Mangaversity: November 2024
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 to Zack Davisson for pointing out this should’ve been my choice for the title from the get go.
Month 2 is upon us and it is…late. I promise I won’t make a habit of this, though December may also come in closer to mid-month than top. Sorry folks. November kicked my shit way harder than I expected.
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.)
I’m not sure if it makes sense to have the full descriptions here, to have small explanations or unintelligible gushing, or to leave it as is. Let me know in the comments.
Asadora, Vol. 8
Written and Illustrated by Naoki Urasawa
Published by Viz
A deadly typhoon, a mysterious creature and a girl who won’t quit.
In 2020, a large creature rampages through Tokyo, destroying everything in its path. In 1959, Asa Asada, a spunky young girl from a huge family in Nagoya, is kidnapped for ransom—and not a soul notices. When a typhoon hits Nagoya, Asa and her kidnapper must work together to survive. But there’s more to her kidnapper and this storm than meets the eye.
Using a stage name, Yone auditions for several record companies before seemingly getting her big break from Shibahama Music Factory, but she later learns fame can come with a cost. Meanwhile, Shota becomes obsessed with spotting the sea monster so he can use the drug to fight it again. Later, Asa and Nakaido discover an interesting clue in Professor Yodogawa’s belongings that brings them one step closer to uncovering the mystery behind the monster.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm, Vol. 6
Written and Illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa
Published by Square Enix Manga
Hiromu Arakawa, award-winning manga creator of the best-selling smash hit Fullmetal Alchemist, draws readers into an intricate new web of magic, intrigue, and life-or-death stakes!
In a world where certain humans command mighty supernatural duos called Daemons, it is the birthright of “the children who sunder day and night”—twins Yuru and Asa—to rule over these powerful entities.
Separated from a young age and unaware of the truth of their birth, brother and sister must fight to make their way back to each other, claim their birthright, and save the world…
Ancient Daemons awaken to fight a new battle in an age-old war!!
Having infiltrated Higashi Village and taken two of its residents hostage, Ivan beckons Yuru to a warehouse in the dead of night. Although Yuru stakes out the location from a distance, he’s swiftly kidnapped by a skull-faced Daemon under Asuma’s command. The Divine Guardians are left to fend for themselves as the familiar scents of Yuru and Asa’s parents waft from Ivan’s blood-soaked blades…
The Elusive Samurai, Vol. 13
Written and Illustrated by Yusei Matsui
Published by Viz
In war-torn medieval Japan, a young samurai lord struggles to retake his throne, but not by fighting. Hojo Tokiyuki will reclaim his birthright by running away!
In medieval Japan, eight-year-old Hojo Tokiyuki is the heir to the Kamakura shogunate. But the Hojo clan is in decline, and Tokiyuki’s peaceful days of playing hide-and-seek with his teachers come to an abrupt end when his clan is betrayed from within. The lone survivor of his family, Tokiyuki is the rightful heir to the throne, but to take it back, he’ll have to do what he does best—run away!
The Hojo return to Kamakura was glorious but short-lived. Calamity has fallen upon Tokiyuki and his allies once again after losing the Battle of Sagami River. Yorishige realizes his time has come, and moves to cover Tokiyuki’s withdrawal, but the young lord isn’t giving up yet. Hoping to rescue Yorishige, he heads straight for his enemy, Ashikaga Takauji, to issue his challenge—“Kill me and you win! But if I escape, you lose everything!”
The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Vol. 20
Story by Yoshiki Tanaka
Written and Illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa
Published by Square Enix Manga
The epic of palace intrigue and battlefield glory, from the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, that became a hit anime franchise!
Crown Prince Arslan has bided his time in the southern port city of Gilan long enough: with Hilmes’s betrayal leaving the Lusitanian forces in shambles, the time to retake the fallen capital is nigh. But as Arslan and his allies undertake their final preparations to free their country and their people from the invaders, Hilmes and King Andragoras each make their own moves to secure power over Pars for themselves.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Part 6: Stone Ocean, Vol. 7
Written and Illustrated by Hirohiko Araki
Published by Viz
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.
