one episodes comprising Season 1 and the follow-up Battle Bladers aired on TV Tokyo from April 2009 to March 2010.

The Metal Fight Beyblade VS the Sun - The Movie: Sol Blaze, the Scorching-hot Invader animated feature premiered in Japan in August 2010.

3. Ouran High Host Club (Ouran Koukou Host Club) 17 of 17+ by Hatori Bisco

Ouran Koukou Host Club 「桜蘭高校ホスト部」 by Hatori Bisco
Hakusensha LaLa, shoujo
Volume 17 first published in Japan 2010.09

Other languages/serializations
Alternative English Ouran High School Host Club (VIZ Media; volume 15 released 2010.12.07), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi 樱兰高校男公关部 #17 coming soon), traditional Chinese (as 櫻蘭高校男公關部; Tong Li Taiwan), Indonesian (Elex Media; serialized in HanaLaLa [discontinued]), French and Spanish (Panini Comics; Marvel Panini France Host Club: Le lycée de la séduction tome 16 ships 2011.01), German (Carlsen Comics, Band 16 street date: 2011.03.18), Polish (Japonica Polonica Fantastica/JPF)

Adaptations
BONES' 26-episode anime adaptation aired in Japan from April through September 2006, preceded by a mail-order only Host Club anime DVD from LaLa. The anime starred seiyuu Sakamoto Maaya (Fujioka Haruhi), Miyano Mamoru (Suou Tamaki), Matsukaze Masaya (Ootori Kyouya), Suzumura Kenichi and Fujita Yoshinori (twins Hitachiin Hikaru and Kaoru), Saito Ayaka (Haninozuka Mitsukuni) and Kirii Daisuke (Morinozuka Takashi). The cast reprised their roles in two anime drama CDs that followed and were expected to record another CD compiling fan favorite manga quotes to celebrate the manga finale in 2010. (The CD was available through mail-in, beginning with LaLa's October 2010 issue, which streeted August 2010.)

Three pre-anime audio dramas (2003 vintage) featured different actors: Hisakawa Aya (Haruhi), Midorikawa Hikaru (Tamaki), Suwabe Junichi (Kyouya), Hoshi Souichirou (Hikaru), Ohtani Ikue (Hani-senpai) and Tsuda Kenjirou (Mori-senpai). Suzumura Kenichi (Hikaru in the anime) portrayed Hitachiin Kaoru.

The audio-only ensemble also recorded a drama for the LaLa 28th Anniversary LaLa Memorial Drama CD, a giveaway of the 2004 LaLa magazine issue #9. (Other dramas in this furoku: Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou by Tsuda Masami, Bijo ga Yaju by Matsumoto Tomo, MeruPuri ~Märchen Prince~ by Hino Matsuri and Omake no Kobayashi-kun by Morio Masami). This was followed by the LaLa 29th Anniversary LaLa Kirameki Drama CD/2005 magazine issue #9 giveaway. (This CD also contained dramas for Hino Matsuri's Vampire Knight, Tsukuba Sakura's Penguin Kakumei, Nakaji Yuki's ZIG★ZAG and Tanaka Meca's Sailor Fuku ni Onegai!).

Later LaLa furoku audio dramas featured the anime cast: LaLa Gorgeous Drama CD (November 2006 issue, with VK and PenKaku dramas), LaLa Treasure Drama CD (October 2007 issue, with VK, Fujiwara Hiro's Kaichou wa Maid-sama! and Midorikawa Yuki's Natsume Yujincho), LaLa Premium Drama CD (May 2008 edition, with VK, Tanaka Meca's Faster Than a Kiss and Maid-sama!), LaLa Excellent Drama CD (November 2008, with VK and Natsume Yujincho). [Info from For Richer or Poorer, an Ouran High School Host Club fansite]

An Ouran High School Host Club PlayStation 2 visual novel, featuring four new characters, was released in April 2007 by Idea Factory.

