Bloody Monday 1, Sky of Love 1, Eternal Sabbath 2 (Level Comics 5 January 2011 manga)

Bloody Monday © Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji/Kodansha
[First serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics

This Level manga release should gladden the hearts of a couple of blog regulars. The hacker thriller Bloody Monday finally debuts, along with the weepy Bad Boy/Shy Girl shoujo romance Sky of Love. Before blurbing, want to note that actor/singer Miura Haruma stars in the live-action adapt of both (as Fujimaru/Falcon in the Bloody Monday TV series and as Hiro in the 2007 Koizora movie). Let teh squeeing commence.

Bloody Monday 1 of 11 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji

A Russian spy is murdered in Japan, but not before he manages to secrete a memory chip from his killer. The Public Security Intelligence Agency ropes in high school student Fujimaru Takagi—actually the genius hacker Falcon—to decode the chip. Fujimaru doesn't realize the time bomb he holds in his hand, not until his father, a high-ranked official in the Agency's Third-I branch, is framed for the murder of his own boss, leaving Fujimaru with only the words ‘Bloody Monday’ to make sense of the growing mystery.

It is now up to Fujimaru to put together the pieces of dangerous information, information that points to a lethal virus and a Japanese woman named Maya...

[Additions from Wikipedia and Chuang Yi's Bloody Monday: Season 1 Vol.1 synopsis]

Author Ryumon Ryou also wrote other manga under diverse pseudonyms: Psychometrist Eiji (as Ando Yuma), Remote and the new Kindaichi Case Files (as Amagi Seimaru), The Drops of God (as Agi Tadashi), Get Backers (as Aoki Yuya), Monkey Typhoon (as Arimori Jōji) and Area no kishi (as Igano Hiroaki).

Sky of Love 1 of 10 by Haneda Ibuki

From a friend's prank call, ordinary high school student Mika comes to know Hiro and promises to meet him at the end of summer vacation. While Hiro doesn't turn out as Mika expected, his presence changes her life, painting it in the full spectrum of colors.

So, love begins to blossom...

From Level's synopsis, you wouldn't expect this manga—based on the best-selling coming of age/romance novel by Mika (yes, that Mika)—to have Weak Female Lead, Rape, Teen Pregnancy, Bad Boy, Shy Girl, Opposites Attract, Cancer tags associated with, but it does. And from that Baka-Updates Manga laundry list, tragedy is a foregone conclusion. Consider yourself warned.

Manga-ka Haneda Ibuki-sensei's other works include shoujo romances Oujisama to Watashi, Koiseyo Otome! and Sono Koe, Sono Yubi, Sono Kuchibiru.

Funnily enough, the Koizora TV dorama (with Seto Koji as Hiro) preceded the Bloody Monday TV Season 1 on TBS. Koizora aired from August to September 2008, while Bloody Monday S1 broadcast from October through December.

A note on the Lucky Luke ROMIC: In the absence of a cover, assumming that Lucky Luke - Berburu Jejak Dalton was originally the Lucky Luke, Tome 17: Sur la piste des Dalton BD. The Dalton brothers are always escaping—and in Berburu Jejak Dalton, they're at it again—so it's a little hard to be sure. In any case, the Daltons make their getaway here because of the jail guard dog Rantanplan. The stupid dog now has to redeem himself by leading Luke to the Daltons' hideout.

Level Comics manga (2011.01.05)

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

1. [Series Premiere] Bloody Monday 1 of 11 + Ver. 0 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji

Bloody Monday 「ブラッディ・マンデイ」 by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 1 first published in 2007.08

Other languages
English Bloody Monday: Season 1 (Chuang Yi: volume 8 per 2010.08 and Kodansha Comics: Bloody Monday volume 1 street date: 2011.08.23), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi; 11 volumes, concluded), traditional Chinese 血色星期一 (Tong Li Taiwan; 11 volumes) and French (Pika Éditions: Tome 2 per 2010.11 • Tome 3 street date 2011.01.05)

Related series
Bloody Monday Season 2 - Zetsubou no Kou (sequel, AKA Bloody Monday Season 2 ~Pandora no Hako~, six volumes as at 2011.01.17)

Adaptations
An 11-episode live-action renzoku aired from October through December 2008 on TBS, followed by a second season, Bloody Monday Season2 ~Pandora no Hako~ (January to March 2010, nine episodes). Actor/singer Miura Haruma returned as protagonist Fujimaru Takagi/Falcon in the sequel.