Weather Forecast and Anastasia are at the mercy of Bohemian Ecstatic, a Stand with the ability to bring fictional characters in paintings and drawings to life! But Weather Forecast has a genius plan to stop the mysterious Stand user by fighting fiction with fiction! Meanwhile, Jolyne and her group are headed toward the Kennedy Space Station chasing after Father Pucchi, but first she needs to make a quick stop at an old ex-boyfriend’s place. The group continues to converge on Father Pucchi, who has new allies of his own—those he has dubbed the sons of DIO, and new enemies that Jolyne and her friends must face as they jump right into the evil priest’s trap.
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.
Do yourself a favor and read some Moto Hagio. Her stuff is influential and absolutely bonkers. Glad Fantagraphics is keeping this in print.
The Complete Poe Clan: the '70s
Written and Illustrated by Moto Hagio
Published by Fantagraphic Books
The complete run of the groundbreaking young adult vampire series created by Moto Hagio, a shojo/shonen-ai manga pioneer and one of the world’s most influential cartoonists.
A series I read, years ago, on a school computer in a scrolling format. One of the few series that I say needs the deluxe treatment not because the art is that much cooler (though it is) but because it needs it for legibility. Sorry Nightow! Your art is hard to parse.
Trigun Maximum Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Yasuhiro’s Nightow’s Trigun is an international smash, and Trigun Maximum Deluxe Edition Volume 2 collects Trigun Maximum volumes 4, 5, and 6 in a deluxe hardcover edition featuring over 600 pages of Nightow’s signature creation in the original oversized format!
Vash the Stampede carries a gun capable of destroying planets, and yet his credo is “Peace and Love.” But Vash never gets much serenity with a galaxy of zealots and killers for hire dogging his every step. The freakish Gung Ho Guns are always hot on his boot heels, and a showdown with his brother Knives is a deadly inevitability—if Vash survives!
I really gotta read Tokyo Babylon one of these days.
Tokyo Babylon Premium Collection, Vol. 5
Written and Illustrated by Clamp
Published by Yen Press
Subaru Sumeragi is a powerful onmyouji who solves the supernatural troubles that plague the citizens of Tokyo—both living and deceased! When Subaru meets an old man who shares his affinity for animals, he’s delighted to forge a new connection. But he doesn’t know about the troubled household and unfulfilled wish haunting his elderly friend…
"Vinland Saga's" just so good, y'all.
Vinland Saga Deluxe Edition, Vol. 5
Written and Illustrated by Makoto Yukimura
Published by Kodansha
At a remote farm in Denmark, two visions of the future clash: one of a world without violence, the other of a path to paradise soaked in blood. Will Canute seize Ketil's land by force, and can Thorfinn stay true to his oath? The violent and complex action epic that inspired the hit anime returns, in premium, 3-in-1, collector’s hardcovers!
King Canute's quest to build a heaven on Earth will not be bloodless. His schemes have made Ketil and his sons into fugitives, barely escaping the king's clutches aboard Leif Ericson's ship. Chaos welcomes Ketil home, where an escaped slave has butchered his hired muscle. Beset by betrayal on all sides, there may be no way out for Ketil, yet Thorfinn finally has his freedom. He and Einar could leave the slaver to his fate...but the son of Thors feels bound to Denmark by his unfinished business with Canute.
Includes volumes 13-15 of the Japanese edition of Vinland Saga and 26 pages of bonus content: 16 pages of interviews with creator Makoto Yukimura--most of it available in English for the first time. A timeline of the story and how it fits into the real history of the Viking Age. A new glossary of Viking terms. Faux leather covers featuring a runic inscription introducing the character of Gudrid.
Caught My Eye:
Another section that mostly shows off my indecision. Still, I find it neat.
- 365 Days to the Wedding, Vol. 5
- A-do, Vol. 5
- Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring, Vol. 1
- Brunhild the Dragonslayer, Vol. 1
- Citrus Plus, Vol. 6
- Dark Gathering, Vol. 10
- Dracula's on the Night Shift!
- Happyland, Vol. 1
- R.L. Stine, is that you?
- Hirayasumi, Vol. 3
- Home Office Romance
- The Ideal Sponger Life, Vol. 17
- I’m just so taken by the title that I had to spotlight it a little.
- In the Name of the Mermaid Princess, Vol. 4
- Viva la revolution!
- Just Like Mona Lisa, Vol. 3
- Metamorphosis
- This manga has a reputation, and it’s not a great one.
- Neo Faust
- More Tezuka more often.
- One-Punch Man, Vol. 29
- Renjoh Desperado, Vol. 1
- Ah Denpa. Maybe this time the schedule won’t slip again.
