Columns 

Soliciting Multiversity: Top 10 Manga for October 2022

By | August 4th, 2022
Posted in Columns | % Comments

Welcome back, manga fans! The supply chain problems with printing continue to worsen as I had to cut basically all the books I was going to highlight since they’re not coming out until, like, Feb 2023 or later. There were…so many damn books in this month’s previews. Like, 2-3 hundred titles to whittle down from. That’s way too many. That I got it down to 10 (plus a cheat) took an effort I don’t think I could do again. I hope you all appreciate what I do for you.

Also for those wondering why I rarely, if ever, put Tokyopop books on this list? Nola at 3-time Eisner-winning WWAC says it pretty succinctly, and this Trung tweet, where I first heard the news of the contest’s return, puts a lovely bow on the matter:

10.5. I Really Need to Read This Already

I love these covers so much. So. So. Much. They’re gorgeous and soft and I really need to know if this manga is actually any good. This is the only reason it’s a bonus and not higher on the list like last time.

As I’ve mentioned before, Light Novel seems well liked so I can’t imagine this not being as good, if not better. But then I remember The Promised Neverland season 2. Let’s hope this is not like that.

JK Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World, Vol. 4
Written by Ko Hiratori
Illustrated by J-Ta Hamada
Published by Ghost Ship

Haru Koyama was an ordinary student until her moron classmate got them both in a terrible accident. Now Haru has been transported to another world where only men are allowed to be adventurers. Determined to make the most of it, she takes a job in the Blue Cat Nocturne brothel to make a living the only way she knows how. No cheat abilities, no powers, just her quick wits and naughty bits!

10. Sleeping With the Exes

I try to highlight romance comics here but I have to admit, I’m pretty behind on a lot of my readings. So while this series sounds like a fun twist on a messy drama, I have no idea if it’s good, different, or even what volume 7 will be like. Still, I like the melancholy of the cover and the description makes me laugh. Are these two meant for each other, or is this a case of needing to move on fully? I’m ready to find out.

How Do We Relationship?, Vol. 7
Written and Illustrated by Tamifull
Published by Viz LLC

Getting over an ex is hard, especially when you’re still sleeping with them! It takes Miwa and Saeko a while to let go of that final aspect of their relationship, but now they are both ready to move on and give new love a chance.

9. Awful Title, Fascinating Idea

I really do not like this title. Either translation made a big misstep or it’s accurate to the original but regardless, yeesh. Why’s it here though? Well, the core concept is super out there and the art on the cover made me want to know what’s going on. Yen Press believes in this title, it seems, and apparently it’s by a well regarded BL mangaka. I’ll give it shot with that pedigree and I think you should too.

Gay Who Turned Kaiju
Written and Illustrated by Kazuki Minamoto
Published by Yen Press

Bullied for being gay, teenager Takashi Arashiro wishes he could just be somebody else-but who could predict he’d morph into a giant-headed sci-fi creature?! Takashi’s tumultuous emotions become the catalyst for personal and social exploration of the LGBTQ experience in this quirky, profound manga from prolific BL author Kazuki Minamoto.

8. Gluteus Maximus

It’s a reverse isekai! On my list?? Yeah, this is going to be a weird month for a number of reasons. The first is: I don’t actually know if I would like this comic. It’s one of those books that I’ve heard a lot about though and the concept, a roman architect uses modern Japanese bathhouses as inspiration to create a bathhouse empire in one of the most famous empires ever, is ridiculous but intriguing. Fans of out-there comedies with a tint of isekai will love this and everyone else might get a kick out of it too.

Continued below

Plus, who can turn down a complete collection? Not me.

Thermae Romae: The Complete Omnibus
Written and Illustrated by Mari Yamazaki
Published by Yen Press

When Roman architect Lucius is criticized for his outdated thermae designs, he retreats to the local bath to collect his thoughts. All Lucius wants is to recapture the Rome of earlier days, when one could enjoy a relaxing bath without the pressure of merchants and roughhousing patrons. But as he slips deeper into the water, Lucius is caught in the drainage and dragged through the bottom of the bath!

He emerges amid a group of strange-looking foreigners with the most peculiar bathhouse customs…over 1,500 years in the future in modern-day Japan! His contemporaries wanted him to modernize, so-borrowing the customs of these mysterious bath-loving people-Lucius opens what quickly becomes the most popular new bathhouse in Rome: Thermae Romae! Soak in Mari Yamazaki’s fantastic story and art in this deluxe omnibus!

7. Om Nom Nom Clouds

Sci-fi standalone comic by the Heavenly Delusion guy? . I’ve already sung that manga’s praises enough so this is an easy pick for the list.

Skygrazer
Written and Illustrated by Masakazu Ishiguro
Published by Vertical Comics

From the creator of Heavenly Delusion comes a strangely twisted mystery story. There are weird people abound in a mysterious structure called the Skygrazer: some boys looking for an erotic book, a space detective, a robot… and then a murder happens! Agent Saeko Sakuraba begins an investigation to reveal the astonishing truth hidden in the Skygrazer.

6. Classic Shonen Trope

Nosebleeds when something lewd happens in manga is a long-time staple, especially in the shonen genre. So when the creator of “Beastars” decides to make that the center of her manga, crank it up to 11, and turn it into a touching story of love and self-acceptance? Of course it’s gonna make my list.

