Welcome back, manga fans! May seems to be a fairly dry month when it comes to new manga releases and an off month for all the usual Viz shonen/shojo weeklies, which meant I couldn’t gush about 90% of the stuff I just caught up on, so instead I got to dig into some more eclectic choices; as if I don’t usually do that anyway. Be warned, one of my picks is rated very A for Adult but I couldn’t not put it on the list.
You’ll know it when you see it.
10. Will We Ever Get Past This Trend of Exceptionally Long Titles?
I don’t actually know how quality this series is but I am in love with the cover and if the insides are anything like it, I think it’ll be at the very least well drawn, if not well plotted. The story is intriguing enough but I’m really here for the cover. That said, I did some digging and found a regular looking cover that screams “bland fantasy world” so your mileage may vary.
The White Cat’s Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King’s Lap, Vol. 3
Written by Yamigo Kureha
Illustrated by Aki
Published by Yen Press
After discovering the horrific conditions in Nadasha, Ruri decides she can’t sit back on the sidelines any longer. Determined to prevent the outbreak of war, she’ll have to somehow convince the Priestess Priestess herself-Asahi. Can Ruri’s naive and clueless childhood friend be made to see reason?!
9. I Can Be Your Eniael or Yuor Deweila
Kamome Shirahama is currently doing career work on “Witch Hat Atelier” so it makes sense her first series would make its way over here. Why didn’t it come out first? Well, it sounds like it’s 90% buddy comedy with little plot and lots of pin-up material. That doesn’t make it any less valuable, but it does explain why it took until after “Atelier.” But more Shirahama art is always welcomed and if anyone is going to do fan service with class, it’s gonna be Shirahama.
Eniale & Deweila, Vol. 3
Written and illustrated by Kamome Shirahama
Published by Yen Press
The troublemaking heavenly agents Eniale and the serious-business hellspawn Dewiela have a history of messing with Earth, and they’ve finally aroused the anger of an exorcist’s society! When a catfight turns into a triple threat (thanks to the involvement of Donovan the exorcist), one question remains: Who will come out on top in this final volume – angel, demon, or human?!
8. The Goblin King Would Be Proud
The title and image says it all. This thing exists. The world must know.
Dick Fight Island, Vol. 1
Written and illustrated by Reibun Ike
Published by SuBLime
The tournament to choose the next king of the islands is about to begin. The rules are simple-whoever comes first loses! To ensure they don’t, participating warriors protect their mighty swords with armor that grows larger and more elaborate with each tournament. But one warrior who’s been studying abroad has returned with a secret technique certain to force a pleasurable eruption! Is there a warrior alive able to withstand it? Or is this deft warrior destined to become king?!
7. Healing Manga for Old Souls
Fumi Yoshinaga is the creator of a Josei series I love called “Ooku” and yet I’ve never checked out her arguably more popular series “What Did You Eat Yesterday?” It looks like a simple series about an adult gay couple just…living and discussing life over dinner. That doesn’t sound riveting but in Yoshinaga’s hands, I’m convinced it’s the most engaging thing in the world. Plus, 15 volumes that have made it here in the states has got to count for something.
Continued belowWhat Did You Eat Yesterday, Vol. 15
Written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga
Published by Vertical Comics
From the James Tripee Award Winning author, Fumi Yoshinaga, comes a casual romance between two 40-year-old men and the many meals they share together.
A hard-working middle-aged gay couple in Tokyo come to enjoy the finer moments of life through food. After long days at work, either in the law firm or the hair salon, Shiro and Kenji will always have down time together by the dinner table, where they can discuss their troubles, hash out their feelings and enjoy delicately prepared home cooked meals!
6. Rok and Roll
The description is about as video game fantasy as you can get so it’s either going to be a ton of action fun or a confusing slog but I’m willing to give it a shot, if only because I really dig the art style. Sometimes that’s all you need to buy in y’all.
Ragna Crimson, Vol. 2
Written and illustrated by Daiki Kobayashi
Published by Square Enix Manga
The dragon hunter Ragna embarks on a revenge-fueled quest to eliminate the dragon threat once and for all! Set on victory at any cost, Ragna joins forces with Crimson, a powerful dragon and traitor to his kind. Crimson’s motivations may be obscure, but he and Ragna share the same goal: to destroy the dragon monarchs. Their current target is Disas Trois, the “Tempest Cell,” who is terrorizing a border town with his gruesome, wind-based attacks. Full-color opening spreads are included as exclusive bonus content for the first printing only!
5. Cabbage is on Sale Bro. It’s an Offer You Can’t Refuse
There’s nothing like an absurd gag series that goes hard and “The Way of the Househusband” does that. If you’ve been missing this series, you’re missing out. Hell, it won best humor publication at the Eisners. Trust me on this one.
