Welcome back, manga fans! As you can no doubt tell from the title, I picked a couple more books this month than I’m supposed to again. I have good reason! And that reason is the two books that just missed the cutoff are too interesting not to talk about but don’t quite have the same (potential) recommendation power that I think the rest do.
12. Black Lagoon But Shonen
“Tista’s” rec comes mostly out of historical curiosity. By all accounts, it looks like a very generic, very edgy, book from 2007. However, it’s Tastsuya Endo, of “Spy X Family” acclaim’s first ongoing series, short as it is. That has me very curious to see what kernels of his future work are present and how he has grown and changed as a storyteller. I love that Viz is doing this and I hope more weird, obscure (here in the US) early works by noted creators make their way over.
Tista, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Tatsuya Endo
Published by Viz Media, LLC
In New York City, the NYPD struggles to track down a serial killer known as Sister Militia, who has been targeting mobsters and other criminals in the Big Apple. No one knows who Sister Militia really is except a few residents of a Catholic orphanage. Her name is Tista…For older teen audiences.
11. Can I Get Some of That Cake?
Doing these lists so long as I have has really rotted my brain because I could’ve sworn I’d recommended previous volumes of this series! I even wrote a whole intro predicated on that point. But nope! This is why I try to sneak in as many more as I can handle folks.
I’m enamored by the series’ cute style and hopeful that it will provide both the warm, slice-of-life vibe the central conceit has baked in as well as the meaty drama of romance with an added layer of bildungsroman as Cocoa & Opera learn more about their sexualities and place on the gender spectrum. We need more romances that treat cross-dressing as more than a “shameful secret” or a gag. I was afraid that’s where this would go, as many romantic dramas have before, and I’m very glad to be wrong.
Please don’t make me eat my words “IRL meetup.”
I Crossed Dressed For An IRL Meetup, Vol. 3
Written and Illustrated by Kurano
Published by Kodansha Comics
“Cocoa” has made three best friends in her monthly meetup group, the and girls get together every month to quell their sweet tooths by meeting up at the cutest and trendiest new dessert cafés. Cocoa is in it for the sweets! She’s also harboring a few secrets: Not only does Cocoa have a crush on another one of the girls in the group, Opera, but she’s actually a guy named Satoshi who’s been cross-dressing in order to attend the all-girl group! During one meetup, things come to a head when Opera discovers that Cocoa is cross-dressing-and to Cocoa’s surprise, Opera confesses that he is too! But Cocoa realizes that his attraction to Opera is more than clothing-deep, and as the two grow closer, they’ll learn more about each other-and their own selves-than they could have ever imagined.
10. Shining Shoulder
WTF is an absurd “Elden Ring” comedy?????? Is it just one big shitpost? Is it “Berserk” but everyone is Puck? I think we all need to find out together.
Elden Ring: Road to Erdtree, Vol. 1
Written by FromSoftware
Illustrated by Nikiichi Tobita
Published by Yen Press
The epic and foreboding world of the hit video game Elden Ring gets turned on its head in this absurd comedy adventure! Follow Aseo the Tarnished as he struggles his way through the Lands Between. What he lacks in strength, speed, intelligence, charisma, skill, experience, intuition, and common sense, he makes up for in…uhhh…
9. Madoka Raising Incident
It only just struck me that I haven’t seen a genuine Magical Girl series in forever. Idol manga and isekai that borrow elements of the aesthetic, sure, as well as “deconstructions” more absurd, and gruesome, than the last but nothing that’s a real twist on the genre. At least not since the trend started by Gen “the urobutcher” Urobuchi in the late 2000s, early 2010s. So we’ll see where this one ends up falling on that scale.
Continued belowThe cover is enticing enough but I’m not totally sold. I’ve been burned enough times to know a good cover can sometimes mask a real dud of a series. Won’t stop me from highlighting these books though.
Magical Girl Incident, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Zero Akabane
Published by Yen Press
As a little boy, Sakura Hiromi once dreamed he could be a hero. Now…he’s simply your everyday office worker, toiling away for the sake of his company. Though he longs for his childhood dream, it seems so far out of reach-until he decides to step up and save a child one fateful day. Suddenly, fantasies become reality as Hiromi finds himself transformed into…a magical girl?!
8. Mind Your Manners
Ooooh this one is right up my alley. Twisty detective story with bite to it and a conspiracy angle that’s sure to spiral out of control. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding something? And is Tan innocent or are there more wrinkles to the story? I. Want. To. Know. Even if the art seems a bit…basic.
Manner of Death, Vol. 1
Written by Yukari Umemoto
Illustrated by Sammon
Published by Yen Press
When the skilled coroner Dr. Bunnakit is called to examine the body of his childhood friend after her “suicide,” he soon determines that she was actually murdered. That night, a mysterious stranger threatens him, telling him to rule her death a suicide-and after he confides in his prosecutor friend about this incident, his friend suddenly goes missing. But all hope is not lost, as a young lecturer named Tan offers to help him get to the bottom of all this-which would be more reassuring if Tan weren’t the prime suspect…
7. Endededededededed
Inio Asano is one of those creators whose work I appreciate but don’t actually like. They’re unpleasant to read and hard to follow, with “Dead Dead Demons Dedededestruction” being a prime example. It’s a deeply inscrutable text that’s somehow still compelling and coherent. Now that it’s ending, I think readers will be able to actually follow and get what the hell this alien/time-travel/coming-of-age/weird little book actually was.