4. Twinkle Stars (Hoshi wa Utau) 5 of 10+ by Takaya Natsuki

Hoshi wa Utau 「星は歌う」 by Takaya Natsuki
Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 5 (chapters 24-29) first published in 2009.05

Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi; 星歌恋曲 #6 per 2010.06), traditional Chinese (Tong Li; 星歌戀曲 8 released 2010.09), Indonesian (Elex Media; serialized in HanaLaLa [discontinued]), French (Delcourt Twinkle Stars: Le Chant des Etoiles tome 7 per 2010.10 • tome 8 street date: 2011.01.12), German (Carlsen Comics band 1 street date: 2011.02.25), Italian Le stelle cantano (Panini Comics) and Spanish La melodía de las estrellas (Norma Editorial Spain)

Adaptations
Geneon Entertainment's Hoshi wa Utau drama CD, starring seiyuu Tomatsu Haruka, Kondo Takashi and Takahashi Hiroki, released 2010.02 in Japan.

Source: Chuang Yi (per 21 December 2010)

Chuang Yi previews

Karneval 1 of 6+ by Mikanagi Touya

ISBN : 978-981-4323-18-5
SRP: SGD 8.90

When innocent country boy Nai sets foot into the sordid, cutthroat realm of the city, he might as well have painted a target on his own back. Kidnappers, murderers and desperados abound, waiting to take advantage of a boy guileless enough to believe blood is merely 'red water'. When he is framed for a murder, it is the bandit Gareki who bails him out. Being a shrewd and sharp-eyed thief, however, Gareki's motives are less than pure. Nai is looking for a friend who has disappeared and left behind something particularly intriguing - an I.D bracelet from the organisation named 'Circus', the country's supreme defence agency. While Gareki has his sights set firmly on the bracelet, 'Circus' in turn, has shifted its eye onto the duo as well.

Karneval 1 compiles chapters:
Score 1: Opening
Score 2: Wanted
Score 3: Noise
Score 4: Circus
Score 5: Black Sheep
Score 6: Hide & Seek

Metal Fight Beyblade 3 of 7+ by Adachi Takafumi

ISBN: 978-981-4323-57-4
SRP: SGD 8.90

The quarter-semifinals of the Battle Bladers tournament has begun, and Gingka and Kyoya are paired up to battle two of Ryuga's most powerful subordinates, Tsubasa and Yu! What deadly move will the duo unleash on our heroes? Will their Beyblades withstand the enemy's onslaught?!

Metal Fight Beyblade 3 compiles chapters:
10. Dragon Emperor, Super-evolve!!
11. The Terrifying Lightning L Drago!!
12. The Phantasmagoric Pisces!!
13. Fusion Special Move: Annihilation Attack!!
14. Conclusion of the Death Match!!

Ouran High Host Club 17 of 17+ by Hatori Bisco

ISBN: 978-981-4323-60-4
SRP: SGD 8.50

As per the Chairman's orders, the Host Club has been disbanded. Haruhi goes reverse ugly duckling on everyone and reverts to the fashion mistake she was before her Host Club days! All are aghast, but she has a perfectly good reason, of course. Meanwhile, Tamaki continues his struggle to gain his grandmother's acceptance, but all his efforts threaten to become undone by his own father's secret plans, if Kyoya's detective work proves accurate...

Twinkle Stars 5 of 10+ by Takaya Natsuki

ISBN: 978-981-4297-97-4
SRP: SGD 8.90

On the day of the fireworks display, Chihiro unexpectedly comes down with a fever and is unable to go with Sakuya as promised. At Saki's persistent urgings, Sakuya drops in to check on Chihiro, but how will Chihiro react to her unexpected visit, even as memories of his Tokyo past continue to haunt him and hold his feelings back? What is this sad secret that Chihiro wants to keep hidden from everyone, and will Sakuya's heart be able to handle the truth?

Chuang Yi simplified Chinese manga (2010.12.21)

ONE PIECE © Oda Eiichiro
Shueisha [Shonen Jump]

Chuang Yi's simplified Chinese ONE PIECE and 铁拳小子 Legends (Tekken Chinmi Legends) have caught up with the Japanese tankou with the release of #60 and #10 respectively on the 21st. (Oda Eiichiro's ＯＮＥ　ＰＩＥＣＥ　６０ came out in Japan on 2010.11.04, while Maekawa Takeshi's 鉄拳チンミＬｅｇｅｎｄｓ　１０ was issued 2010.10.15).

