Welcome one, welcome all, to Mangaversity! This is my attempt to continue my contribution to the Soliciting Multiversity column while messing with the format to make it my own. Special thanks again to Zack Davisson for pointing out this should’ve been my choice for the title from the get go.
Summer has already kicked my ass and it’s not even the hottest months of the year. Thankfully, I can cool down with a nice glass of manga. Wait. That’s not right. I think my brain might be a little more cooked than I first thought.
That shouldn’t affect my choices, or my votes for the Eisners and American Manga Awards. That’s right folks! I finally got onto the ballot lists. Only took me 7 years for the Eisners. Apparently there was a form to fill out. Whoops.
You don’t wanna hear about the awards that are coming up this month, though. You’re here for manga picks. I’ve got some eclectic ones this time around, plus a few dubiously chosen WTF picks. Let’s go!
Perennial Favorites:
My love for these titles are very well documented and you will not go wrong reading them, though some titles that get featured here come with more caveats than others (“Berserk,” for instance, gets my full endorsement, but is certainly not for everyone.)
Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 8
Written and Illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa
Translated by Amanda Haley
Lettered by Edward Hong
Published by Square Enix Manga
I feel like Arakawa’s fantasy series only really work once you’re a few volumes in. As if the cumulative weight creates a critical mass of story and character that, once achieved, crystalizes the work into something that must be read. Volume 7 had some big revelations so I’m extra excited about this one.
Yuru finally joins the fray against Ivan, who proves to be a menace even when injured! Using his sharp tongue and even sharper reflexes, Ivan manages to get away—but not before taking a few more lives. As the long night draws to a close, Yuru engages in heart-to-heart talks with both the fake Asa and the real Asa. Can they reconcile Higashi Village’s sins from the past with their own hopes for the future?
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun, Vol. 16
Written and Illustrated by Izumi Tsubaki
Translated by Leighann Harvey
Lettered by Lys Blakeslee
Published by Yen Press
I’m rooting for you Sakura!
Seo witnessed something impossible: Wakamatsu promising to go on a date with a classmate. Sakura witnessed something unacceptable: Nozaki reminiscing about a date with an underclassman. It’s gonna take some serious sleuthing to get to the bottom of this situation... But if Seo and Sakura were half as good at untangling misunderstandings as they are at starting them, it’d be a snap!
One-Punch Man, Vol. 31
Written by ONE
Illustrated by Yusuke Murata
Published by Viz
Finally caught up with “One Punch Man” and I am so ready for more. Go get them King!
Life gets pretty boring when you can beat the snot out of any villain with just one punch.
Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on!
Monster Association big shots are taking out S-class heroes one after another… That is, until the strongest man alive, King, rises to confront this crisis. Though the monsters are seething with malice, King appears cool and composed. But can his cool act defuse the dire situation?!
Deluxe Den:
Every so often, there’s a new deluxe edition of a beloved manga that I think is worth shouting out but not at the expense of another item on the list. Usually this is the case for interstitial volumes, like the ones this month.
Ajin: Demi-Human: Complete, Vol. 4
Written and Illustrated by Gamon Sakurai
Published by Vertical Inc
Not a series for everyone but, again, it holds a special place in my heart for being one of the few series I read in its entirety on the awful, awful Crunchyroll manga app.
THE FINAL WAVE
Under duress, the Ministry of Welfare, which has been abusing demi-humans on behalf of the so-called business community, is ready to negotiate. Yet Samuel T. Owen, a.k.a. Sato, can’t resist giving the screw another turn—and the jolly ex-marine is more than willing, even eager, to take on the hardest of hard targets.
The breathless nightmare trip Ajin: Demi-Human, finally available in omnibus format. A thriller that just keeps on getting better and deeper.
Gravitation, Vol. 6
Written and Illustrated by Maki Murakami
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
Finish those classics!
THE EXCITING CONCLUSION TO THIS CLASSIC MANGA!
Shuichi is under the pressure—he must release ten new singles in three weeks! Not only that, but Bad Luck is up against Nittle Grasper again. Can Shuichi beat the clock and rise to the top? And just how does Yuki feel about Shuichi’s plight? Find out in the riveting finale!
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Part 7: Steel Ball Run, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Hirohiko Araki
Published by Viz
Horse! Racing! In! America!
A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil!
The legendary Shonen Jump series is now available in deluxe hardcover editions featuring color pages! JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor, and frenetic battles.
