The Level minimal-list mutates...and how! :D *sotto voce* BTW, I already have Level's release skeds clear to 6 July, thanks to Editor-in-Chief Demonbasher-san. Just have to get through this... and 22... and 28...
Tokyo23 © Hashimoto Eiji and Arashida Takeshi/Shinchosha
[First serialized in Comic Bunch]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics
Someone designs a game to lure the increasing numbers of NEET and hikikomori back into the mainstream. Competitors are fitted with bracelets, and whoever retains the bracelet till the end walks away with a cool 100 million yen. For the washouts, however, death by bizarre means awaits...
Talk about a “novel” way of coping with a societal concern... >,<
ANN points out that Tokyo 23 takes place within the 23 wards of Tokyo and centers on Noboru, an unemployed youth whose dream is to become a martial arts fighter
and rival Dan who also signs up for the ‘X Game.’ Level editor Nickyta-san raves about NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training
) and hikikomori in the starring role and thumbs ups the meeting between aloof Dan and gung-ho Noboru. TC critic Lina-chan finds the premise similarly compelling, rates the series premiere an 8 of 10 and recommends it as a GET~!
Hashimoto Eiji- and Arashida Takeshi's Comic Bunch seinen manga was adapted into a live-action series—TOKYO23: Survival City—starring Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Yagira Yuya as Arai Noboru and Hongō Kanata (Nishi Joichiro, GANTZ Perfect Answer) as Komori Dan. The five-episode series aired between September and October 2010 on WOWOW.
Manga-ka Hashimoto Eiji-sensei's ongoing series include Chiruran: Shinsengumi Chinkonka; the alternate history Tenshou no Ryoma (in which Sakamoto Ryōma, the visionary leader of the anti-Shogun movement doesn't die by an assassin's hand); and the Yankee-troped Gakuen Heiki Mitsumaru. Wrapped up like Tokyo 23 is E.D.D. (Eliminate Dangerous Doctors). All quite intriguing titles.
Daydreaming 2 of 2+ by Yoshimura Akemi
One of Drill Sergeant Granny's grandchildren, Takato Akira, goes to live in the house where Suzuko boards. Akira's rudeness leads to squabbles with Suzuko, but Hatoko falls for Akira at first sight. Akira's susceptibility to spiritual possession further complicates the situation as the two ancestor spirits possessing him both drool over Suzuko!
Editor Adisti-san observes that this tank contains musings about the world we live in and life in general, par for the course for a Yoshimura Akemi manga. Adisti-san also asks for your patience regarding the next installment because even in its home country, the third Yume no Mahiru tankou has yet to release. This When is the next coming out? uncertainty also prompts Lina-chan to hold off buying the volumes, but she does approve of the escalating supernatural fantasy and gives Daydreaming 2 an 8 of 10.
ROMICs: Franquin's Marsupilami series premieres
André Franquin's series about a fictional black-spotted yellow monkey-like species, the Marsupilami, double launches with Marsupilami - Menangkap Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 0: Capturer un Marsupilami!) and Marsupilami - Ekor Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 1: La Queue du Marsupilami), the latter featuring art by Batem and story by Greg, originally published by Marsu Productions. The Marsupilami's arch-nemesis is the hunter Bring M. Backalive who lives to capture the critter, what else but breathing?
Other BDs this release: Boule & Bill - Empat Musim by Roba and Yakari dan Hantu Kayu by Derib & Job.
