Mysterious Girlfriend X, Vol. 1

Mysterious Girlfriend X, Vol. 1
by Riichi Ueshiba
Vertical Comics, 404 pgs
Rating: Not Rated

When new girl, Mikoto Urabe, arrives in Akira Tsubaki’s high school class things start to get weird. Soon Akira finds himself in a relationship with the mysterious Urabe. From Riichi Ueshiba comes the adult romantic comedy, Mysterious Girlfriend X, Vol. 1, the manga behind the 2012 anime series of the same name.

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the gods lie

the gods lie
By Kaori Ozaki
Vertical Comics, 216 pp
Rating: Not Rated

After an argument with his new soccer coach, 6th grader Natsuru skips out on Summer soccer camp and ends up spending time with his classmate Rio and her younger brother. The two quickly bond, but as the Summer draws to a close their bonds will be tested. Kaori Ozaki’s the gods lie is a single volume tale about Natsuru, Rio, friendship and the pains of growing up.

In Clothes Called Fat

In Clothes Called Fat
by Moyoco Anno
Vertical Comics, 268 pgs
Rating: NA

Noko is an overweight office worker who copes with bullies at work and an abusive boyfriend at home, by eating. Unfortunately, this creates something of a vicious cycle, as the more she eats the bigger she gets and the more abuse her co-workers heap upon her. While things look like they couldn’t get much worse for Noko, she’s about to discover that they can. Published in 1997 as part of a weekly magazine aimed at adult women, In Clothes Called Fat is Moyoco Anno’s unnerving portrait of a woman’s struggle with her weight and lack of self esteem.

Attack on Titan: Kuklo Unbound

Attack on Titan: Kuklo Unbound
Created by Hajime Isayama, novel by Ryo Suzukaze, art by Thores Shibamoto
Vertical Comics, 300 pgs
Rating: Not Rated

Set some 70 years before the events of Attack on Titan, Attack on Titan: Kuklo Unbound details a turning point in humanity’s struggle against the implacable Titans, a turning point that comes with a most unexpected backstory. Following a rampage by a Titan through Shingangshina district, a lone child emerges from his dead mother’s womb. Dubbed the Titan’s Son, Kuklo, he will go on to create an art that will change the world of Attack on Titan for all time. From Ryo Suzukaze and Thores Shibamoto, comes an untold tale from the history of Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan!

Witchcraft Works, Vol. 3

It’s still Thursday so it still counts as a midweek manga review! Apologies for the tardiness though. Very slow news week, but I still managed to find a few items of interest this week…

• After much waiting, Viz has announced a physical release date for One-Punch Man with the first two volumes set to be released in September.
• The Chinese Ministry of Culture released a list of 38 “blacklisted” anime and manga series. The series are banned in China in both print and online forms. Among the titles were Inferno Cop, Attack on Titan, Claymore, Parasyte and Afro Samurai.
• Earlier this year Marvel comics announced plans where almost all their books would receive manga variants covers this August. At the time no artists were named, but that’s changed. Marvel’s panel at the recently concluded New York Comic Con: Special Edition included news and images of two of the covers! House of M by Katsuya Terada, and Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #4 by Yusuke Murata! Except more cover images and names as August gets closer.
• And last but not least, the New York Times Best Sellers List for June 14th, which marks Attack of Titan, Vol. 1’s 100th week on the list!

And now, onto the featured review of Witchcraft Works, Vol. 3!

Witchcraft Works, Vol. 3
by Ryu Mizunagi
Vertical Comics, 190 pgs
Rating: Not Rated

From Ryu Mizunagi comes Witchcraft Works, Vol. 3 and the ongoing tale of Honoka Takaamiya, an ordinary high schooler until he finds himself dragged into a conflict involving many of his co-students who happen to be witches! Honoka’s life is further complicated as he learns that within him lies a powerful and mysterious witch known as Evermillion, making him a target for everyone!

Dream Fossil

Welcome to another midweek manga review! This week I’ll be looking Dream Fossil from Vertical Comics, but first, here are a few news items which caught my eye.

• Yesterday, Drawn & Quarterly announced plans to release a 7 volume collection of Shigeru Mizuki’s Kitaro stories! The series will include essays from the translator, Zack Davisson, who’s been handling most of D&Q’s Shigeru Mizuki’s releases.
• Viz announces the addition of three more titles to their digital library. The three series which were previously published in English by Tokyopop, are Welcome to the N.H.K., Metamo Kiss and AiON.
• Over at the Organization Anti-Social Geniuses, EiC Justin sat down with Kate the Manga Critic blog for a chat about manga and her return to the blogging scene.
• Comixology has added Marvel’s Free Comic Books Day offering, Secret Wars #0 to their offering of free digital comics. For those wondering why this is here, Secret Wars #0 also contains the Attack on Titan/Avenger crossover which was originally published in Japan’s Brutus magazine.
• Over at GoodReads, Kodansha Comics is running a giveaway for 10 copies of their upcoming release The Science of Attack on Titan. The contest end on June 30th, so head over their and enter while you can!
• And last but not least, the New York Times Best Sellers List for June 7th.

And now, onto the featured review of Dream Fossil!

Dream Fossil
by Satoshi Kon
Vertical Comics, 426 pgs
Rating: Not Rated

Dream Fossil is a collection of fifteen short stories from early in the career of Satoshi Kon, the acclaimed director of Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress and Paprika. Available in English for the first time, these stories from the 80s and 90s range the gamut from sci-fi to slice of life and provide an interesting glimpse into the earliest beginnings of one of anime’s most gifted creators.

Cardfight!! Vanguard, Vol. 5

Welcome to another midweek-ish manga review! Today I’ll be taking a look at Cardfight!! Vanguard, Vol. 5 from Vertical Comics, my first taste of the series no less. First though, have a little news…

• Last weekend at Anime Central, Dark Horse announced a number of new licenses. Including RG Veda from CLAMP, Kentarou Miura’s Giganto Maxia and Kengo Hanazawa’s I Am a Hero among others.
• Speaking of I Am a Hero, Dark Horse Editor Carl Horn recently wrote about the series and revealed Dark Horse’s release plans for it.
• Seven Seas continues it’s seemingly endless licensing bonanza with Yoshihiko Inui’s Tomodachi x Monster.
• And last but not least, the New York Times Best Sellers List for May 24th.

And now, onto the featured review of Cardfight!! Vanguard, Vol. 5!

Cardfight!! Vanguard, Vol. 5
by Akira Itou
Kodansha Comics, 196 pgs
Rating: Not Rated

From the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! R and Bushiroad, comes Cardfight!! Vanguard, Vol. 5! Created as part of a multi-media franchise spanning CCG (collectable card game) series, video games and even a live action special, Cardfight!! Vanguard follows young Aichi Sendou as he enters the world of competitive card games! This volumes sees him wrapping up one duel, before taking on another challenge in the form of his friend and rival, Kai.