All-purpose MANGA thread! 漫画

[Hive]

ToraDora!
(volume 1 coming March 2011)

Ryuji Takasu has learned the hard way that appearances can be deceiving.
For despite his inwardly sweet personality, his unintentionally sharp gaze
and aggressive features give him the air of a delinquent thug,
putting his chances at making new friends, let alone a girlfriend, next to zero.

It's Ryuji's first day in junior high school and it seems as if things are looking up.
He gets to sit in between his only friend, Yusaku, and more importantly, the girl he's secretly crushing on, Minori Kushieda.
But just when he thinks the stars are aligned in his favor, he unwittingly crosses the most feared girl in school, Taiga Aisaku,
making her into his arch enemy.
To top it off, Taiga has moved in right next door to Ryuji and happens to be Minori's best friend!
Can this school year possibly get any worse?!


Amnesia Labyrinth
(volume 1 coming February 2011)

When high school student Souji Kushiki, an academic achiever and talented athlete from a well-to-do family,
returns home from boarding school, he finds that his sisters Harumi, Youko, and Saki have changed.
Their strangely clingy behavior borders on the inappropriate and bizarre, yet Souji just brushes off their odd behavior at first.

However, when Souji arrives at school the next day, he learns that, during the summer,
one of the students in his class was pushed to his death in front of a subway train.
And what's more, two other students were stabbed by an unknown culprit.
Are the victims linked, and could Souji's sisters have anything to do with the murders?

With the help of his cheery and spunky new girlfriend Yukako Sasai,
straight-laced Souji is about to venture into a twisted world that might just be the end of everything he believes to be true.


A Certain Scientific Railgun
(volume 1 coming June 2011)

Welcome to a world where mysticism and science collide, and supernatural powers are derived from either science or religion.
At the heart of this world is Academy City, an advanced metropolis whose population is comprised mostly of students.
The majority of students are enrolled in the city's "Power Curriculum Program," where they must learn to master their latent psychic powers.
Out of several million students, only seven are deemed powerful enough to have Level 5 status.

Meet Mikoto Misaka, the third most powerful Level 5 esper in Academy City.
Together with her best friend Kuroko Shirai and the other members of Judgment, a student-run law enforcement agency,
Mikoto delves deep into the dark heart of the scientific sprawl she calls home, and uncovers secrets she wishes she hadn't!

[Hive]

via Manga.About.com

Visitors to One Manga were greeted with a pop-up window that posted this message from "Zabi":

"There is an end to everything, to good things as well."
It pains me to announce that this is the last week of manga reading on One Manga (!!).
Manga publishers have recently changed their stance on manga scanlations
and made it clear that they no longer approve of it.
We have decided to abide by their wishes, and remove all manga content (regardless of licensing status) from the site.
The removal of content will happen gradually (so you can at least finish some of the outstanding reading you have),
but we expect all content to be gone by early next week (RIP OM July '10).

The Forums will remain opened, and you can check them out HERE.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Hive

ToraDora!
(volume 1 coming March 2011)

Ryuji Takasu has learned the hard way that appearances can be deceiving.
For despite his inwardly sweet personality, his unintentionally sharp gaze
and aggressive features give him the air of a delinquent thug,
putting his chances at making new friends, let alone a girlfriend, next to zero.

It's Ryuji's first day in junior high school and it seems as if things are looking up.
He gets to sit in between his only friend, Yusaku, and more importantly, the girl he's secretly crushing on, Minori Kushieda.
But just when he thinks the stars are aligned in his favor, he unwittingly crosses the most feared girl in school, Taiga Aisaku,
making her into his arch enemy.
To top it off, Taiga has moved in right next door to Ryuji and happens to be Minori's best friend!
Can this school year possibly get any worse?!

You know, if I hadn't already watched the anime adaptation to know that the first thirteen episodes are basically the best thing ever, I would write this off as a pretty lame series going by this description. :P And... junior high? They're in high school...

I'm not terribly confident they can make a good manga out of a light novel, but I guess we'll see.

[Hive]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

You know, if I hadn't already watched the anime adaptation to know that the first thirteen episodes are basically the best thing ever, I would write this off as a pretty lame series going by this description. :P And... junior high? They're in high school...

I'm not terribly confident they can make a good manga out of a light novel, but I guess we'll see.

