New Manga Releases: Enter The Fray

By Mat K.

Well, as I’m sure everyone in the city has experienced this week, it has been Satan’s armpit in New York City, hot and humid as all hell. Fortunately, as a small consolation, there is a few bits of awesome coming out. And what is most odd about this week, it isn’t dominated by any one publisher for once. It usually seems like they give each other space and a chance once a month to put out as much as they can, but relatively speaking, everyone is entering the fray. There is even a new book coming out from Vertical (the guys who bring you most of Osamu Tezuka‘s books these days).

Chi’s Sweet Home is the new Vertical book by Kanata Konami. And yes, this is a cute one, though also full of adventure and drama. How could a book about a lost kitten not be? That’s right, Chi is a mischievous new born kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, the confused kitten becomes distraught. When Chi feels all hope is lost, she is found in a park by a young boy named Yohei. The little kitty is soon under the protection and care of Yohei’s family – the Yamadas. And kitty isn’t the only one with a little bit of a problem. The Yamadas have taken in a cat when their lease explicitly states pets are not allowed in their building!

Another premier manga this week is Alice the 101st by Chigusa Kawai. This is one of Doki Doki’s titles, where even though not technically yaoi, is full of boys and is incredibly adorable. And yes, Alice is a boy, in fact his name is Alistair. Mondonville Music Academy attracts thousands of elite musicians as applicants from around the world, but only 100 students are accepted into the program every year. But this year, Alistair Lang, who doesn’t even know how to read music score and has no formal music training, was somehow, accepted into the program as 101st student. His classmates wondered how and why he even made it into the program. Everyone outcasted him and called him “The 101st.” One day, during a violin session, the class hears Alistair play his violin, and everyone finds out that they were all listening to the answer as to why he was accepted in to the program.

Other than that, there are lots of continuing series coming out this week. Finally the second volume of Ultimo, the series brought to us by the grace of Stan Lee. In the new volume, things just keep getting more complicated for teenage Yamato since the mechanism known as Ultimo showed up. Now Yamato and Ultimo must face other doji and their bizarre masters who’s intentions are not always so clear. Can Yamato find the strength to meet these challenges and solve the mysteries of the darakuri doji?

Anyway, that’s what’s here this week, as well as plenty of other neat books (but you can read the list for all that). Til next time!

Ja Ne!