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 5
Written and illustrated by Kousuke Oono
Published by Viz, LLC
Tatsu is ambushed by a yakuza with a beef, and there’s only one way to settle things-an epic rap battle! But this throwdown is only a warm-up for the buffet battle yet to come, because when you’re the Immortal Dragon, you don’t choose the househusband life, it chooses you!
4. This Secret Will Kill You in Just Seven Days
I…I honestly don’t know what to say about this. I mean, it’s an officially licensed gag manga about Sadako from Ringu and a child named Sadako trying to teach ghost Sadako how to adapt to the modern, post-VHS world??? It’s too ridiculous not to check out.
Sadako San & Sadako Chan
Written by Koji Suzuki & Noriaki Sugihara
Illustrated by Aya Tsutsumi
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC
This hilarious manga takes a look at the softer side of one of horror’s most iconic monsters: Sadako from The Ring! One day, as Sadako goes to claim her next victim, she meets another girl named Sadako. “Sadako-chan” is a precocious young child who’s eager to help “Sadako-san” adjust to the modern era-no more climbing out of TVs, it’s all about YouTube now! With the help of her new friend, can Sadako finally move on from her tragic past? This adorable spin-off to the genre-defining Ringu franchise is terrifyingly funny!
3. B-b-baka Nozaki. You Got Ink All Over My Screentones
Two years ago, I wrote a Don’t Miss This on “Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun.” I think it says all you need to know about this series and why it is comedy gold.
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun, Vol. 12
Written and illustrated by Izumi Tsubaki
Published by Yen Press
Yuzuki Seo will never give up! Although her past attempts at confessing to Wakamatsu were met with… well, not a positive response… she will keep trying until they get across! But before her next attempt, Mashima and Hori-senpai agree to teach her about love. Might they come to some new realizations themselves? Meanwhile, on the Nozaki front, Sakura is the model for a new shoujo manga…
2. Morpheus Has Been Busy It seems
Erased was an anime I adored when it first came out. It was tense, brutal, and told a fantastic mystery. Some people didn’t like how it ended and to that I say…fair enough. The manga was quite different and so it was interesting to see what Sanbe would do next. Cue “For the Kid I Saw in My Dreams,” which Nick actually highlighted the first volume of this way back in 2018. It’s not quite as tense as “Erased” but I think anyone looking for a new thriller should definitely give this a go before the sixth volume comes out.
Continued belowFor the Kid I Saw in My Dreams, Vol. 6
Written and illustrated by Kei Sanbe
Published by Yen Press
The “Fire” Man raids a hospital to rescue a barely conscious Kazuto. He succeeds, despite Wakazono’s hot pursuit. However, the difference between the way Kazuto and his mentor think is more clearly delineated than ever. And now the change in their relationship even has a major impact on the people around Senri. In the end, Enan’s life hangs in the balance…!!
1. Who’s the Drippiest Protag?
I recently finished watching Geoff’s video on fashion in Shonen manga/anime. It’s a great watch but it’s got me thinking more about the visual designs of character, specifically in their fashion. Lo and behold, here’s a series that centers fashion beyond “high fashion,” reminding me a bit of “Princess Jellyfish,” but more grounded. Beyond the cover, which looks hype, I put this at #1 because it’s a series by a trans creator about trans characters dealing with fashion from a non-normative standpoint.
I think this is going to be a damn fine series and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. One thing I don’t get is why it’s being billed as “two extra-large, 400 pages volumes” when from what I could see, the series only has three volumes out in Japan and is still ongoing. Is this a “Vinland Saga,” “Saint Young Men” omnibus only release choice?
Boys Run the Riot, Vol. 1
Written and illustrated by Keito Gaku
Published by Kodansha Comics
A transgender teen named Ryuu finds an escape from the expectations and anxieties of his daily life in the world of street fashion. This personal, heartfelt, fictional story from a Japanese transgender manga creator is completely unique, and comes presented in two extra-large, 400-page volumes.
High schooler Ryuu knows he’s transgender. But he doesn’t have anyone to confide in about the confusion he feels. He can’t tell his best friend, who he’s secretly got a crush on, and he can’t tell his mom, who’s constantly asking why Ryuu is always “dressing like a boy.” He certainly can’t tell Jin, the new transfer student who looks like just another bully. The only time Ryuu feels at ease is when he’s wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self. One day, while out shopping, Ryuu sees an unexpected sight: Jin. The kid who looked so tough in class is shopping for the same clothes that Ryuu loves. And Jin offers Ryuu a proposal: to start their own brand and create apparel to help everyone feel comfortable in their skin. At last, Ryuu has someone he can open up to-and the journey ahead might finally give him a way to express himself to everyone else.
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Anything I missed? What are YOU looking forward to? Let me know in the comments! And please, keep it civil despite the new knowledge that there is a manga called Dick Fight Island.