Also Coming Soon: 樱兰高校男公关部 (Ouran Koukou Host Club) #17 (you already know the English version releases on the 21st) and Tanabe Yellow's 结界师 (Kekkaishi) #31.

Next Chuang Yi release: 4 January 2011

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

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

other invaluable resources

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

Technorati tags

Chuang Yi · manga · josei · shoujo · shounen · Karneval · Metal Fight Beyblade · Ouran High Host Club (Also, Ouran High School Host Club & Ouran Koukou Host Club) · Twinkle Stars (Hoshi wa Utau) · One Piece · Tekken Chinmi Legends

Vagabond 20, Twinkle Stars 4, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure 1 (Chuang Yi 4 May 2010 English manga)

Also, simplified Chinese manga: Juushin Enbu Hero Tales, Bloody Monday: Season 2 (Bloody Monday Season 2 ~Pandora no Hako~), and GTO sequel GTO: Shonan 14 Days premieres

Vagabond © Inoue Takehiko/Kodansha (Serialized in Morning)
Published in Singapore by Chuang Yi

The Sasaki Kojiro arc wraps in Vagabond 20, with sword-saint Miyamoto Musashi's arch-rival emerging all the formidable from the crucible of desperation that comes in the wake of the Battle of Sekigahara.

In Chuang Yi's other English manga, Sakuya is unnerved by Chihiro's actions during the much-anticipated summer camp in volume 4 of Takaya Natsuki's Twinkle Stars. Like the previous three tankou, volume 4 is available in Exclusive GOLD & SILVER first print editions (not to mention that the same Hoshi wa Utau volume (simplified Chinese) also releases today).

The Pokémon franchise returns with Chuang Yi's premiere of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure (Pokémon DP) by Ihara Shigekatsu, in which hero Hareta, who can climb as high as an Aipom, swim as fast as a Magikarp, and even eat bark like a Bidoof (whatever that means), searches for the fabled Pokémon Dialga, accompanied by his first Pokémon and new pal Mitsumi.

Chuang Yi covers and full synopses after the three-point list below.

Chuang Yi English manga (2010.05.04)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details

1. [Premiere] Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure (Pokémon DP) 1 of 8 by Ihara Shigekatsu

Pokémon DP 「 ポケモンＤ・Ｐ 」 by Ihara Shigekatsu
Shogakukan Coro Coro Dragon Comics, shounen
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2007.02
Another Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure! English version published by VIZ Media (volume 6 released 2010.03.02; volume 7 street date: 2010.07.06)

A Pocket Monsters: Diamond & Pearl anime by Oriental Light and Magic began airing in Japan on TV Tokyo from September 2006 and by 6 May 2010 will have reached episode 175. The TV series main characters Hikari, Pikachu, Satoshi, and Takeshi are voiced by seiyuu Toyoguchi Megumi, Ohtani Ikue, Matsumoto Rica, and Ueda Yuji respectively.

2. Twinkle Stars (Hoshi wa Utau) 4 of 8+ by Takaya Natsuki

Hoshi wa Utau 「 星は歌う 」 by Takaya Natsuki
Hakusensha Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in 2009.01
Also published in simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi (latest: volume 4)
Serialized in Indonesian in HanaLaLa

3. Vagabond 20 of 33+ by Inoue Takehiko

Vagabond 「 バガボンド 」 by Inoue Takehiko
Kodansha Morning, seinen
Volume 20 first published in Japan 2004.07
Also published in simplified Chinese by Chuang Yi (latest: volume 32)
Another Vagabond English version published by VIZ Media (volume 31 released 2010.01.19)
Published in Indonesia by Level Comics (latest: volume 30)

Related: Based on the book Musashi by Yoshikawa Eiji

AWARDS: Grand Prize winner at the 2000 Japan Media Arts Festival. The same year, won the 24th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category. Also the recipient of the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2002. Manga-ka Inoue Takehiko was was nominated for the 2003 Eisner Award in the Best Writer/Artist category.

NOTE
(1) Source: Chuang Yi (per 3 May 2010)
(2) Links like this are Amazon.com search and/or product links (commercial), in case you're interested in another language version.

