xxxHOLiC 12, The Drops of God 3, Strange Tales of Tokyo 4 of 4 (Level Comics 16 March 2011 manga)

Update Blog regular KiRai-san reports (see comment below) that she got xxxHOLiC 12 last week. Keeping it here per the Elex STO 16 March 2011

Also, Smart is sexy Atty. Makoto Narita returns—still running, I presume—in The Fugitive Lawyer Makoto Narita volume 4. (Sankyuu~ freakenari-san for the delish snap profiling. Another tweep—wenzara-san—is actually my first Makoto Narita evangelist ^^)

But before we go rejoicing about teh Level manga for tomorrow, let's #prayforJapan and/or do something more today to help the people hardest hit by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

The Drops of God's Agi Tadashi-sensei—actually the brother and sister team Kibayashi Shin and Yuko—have checked in safe, according to ANN. Means Ando Yuma (Psychometrer Eiji); Amagi Seimaru (Kindaichi Case Files); Aoki Yuya (Get Backers); Ryuumon Ryou (Bloody Monday series); Arimori Jōji (Asobotto Senki Gokū); and Igano Hiroaki (Area no kishi) are also safe (Kibayashi Shin-sensei also writes under these pseudonyms). ANN has no word on Okimoto Shu-sensei yet.

Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu © Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu/
Kodansha [Serialized in Morning]
Published in Indonesia as The Drops of God by Elex Media/Level Comics

Shizuku decides to help Mr. Watanuki whose restaurant teeters on bankruptcy, following a scathing critique from Tomine. He looks into why Tomine found fault with Watanuki's place, but evidently, Tomine just made a reservation. Can Shizuku manage to pleasantly surprise Tomine on his revisit with his ‘marriage’? Check out The Drops of God 3 for answers.

Shining the spotlight on a different Watanuki —

xxxHOLiC 12 of 19+ by CLAMP

Since meeting Sakura, Watanuki has been dreaming more often; the frequency escalates to the extent he can no longer distinguish between dream and reality. What is actually happening?

(The second Syaoran :D)

CLAMP have also reported in safe post the quake and tsunami.

New Level titles: XBlade by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi

XBlade © Ida Tatsuhiko
& Shiki Satoshi/
Kodansha [Shonen Sirius]

Level rolls outs X Blade, a post-apocalyptic action drama serialized in Shonen Sirius. Given current events, you can understand that it was a little hard translating the summary. (I apologize to those who are feeling sensitive and give you leave to skip the blurb below.)

Four years ago, Haru survived the mysterious disaster that hit Tokyo and took away his family. These days, Haru lives a relatively normal life with friends Sanae and Kazunari.

But Haru's new normalcy is replaced by violence when he finds himself pursued by a pack of MIBs. At the height of the chase, Haru lucks into a venerable sword — one that takes the form of a young girl, Mana.

But was it really luck that led Haru to the sentient weapon?

[Additions from Baka-Updates Manga's XBlade description]

Wondering why X Blade 1 retails for IDR 20,000? Prolly because of the color pages. (Seeing Shiki Satoshi-sensei's name attached to this shounen manga reminds me that I've yet to finish the also swords Kamikaze >.<)

More previews below the list.

Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.03.16)

1. Angel Heart 5 of 33 by Hojo Tsukasa

Angel Heart 「エンジェル・ハート」 by Hojo Tsukasa Shinchosha (Coamix) Comic Bunch, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2002.11

Related series
City Hunter (Adapted from; 35 of 35 volumes), Angel Heart 2nd Season (sequel; one volume per 2011.03.19)

Other languages
French (Génération Comics and Panini Comics)

Adaptations
Adapted into anime by TMS, starring seiyuu Kamiya Akira as Saeba Ryo and Kawasaki Mao as Shan-In Glass Heart Lee. Fifty episodes adapting manga volumes 1 to 18 aired in Japan from October 2005 to September 2006.