Level Comics manga and manhua (2011.06.15)
- Daydreaming (Yume no Mahiru) 2 of 2+ by Yoshimura Akemi
- GoGo♪ Hanasaki Detective Office. (Go-Go♪ Kochira Shiritsu Hanasaki Tantei Jimusho) 4 of 4 by Watanabe Wataru [Finale]
- Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) 11 of 14 by Koyama Yukari
- Hikayat Genji (Asakiyumemishi) 9 of 13 by Yamato Waki
- Historie 6 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi
- Ice Forest 7 of 9+ by Saito Chiho
- Jio 16 of 19 by Kishimoto Seishi
- Jormungand 3 of 9+ by Takahashi Keitarou
- Officer Monju (Seigi Keikan Monju) 7 of 11+ by Miyashita Hiroki
- The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) 10 of 42+ by Chan Mou
- [Series Premiere] Tokyo 23 Volume 1 of 3 by Hashimoto Eiji and Arashida Takeshi
 | Go-Go♪ Kochira Shiritsu Hanasaki Tantei Jimusho. |
 | 1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 by Koyama Yukari |
 | Asakiyumemishi 「あさきゆめみし」 |
Related
Adapted from Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu
Other languages
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial)
 | Historie 「ヒストリエ」 by Iwaaki Hitoshi |
Awards
Finalist, 10th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award
Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 歷史之眼 6 per 2010.10)
 | Ice Forest 「アイスフォレスト」 by Saito Chiho |
 | Jio 「６６６～サタン～」 by Kishimoto Seishi |
Volume 16 chapters:
61. Welcome Home
62. All Members Gather
63. Full Moon
64. Zenom's Headquarters
*NOT Level Comics' titles
Other languages
English O-Parts Hunter (VIZ Media: 19 volumes), French (Kurokawa: 19 volumes) and Italian (JPOP)
 | Jormungand 「ヨルムンガンド」 |
Other languages
English Jormungand (VIZ Media: seven volumes per 2011.05 • volume 8 street date: 2012.01.10)
 | Seigi Keikan Monju 「正義警官モンジュ」 |
Other languages
French (Kana Monju, au service de la justice Tome 8 per 2011.02 • Tome 9 street date: 2011.09.23), traditional Chinese (Taiwan Tohan: 正義警官毛九 6 per 2010.11)
 | Sanguozhi Qunxiongzhuan: Huo Feng Liao Yuan |
Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese 火凤燎原 (Chuang Yi: 火凤燎原 #41 released 2011.05.03) and Japanese (Media Factory 三国志群雄伝 火鳳燎原 volume 9 per 2009.12; serialized in Comic Sangokushi). The manhua is also released in Mainland China, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
 | Tokyo23 「ＴＯＫＹＯ２３」 |
Adaptations
The live-action TOKYO23: Survival City, starring Yagira Yuya (Arai Noboru) and Hongō Kanata (Komori Dan) aired from September to October 2010 in Japan on WOWOW.
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
European comics/BDs (2011.06.15)
- Boule & Bill - Empat Musim (Boule & Bill 28: Les quatre saisons) by Roba
- [Premiere] Marsupilami - Ekor Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 1: La Queue du Marsupilami) by Franquin, Batem, Greg
- [Series Premiere] Marsupilami - Menangkap Marsupilami (Marsupilami, Tome 0: Capturer un Marsupilami!) by Franquin
- Yakari dan Hantu Kayu (Yakari, Tome 20: Le diable des bois) by Derib + Job
¹ Sources: Elex STO 15 June 2011 (release schedule) and Komikologi, Gramedia Shop and/or Level Comics (synopses, unless indicated otherwise).
² All manga and manhua are priced at IDR 18,500 except Officer Monju 7 (IDR 18,000). All ROMICs retail for IDR 30,000/volume.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).
Finales
GoGo♪ Hanasaki Detective Office. 4 of 4 by Watanabe Wataru
Just as Kotaro waffles over his feelings for Shiori, Boss Saya goes and stays at his place. Worse, come new year, Shiori and Yamada are abducted. Can Detective Hanasaki save them?
Editor Sina-san promises LOLness, even as GoGo♪ Hanasaki Detective Office. curtains.
Featured
Historie 6 of 6+ by Iwaaki Hitoshi
Editor Sina-san also assures prospective Historie readers that even encumbered by history, Iwaaki Hitoshi-sensei's seinen manga is surprisingly light reading ^^.
Eumenes takes up his new post as a Macedonian civil servant and thus learns the true strength of the Macedonian troops. What secret does Eumenes uncover, and can he still carry out his duties?
I add this not-so spoiler from the Japanese synop: Eumenes finally comes face to face with Prince Alexander of Macedonia.
Historie 6 compiles chapters 49 through 57: Prince (Parts 2 and 3),
Horseback Riding Class (Parts 1-3),
Schoolmates,
Waterfalls,
Cardiac Arrest
and Hephaestion (Part 1).
[*NOT Level's chapter titles]
Ice Forest 7 of 9+ by Saito Chiho
Recovering from her injury, Yukino participates in the ice dancing event as Romain's partner, but the pair faces daunting competition not just from Laetitia and John, but also from junior ice dancing athletes of the FSC Arc club. At the same time, Sakurauchi Kaori slinks closer to Ikki. How will Yukino react?
