xxxHOLiC 5, LIFE 17, Jio 2, Bambino 1, Ergo Proxy 1, Raja Smurf (Level Comics 28 October 2009 manga and ROMIC)

LIFE © Suenobu Keiko/Kodansha

Shogo Ban is a university student who loves to cook. On the recommendation of the chef he currently works under, Ban lands a job at a posh Italian restaurant on Roppongi. Little does Ban know that he was banished to Trattoria Baccanale to knock his arrogance down a notch. See how he fares in a real kitchen battlefield in volume 1 of Bambino, premiering this 28th.

Another seinen series (short) debuting is Ergo Proxy (Ergo Proxy: Centzon Hitchers and Undertaker). Dorothy, an AutoReiv android in nurse guise hears that people who die transform into stars. Upon meeting astronomer Leon who's researching stars, Dorothy decides to follow him. In their travels, they meet other AutoReivs stricken with the Cogito virus, and the people hunting them.

Yeah, this is the spin-off of the anime that aired from February to August 2006.

The third new manga is (sorta) a standalone: The Door (Tobira) by Momochi Reiko. I already babbled in the Level October schedule that this shoujo manga is Book 1 of the six-volume, real teen problems Confidential Confessions series, which also includes Namida (Tears, #2), Memai (Dizzy, #3), Pain (#4), Himitsu (#5), and Deai (sequel). The Door tackles the tricky issue of teen suicide.

Her father's leaving sparks rebelliousness in Manatsu who decides she will no longer obey her mother. She chooses to enter an all-girls school, instead of the high-profile academy her mother was hoping she would enroll in. One day, Manatsu meets Asparagus, a constant bully victim with a lot of lacerations on her body. The two become close friends, attracted to death as the way out of their problems.

Another shoujo manga that deals with bullying, LIFE, comes out with volume 17 this coming Wednesday. In this latest installment, a fearful Katsumi, upon seeing Manami cornered, accidentally hits the fire alarm. This gives Manami the chance to escape, thinking that Katsumi deliberately helped her. Ayumu, refusing to give up, chases after Manami.

More blurbs on other continuing series (Arms 15, Haruka 17 volume 7, and Jio 2) after the manga and ROMIC lists.

Level Comics manga (2009.10.28)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.

1. Arms 15 of 22 by Minagawa Ryouji and Nanatsuki Kyoichi

ARMS 「 ＡＲＭＳ 」 by Minagawa Ryouji and Nanatsuki Kyoichi Shogakukan Shonen Sunday, shounen Volume 15 first published in Japan 2000.12 Series re-released in 12 volumes from 2007.06 to 2008.05 Project ARMS published in English by VIZ Media (22 volumes)

2. [Premiere] Bambino! 1 of 15 by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! 「 バンビ～ノ！ 」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2005.03 Related series: Bambino! Secondo (sequel; one volume, ongoing)

3. [New] The Door (Tobira) by Momochi Reiko

Tobira 「 とびら 」 by Momochi Reiko Kodansha KC Dessert, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2002.07 Published by TOKYOPOP as Confidential Confessions, Book 1 Related: Namida (Tears, Confidential Confessions #2), Memai (Dizzy, #3), Pain (#4), Himitsu (#5), and Deai (sequel)

4. [Premiere] Ergo Proxy (Ergo Proxy: Centzon Hitchers and Undertaker) 1 of 2 by manglobe

Ergo Proxy: Centzon Hitchers and Undertaker 「 ＥｒｇｏＰｒｏｘｙ　センツォン・ヒッ 」 by manglobe and Harao Yumiko Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2006.08

5. Haruka 17 v7 of 19 by Yamazaki Sayaka

Haruka 17 「 はるか１７ 」 by Yamazaki Sayaka Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 7 first published in Japan 2005.06

6. Jio 2 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi

Jio 「 ６６６～サタン～ 」 by Kishimoto Seishi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.05 Published in English as O-Parts Hunter by VIZ Media (volume 18 street date: 2009.10.13)

7. Life 17 of 20 by Suenobu Keiko

LIFE 「 ライフ 」 by Suenobu Keiko Kodansha Betsufure, shoujo Volume 17 first published in Japan 2008.02 LIFE published in English by TOKYOPOP (volume 9 street date: 2008.06.10)

8. SORA! (SORA! Flight Attendant Monogatari) 3 of 5 by Yajima Masao & Hikino Shinji

SORA! -Flight Attendant Monogatari- 「 ＳＯＲＡ！‐フライト・アテンダント物 」 by Yajima Masao & Hikino Shinji Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2006.10