Gyro leads the race at the end of the first stage—but it’s too soon to celebrate just yet. Three competitors have turned up dead, and the famous cowboy Mountain Tim has just been deputized to find the culprits. Following the trail of horseshoe tracks, he sets his sights on Johnny and Gyro. But as the three men collide in the hostile Arizona desert, it quickly becomes clear that the second stage of this race may just be their last!
Red River: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 4
Written and Illustrated by Chie Shinohara
Published by Viz
I am riveted by this series’ mix of historical fiction and shojo romance. It’s good stuff! A classic portal fantasy.
A 3-in-1 edition of the classic romance fantasy series where a modern girl is whisked to ancient times and must navigate a scheming court and warring factions while trying to find her way home.
Yuri, a modern teenager, is transported to ancient Anatolia as part of a scheme by the evil Nakia, queen of the Hittites. Only the intervention of Nakia’s stepson, Prince Kail, saves Yuri from the queen’s bloodthirsty intentions. As an unintended consequence of the prince’s actions, the people of Anatolia embrace Yuri as the incarnation of the great war goddess Ishtar.
Yuri is accused of a heinous crime and must go on the run. As she struggles with her ever-more-complicated feelings for Prince Kail, Yuri also finds herself embroiled in a military operation to save the Hittites.
A Sign of Affection Omnibus 3
Written and Illustrated by Suu Morishita
Translated by Christine Dashiell
Lettered by Ben Applegate
Published by Kodansha Comics
I still have to catch back up with this series. This is probably the omnibus that I should pick up too.
Emma ambushed Itsuomi at school and dragged him to the arcade, where he was brutally honest about his lack of romantic interest in her. What Itsuomi didn't realize is that Oushi happened to see them go in together. He also doesn't know that Oushi confronted Yuki, giving her an embrace that spoke louder than his words ever have, and that left Yuki feeling a sinking guilt. This haze of unrequited feelings seems to threaten Yuki and Itsuomi's still-tender bond of trust, until Itsuomi makes an astonishing suggestion...
Vagabond: Definitive Edition, Vol. 3
Written and Illustrated by Takehiko Inoue
Published by Viz
I really hope Inoue returns to finish the series before the final “Definitive” edition releases.
Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher—the most celebrated swordsman of all time.
Daunting tasks lie before Miyamoto Musashi—he must overcome his personal demons as he prepares for a rematch with Inshun, the most technically proficient and deadly fighter he has ever faced. This time, Musashi won’t run away, even if his life depends on it.
Caught My Eye:
A very scattershot list this time around, as they usually are. I’m trying out having short, capsule comments on most of the volumes. Let me know if you like them.
- After God, Vol. 5
- My every other month reminder to read this series and see if it lives up to the covers.
- Gogogogo-Go-Ghost! 4
- I want to read this series so badly but Hachette (Yen Press’ distributor) has been fighting with one of the big library distributors for nearly a year now so…no Yen Press books for me.
- Gushing over Magical Girls, Vol. 1
- She just wants to get stepped on by Sailor Moon. Is that so wrong?
- The Long Summer of August 31, Vol. 2
- As I said with volume one, this could go either way and until I know, I’m afraid to drop it or promote it higher.
- Scars, Vol. 2
- I wasn’t sure if this should go on the list. It looks cute, apparently deceptively so. That’s got my attention at least.
- Shadows House, Vol. 9
- Gothic. Creepy. Shadows House.
- Suzuki-Kun’s Mindful Life, Vol. 1
- Cute boys doing cute things.
WTF is this:
A corollary to the Caught My Eye subset are the comics I don’t actually think are potentially worth a read - or at least don’t strike me list worthy - but have a certain je ne sais quoi that are absolutely worth pointing out and gawking at.
- Tokyo Fears Rhapsody, Vol 1
Truly, this sounds like such a generic gag manga but I cannot get over the image on the cover. Maybe I have this pegged wrong. I don’t care. Look at this goofus! It’s an Eva dino eating ice cream. - 23:45 Re;
The sexy, after-dark spin-off about the sad time-looping ghost boy and the sad lonely ghost-sensitive boy. That’s it. - Elden Ring: The Road to the Erdtree, Vol. 6
I love this series. I don’t even play FromSoft games. Is it a good series? Well…it’s certainly got character to it. Let me put it this way. It’s like watching a circa-2010 YouTube video game reviewer run around in Elden Ring, but they’ve never actually played video games before. It’s as juvenile as juvenile gets.
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The List:
11. Gachikatch Me If You Can
BONES is giving this series an anime adaptation this season and that has me intrigued. You don’t get BONES to do just any series. I guess I have to see what the hype is about. Hopefully it won’t leave me as cold as “Kagurabachi” has.