Or you can try, at least.
Dead Dead Demon’s Dededededestruction, Vol. 12
Written and Illustrated by Inio Asano
Published by Viz Media, LLC
The end of the world really sucks-rogue AI, foreign occupation, constant firefights between freedom fighters and terrorists, sudden death raining from above. How do you even begin to start over in the middle of all that? Maybe you can’t.Maybe you just have to reset.
This is the end!
For mature audiences.
6. Mmmmm, Dungeon Fried Steak
“Delicious in Dungeon” looks like it’s approaching some form of climax with volume 12, or possibly a brand new phase. I don’t really care which because the revelations about dungeons and the factional politics has me 100% invested in its world, even as the actual cooking & the comedy around it takes a bit more of a backseat. I wonder if they’ll make Lion Wings with Minotaur sauce this time.
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 12
Written and Illustrated by Ryoko Kui
Published by Yen Press
Marcille, now the lord of the dungeon, makes a wish…and it ends up being a curse that threatens to envelop the entire world! Can Laios and his party trick Marcille and stop the winged lion before it’s too late!?
5. Feeeeeeeeesh
Trigger warning for this one, before you read the description. This one seems DARK. Less in a pulp thriller way and more in the “serious literary” way. I’m probably projecting my hopes onto this one after seeing the cover. It’s so moody and pretty. I just want this to not be just misery porn. Is that too much to ask?
Continued belowBoy’s Abyss, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Ryo Minenami
Published by Viz Media, LLC
Reiji’s life is as miserable as the small town he can’t escape. The most interesting thing that’s ever happened there is a double suicide down by the river. Does Reiji have any power over his fate, or will he too fall into the abyss?For mature audiences.
4. 2024 Can’t Come Fast Enough
I hate how infrequently we get volumes of “Witch Hat Atelier.” I get it; good art takes a lot of time and Shirahama’s art is great. I just wish it wasn’t a 15 month wait between volumes. I need to have resolution to the mysteries!!!! At least it’s not as decompressed as a Bendis script.
Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 11
Written and Illustrated by Kamome Shirahama
Published by Kodansha Comics
As the new trial comes to an end, one of Coco’s rewards from Beldaruit the Wise is the story of Qifrey’s past and how he came to desire the mysteries of magic. Feeling a connection with her own desire to save her mother, Coco departs for the source of all answers: the Tower of Tomes. But it is a perilous journey to make on her own, and the secrets held within could sway even the most virtuous of witches
3. A Rec, and a Tribute
Volume 7 of “Sakamoto Days” is a turning point in the series, tonally at least. The humor begins to fade away as the PlotTM kicks into high gear and the action ramps up to 11. Suzuki is doing some amazingly creative and kinetic fight choreography. Plus, it only gets stronger from here.
I also wanted to shout out the late Nicky from the Human Insects podcast for inspiring me to get off my ass and finally catch up with “Sakamoto Days.” If you want to hear it, uh, I have no idea what the time code is. Cut me some slack, the episode is 7 hours long.
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 7
Written and Illustrated by Yuto Suzuki
Published by Viz Media, LLC
Sakamoto and X finally face off! Although Sakamoto has vowed not to kill, X shakes him up by threatening his family. How will Sakamoto fare when confronted with an enemy who has a bloodthirsty grudge against the JAA?!For older teen audiences.
2. Need I Say More?
I’m shocked at how much fun I had with the first of these. Fujimoto’s one-shots are bursting with creativity and off-beat humor. Volume 2 let’s go!
Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man: 22-26
Written and Illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Published by Viz Media LLC
See the origins of the mad genius who created Chainsaw Man! This short story manga collection features Tatsuki Fujimoto’s earliest work. It’s rough, it’s raw, and it’s pure Tatsuki Fujimoto!For older teen audiences.
1. The ViKing Returns
Did you know there was almost a time when “Vinland Saga” stopped being published due to lack of sales? Well thank your lucky stars that didn’t happen, either because it had a dedicated enough fan base or because the anime FUCKING RIPS, because it is a modern masterpiece and now we can appreciate it even more with this deluxe re-release! Bigger pages means better appreciation for Yukimura’s art at its most tender (and most violent).
Now, the first volume isn’t the most even, pacing wise or tonally either. It isn’t fully reflective of the story’s anti-war and anti-violence stance either (yeah, it goes there!) But it’s the start of the journey and trust me, you’ll want to be along for the ride.
Vinland Saga Deluxe Hardcover, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Makoto Yukimura
Published by Kodansha Comics
The epic action manga for fans of Game of Thrones, a story of war, royal intrigue, suspense, and revenge set against the backdrop of the Viking invasions of England, now in a larger, deluxe format! At the turn of the 11th century, the Norse Sea is in the grip of Viking terror. The clever Askeladd leads his small band of mercenaries into London with the aid of the ruthless young Thorfinn, son of a warrior in the dreaded Jomsvikings. But this is an alliance of convenience: Thorfinn has sworn to kill Askeladd one day to avenge his father’s death. When a race begins to capture the prince and secure the rights to the throne, personal grudges will clash with the fate of a kingdom in the balance, and blood will be spilled!
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Anything I missed? What are YOU looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!
