X Blade 8, Blood Alone 3, Perfect Girl Evolution 27 (Level Comics 14 December 2011 manga)

The three above lead the Level DO WANT!, but reserving lead pix for Blue Flame: Comic Bomber Early Years, the ongoing story of Honoo-sensei that slots before Burning Pen in the Comic Bomber timeline.

Aoi Honoo © by Shimamoto Kazuhiko/Shogakukan [Serialized in Gessan and Young Sunday]. Published in Indonesia as Blue Flame: Comic Bomber Early Years by Elex Media/Level Comics

The early 1980s. The Japanese manga and anime industry enters a new phase, and a young man burns to gain fame as a comic artist. His name: Hono Moyuru.

Yup, see our ambitious manga-ka as a poor college student (still burning but with no head for alcohol). Aoi Honoo, the Gessan and Young Sunday installment of Hono-sensei's story, was short-listed for the 3rd Manga Taisho Award in 2010. Seven volumes of the seinen manga have been compiled as of November 2011. (Scroll down if interested in other Shimamoto Kazuhiko titles other than Blue Flame, Burning Pen, Comic Bomber and New Comic Bomber.)

X Blade vol 8 of 12
By Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi

Haru finally reaches Babel, only to find an Ojinto-wielding warrior blocking his way. Kushiro is Mana's former master and with one slash, destroys Babel.

What of Mana, trapped inside?

Blood Alone vol 3 of 7+
By Takano Masayuki

The beauty of cherry blossoms at night, a dress associated with a precious memory and a corner of the veil that rises over Sainome's past... Blood Alone Volume 3 continues the delicate waltz of mystery and feelings.

The above lyrical preview is adapted from Edition Ki-oon's Blood Alone, Tome 3 description; Level's more prosaic version talks about how Sainome presses Kuroe to accompany her to her family home. Sainome initially planned to pay her respects at her father's grave, but now is rethinking her plan, especially after having read her father's diary.

What did Sainome uncover that brought on misgivings?

More previews after the release list.

Level Comics manga (2011.12.14)

1. Angel Heart vol 12 of 33 by Hojo Tsukasa

Angel Heart 「エンジェル・ハート」 by Hojo Tsukasa Coamix (Shinchosha) Comic Bunch, seinen Volume 12 first published in Japan 2004.09

Related series
Angel Heart 2nd Season (sequel; two volumes per 2011.09.20)

Reissues/Other languages
Reissued by Coamix under the ZENON Collection label from 2010.09 (18 volumes per 2011.05)
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 Glass Heart Lee. Fifty episodes adapting manga volumes 1 to 18 aired in Japan from October 2005 to September 2006.

2. Blood Alone vol 3 of 7+ by Takano Masayuki

Blood Alone 「ＢＬＯＯＤ　ＡＬＯＮＥ」 by Takano Masayuki MediaWorks Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh (after 2010.11 serialized in Kodansha's Evening), seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2006.06 (Evening KC reissue: 2010.12)

Related series
Originally published as series of doujinshi (the manga is based wholly or partly on Blood Alone dj: Wild Arts 1.2.3., Holy Night, Stroll, Vanishing Point - Kiss In the Moonlight)

Other languages
English Blood Alone (Infinity Studios: four volumes [discontinued], picked up by Seven Seas: five volumes per 2011.12.06 • volume 6 street date: 2012.04.10), French (Editions Ki-oon: Tome 6 shipped 2010.06), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 6 released 2011.02), Italian (Edizioni BD s.r.l. [JPOP Division]), Russian (Istari Comics), traditional Chinese (Kadokawa Media Taiwan), Vietnamese (as Dòng máu lạ kì)

Adaptations
Three Blood Alone drama CDs—BLOOD ALONE, BLOOD ALONE II and BLOOD ALONE III— were released between July 2006 and May 2008. Seiyuu Nakahara Mai and Morikawa Toshiyuki voiced Misaki and Kuroe. Supporting cast included Kobayashi Sanae, Tanaka Rie and Miki Shinichiro as Higure, Sainome and Slye respectively.