I like it when the manga ends up being unique from the anime or light novel counterparts.
I'll be checking out all three of these series, but am mostly looking forward to RAILGUN.

[Hive]

"ALIVE" manga writer Tadashi Kawashima has succumbed to liver cancer recently at the age of 41.

Therefore, the story has ended abruptly at Volume 21 in Japan.
Currently, the North American localization is at volume 8.

[Hive]

[Jiggy]

I'm not sure whether it's more surprising to think of you as that organized or more unsurprising because of your love of manga. :P Nice stuff, though!


I wonder if any companies develop shelves with racks set at exactly the height of a typical manga volume or game case... dust is a big issue in my area, so having any kind of vertical gap between the shelf above and my item below really gets the top of my cases dusty.

[Hive]

dude, you should know by now I'm an OCD clean-freak. haha
Especially considering I mention it whenever we talk about hygiene stuffs. =P

Dust isn't a problem for me thanks to the way the shelves are arranged. You're right! =P

thanks for the compliments, though.

Every single issue is in MINT condition, so I'm really proud of it! ^^

[Hive]

http://manga.about.com/b/2010/07/29/...orst-manga.htm

http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-to...comic-con.html

[Hive]

Pokémon Adventures: Platinum
by Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto


Wiki explanation:
In July 2010, it was announced that the Diamond & Pearl chapter would be published concurrently
with the Gold, Silver & Crystal chapter as a "second series" called Pokémon Adventures: Platinum.
This first volume, as well as Volume 11, are due to be released in February 2011 by Viz Media.

[Jiggy]

After the greatness of Dragon Quest IX, I wondered if there was a Dragon Quest manga--and apparently there is! At where I am about 260 chapters in, I have to say that if I had to make a comparison to another Akira Toryiama work (and this isn't by Toriyama, incidentally) then I'd say it feels a lot more like pre-adult-Goku Dragonball than Dragon Quest with the menagerie of characters getting up seven times in one battle and constantly inventing new techniques on the spot...

...but it's still interesting enough to keep me going, and while I don't care for main hero Dai, tough-and-sweet girl Marm and perennial coward Pop become really nice characters who are easy to care about. I'm not sure I completely appreciate whoever translated these things since I kind of doubt that the original Japanese had Pop constantly invoking the highest profanities, but I can look past that and pay attention to the actual story. Maybe I'm wrong anyway, since Leona and Marm can be treated slightly gratuitously every so often, but Pop really just doesn't seem like the angry type.



Anyway, I think the manga must have started at the point of DQII or DQIII if only because at one point they introduce a flood of "new" monsters that are all from DQIV, so they actually didn't have very much to work with. When they invent sword attacks or spear attacks or whatnot, they're all original works--actual non-spell uses of MP didn't exist back then, and not even in DQIV or DQV. I'm not sure whether they started with VI, VII, or VIII since I didn't play those first two, but my point is that it's kind of interesting to see kind of an alternate-universe development of DQ moves.

And one thing I do find interesting: they do eventually wind up creating a Giga Break attack and then another slash which is based on the idea of combining lightning magic with the sword. Put them together and you basically get Gigaslash, which is a DQ move--but, again, not one that was in the game series prior to this manga. I wonder if they took influence for at least that one.

[Hive]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

After the greatness of Dragon Quest IX, I wondered if there was a Dragon Quest manga--and apparently there is!

Yep!







And the lucky French have had it published in their territory for a few years. **jealousy**

I think it's only a matter of time before it's brought to the states by Viz Media.
Especially considering it's published by Shonen Jump and relates somewhat to Akira Toriyama works.

[Hive]

High School of the Dead
(volume 1 coming 2011)

The first title announced at Yen Press' Comic-Con panel was a real crowd-pleaser.
"Last year at this convention, we got a request for manga with 'more testosterone'," said Hassler.
"So we went looking for the most testosterone-y, most violent license we could find: High School of the Dead!"
After Hassler's announcement was met with cheers, he added, "I guess a few of you have heard of this one!
It's got hot girls, zombies and its set in a high school - it's a win-win all around!"

Currently featured in Fujimi Shobo's Monthly Dragon Age magazine,
High School of the Dead has also been adapted into an anime series
that was recently licensed for North American release by Sentai Filmworks.