Gachiakuta, Vol. 7
Written and Illustrated by Kei Urana
Published by Kodansha Comics
The threat of the Raiders has been ever looming, and now they've made their move. Rudo has been kidnapped! But he wasn't alone, and each Cleaner who was also taken must first defeat the Raider sent to stop them if they want to have any hope of reuniting. Meanwhile, the Raiders' boss has a tempting proposal for Rudo: Take down the Sphere...together!
10. Come In…OH WAIT OH NO
As a big fan of “Yon and Mu’s Cat Diary” aka Junji Ito drawing a wholesome cat manga in his very unwholesome style, I love it when a comic uses its very scary art to be funny. Here there’s more of a duality of approaches, with the humans having a semi-angular shonen style and the ghosts going full “PTSD Radio.” It certainly stands out and while I’m not sure if that translates to any good jokes, I’m willing to give it look…in the middle of the day.
Welcome to Ghost Mansion, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Nebukuro
Published by Titan Manga
Kaoru’s settling into the life of a landlord to an apartment building of spirits, but trouble is brewing as a living tenant comes to stay… one who’s an exorcist! For fans of horror comedy, this is the second volume of the feelgood spookfest!
Kaoru can’t catch a break — just as she’s finally got the spirit tenants of Ghost Mansion settled in, an exorcist moves into the building! Tsuzumi comes from an ancient family of exorcists and occultists but can she put aside her training and live in harmony with Kaoru and her laid back attitude to the legion of ghosts!
9. Join Me in the Eighth Circle of Hell
Did you know there was a “Spawn” manga? I sure as shit didn’t. This is a book for someone. Glad it’s getting a big collection with exactly the kind of cover I expected it to have. As a “Spawn” illiterate, however, I’ll be leaving it alone.
Spawn: Shadows of Spawn, Complete Collection
Written and Illustrated by Juzo Tokoro
Translated by Francis Takenaga
Published by Image Comics
Experience SPAWN like never before in 600 pages of stunning manga by Juzo Tokoro!
Encounter new Spawns and iconic villains as a vengeful Spawn battles gangsters while trying to protect his loved ones. Meet Ken Kurosawa, a former bodyguard whose life ends in a car bomb during a gang war, leading him to a fateful deal with MALEBOGIA. Now, he must confront his past in a gripping tale of manipulation and destiny. This Is Pure Manga Magic!
Collects Manga’s SHADOWS OF SPAWN #1 – 3
8. Up and Up and Up
I initially picked this because the cover caught my eye and I love a good story of hubris and limit pushing. Then I saw that this was Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s first work (the #drcl guy) and that it’s based on a novel and I knew I had to put it on the list. It looks to be a grungy, grimy tale of extreme sports and the danger, and thrill, of it.
The Climber, Vol. 2
Written by Hiroshi Takano
Based on a Story by Jiro Nitta
Illustrated by Shin’ichi Sakamoto
Published by Viz
The harder you climb, the higher you live.
Buntaro Mori is a loner, but being alone in a crowd is almost as bad as being forced to fit in. When a dangerous bid for solitude introduces Mori to the rush of solo climbing, he becomes addicted to the brilliant sense of freedom he finds as he pits his body and soul against the heights. But how high does he have to climb to leave humanity behind?
For a brief, brilliant moment, Mori thought he had found his purpose in life, but after an unscrupulous reporter’s sensationalized article gets the climbing club canceled, he finds himself more at odds with the world than ever. With nothing left to lose, Mori agrees to go alpine climbing with Kurosawa, the very reporter who ruined everything, not caring that he obviously doesn’t have Mori’s best interests at heart. But Kurosawa isn’t trying to destroy Mori. He just wants to ignite the boy’s intense potential, no matter who it hurts.
7. How Much You Wanna Bet the NFL Tried to Censor This Book?
I know very little about “Brain Damage” besides having seen its cover for months, it being nominated for the American Manga Awards, and it looking bat-shit insane. We just got a copy at the library so I know what I’m gonna be freaking myself out with this weekend.
Brain Damage
Written and Illustrated by Kago
Translated by Zack Davisson
Lettered by Conrad Groth
Published by Fantagraphic Books
From the brilliant and twisted mind of manga artist Shintaro Kago, a new collection of short stories rife with skin-crawling suspense, visceral body horror, and pitch dark-humor.
6. Nihei Stonk Exchange
I know this title has nothing to do with the manga but damn if I didn’t get a big chuckle out of it.