Drip Drip
Written and Illustrated by Paru Itagaki
Published by Viz LLC

Whenever Mako Higari sees something dirty, whether real or symbolic, she gets a massive nosebleed. How can she find a loving partner and commit to a meaningful intimate relationship if just touching another person makes her bleed out? Her first challenge might be learning to love herself…

5. Mysterious Romance

Volume 1 just came out and I’m waiting to get my hands on it but I’m already hyped for volume 2. The cover, the description, the ideas, it’s all got me hooked and I need to know what’s coming next.

Kowloon Generic Romance, Vol. 2
Written and Illustrated by Jun Mayuzuki
Published by Yen Press

“I love him.” In a room lit by the setting sun, Kujirai discovers her feelings for her coworker Kudou. With a secret love comes unspoken desires and shocking truths brought to light in this dreamlike romance, brought to life by elegant brushstrokes.

4. Secret Romance

This has really turned into the off-beat romance month, hasn’t it? Manga covers do a lot of heavy lifting and I’m willing to admit they often influence my picks more than they should. However, they’re what get your attention first and are a good representation of the comic within, both in terms of tone and style. I like this one’s tone and style and the blurb simply clinched it. I’m ready to watch Nobukuni absolutely flounder about thanks to some garbage advice from magazines. That’s half the fun of awkward adolescent romance!

I Get the Feeling That Nobukuni Likes Me, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Kousuke Yasuda
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment

A delightful romantic comedy about young passion and the (awkward) act of seduction! Nobukuni is in love with Sasaki, a boy who sits next to her in class. But how can she get him to notice her? A deep dive into teen magazines and heeding the advice of a cool girl in class gives Nobukuni all kinds of ideas: try to sleep cutely at her desk, flash a little skin, and kindly waft some of her pheromones in Sasaki’s direction. She’s not getting much of a reaction, so she fears it isn’t working; little does she know he’s hiding some secret feelings of his own!

Continued below

3. Fashion! The Sequel.

I had no idea this was a sequel to the yaoi manga “Canis: Dear Mr. Rain.” So, this may not be the best place to start but that’s just one volume. I love the chaos of the cover and Zakk’s art is simply stunning. It reminds me of “Blue Period” and if it’s half as good as that, this is a winner of a series.

Canis: Dear Hatter, Vol. 1
Written and Illustrated by Zakk
Published by Denpa Books – Kuma

After taking him in on that rainy day, the mysterious Ryou now lives with the mad hatter, Kutsuna. With his stellar staff’s help, business has been booming. However, one fateful day, Kutsuna’s rival and long-time friend Gotou informs him that he has been entered into New York Fashion Week. Initially Kutsuna was hesitant to travel, but over time he steels his resolve. Once in New York, Kutsuna encounters some of Ryou’s old acquaintances.

2. Gentle Rain on Thick Trees

Soft woods manga are my jam, as strange as that may sound. “Mu-shi-shi” is a good example of what I mean and “Girl from the Other Side” is another. Both are quite sad, now that I think about it. I don’t see this one being quite that sad, though the cover is very melancholic.

Whatever. I just want my soft, men loving men comic with a hint of fantasy and a whole lot of woods.

Entangled With You: Garden of 100 Grasses
Written and Illustrated by Aki Aoi
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment

A beautiful and self-contained Boys’ Love fairy tale set in the deep, dark woods.
Once upon a time, Marcel’s sister fell in the forest while gathering herbs. Her injuries were grave and Marcel was at a loss for what to do, until a fearsome horned man appeared, offering help-in exchange for a promise. Now, ten years later, Marcel returns to the woods, steeling himself for death. Instead, he finds something quite different: a gentle soul, friendship… and perhaps something more.

1. Peak Isekai

You know you’ve reached peak isekai when I’ve put not one but TWO on my list. “No Longer Allowed in Another World” is a play on Dazai’s “No Longer Human” and that joke alone has me engaged. The central conceit, though, is what shot this book to the top of this month’s list. This feels like it was inspired, at least in part, by “Ya Boy Kongming.” Transplanting historical figures into modern day or moving modern day people into ancient times is nothing new but moving reluctant author/protagonist extraordinaire, Osamu Dazai, into a fantasy world is inspired.

Hopefully the joke won’t get old fast, though I suspect it won’t. Having a writer who just wants to be left alone to mope and write but is constantly being dragged into typical isekai shenanigans AND having no context for any of it is just too rife with potential to let it go to waste. Just let my sad boy write, elves!

No Longer Allowed in Another World, Vol. 1
Written by Hiroshi Noda
Illustrated by Takahiro Wakamatsu
Published by Seven Seas Entertainment

An adventure in another world with cute girls by your side and video game-like powers-sounds like an anime fan’s dream, right? Not so for melancholic author Osamu Dazai, who would quite literally prefer to drop dead. Video games haven’t even been invented yet when he gets yanked into another world in 1948. Really, all the fantastical adventure he keeps running into is just getting in the way of his poetic dream of finding the perfect place to die. But no matter how much he risks his hide, everything seems to keep turning out okay. Follow a miserable hero like no other in this cheerfully bleak isekai comedy!

Anything I missed? What are YOU looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!


//TAGS | Soliciting Multiversity

Elias Rosner

Elias is a lover of stories who, when he isn't writing reviews for Mulitversity, is hiding in the stacks of his library. Co-host of Make Mine Multiversity, a Marvel podcast, after winning the no-prize from the former hosts, co-editor of The Webcomics Weekly, and writer of the Worthy column, he can be found on Twitter (for mostly comics stuff) here and has finally updated his profile photo again.

EMAIL | ARTICLES



  • -->