- Sakamoto Days, Vol. 14
- Snow and Ink, Vol. 1
- They Were 11!
- Second verse, same as the first Denpa.
- The Tree of Death, Vol. 3: Yomotsuhegui
- “Death to the Undying.” The edge is strong with this one.
The List:
11. 2.5 Arcs Done
Finished season 2 of “Oshi no Ko” but haven’t been reading the manga (like me?) Good news! Volume 8 just about reaches the end of the season so you can be all caught up and then ahead of plebeians like me who’re waiting for season 3 instead.
Oshi no Ko, Vol. 8
Written by Aka Akasaka
Illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari
Published by Yen Press
After a major revelation, the flames of vengeance have died down in Aqua’s heart. At the same time, B Komachi is set to have their first music video (and boost their YouTube channel). Aqua is also headed to a vacation with the cast of the 2.5D play, and it's near where Aqua and Ruby died in their previous lives!
10. Smoted
I mean, come on. I need to know what kind of edgelord bullshit this book is going to be. “Anti-God Scientific Research Institute.” What a blast of a sentence.
After God, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Sumi Eno
Published by Viz
Thirty years after the gods reduced Tokyo to rubble, survivors set out to answer a seemingly impossible question—how do you kill a god?
Japan has been invaded by gods—and they’ve left nothing but death and destruction in their wake. With entire cities now classified as uninhabitable danger zones, researcher Sachiyuki Tokinaga is determined to find a way to take down the gods and save humanity. When chance leads him to high schooler Waka Kamikura, the two may just end up changing the fate of the world forever.
Desperate for answers about her friend’s disappearance, Waka breaches the Tokyo danger zone in search of clues. Instead, she finds Tokinaga, a researcher with the Anti-God Scientific Research Institute. While Waka tries to decide if she should trust Tokinaga, he quickly realizes Waka is hiding a dangerous secret of her own—one that may just be the key to killing off the gods once and for all.
9. The Memes Are Strong With This One
Much like the greatest movie never told, Goncherov, “Kagurabachi” is a series that was breathed into stardom through a collective hype train that talked with absolute reverence for this series as if it were one of the Big 3. To be clear, that was when chapter 1 dropped with a plot that can be best described as dark “Tokyo Blade” made manifest.
Still, this has apparently got the sauce and I will admit the art looks sick. Get in on the ground floor and you can say you were there when “Kagurabachi” debuted in 1992.
Kagurabachi, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Takeru Hokazono
Published by Viz
Chihiro's cursed past sends him down a quest of bloody vengeance!
Chihiro Rokuhira’s father, Kunishige, is the most famous swordsmith in the land. Thanks to his six enchanted blades, the war that has been gripping the nation ends, and peaceful days follow. After the war, he retrieves all six blades and hides them in the cellar of his workshop—but sorcerers raid his home and leave Kunishige dead in front of Chihiro. Many years later, Chihiro wields Kunishige’s seventh and final enchanted blade on a mission to retrieve the stolen swords!
As a young boy, Chihiro trains every day under his father to become a swordsmith. Although different in temperament, the two spend peaceful days laughing and working together. But one day, tragedy strikes… Now Chihiro burns with hatred and sets out to exact revenge. Following clues left behind by a ruthless yakuza organization, Chihiro confronts the Hishaku, a deadly group of sorcerers that may be behind his father’s murder!
8. Pensive Longing, The Manga
I’ve had my eye on this for a bit. The title is excellent. It strikes me as the kind of meaty shojo series that I like, one where you could cut the tension with a knife and the messiness of it all is actually explored through character writing rather than the usual set of tropes. Does that pan out in reality? I dunno, and seeing as how there’s already a “confesses to teacher” storyline, I am a lot more worried than I was before! But I’ve read enough works that handle it with grace - and plenty beloved ones that don’t - that I’m going to give it the benefit of the doubt.
I also hope it’s a queerer story than I assume it to be.
I See Your Face, Turned Away, Vol. 3
Written and Illustrated by Rumi Ichinhe
Published by Kodansha Comics
Winner of the 2024 Kodansha Manga Award for Shojo, from the creator of My Sweet Girl comes a new manga about four teenagers and their four stories of unrequited love. When you don't want to lose a friendship but long for something more, the only thing you can do is gaze at your beloved's face, turned away...
A bitter and sweet tale perfect for fans of A Sign of Affection and In the Clear Moonlit Dusk.