Anyway, it’s a new manga by Tsutomu Nihei, of “Knights of Sidonia” fame. Moving from sci-fi to fantasy, he’s throwing everything at us. Evil necromancers. Dragon Towers. A main character with a goofy, large-brimmed hat. More proper nouns than you can shake a stick at! That’s the fantasy guarantee.
Or maybe Nihei will do what he does best and leave it very quiet and hard to read with all the digital processing (sorry. Sorry. I’m just not a big fan of his art style.) Whatever the case, it’s gonna be worth checking out at least one volume.
Tower Dungeon, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei
Published by Vertical Inc
Tsutomu Nihei, master of the mysterious architectural monolith, brings his genius to bear on the fantasy genre for the first time. Having established himself with hit series like Blame! and Knights of Sidonia, he has now created a gritty, dark fantasy world and populated it with evil sorcerors and unique undead horrors.
The ingenuous farmboy Yuva must accompany a contingent of knights through the increasingly dangerous floors of massive tower on the way to rescue the princess, Nihei bringing his unique sensibility to bear on a crumbling world of malformed creatures, wounded soldiers, and labyrinthine darkness.
An evil necromancer slays the king and carries off his daughter, secreting her in the legendary Dragon Tower. To save the princess, her steadfast Royal Guard assays the stronghold, but the way is blocked by powerful eldritch creatures… So, to supplement their forces in the face of mounting casualties, they press ordinary folks from the surrounding villages into service—including Yuva, a sturdy young farmboy with a strong back but no experience in battle, and only a battered old helm and wooden shield to protect him.
Master of science fiction Tsutomu Nihei (Blame!, Knights of Sidonia) turns his unique storytelling voice and architectural eye to fantasy for the first time, offering a dark, gritty tale of swords and sorcery, bravery and adventure, great heroes and ultimate evil.
Gird your loins, heft your blade, and enter the Dragon Tower.
5. Awkward Allies
The most noteworthy thing about “I Wanna Be Your Girl” is its publisher. That’s not to discount the manga itself, which looks like an exploration of allyship, messy feelings of romance and friendship, and being trans in Japan during this particularly hostile moment. (Yes. Yes. It’s from 2018 but it’s not like things were that much easier then.)
What I mean is that this is coming from Random House Graphic, full stop. No imprints, no nothing. That makes this, I believe, their first manga title. That’s huge! Shows how mainstream manga, and in this case, queer manga, has gotten. It’s small but it’s heartening to see.
I Wanna Be Your Girl, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Umi Takase
Translated by Jordan Blanco
Published by Random House Graphic
Hime has secretly been in love with her childhood best friend Akira for as long as she can remember. She was the first person who knew that Akira identified as a girl, and she made it her mission to be her Akira’s protector against the world. Hime is thrilled that Akira has finally decided to live as her true self now that they are starting high school.
However, as Akira starts to attract all types of attention, Hime takes it upon herself to aggressively stick up for Akira whenever necessary. Not wanting her to be singled out or bullied, Hime decides that her only option is to put herself in Akira's shoes. Hime dresses like a boy in support of the friend she loves...too bad her plan only backfires on them both.
4. Docking in 3…2…1…
One of my all-time favorite manga is finally coming back into print in these amazing deluxe editions? Yes. Yes. YES. Take my money.
Planetes Deluxe Edition, Book 1
Written and Illustrated by Makoto Yukimura
Translated by Yuki Johnson and Anna Wenger
Lettered by Brendan Wright
Published by Dark Horse Comics
From manga icon Makoto Yukimura the creator of Vinland Saga!
In 2075, working-class astronauts try to clear the junk humanity brought into space—whether it’s deadly orbital debris, or just the messiness of being human.
It’s the late 21st century. People now live on the Moon and Mars, and for some, space is still an epic adventure, as plans are underway for the first-ever crewed voyage to Jupiter. If the giant planet can be successfully reached and harvested for the helium-3 fuel in its atmosphere, the entire solar system will open up to humanity!
But much of the time, space is an everyday job…and an unglamorous and dangerous one—done by astronauts like Hachimaki “Hachi” Hoshino, Fee Carmichael, and Yuri Mikhalkov, as they orbit the Earth in the ramshackle vessel DS-12 Toy Box. Their task is helping to clean up the mess human beings have brought along with them into space—over a hundred years of debris circling the world at eight kilometers per second, posing a deadly threat to travelers.
Hachi, son of a famous pioneer of Mars voyages, dreams of breaking out from his father Goro’s shadow by joining the Jupiter mission, but a traumatic brush with death may have used up Hachi’s courage to journey further. Fee, no-nonsense pilot of the Toy Box and working mom, is lauded as a heroine for preventing a terrorist incident in space, but faces an even tougher challenge as an astronaut—finding a place where she can smoke! And Yuri, the ever calm and reliable crewmate on the team, deals with the loss of his wife in a tragic accident while grappling with the true meaning of humanity’s place among the stars.