2. Eternal Sabbath (ES) 2 of 8 by Souryo Fuyumi

ES 「ＥＳ」 by Souryo Fuyumi Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.08

Other languages
English ES (Del Rey: eight volumes), French (Glénat: eight volumes), Italian (Editions Star Comics)

Reissues
Re-released in five bunko volumes (2006.10 - 2007.02)

3. Priest 12 of 16+ by Hyung MinWoo

Priest 「프리스트」 by Hyung MinWoo Daiwon C.I. Champ Comics, seinen Volume 12 first published in Korea 2002.08 Series on hiatus from volume 16

Other languages
English Priest (TOKYOPOP: 16 volumes), French (Tokebi; 16 volumes), German (Tokyopop Germany), Polish (Kasen Comics), Italian (J POP), Portuguese (Lumus Brazil) and Japanese (Enterbrain Beam comix)

Adaptations
A film adaptation starring Cam Gigandet, Paul Bettany and Maggie Q is expected to premiere on 13 May 2011 in the U.S. (Indonesian screening is slated to begin 12 May 2011.)

4. Shadow Skill 2 of 6+ by Okada Megumu

Shadow Skill 「ＳＨＡＤＯＷ　ＳＫＩＬＬ」 by Okada Megumu Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.11

Adaptations
Studio DEEN's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Matsuoka Akio (Gau Ban) and Hayashibara Megumi (Elle Lagu), aired in Japan from July to December 1998. Four OAVs preceded the series (four episodes released between 1995 and 1996).

5. [Series Premiere] Sky of Love (Koizora) 1 of 10 by Haneda Ibuki, Mika

Koizora: Setsunai Koi Monogatari 「恋空～切ナイ恋物語～」 by Haneda Ibuki & Mika Futabasha Comic Mahou no iland, shoujo Volume 1 first published in Japan 2007.06

Related
Based on the best-selling coming of age/romance novel written by Mika (two volumes published by Starts Publications), originally posted on the cell phone website "Mahou no iLand."

Adaptations
Loosely adapted into a movie (2007.11.03 premiere), starring Aragaki Yui as Mika and Miura Haruma as Hiro, and a six-episode live-action series on TBS from August to September 2008 with Mizusawa Erena as Mika and Seto Koji as Hiro.

Level Comics European comics/ROMICs (2011.01.05)

• Lucky Luke - Berburu Jejak Dalton by Morris

¹ Sources: Elex STO 5 January 2011 (release schedule) and Komikologi and/or Gramedia Shop (synopses, unless indicated otherwise)
² GN are priced at IDR 18,500 each except Eternal Sabbath 2 (SRP: IDR 20,000) and Shadow Skill 2 (IDR 21,500). Lucky Luke - Berburu Jejak Dalton retails for IDR 30,000/volume
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).

Previews continued

Eternal Sabbath 2 of 8 by Souryo Fuyumi

With Sakaki's help, Mine finally learns of Akiba's genetically-engineered origins and the existence of the clone, Isaac. Sakaki asks Mine for help in tracking down Isaac, to stop him from taking revenge upon humans and creating a world disorder. From a string of unusual deaths, they realize that Isaac is already on the move.

What will be Akiba's next step?

Priest 12 of 16+ by Hyung MinWoo

Only one sanctuary escapes the bloodbath of Temozarela, the city of Windtale. Nera, the city's guardian, is determined to stop any casualties and loss of loved ones. But Temozarela continues to tempt Nera into returning to him and captures Ivan.

Can Nera withstand Temozarela's enticements?

Shadow Skill 2 of 6+ by Okada Megumu

For disorderly conduct, Elle is fined 300 GP. Faurink offers to pay the fine, in return for Elle taking on a short-term job. A decent wage persuades Elle to act as the bodyguard for the dam guardian intending to slay a water dragon.

Can the 59th Sevaar pull off this job?

UP NEXT: m&c! 5 January 2010 manga and manhwa

m&c!: Ugly Duckling Become Swan 6 · Sandwich Girl 4 · Aoizaka Baseball Club 17 · Magical X Miracle 2

other manga available (5 January 2011 street date)

• Elex Media: Topeng Kaca Deluxe 5 · Hallelujah Overdrive 1 by Takata Kotaro · Yakitate!! Japan 19 · Dorabase 19 · Fullmetal Alchemist 25 · Bakeru kun Pika-pika 3 · Sanzoku Ou: King of Bandits 8 · Crows 15 · Dr. Koto 3 · Want You 4 · Rakka Ryuusui 3 · New Sexy Simpleton 9 of 9 · Shonen Star 79/2010 · Shonen Magz 1/2011

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography

disclaimer

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

related monthly schedule(s)

January 2011
Premiering Sky of Love by Haneda Ibuki

December 2010
Premiering Bloody Monday by Ryumon Ryou & Megumi Kouji

other invaluable resources

Wikipedia · Baka-Updates Manga · 7net Shopping · manaworld · ANN

Technorati tags

Level Comics · manga · manhwa · ROMIC (BD) · shoujo · seinen · shounen · Bloody Monday · Eternal Sabbath · Lucky Luke · Priest · Shadow Skill · Sky of Love (Koizora)

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