Mari Takahashi is a beautiful, shy girl, who is attracted to her teacher, Matsudaira-sensei. One day, her secret feelings come spilling out...
Meanwhile, Hikaru Asagiri, a handsome student with impeccable academic and athletic ability, enters the picture. He lives life on easy mode, but what does he hide in his heart?
7. I Tried To Find A Bible Quote But They All Kinda Stunk
Kana keeps getting the good licenses, damn. I guess that’s what to expect when the big publishers re-enter the manga game - sorry Del Ray. As with all these blurbs, they hit all the touchstones that’ll get me interested, even if a post-ecocide future is not the kind of story I usually love reading, but it really is the cover, with its lush linework, that got me. The character’s have a great “classic fantasy manga” look to them while still feeling modern, with a heavy influence from Kamome Shirahama. We’ll see if that level of quality can last past a couple chapters.
Eden of Witches, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Yumeji
Published by Kana
When a young witch is forced from her home by humankind, can she awaken her powers and find a way to save her home? People and nature are at odds in this epic Ghibli-esque fantasy manga from debut author Yumeji.
In a world devastated by humankind and forsaken by plants and animals, only witches have the power to communicate with nature.
A long time ago, plants and animals lived in harmony . . . until humankind came to power and, unable to coexist with nature, destroyed and exploited both flora and fauna without a second thought. Now the world has become a barren wasteland. But witches have the power to speak to nature. Blamed for the extinction of plant life, and feared by humanity for their powers, they hide away from the rest of humanity in secret lairs bursting with greenery.
Pili, a young witch-apprentice, has set out on the roads accompanied by the wolf Oak. However, she is not accustomed to the world outside and traveling long distances. Her fatigue quickly takes its toll, and she ends up injuring herself by tumbling down a rocky slope! Fortunately, a boy named Bowei finds Pili and takes her home to nurse her back to health.
However, the arrival of the unfamiliar young lady arouses suspicion among other villagers, who quickly discern her true nature as a witch. And all captured witches share the fate of execution!
Eden of Witches is a magical and lushly illustrated coming-of-age story perfect for fans of Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä, and Witch Hat Atelier, brought expertly to life by rising star manga artist Yumeji. It will sweep readers away into a fairy tale where witches and their familiars are the last keepers of the natural world.
6. Like a Lepidoptera
suu Morishita is a creator to look out for. Her current series, “A Sign of Affection,” is one of my favorites, but sadly one I fell off of when ComiXology imploded and I got busy. So when a new title comes out, my ears perk up. What I didn’t realize was this was her first series and that has me even more intrigued.
“Shortcake Cake,” her sophomore outing, is pretty decent, though more fluff than anything else. Morishita grew leaps and bounds between those two books and I wonder if that’s the case with “Like a Butterfly” or if “A Sign of Affection” is more a return to her roots. Only a read through will tell. Though I may wait until it’s all out to read it at once.
Like a Butterfly, Vol. 9
Written and Illustrated by suu Morishita
Published by Viz
Would you rather wait for love like a flower, or fly toward love like a butterfly?
Suiren Shibazeki is often compared to a beautiful flower—but one that grows on the tallest peak of a mountain, forever out of reach. When Suiren develops feelings for the quiet Taichi Kawasumi, however, she doesn’t want to be a distant flower. She’d rather leave her lofty perch and fly toward him like a butterfly.
Suiren and Kawasumi love each other, but they also hurt one another—to the point where they mutually decide to put some distance between them. As they work through their uncertainty, maybe the summer festival that got them together in the first place can provide a magical spark!
5. LEL
I mean, if that acronym doesn’t tell you all you need to know about this super serious spy tale then I don’t know what to say. I’m all in and ready to roll.
Shimazaki in the Land of Peace, Vol. 1
Written by Gouten Hamada
Illustrated by Takeshi Seshimo
Published by Vertical, Inc
Seamlessly mixing secret agent-type action with slice-of-life vignettes and fish-out-of-water comedy, "Shimazaki in the Land of Peace" is the charming alternate history political thriller you never knew you were dying to read. Utterly unique, with stunning artwork, this hit series promises to keep the thrills and surprises coming even as it warms even the coldest heart.
Shingo Shimazaki was kidnapped as a boy by the LEL, an international terrorist organization who turned him into an elite covert operative in their war against the international community. After thirty years, he has finally escaped their clutches and returned to his native Japan. All he wants now is to live in peace…but what will happen when his past catches up to him? The acclaimed, action-packed slice-of-life adventure begins here!