Planetes is the ancient Greek word for “wanderers”—describing both the planets themselves, and the restless protagonists who dream of reaching those distant worlds against an epic backdrop of family, romance, politics, ambition, and war in creator Makoto Yukimura’s saga of the human drama of space exploration!
3. Rated M for Mature
I first heard Ichi the Killer in the context of the film by Takashi Miike. Specifically that it’s a gonzo, fucked-up feature that makes Oldboy look tame. I never sought the film out, though I have been curious if I could handle it. Well, now I may not have to since I can go back to the source courtesy of Seven Seas Entertainment.
I’m very happy that they’re continuing the good work of releasing classics in omnibus format. That said, I wonder if this will sell. Perhaps what they say about curiosity and cats will need to be tested.
Ichi the Killer Omnibus, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Hideo Yamamoto
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
The ultra-violent tale of a broken killer and his yakuza nemesis that inspired the infamous film. By the author of Homunculus and HIKARI-MAN.
Ichi may seem like a spineless weakling—but when the tears start flowing, a terrifying transformation takes place. Driven to his mental breaking point, Ichi becomes an unstoppable force of carnage, unleashing a torrent of violence on his next target. When his destructive path collides with Kakihara, a sadomasochistic yakuza boss with a penchant for pain, it ignites a bloody spiral of chaos, depravity, and unimaginable brutality.
From the legendary creator of Homunculus and HIKARI-MAN comes the groundbreaking manga that inspired Takashi Miike's cult classic film—a shocking exploration of wrath, vengeance, and the dark corners of the human psyche.
2. Crafting the Perfect Manga
I know zilch about this manga except that it seems to be about craftsmanship and I am 100000% down to read a manga about that. Give me meticulously drawn panels of meticulous people making intricate work. I’ve read “Vinland Saga’s” farm arc. I’ve read “Silver Spoon.” I’m one of the few die-hard “Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju” advocates. I’m no stranger to craft manga. Let’s go!
Neighborhood Craftsmen: Stories from Kanda's Gokura-chou, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Akihito Sakaue
Translated by Ko Ransom
Published by Yen Press
It’s not about the money. It’s about heart. Here in this masterpiece historical anthology, that heart will be laid bare to you: the spirit of craftsmanship, flowing from fingertip to final product, be it a barrel, indigo cloth, razor-sharp sword, soft tatami mat, or even complete plastered building…
1. An Enduring Classic
“Barefoot Gen” may have the honor of being the first manga I ever read. It was certainly one of the very few that my library owned, and that I had access to, at the time. Frustratingly, I could only every find the first five volumes and then 10, as it seemed like the rest were either long out-of-print or never purchased in the first place.
Regardless, it’s a harrowing story of the bombing of Hiroshima and its aftermath. I truly believe it is a must read for anyone because of how unflinching it is. I’m very happy that Last Gasp is bringing it back into print in these deluxe hardcover two-in-one volumes. If there’s any series that deserves it, it is this one.
I should note that I have two conflicting release dates: July 15 and November 15. My money is on the latter date, as Last Gasp seems to have some date slippages, but we shall see.
Barefoot Gen 1
Written and Illustrated by Keiji Nakazawa
Published by Last Gasp of San Francisco
Barefoot Gen is the powerful, tragic, autobiographical story of the bombing of Hiroshima and its aftermath, seen through the eyes of the artist as a young boy growing up in Japan. The author survived the atomic bomb, and bears witness to this tragic event. Nakazawa’s honest portrayal of emotions and experiences speaks to children and adults everywhere. Barefoot Gen serves as a reminder of the suffering war brings to innocent people, and as a unique documentation of an especially horrible source of suffering, the atomic bomb.
Cartoonist Keiji Nakazawa was six years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on his hometown of Hiroshima. Shielded by a stone wall, he miraculously survived the blast. In this illustrated memoir, Nakazawa recounts his wartime childhood, his experience surviving the atomic bomb, and how the effects reverberated throughout his life. Compelled to tell his story in the memory of his family, Nakazawa turned to comics, penning his epic graphic novel series, Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima.
This is part one of a new, five-part edition. The new edition features all new lettering throughout as well as four pages in color for the first time. This edition collects the first two volumes of the series: Barefoot Gen: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima and Barefoot Gen: The Day After.
Elias Rosner
Elias Rosner
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