3. [Series Premiere] Blue Flame: Comic Bomber Early Years (Aoi Honoo) vol 1 of 7+ by Shimamoto Kazuhiko

Aoi Honoo 「アオイホノオ」 by Shimamoto Kazuhiko AKA Blue Blaze Shogakukan Gessan and Young Sunday, seinen Volume 1 (chapters 1-6 + Special Ending) first published in Japan 2008.02

Awards/recognitions
Nominee, the 3rd Manga Taisho Award in 2010

Related series
Sequel Moeyo Pen or Burning Pen and its sequels (Hoero Pen/Comic Bomber [13 volumes] and Shin Hoero Pen/New Comic Bomber [11 volumes])

4. Go-On! vol 2 of 4 by Akishige Manabu

Go-On! 「ＧＯ‐ＯＮ！」 by Akishige Manabu Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen Volume 2 (chapters 9-19) first published in Japan 2008.07

5. Lost Man vol 6 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 6 first published in Japan 2009.11

6. Perfect Girl Evolution (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) vol 27 of 30+ by Hayakawa Tomoko

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge 「ヤマトナデシコ七変化」 by Hayakawa Tomoko Kodansha Betsufure, shoujo Volume 27 (Parts 108-111) first published in Japan 2010.12

Other languages
English The Wallflower (Del Rey until volumes 22/23/24; Kodansha Comics starting volume 25; 27 volumes per 2011.11.22 • volume 28 street date: 2012.05.22) and Chuang Yi (as My Fair Lady; volume 26 per 2011.02), French (Pika Édition: Yamato Nadeshiko Tome 16 shipped 2011.12.01), German (EMA/Egmont Manga & Anime: Perfect Girl Band 26 released 2011.10 • Band 27 street date: 2012.03)

Adaptations
Anime by Nippon Animation featuring seiyuu Takaguchi Yukiko (Nakahara Sunako), Morikubo Showtaro (Takano Kyohei), Yamauchi Yuuya (Toyama Yukinojo), Sugita Tomokazu (Oda Takenaga) and Nojima Hirofumi (Mori Ranmaru) aired from October 2006 to March 2007 on Japan's TV Aichi. A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya (Kyohei), Oomasa Aya (Sunako), Tegoshi Yuya (Yukinojo), Uchi Hiroki (Takenaga) and Miyao Shuntaro (Ranmaru) was telecast on TBS from January to March 2010.

7. Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) vol 11 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 11 (chapters 24-26 and Illustration Gallery) first published in Japan 1997.12

Awards
Winner, 46th Shogakukan Manga Awards (2000) in the Shoujo category

Reissues/Other languages
Reissued in 16 bunko volumes between 2006.11 and V16 2007.05
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)

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 Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Ma ga Jidai no Reimei written and illustrated by Shinohara Chie-sensei (2007.05 and 2007.09)

In addition, the following novels were published under Shogakukan's Lululu Bunko Novels label: Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Tsuitachi no Tsuki (Japan release: 2008.10); Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Mayu tsuki (JP: 2010.01); and Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori Gaiden Jōgen (2010.06).

8. X Blade vol 8 of 12 by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi

XBlade 「ＸＢＬＡＤＥ」 by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi Kodansha Shonen Sirius, shounen Volume 8 first published in Japan 2009.10

Related series
XBlade Cross (sequel, two volumes per 2011.11.09)

9. Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy (Kachuu Hana) vol 8 of 15+ by Nishi Yuuji & Hikino Shinji

Kachuu Hana 「華中華」 by Nishi Yuuji & Hikino Shinji Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen Volume 8 (eight episodes [chapters 51-58] + recipes) first published in Japan 2009.02

Reissues
Kachuu Hana My First BIG Specials volumes 1-8 released between 2010.10 and 2011.05

10. Zipang vol 10 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Zipang 「ジパング」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 10 first published in Japan 2003.03

Awards
Winner, 26th Kodansha Manga Awards (2002) in the General category

Other language versions
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial), French (Kana: Pack Fidelite Zipang Tome 30+T31 per 2011.08 • Pack Fidelite T32+33 street date: 2011.10.21) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: 次元艦隊 43 per 2010.06)

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

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

European comics/BDs (2011.12.14)

• Marsupilami: Emas Boavista (Le Marsupilami, Tome 7: L'Or de Boavista) by André Franquin, Batem, Yann (Marsu Production)

Postponed titles
Smurf Hitam, Smurf Liar and Smurf dan Telur Ajaib by Peyo (new street date: 21 December 2011)

Read more »

The Black Swindler 13, The Drops of God 5, Rainbow 21 (Level Comics 22 June 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Also, ROMICs (BDs) but excluding Franquin's Spirou & Sang Ahli Waris which got postponed to 6 July.