2. The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) 3 of 28+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

Kami no Shizuku 「神の雫」 by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu AKA Les Gouttes de Dieu Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2005.08

Awards
Nominee, 1st Keitai Comic Taishō (Mobile Phone Comic Award, along with Hiura Satoru's Hotaru no Hikari, Miyasaka Kaho's Kare First Love and 17 other manga); Special Award of the Year, La Revue du vin de France (French wine magazine); Nominee (Glénat's Les Gouttes de Dieu, tome 1), French Angoulême Comics Awards

Other languages
French (Glénat: Les Gouttes de Dieu tome 17 shipped 2011.02.16 • tome 18 street date: 2011.04.20), traditional Chinese 神之水滴 (Sharp Point Press Taiwan), English Drops of God (Vertical: volume 1 street date: 2011.09.13)

Adaptations
A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Shizuku aired from January to March 2009 in Japan on NTV. Another adaptation, Korean, starring Bae Yong Joon (Winter Sonata) has been greenlit but delayed.

3. The Fugitive Lawyer Makoto Narita (Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto) 4 of 6 by Takada Yu & Go Hideki

Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto 「逃亡弁護士　成田誠」 by Takada Yu & Go Hideki (Natsuhara Takeshi) Shogakukan Young Sunday (until July 2008 before moving to Big Comic Spirits), seinen Volume 4 (chapters 33-43) first published in Japan 2008.06

Related series
Shin Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto (sequel by Okamoto Sou; three volumes as at 2011.04.28)

Adaptations
A live-action adaptation, Toubou Bengoshi, starring Kamiji Yusuke (Tsutsumoto Shoji, Crows ZERO live-action movies) aired from July to September 2010 on Fuji TV.

4. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 7 of 10 by Miyasaka Kaho

Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta 「僕達は知ってしまった」 by Miyasaka Kaho AKA We Experienced the Affair Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo Volume 7 first published in Japan 2009.08

5. Psychometrist Eiji (Psychometrer Eiji) 19 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi

Psychometrer Eiji 「サイコメトラーＥＩＪＩ」 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 19 first published in Japan 1999.10

Other languages
French Psychometrer Eiji (Kana/Dargaud; 25 volumes), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi Singapore 感应少年 Eiji 25 volumes), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan)

Reissues
Re-released in 12 bunko volumes (2003.06 to 2003.11)

Adaptations
The live-action renzoku alternatively known as Simply Psychic ran for two seasons on NTV (January to March 1997 and October to December 1999). A one-episode, 45-minute anime OAV Eiji was released in August 1990.

6. Strange Tales of Tokyo (Toukei Ibun) 4 of 4 by Kajiwara Niki & Ono Fuyumi [Finale]

Toukei Ibun 「東亰異聞」 by Kajiwara Niki & Ono Fuyumi Gentousha Comic Birz, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 2003.09

Reissues
Re-released in two volumes under the Birz Comics Special imprint (2008.03)

7. X Blade 1 of 12+ by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi

XBlade 「ＸＢＬＡＤＥ」 by Ida Tatsuhiko & Shiki Satoshi Kodansha Shonen Sirius, shounen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2007.03

8. xxxHOLiC 12 of 19+ by CLAMP

xxxHOLiC 「×××ＨＯＬｉＣ」 by CLAMP AKA xxxHolic Rō (starting volume 16) Kodansha Young Magazine (Bessatsu Shonen Magazine from 2010.06), seinen Volume 12: Atashi no Negai....ne. (chapters 73-79) first published in Japan 2007.10

Other languages
English xxxHOLiC (Del Rey: 16 volumes per 2010.10 • volume 17 street date: 2011.09.13), French (Pika Édition; tome 17 shipped 2011.01.19), Spanish (Norma Editorial Spain and Grupo Editorial Vid Mexico), Italian (Star Comics), German (Egmont), Swedish (Bonnier Carlsen), Portuguese (JBC Brazil)

Adaptations
A 24-episode anime adaptation by Production I.G aired from April to September 2006 in Japan, followed by a 13-episode sequel xxxHOLiC: Kei (2008.04 to 2008.06) and a two-episode OAD xxxHOLiC: Shunmuki (2009.02 to 2009.06). The xxxHOLiC Rō OAD shipped 23 April 2010, along with manga volume 17. A second xxxHolic Rō OAD, xxxHolic: Rō Adayume, is scheduled for March 2011 release with manga volume 19.