4. The Classics, Reimagined
This is a wholly original work, as far as I can tell. Yet it feels like a rediscovered Tezuka project. Or perhaps Leiji Matsumoto. Definitely not Go Nagai, the sick freak (love you Nagai.) I’m not actually well versed enough in the history of manga to fully trace the influence across generations - how it morphed, what was a touchstone where - but one thing is clear, other than the reference names: “Thunder 3” is harkening back to an bygone era of manga and I want to know where it is going.
Also, the main kid is Pyontaro! You can’t say no to a Pyontaro!
Thunder 3, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Yuki Ikeda
Published by Vertical, Inc
An amazing blend of art styles combined with hard-SF elements and meta-comedy to create a comic truly unlike any other!
Pyontaro is a middle schooler whose little sister, Futaba, simply adores him. One day, he and his buddies—the so-called “Small Three”—decide to watch a weird disc their teacher lent them. Little do the boys realize this disc is linked to another universe...and while they aren’t looking, Futaba gets sucked in! Can Pyontaro and his friends find Futaba? And just what is this other world they've discovered?!
3. Weird Wednesday
I absolutely love this concept. Amazing! The perfect hook for a body swap story. What does it mean to plagiarize? Where is the line between homage and hacky aping? Does talent alone work to send one to the top or are the lessons of the past inapplicable to the present? I need to know!
Even if none of these questions are what the series tackles, I wanna see the bitter fighting and manga creation insights this will almost certainly have. Dragon vs. Chameleon. Fight!
Dragon and Chameleon, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Ryo Ishiyama
Published by Square Enix Manga
When a veteran manga creator inexplicably switches bodies with his jealous assistant, their clashing artistic ideals will rock the entire industry!
Garyo Hanagami is a best-selling manga artist praised as a genius of the craft. Shinobu Miyama is a bitter rookie with a knack for copying other people’s art styles. When an accident causes the two to switch bodies, Miyama is more than happy to take Hanagami’s place, forcing the veteran to rebuild his career from the ground up. Now, the dragon must reclaim his throne from the chameleon who replaced him!
2. John Bon Oda
The “why now” aspect of this collection is particularly striking. I talked about this last month with Gotouge but we’re seeing a glut of new “before they got big” collections and re-releases. Now, we’ve got one for the biggest name in manga at the moment: Eiichiro Oda. Did you know he even HAD work before “One Piece?” I didn’t. I thought he just appeared, fully formed, with a series that just…never ends.
Let the myth be dismissed and the truth ring out! But wait? Why, if this is so monumental, is it not #1? Well…
Wanted! Eiichiro Oda Before One Piece
Written and Illustrated by Eiichiro Oda
Published by Viz
A series of original works by the mastermind behind the worldwide hit One Piece.
See another version of Luffy in the original short story that launched a legend. The creator of One Piece presents this unique collection of his earliest works. From Western to fantasy to ghost story, this special volume has it all—including “Romance Dawn,” the one-shot that would become the international megahit One Piece!
1. To Me, My Theme Song
Who knew this existed?! I live for gems like these. What an absolute delight it was to find out an X-Men manga existed and that it’s from the 90s, no less! Take that Doc Ock isekai and “Deadpool Samurai.” Now just bring over the 70s “Spider-Man” manga Viz. You know people are hungry for it!
X-men: the Manga: Remastered, Vol. 1
Written by Hiroshi Higuchi
Illustrated by Koji Yasue, Miyako Cojima, Rei Nakahara and Reiji Hagiwara
Published by Viz
A deluxe manga take on your favorite X-Men stories!
Jubilation Lee is a teenager with a secret: she’s a mutant, the next level of human evolution, and has fantastic powers. All she wants is a normal life with trips to the mall to get away from her parents, but when the mutant-hunting robots known as Sentinels come after her, that normal life is pushed out of her reach! Discover the X-Men—mutant heroes hated and feared by a world they’re sworn to protect—alongside Jubilee in this classic manga series!
X-Men: The Animated Series was a global sensation and the perfect introduction to Marvel’s mutants! The classic manga adaptation, unavailable for years, now finally returns to print! Newly remastered and presented in a deluxe edition, this is the ultimate X-Men collector’s item!
Previous installments:
Elias Rosner
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