Welcome back, manga fans! I was torn between making this a list of repeats of my personal favs I’m reading or really reaching outside my comfort zone. Why you ask? Well because Seven Seas, Kodansha, and most of the smaller pubs had very few titles this month! I know. I’m as shocked as you are. Let’s see how I threaded that needle, shall we?
10. Mmmmmm Waffles
So. Uh. I could not for the life of my confirm whether or not this met my standard for “manga” from back in November 2022. It appears to be an entirely French production that uses the terms anime to describe the show and manga to describe the comic. But that’s all I could figure out definitively. I know these definitions are porous (and arbitrary) but dammit Ablaze, you’re just making this more confusing for me here!
Still it seems very fun, has a long history, and since this is a small month, I’m allowing this little cheat. Plus I only realized it fully once typing this up and I do not have the time to pick a different 10th pick.
Wakfu, Vol. 1: The Quest for the Eliatrope Dofus
Written by Azra
Illustrated by Said Sassine
Published by Ablaze
From TOT, the creator of the anime hit, comes this exciting new manga series!
The adventures of the Brotherhood of the Tofu continue! In a story that directly follows season 2 of the Anime series.
Yugo, Ruel, Percedal, Amalia and Evangelyne are now living their lives, each on their own. The adventurers reunite at Alibert’s for Yugo and Adamai’s birthday, launching this latest saga when a party pooper comes to interrupt the celebrations and force our friends to set off on the road once again for adventure!
9. Big Tiddie Goth Assassins From Another World
Narita’s manga work is more rocky than his light novels (“Baccano!” and “Durarara!!”) There’s just something airier about it that doesn’t always jive. And there’s plenty to quibble with in “Dead Mount Death Play,” like the humor and the cheesecakeiness of its art. Still, I think it’s worth read ahead of its anime debut. It won’t be for everyone, or even the people who like it all the time. However, the concepts are really cool, it’s a reverse isekai and the characters are properly buck wild. Plus, I think this volume is past where I stopped reading. (Thanks ComiXology.) So that’s exciting!
Dead Mount Death Play, Vol. 9
Written by Ryohgo Narita
Illustrated by Shinta Fujimoto
Published by Yen Press
As the epic showdown between Civil and the Corpse God rages on, truths long kept hidden are dragged into the light. Obsession, longing, resentment, revenge, friendship-everything comes to a head in Shinjuku. The battle is on!
8. Being on the Recommendation of a Friend
“Frieren” seems to have everything I could want in a fantasy comic. A non-traditional plot i.e. starting AFTER the big bad has been defeated. Melancholy. Relaxation. And not a single Isekai-ism in sight. Is it a very traditional Western-style fantasy world still? Yeah, and that’s a shame, but you can’t win em all.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 8
Written by Kanehito Yamada
Illustrated by Tsukasa Abe
Published by Viz Media, LLC
The Northern Plateau-a wild and dangerous place, filled with monsters and other threats. Frieren once traveled it with her legendary friends now long passed. Now, she finds herself following those familiar paths with new friends. Frieren’s journey brings back many old memories, including…the terrible flavor of bread?
7. Manga, Bub
I should be upfront. Nihei’s art is not my thing. I think it’s kinda ugly and hard to parse. But it’s highly distinctive and he’s got great big concepts. Will that work with a character like Wolverine? Especially a turn-of-the-millenia version of the character. I mean, if it’s getting a deluxe re-release, I have to imagine it’s at least historically worth it.
Continued belowWolverine SNIKT!
Written and Illustrated by Tsutomu Nihei
Published by Viz Media, LLC
In 2003, fresh off the success of his hit series Blame!, star manga creator Tsutomu Nihei connected with Marvel Comics, writing and drawing the limited series Wolverine: Snikt! Bringing his signature style to bear on the iconic X-Man, Nihei took Wolverine to a darker, more terrifying dimension, presented here in a deluxe edition.
