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Manga Review – Mushishi

Mushishi Volume 1

Mushishi
蟲師
URUSHIBARA Yuki
Seinen – Supernatural, drama, adventure, mystery
10 Volumes (completed) [7 volumes + 1 omnibus]
Del Rey / Kodansha Comics USA
Out-of-print

Summary:

Ephemeral creatures known as mushi inhabit the world. Some mushi try to lure unsuspecting humans to an early grave; others provide help to the living. Ginko is a wanderer who works as a mushishi, a person whose job is investigating and solving mysteries involving mushi.

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Seven Seas’ Series Spree

Seven Seas Manga

Seven Seas has made quite a few announcements over the past few days.

First, new licenses for 2017:

Ghost Diary (Kaidan Nikki) – NATSUMEGU Seiju
The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún (Totsukuni no Shoujo) – Nagabe
Hana & Hina After School (Hana to Hina wa Houkago) – MORINAGA Milk
Kase-san and… (… to Kase-san) – TAKASHIMA Hiromi
Kindred Spirits on the Roof (Okujou no Yurirei-san) – ITO Hachi, FUMIO Aya, & AMATSU Toi [Omnibus]
Secret of the Princess (Ohime-sama no Himitsu) – MORINAGA Milk
There’s a Demon Lord on the Floor (Floor ni Maou ga Imasu) – KAWAKAMI Masaki
Tokyo Undead – SAIMURA Tsukasa [Omnibus]

Seven Seas is also teaming up with FUJIMARU Mamenosuke of the Alice in the Country of series to make a manga version of The Wizard of Oz series. The shoujo series will be titled Captive Hearts of Oz and be written by MARUYU Ryo.

They are also starting to release their titles as NOOK e-books.

So, are you interested in any of these titles?

Manga Review – Aishiteruze Baby

Aishiteruze Baby Volume 1

Aishiteruze Baby
愛してるぜベイベ
MAKI Yoko
Shoujo – Comedy, drama, romance
7 Volumes (complete)
Viz Media

Summary:

Kippei is the biggest ladies’ man at his school. No strings, no commitments; just fun. One day, his family takes in his five-year-old cousin after her mother disappears, and Kippei is put in charge of her. Can this playboy handle taking care of a little girl?

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Anime Review – Pokémon Origins

Pokemon Origins

Pokémon Origins
ポケットモンスター THE ORIGIN (Pocket Monsters THE ORIGIN)
Kodomo – Action, adventure
4 Episodes (complete)
Hulu / Amazon / iTunes

Summary:

In a world where strange beings called Pokémon can be caught and battled, a young boy named Red begins his journey to catch every Pokémon. Along the way, Red will have to deal with his rival named Blue, a group of criminals called Team Rocket, and even his own inexperience.

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Manga Review – L DK

LDK Volume 1

L♥DK
WATANABE Ayu
Shoujo – Romance, slice-of-life
4 Volumes (ongoing)
Kodansha Comics USA

Summary:

When her best friend is rejected by the school prince, Shusei, Aoi decides to confront him. He shrugs off the encounter, making her even more mad. But Aoi’s life takes a strange turn when Shusei not only moves in next door, but moves into her apartment when she ruins his!

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Manga Review – Immortal Rain

Immortal Rain Volume 1

Immortal Rain
メテオ・メトセラ (Meteor Methuselah)
OZAKI Kaori
Shoujo – Romance, action, adventure, comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, drama
8 Volumes (incomplete, suspended) out of 11 Volumes (original Japanese release)
Tokyopop
Out of print

Summary:

Machika intends to carry on her grandfather’s legacy of being a great assassin. Her first target is the only man her grandfather couldn’t capture: the immortal Methuselah. Methuselah — whose real name is Rain — saves her, but Machika swears Rain is her prey and will follow him anywhere.

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Manga Review – The Devil is a Part-Timer! High School!

The Devil is a Part-Timer! High School! Volume 1

The Devil is a Part-Timer! High School!
はたらく魔王さま!ハイスクール! (Hataraku Maou-sama! High School!)
MISHIMA Kurone (art); WAGAHARA Satoshi (original story); 029/Oniku (character design)
Seinen – Comedy, fantasy, romance
3 Volumes (ongoing)
Yen Press
Review copy/copies

Summary:

On the brink of defeat, the Devil King and one of his generals escape their world and find themselves in modern Japan. With no magic and no other options, the Devil King (known as Sadao) enrolls in high school to restart his conquest..as student council president. But Sadao’s plans may be in jeopardy when a new student arrives and threatens him!

Note: this review has been updated and can be found here.

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Manga Review – My Little Monster

My Little Monster Volume 1

My Little Monster
となりの怪物くん (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun)
Robico
Shoujo – Romance, comedy, drama, slice-of-life
13 Volumes (complete)
Kodansha Comics USA

Summary:

Shizuku just wants to spend her days concentrating on school. At least she doesn’t have to worry about the boy who is supposed to sit next to her bothering her, as he got suspended. When Shizuku is asked to deliver some printouts to the boy, Haru, she witnesses his much-rumored temper! Then Haru suddenly declares he’s friends with Shizuku…

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Manga Review – Beast Master

Beast Master Volume 1

Beast Master
ビースト・マスター
MOTOMI Kyousuke
Shoujo – Romance, comedy, drama
2 Volumes (complete)
Viz Media

Summary:

Animals hate Yuiko so much that a stranger has to rescue her own cat. The boy, Leo, ends up in Yuiko’s class, but there’s a rumor he’s the one responsible for beating up local thugs. Yuiko still decides to befriend Leo, but Leo may have brought his wild life–and his wild side–to Japan.

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Unlicensed Spotlight – Gokusen

Gokusen Volume 1

Gokusen
ごくせん
MORIMOTO Kozueko
Josei – Comedy, action, romance
15 Volumes (complete, original), 12 Volumes (handy edition), 11 Volumes (bunko)
Shueisha (You)

Summary:

Kumiko is ready to start her first year of teaching at an all-boys school known for delinquents and slackers. The students of 2-4 have no interest in learning, let alone from some weird, fresh-out-of-college chick. Only one student, Shin, thinks that Kumiko is not as weak as she appears to be. And he’s right: she’s the granddaughter of a yakuza boss!

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