Kurosagi © Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi/Shogakukan
[First serialized in Young Sunday]
Published in Indonesia as The Black Swindler by Elex Media/Level Comics

Kurosaki investigates a money laundering ring in China. The scam stalls because of a Shirosagi named Hayashi. What tactics will Kurosaki employ to finish off the fraudsters?

The Black Swindler editor Sina-san notes that Kurosaki's experience in China brings him closer to uncovering ‘Fixer’ Katsuragi's past. And speaking of China, the money laundering chapters (134-141) represent Kurosagi's first overseas outing, or so sez the Japanese blurb.

But before Kurosaki leaves for Shanghai, he wraps up the pet fraud story in chapters 131 to 133 first.

The Drops of God 5 of 29+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

To identify the 1st Apostle and restore Mrs. Kaori's memories, Shizuku works as a sommelier at Mishima's restaurant. There he meets a famous musician who sparks an epiphany about the first of the 13 wines Shizuku has single out. To aid his quest, Shizuku turns to Robert.

But will his dad's old friend help Shizuku?

The Drops of God editor Nickyta Oliver Fonda-san comments that Finally, the destined date with the 1st Apostle dawns and promises that the battle between snooty Issei and wuvable Shizuku will strain your curiosity to the limits.

New Level manga: Blue Seal by Shinohara Chie

Ao no Fuuin
© Shinohara Chie
Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia
as Blue Seal
by Level Comics

I assume Level's launching the bunko because the Komikologi July-advised total volumes is 7 (the tankou originally numbered 11 and Level's Blue Seal cover is the first tankoubon's). If I'm wrong, then just add four more to the volume count.

When a girl opens her eyes, the portal of legend gapes wide.

Only death awaits the beautiful transfer student Kiryu Souko at her new school — why?

Because once the seal is broken, Souko inherits the crown of the Demon Queen, the Blue Dragon of the Tou family who devours humans. Contributes Wiki: Unfortunately, the latest reincarnation of Sōryū (or “Seiryū”) has fallen in love with a boy named Akira who is the reincarnation of Byakko, the legendary white tiger who is destined to kill her.

A dilemma that promises off-the-charts tension, chemistry and Kyaaa~ :D

Wiki also points out that Ao no Fuuin is loosely based on the tale of Four Gods in oriental cultures, namely the Azure Dragon (east), the White Tiger (west), the Black Turtle (north) and the Red Phoenix (south) and invites you to compare it with Watase Yuu's Fushigi Yuugi, another shoujo manga series based on the same legends.

Level has published Shinohara Chie's Escape Express and is installing Red River, a breath-taking pair I rate a 9 of 10 ♡.

Level Comics manga (2011.06.22)

1. Air Gear 22 of 32+ by Oh!great

AirGear 「エア・ギア」 by Oh! great Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 22 (Tricks 197-207) first published in Japan 2008.09

Awards
Best Shounen Manga, 2006 Kodansha Manga Awards

Other languages/serializations
English Air Gear (Del Rey: until Volume 15/16/17 per 2010.08; Kodansha Comics: volume 18 released 2011.06.14 • volume 19 street date: 2011.08.16), Korean (Haksan), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 飛輪少年 #31 per 2011.05), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi Singapore: volume 28 per 2010.08), French (Pika Édition: Tome 28 ships 2011.06.29 • Tome 29 street date: 2011.09.07), Italy (Planet Manga), Germany (Heyne) and Sweden (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB/serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 25-episode anime by Toei Animation, starring Kamakari Kenta as Ikki; a series of Satelight-animated OADs shipped with the manga tankoubon (The first Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori -Break on the Sky- OAD streeted with volume 30 in November 2010 with seiyuu Okamoto Nobuhiko as Ikki; the second OAD was bundled with volume 31 (2011.03.17), with a third released 2011.06.17); and a series of musicals

2. The Black Swindler (Kurosagi) 13 of 20 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi

Kurosagi 「クロサギ」 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi Shogakukan Young Sunday, seinen Volume 13 first published in Japan 2007.04

Volume 13 chapters:
131-133 Pet fraud
134-141 Money laundering scam (I ~ VIII)
Shirosagi Data File.