Diligent editor Sina-san notes the increasingly heated Ice Forest competition between Yukino-Romain, Laetitia-John and the FSC Arc newbies...^^
.
Jormungand 3 of 9+ by Takahashi Keitarou
Koko Hekmatyar and team track scientist Minami Amada to South Africa. There, businessman Chan invites Koko to wine and dine. Chan represents the Da Xing company, the firm Koko's brother Kasper once mentioned. But apparently Koko and Chan have an uninvited guest — Scarecrow.
I can add from VIZ Media's Jormungand, Vol. 3 summary that Dr. Minami is a Japanese robotics scientist whose inventions have profitable military applications
and that Koko's competition would like to meet the good doctor as well, and the race is on to find her.
Meanwhile, Level editor Adisti-san shares that we discover more of Jonah's past, and the ties that bind Jonah and Kasper, in this latest Jormungand tank collecting chapters 12 to 17: Vein (phase.2-3),
Sea route
and African Golden Butterflies (phase.1-3).
[*NOT Level's chapter titles]
The Ravages of Time 10 of 42+ by Chan Mou
Dong Zhuo's death plunges the Han Empire into chaos. Recovery demands even more war atrocities. The Third Enigma, Jia Xu, resolves to kill Lu Bu to show fidelity, while the Fourth Enigma wreaks havoc outside the castle by destroying Xuzhou in the name of devotion. It's time for the true knight to emerge from hiding.
Similarly hardworking editor Adisti-san lauds the ratcheting excitement in this Three Kingdoms reimagining, and promises a guaranteed adrenalin rush over manhua's unpredictability. Also, awesome art :)
The rest of the ongoing series
- Half an Apple 11 by Koyama Yukari: At her farewell party, Hikaru receives word of Shindo's decision to divorce Natsuko. Natsuko herself resolves to deny Shindo, ripping the divorce papers to shreds and threatening to never set Shindo free.
- Hikayat Genji 9 by Yamato Waki: San no Miya carries Kashiwagi's child, but Kashiwagi, learning of Genji's refusal to forgive the couple, falls ill and becomes progressively weaker. San no Miya gives birth, after which she follows in her father's footsteps and withdraws from society.
- Jio 16 by Kishimoto Seishi: The dust of fighting clears and Ruby is reunited with Jio and friends. Ruby emerges possessed of an angel's powers. Now that the Stea HQ has been decimated, only the Zenon Syndicate's lair remains.
- Officer Monju 7 by Miyashita Hiroki: The showdown between Monju and Fugen is on! Junpei who monitors the battle realizes Fugen's edge over Monju. Meanwhile, Monju grasps that he has to erase his human heart to defeat Fugen.
Still not enuf? Here are the other 15 June 2011 manga, manhwa and manhua
Elex Media: Durarara!! 2 · Naruto 52 · Q.E.D. 36 · 7 Seeds 17 · Wild Life 17 · Ghost's Doctor 5 · Undead by Inoue Kazurou · Go Go Hachiyo! by Kanechiku Junko · Hyde & Closer 6 · Vinland Saga 4 · Palette of 12 Secret Colors 4 · Culdcept 5 · Stand Up! 2 · Blooming Youth 3 · Dear Boys Act 3 volume 6 · Crayon Shinchan: Jalan-Jalan Keliling Dunia by Usui Yoshito · Kariage kun, Volumes 1-10 and 11-20 box sets · Shonen Magz 6/2011
m&c!: Bleach 41: Heart
· My Own Princess 4 · Naughty Boyfriend by Shiraishi Yuki · Just Love Me! by Shiiba Nana · Miracle Kiss by Nashizuki Uta · Battle Brawlers Bakugan 17: Light in the Dark · The Impeccable Twins Final Chapters 18 of 20: Dalang Iblis (bagian ketujuh)
· Pedang Maha Dewa - Future 2
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
Baka-Updates Manga · Wikipedia · 7net Shopping · ANN · Angelzon (Hikayat Genji 9 and Jio 16 artwork)
Yume no Mahiru 「夢の真昼」
by Yoshimura Akemi
Shogakukan Flowers, josei
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2008.12