9. xxxHOLiC 5 of 15+ by CLAMP

xxxHOLiC 「 ×××ＨＯＬｉＣ 」 by CLAMP Kodansha Weekly Young Magazine, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2004.11 xxxHOLiC published in English by Del Rey (volume 14 street date: 2009.10.27)

Level Comics European comics (2009.10.28)

1. Lucky Luke - Arizona by Morris
2. Lucky Luke - Dalton Bersaudara ke Pernikahan (Les Dalton à la noce) by Morris, Jean Léturgie and Xavier Fauche
3. Michel Vaillant - Tawanan (La Prisonnière) by Phillipe & Jean Graton
4. Raja Smurf (Le Schtroumpfissime) by Peyo

NOTE
(1) Sources: Elex Media STO 28 October 2009 (release schedule) and Komikologi October 2009 (synopses, except where noted)
(2) All manga priced at IDR 17,000 each, except Haruka 17 volume 7 (SRP: IDR 18,000). All European comics are IDR 27,000 each, save for Raja Smurf (IDR 35,000).
(3) Links like this are Amazon.com search and/or product links (commercial), in case you're interested in another language version.

Synopses continued...

Arms 15
「 ＡＲＭＳ 」 by Minagawa Ryouji and Nanatsuki Kyoichi

Green attempts to rescue Katsumi, but James Huang foils the plan. The hostage exchange deal between Doctor Tillinghast and Katsumi thus goes sour. Alice, who resonates with ARMS, causes an earthquake in New York; but as if that were not enough, Keith Black invites the ARMS to celebrate the Genocide Last Supper, accompanied by chaos at the Carrilon Tower in Manhattan.

Haruka 17 volume 7
「 はるか１７ 」 by Yamazaki Sayaka

Tsubasa Akagi, the prince of the boy band Smarky Jr., goes after Haruka and invites her to watch the sunrise. At first a prank, the stunt turns serious when Tsubasa actually falls for Haruka. The two become close, which doesn't make Tsubasa girlfriend Yuka happy at all.

Jio 2
by Kishimoto Seishi

Jio and Ruby reach Entotsu City, administered by the Stea Republic. The two get involved in a fight with the city's soldiers, and Ruby is forcibly brought to the Stea headquarters. How is Jio going to save her?

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

manga available this week (21 October 2009 street date)

• Elex Media: Skip Beat! 15 · Ouran High School Host Club 6 · La Corda D'Oro 4 · Prince's Girlfriend by Aihara Miki · Railroad 1 by Yun MiKyung · Shonen Star 58
• Level Comics: Life Existence 2 and 3 of 3 (concurrent release) · Psychometrist Eiji 8 · Love & Collage 8 · Hotaru's Light 8 · Officer Monju 1 (RESKED) · Happy Hello Work at Age 21 (Takunabi) 1
• m&c!: A Bad Boy Drinks Tea 2 · The Lovely Wizard (Renai Chuudokuteki Senjutsushi) 3 · Happy Café 12 · Gash Bell 32 · Hack XXXX 2 of 2 · Gift Under The Rainbow 2 of 2 · Midnight Express by Yasuko · My Summer Love) by Shibano Yuka · Let's Make a Wish by Takebayashi Sao · Let's Meet at School Tonight) by Chiba Kozue

...and next (28 October 2009 street date)

• Elex Media: Naruto 46 · Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 11 · HanaLaLa 43 · Topeng Kaca: Bidadari Merah 10 · School Rumble 3 · Flash of Wind 26 · Railroad 2 · Detektif Conan 55 (street date: 30 October)
• m&c!: Hai, Miiko! 21 · Love Me, Love Me Not (Kana, Kamo) 3 · Not An Angel 7 and 8 (of 8) · Lead My Future by Kawase Natsuna · Midnight Spice by Saito Ken · Cherry 36

related monthly schedule

October 2009
Premiering Honey Hunt by Aihara Miki · The Door (Tobira) by Momochi Reiko · Bambino by Sekiya Tetsuji · Brave Story by Miyabe Miyuki · Ergo Proxy by manglobe · ILIAD by Uoto Osamu & Toshusai Garaku

other invaluable resources

7&Y · Amazon Japan · Baka-Updates Manga · Wikipedia

Technorati tags
manga · Level Comics · seinen · shoujo · shounen · Bambino · Ergo Proxy · Haruka 17 · Jio · LIFE · Lucky Luke · Michel Vaillant · Project ARMS · Smurfs · SORA! Flight Attendant Monogatari · Tobira · xxxHOLiC

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