A theatrical film adaptation xxxHOLiC the Movie: A Midsummer Night's Dream premiered in Japan before the first anime season (2005.08.20). The movie was a Feature Films finalist in the 2006 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Seiyuu Fukuyama Jun and Ohara Sayaka play the roles of Watanuki Kimihiro and Ichihara Yuko in all adaptations.

Related
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (crossover) · xxxHoLic: ANOTHERHOLiC Landolt-Ring Aerosol by NisiOisiN (Novel; side story) · Soel to Larg: Mokona=Modoki no Bouken (Novel; side story)

At least three official fanbooks have been released in Japan: Gekijōban ×××HOLiC Official Fanbook (2005.08.17) · TV Animation ×××HOLiC Extra Official Guide (2006.05.17) · Shinpan ×××HOLiC Dokuhon (2006.11.17)

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

Level Comics European comics/BDs (2011.03.16)

• Boule & Bill - Bwoufallo, Bill? by Roba

¹ Sources: Elex STO 16 March 2011 (release schedule) and Komikologi and/or Gramedia Shop (synopses, unless indicated otherwise)
² Manga are priced at IDR 18,500 each, except X Blade 1 and Angel Heart 5 (SRP: IDR 20,000). The Boule & Bill - Bwoufallo, Bill? ROMIC retails for IDR 30,000/volume.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).

Psychometrist Eiji 19 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi

Toru's step-brother Kazuma flees for his life, but his attempt to lose Cannabis in the depths of the woods actually works to his pursuer's advantage. Can Toru and Eiji save Kazuma from the cold-blooded killer?

Strange Tales of Tokyo 4 of 4 by Kajiwara Niki & Ono Fuyumi

The identities of the Princess of Darkness and the Fire Demon are finally revealed, kindling hopes that the terror gripping the capital is at an end. But what of the mystery shrouding the Takatsukasa clan? Shintaro's conviction about supernatural causes wavers.

Follow the clues of Shintaro and Manzo's investigation to the end in Strange Tales of Tokyo's series finale. And if you still want moar Ono Fuyumi paranormal after that, check out the end of Ghost Hunt, over on the Elex side.

The rest of the ongoing series

• Angel Heart 5 by Hojo Tsukasa: Under the assumed name Xiang Ying, Glass Heart lives with Ryo as father and daughter. Ryo restarts his City Hunter business upon request of Mr. Lee, but finds his first case deals with...
• Love Affair 7 by Miyasaka Kaho: Just when Kotori and Yukito's relationship seems to have returned to rabu-rabu, Matsushima pops up and presses Yukito to act as her boyfriend. An oblivious Yukito accedes, much to Kotori's vexation. Kotori then decides to reveal her true feelings to Yukito, but how will he take it?

UP NEXT: m&c! 16 March 2011 manga and manhwa

m&c!: Electric Daisy 7 · Alive 21 of 21 · Pure Love Kamikaze Captain 13 of 13 · Born To Cook 7 · Long Hu Men - Next Level 1 by Tony Wong · My Egoist Teacher by Shiiba Nana · Secret 5

Other 16 March 2011 manga

• Elex Media: Pandora Hearts 13 · Detektif Conan 60 · Ghost Hunt 12 of 12 · Vinland Saga by Yukimura Makoto · Inazuma Eleven 1 by Yabuno Tenya · Ciuman Dewa 3 · K-ON! 4 · Wild Life 14 · Culdcept 2 · Ghost's Doctor 2 · Godhand Teru 31 · Palette of 12 Secret Colors 3 · SORA - The Wingless Duck 19

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.

other invaluable resources

Wikipedia · Baka-Updates Manga · 7net Shopping · ANN · Angelzon.com (xxxHOLiC 12 cover) · · Public Domain Images: Flag of Japan

Technorati tags
Level Comics · manga · ROMIC (BD) · seinen · shoujo · shounen · Angel Heart · Boule & Bill · The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) · The Fugitive Lawyer Makoto Narita (Toubou Bengoshi Narita Makoto) · Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) · Psychometrist Eiji · Strange Tales of Tokyo (Toukei Ibun) · XBlade · xxxHOLiC

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