6. Filled with Light. Emptied by Darkness.
I. Am. Sold. I need this comic now and I need to know what’s with the strange light. Is this an alien story? A rapture story? A different sci-fi twist? Magical realism?? And the DRAMA of your friend no longer being your friend like this? It’s too enticing to ignore.
The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Mokumokuren
Published by Yen Press
Two boys lived in a village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. The two did everything together…until the day Hikaru was encompassed by a mysterious light. That was when everything changed-Hikaru most of all. Yoshiki still wishes from the bottom of his heart to always stay by his side…but is there even a Hikaru left to be with?
5. Read With Caution
Another queer auto-bio manga, this time one that seems decidedly less upbeat, or at least more upfront about the difficulties of its content, than the others I’ve highlighted before. I figured a fair warning was appropriate since this is less a story of coming out, as many of the others have been, and more a story of living as a nonbinary person in Japan and the intertwining traumas they experience.
Until I Love Myself, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Poppy Pesuyama
Published by Viz Media, LLC
Still reeling from being born into a body they hate, Pesuyama confronts their past, their friends, and even their mother as they try to come to terms with who they are and what they experienced.
4. Maybe Now We Can Get Volume 2 of Wandering Son?
I’ve been waiting for these books to come back into print for a while now. By all accounts, “Dementia 21” is an absolute bonkers ride and now it’s going to be widely available in this gorgeous slipcase format. Hell yeah! Now I can finally use my Fantagraphics gift card.
Dementia 21 Box Set
Written and Illustrated by Kago
Published by Fantagraphic Books
A two-volume custom slipcase set featuring the devilishly funny, absurdist adult manga stories by Shintaro Kago, one of the most transgressive and experimental of Japan’s manga auteurs. Initially printed in a super limited edition run, Fantagraphics is bringing this title back into print for trade audiences. Presented in a beautifully designed deluxe slipcase, it contains the complete two-volume paperback set of this engrossing and bestselling manga series.
3. Sakamoto Desu Ga?
Did you not heed my cool recommendation of the series? Do you think you’re cooler than it? Are you going to skip out on the coolest manga right now? No. No you’re not.
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 8
Written and Illustrated by Yuto Suzuki
Published by Viz Media, LLC
In the third stage of the JCC transfer test, the participants are divided into multiple teams for a deadly game of “tail tag.” Three applicants, who have skipped the opening stages of the exam because of special endorsements from seasoned assassins, cause a stir with their disturbing styles. Meanwhile, Shin is determined to show Mr. Sakamoto-who just so happens to be an opponent in this round-that he’s made progress!For older teen audiences.
2. Literary Me Up
I’m in love with the name of this collection but that’s not the only reason it’s here at #2. Older mangaka, especially older female mangaka, with any recent work is much rarer than one might think in the US market. And any short story collection by a single creator is worth a gander in my book. This is where you find the most experimental or raw comics and I have no doubt “Offshore Lightning” will also be one of those.
Offshore Lightning
Written and Illustrated by Saito Nazuna
Published by Drawn & Quarterly
Nazuna Saito began making comics late. She was in her forties when she submitted a story to a major Japanese publishing house and won an award for newcomers. Offshore Lightning collects Saito’s early work as well as two recent graphic novellas “In Captivity” (2012) and “Solitary Death Building” (2015), both focused on aging and death.
1. A+. Will Make You Cry
Continued below
All you need to know is it’s a Fujimoto work and one of his best. I’ve already said my piece and Brian’s said his. The new cover is also dope as fuck. Go read this the second it comes out.
Goodbye, Eri
Written and Illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto
Published by Viz Media, LLC
From the mad genius behind Chainsaw Man and Look Back comes a new story about coping with loss. Yuta’s moviemaking career started with the request from his mother to record her final moments. But after her death, Yuta meets a mysterious girl named Eri who takes his life in new directions. The two begin creating a movie together, but Eri harbors an explosive secret.For older teen audiences.
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Anything I missed? What are YOU looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!