After a world-wide pandemic turns many humans into zombies,
a few scrappy student survivors try to fend off the undead from the not-quite safe confines of their high school.
As society collapses around them, the students find that their own sense of right and wrong starts to
morph into something almost as dangerous as the zombies who want to consume them.


Higurashi: When They Cry - Demon Exposing Arc
(volume 1 coming 2011)

The Higurashi: When They Cry series is known for being a multi-faceted,
compelling and extremely creepy horror story.
The rural town of Hinamizawa has so many sinister secrets,
it has spawned numerous versions offering different perspectives on the events that unfold in the main story,
as well as several side stories, like this one, The Demon Exposing Arc.

The events in The Demon Exposing Arc are not directly related to the main Higurashi storyline,
but instead focuses on a young girl named Natsumi who finds that
the Hinamizawa disaster has found a way to curse her with its bloody legacy.
"It's a very creepy story," said Biswas.


The Bride's Stories
(volume 1 coming 2011)

This one was selected as one of a "most wanted, but not licensed" titles at the Comic Con.
It was a top pick for good reason too, because Mori-sensei, the creator of Emma,
has really taken her artistry to the next level with her current series.
"The artist is really putting her heart and all of her effort into it," said Lee.
"Everything is so beautiful."

Instead of Victorian England, the setting of The Brides Stories is the Middle East, circa mid-19th century.
The "bride" is Amira, a young woman who is a skilled hunter and horsewoman.
She has been sent to a neighboring village to marry Karluk,
a young man who, at 12 years of age, is 8 years her junior.
While her new family and young husband accept Amira, circumstances have changed with her family back home,
so her brother has been sent to annul the marriage and bring her back.

"We are very, very thrilled and excited about this one," said Lee.
Yen Press is giving The Bride's Stories the first-class treatment it deserves by promising
a hardcover edition and a larger trim size to showcase Mori-sensei's exquisite artwork.

[merit]

Aww look what Hive sent me! Thanks! Was a nice surprise to suddenly get something in the mail

[Hive]

Originally Posted by merit

Aww look what Hive sent me! Thanks! Was a nice surprise to suddenly get something in the mail

You're welcome! Let me know if it's any good.

And come to Skype sometime to chat. =P

[merit]

So far it's pretty true to the anime! Style and story :D I like when that works out.

I'm also finally using my pretty bookmark that my babysis' friend got for me ages ago!

[Prax]

Nice!!

I don't take goo care of my books.. they just kind of get piled up on a desk. XD

On the bright side, I am finished my Mushishi collection! +++

[Hive]

Originally Posted by Prax

Nice!!

I don't take goo care of my books.. they just kind of get piled up on a desk. XD

On the bright side, I am finished my Mushishi collection! +++

...

keep reading. It improves English, i hear. XD

[Prax]

Well, I don't think reading will improve my typing abilities. lol xD

[merit]

Originally Posted by Prax

Well, I don't think reading will improve my typing abilities. lol xD

We need to have an old time library trip! XD Ah those hot saucy summers spent hoarding terrible romance novels from the shelves LOL

[Hive]

Originally Posted by merit

We need to have an old time library trip! XD Ah those hot saucy summers spent hoarding terrible romance novels from the shelves LOL

I was just talking to deadnotsleeping about the Romance Novel sections of book stores,
and how curious it was that they command such a large amount of shelf space.

Somebody must be reading them, although I rarely see anyone browsing that section.

[merit]

Originally Posted by Hive

I was just talking to deadnotsleeping about the Romance Novel sections of book stores,
and how curious it was that they command such a large amount of shelf space.

Somebody must be reading them, although I rarely see anyone browsing that section.

It's one of those guilty pleasures XD

[Hive]

[Jiggy]

Do you have to pay to enter one of those? Because if not, how would it be substantively different than getting manga for free on the Internet?

[Hive]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Do you have to pay to enter one of those? Because if not, how would it be substantively different than getting manga for free on the Internet?

In most places I visited, you check in and then pay by the hour.

Japan is unique because they have these Manga "Hotels" where you can spend the night for a pretty low rate! ($25 or so)

[Hive]

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Hive

In most places I visited, you check in and then pay by the hour.

Japan is unique because they have these Manga "Hotels" where you can spend the night for a pretty low rate! ($25 or so)

Okay, that's more like what I would have figured. It's kind of like a Netflix for manga, except tied to a physical location.