Chuang Yi synopses

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure 1

Pokémon DP 「 ポケモンＤ・Ｐ 」 by Ihara Shigekatsu
ISBN: 978-981-4306-28-7
SRP: SGD 8.90

Most kids spend their days at school, but not Hareta. Raised in the wild by Pokémon, he can climb as high as an Aipom, swim as fast as a Magikarp, and even eat bark like a Bidoof!

Recruited by Professor Rowan, Hareta decides to become a Pokémon Trainer. Along with this first Pokémon, Piplup, and his new friend Mitsumi, he sets off in search of the Legendary Pokémon Dialga. But Team Galactic is hunting for Dialga too. Can Hareta and Piplup defeat Team Galactic and stop their evil plans?

Twinkle Stars 4

Hoshi wa Utau 「 星は歌う 」 by Takaya Natsuki
ISBN: 978-981-4297-36-3
SRP: SGD 8.90

Not being able to express his feelings for Sakuya makes Yuri increasingly frustrated. That is, until an unexpected incident occurs that brings the truth of his emotions to light...?! The summer holidays are here, and the long-awaited summer camp is finally just around the corner. Chihiro's actions take her totally by surprise, and Sakuya can't stop feeling unsettled...!!

Vagabond 20

「 バガボンド 」 by Inoue Takehiko
ISBN: 978-981-4297-69-1
SRP: SGD 10.90

Sasaki Kojiro, renowned for his deadly “swallow-cut”, is the man destined to be sword-saint Miyamoto Musashi's greatest rival and opponent in the most well-known duel in the annals of Japanese history. In the aftermath of the Battle of Sekigahara, Kojiro comes face to face with emotions previously unknown to him – fear and desperation. Far form being daunted, Kojiro embraces these feelings and allows them to shape him into what may be the ultimate swordsman.

Volume 20 contains chapters:
172. Sons (息子)
173. The Desire to Fight (斬り合いたい)
174. Ichizo (市三)
175. Younger Brother (弟)
176. Open Mind (虚心)
177. Koun and Kojiro (巨雲と小次郎)
178. Koun and Kojiro II (巨雲と小次郎2)
179. Koun and Kojiro III 巨雲と小次郎3)

Chuang Yi simplified Chinese manga (2010.05.04)

Juushin Enbu Hero Tales
© Huang Jin Zhou,
Arakawa Hiromu/
Square Enix (Shonen Gangan)
Published in Singapore as
兽神演武 by Chuang Yi

As mentioned at the top of the post, there are three manga series debuting in simplified Chinese: Bloody Monday: Season 2, (obviously) the follow-up to Rumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji's ＢＬＯＯＤＹ　ＭＯＮＤＡＹ hacker thriller; the read Fujisawa Tohru's Great Teacher Onizuka first! GTO Shonan 14 Days (which takes place immediately after GTO's Teshigawara arc), and the Chinese wuxia drama-based Juushin Enbu (兽神演武) by Huang Jin Zhou, illustrated by Arakawa Hiromu.

In addition, Chuang Yi is also releasing these latest simplified Chinese manga installments:

• 魔法亚克罗 (Artist Acro) #2 by Sakurai Ato
• Bleach #44: Vice It by Kubo Tite
• FAIRY TAIL #20 by Mashima Hiro
• 结界师 (Kekkaishi) #28 by Tanabe Yellow
• 篮球小子 。空 (Ahiru no Sora) #26 by Hinata Takeshi
• 史上最强之弟子兼一 (Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi or History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi) #37 by Matsuena Syun
• 星歌恋曲 (Hoshi wa Utau) #4 by Takaya Natsuki (releasing concurrently with the English version)

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

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

other invaluable resources

Amazon Japan · Baka-Updates Manga · Wikipedia · ANN

Technorati tags
manga · Chuang Yi · seinen · shoujo · shounen · Ahiru no Sora · Artist Acro · Bleach · Bloody Monday: Season 2 · Fairy Tail · GTO Shonan 14 Days · History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi · Hoshi wa Utau · Juushin Enbu · Kekkaishi · Pokémon DP · Vagabond