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

Related
Shin Kurosagi (sequel; 11 volumes per 2011.06.30)

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. [Series Premiere] Blue Seal (Ao no Fuuin) 1 of 7 by Shinohara Chie

Ao no Fuuin 「蒼の封印」 by Shinohara Chie Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Bunko volume 1 first published in Japan 1999.02

Adaptations
An audio drama CD released by Shogakukan in May 1993 and light novels written by Yamamoto Natsumi and illustrated by Shinohara Chie were published under the KSS Comic Novels imprint (three volumes from September to December 1998)

4. The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) 5 of 29+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

Kami no Shizuku 「神の雫」 by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu AKA Les Gouttes de Dieu Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2006.01

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 19 shipped 2011.06.08 • tome 20 street date: 2011.08.17), 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.

5. Eternal Sabbath (ES) 3 of 8 by Souryo Fuyumi

ES 「ＥＳ」 by Souryo Fuyumi Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2003.02

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)

6. Homunculus 11 of 15 by Yamamoto Hideo

Homunculus 「 ホムンクルス 」 by Yamamoto Hideo Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 11 first published in Japan 2009.12

7. Karakuri Circus 2 of 43 by Fujita Kazuhiro

Karakuri Circus 「からくりサーカス」 by Fujita Kazuhiro Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 2 (chapters 9-17) first published in Japan 1998.03

8. Rainbow 21 of 22 by Abe George & Kakizaki Masasumi

Rainbow - Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin 「ＲＡＩＮＢＯＷ　二舎六房の七人」 by Abe George & Kakizaki Masasumi Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 21 first published in Japan 2009.12

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 51st Shogakukan Manga Awards (2005), tied with Kawaguchi Kaiji's A Spirit of the Sun

Other languages
French (Kazé Editions: Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin tome 17 shipped 2011.04 • tome 18 street date: 2011.07.13) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: RAINBOW少年犯罪檔案 22 per 2011.05.23)

Adaptations
A 26-episode anime adaptation by Madhouse, starring Oguri Shun (Minakami Mario), Kanjiya Shihori (Setsuko), Koyama Rikiya (Sakuragi Rokurouta/An-chan), Park Romi (Maeda Noboru AKA Suppon/Turtle), Fujiwara Keiji (Nomoto Ryuuji/Baremoto or Scam), Waki Tomohiro (Matsuura Mansaku/Cabbage), Kuroda Takaya (Tooyama Tadayoshi/Heitai or Soldier) and Hasome Tatsuya (Yokosuka Jou/Joe), aired in Japan between April and September 2010.

9. Zipang 6 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Zipang 「ジパング」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 6 first published in Japan 2002.02

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

Other language versions
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial), French (Kana: tome 29 shipped 2011.02 • Pack Fidelite Zipang T30+T31 street date: 2011.08.26) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: 次元艦隊 43 per 2010.06)

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

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

European comics/BDs (2011.06.22)

1. Jojo - Janji Persahabatan (Jojo 6: Le serment d'amitié) by André Geerts (Dupuis)
2. Smurf Reporter (Une histoires des Schtroumpfs: Les Schtroumpfs, tome 22: Le Schtroumpf reporter) by Peyo (Le Lombard)

Read more »

The Black Swindler seinen manga volume 9 by Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi (Level Comics street date: 21 April 2010)

Kurosagi © Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi/Shogakukan (First serialized in Young Sunday)
Published in Indonesia as The Black Swindler by Elex Media/Level Comics

The Black Swindler 9 of 20

By Kuromaru & Natsuhara Takeshi
Original title: クロサギ (Kurosagi)
Shogakukan, originally serialized in Young Sunday, seinen
Volume 9 first released in Japan 2006.04
Published in Indonesia 2010.04 by PT Elex Media Komputindo/Level Comics

May contain [SPOILERS]

Synopsis

Swindler of swindlers Kurosaki offers a scared witless con mark a way of fighting back, proposing to trap the blackmailer threatening to report victim Maezono to the police for a just for kicks gambling misdemeanor. What does Kurosaki have in mind for this vulture?

The answers be found in volume 9 of The Black Swindler, the 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awardee for best seinen/general manga.

Level Comics Volume 9 street date: 21 April 2010

An 11-episode live-action renzoku drama, starring Yamashita Tomohisa (Kusano Akira, Nobuta wo produce) as Kurosagi/Kurosaki and Horikita Maki as Yoshikawa Tsurara (Kotani Nobuko/Nobuta, Nobuta wo produce), aired on TBS from April to June 2006. A movie starring the same leads premiered in Japan in 8 March 2008.

Related: Shin Kurosagi manga (sequel; six volumes per 2010.03)

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who thanks Level editor Lenny-san for the cover and summary

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