[DanKiely]

hey guys. new to the board. some good stuff on here

[Hive]

Originally Posted by DanKiely

hey guys. new to the board. some good stuff on here

hi, thanks for the compliment.

Are you also a Kieli fan?

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Hive

http://i26.tinypic.com/t843eg.jpg

This is kind of off-topic, but how have these shelves served you--and if they've been sturdy and good and all of that, do you happen to remember where you got them or what they're called? My DS shelf is overflowing and I don't even have Pokemon Black, Black, White, and White, Etrian Odyssey III, Golden Sun, or a 3DS yet, so I'm looking around for shelves.

[DanKiely]

Originally Posted by Hive

hi, thanks for the compliment.

Are you also a Kieli fan?

don't know what kieli is. kiely's my last name though

[DanKiely]

why is it that manga is usually in the smaller format than say the american graphic novel?

[Hive]

The North American book distributor Simon & Schuster and the online retailer Amazon
are listing the first Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan manga volume by Hiroshi Shiibashi
for a February 2011 release by Viz Media. Simon & Schuster's listings do not necessarily
indicate definite release plans or dates.

Viz Media had already announced at Anime Expo in July that it licensed the television
anime adaptation of the manga, and it began streaming the anime later that month.

----------------

via: animenews.biz

[merit]

Originally Posted by DanKiely

why is it that manga is usually in the smaller format than say the american graphic novel?

I've never thought of that actually. The only reason I can think of is to make it a more pocket sized book. Mangas are generally pretty thick so it's convenient to have something similar to the size of a novel.

[Hive]

Originally Posted by merit

I've never thought of that actually. The only reason I can think of is to make it a more pocket sized book. Mangas are generally pretty thick so it's convenient to have something similar to the size of a novel.

It has a lot to do with shelf-space, and because this is how Japanese traditionally have printed their Graphic Novel materials since the 1930s.

We call this format size "Digest."
Japan calls it "Tankoban."

I suppose the American publishers could localize manga in comic-book size,
but then it might result in an alteration of the original work if the publisher doesn't handle the conversion properly.
(see ADV's printing of "Anne-Freaks," for an example)

[DanKiely]

Originally Posted by Hive

It has a lot to do with shelf-space, and because this is how Japanese traditionally have printed their Graphic Novel materials since the 1930s.

We call this format size "Digest."
Japan calls it "Tankoban."

I suppose the American publishers could localize manga in comic-book size,
but then it might result in an alteration of the original work if the publisher doesn't handle the conversion properly.
(see ADV's printing of "Anne-Freaks," for an example)

its weird because when darkhorse reprinted blade of the immortal they did normal comic sized single issues but then mange sized for the trades

[Hive]

Originally Posted by DanKiely

its weird because when darkhorse reprinted blade of the immortal they did normal comic sized single issues but then mange sized for the trades

Yeah, that really was a curious decision..
The industry in 1996 was so young in the States, and a lot of printings were inconsistent because publisher were testing the waters.

Heck, manga didn't become a viable alternative to comics until 2005/2006, in my opinion.
It's great to think of how far we've come, though publishers still have some ways to go!

[Hive]

The September issue of Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine
announced that Hiromu Arakawa is drawing a new special Fullmetal Alchemist
side story manga in the next issue on September 11.

Arakawa ended the main Fullmetal Alchemist manga series in June, 2010.

Fullmetal Alchemist will also adorn the cover of the October issue,
and the issue will bundle miniature Hagaren W Swing figures of the character
Roy Mustang and the dog Black Hayate.
Readers can then send in forms to receive a comic box
(shaped like the suitcase of the main character Ed) and travel stickers in the mail.

The issue that contained the 108th and final Fullmetal Alchemist manga installment sold out throughout Japan,
so Square Enix had already announced that the September issue will include a reprint of the final installment.

-------------------------------

via Anime News Network

[Hive]

This year's 17th issue of Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine has announced on Friday that
Masahiro Totsuka and Aguri Igarashi's Bamboo Blade manga is ending in the next issue on September 3.

The manga revolves around a high school kendō (Japanese fencing) team.

Yen Press launched the North American version of the manga in its Yen Plus magazine in 2008,
and Yen Press has scheduled the sixth of the 13 current volumes for next month.

------------------------------

via Anime News Network

[Hive]

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via Anime News Network