We get confirmation that Shiharu is Seiji's dream girl—
Love So Life © Kouchi Kaede/Hakusensha
[Serialized in Hana to Yume]
Published in Indonesia by Gramedia/m&c!
Albeit of the third person kind. xD
Spring is here and so is White Day. Matsunaga Seiji, busy looking for a gift for Shiharu, asks for Oikawa's opinion. Instead of answering directly, Seiji's long-time buddy deadpans, "Isn't she your dream girl?"
Oh, teh pressure on Sei-tan ^^ Is it any wonder that he's all flustered? And what about Shiharu? Does she get infected by the love bug from BFF Rio? See Love So Life volume 5 for answers.
Remember Nina and her trial dating Koga-kun? Yeah, didn't think so.
Love Button 2 of 5+ by Usami Maki
I'm still on probation but I get the feeling we're getting closer. In fact, I think Koga-kun's thisclose to coming over my house. Kyaaa~! Don't tell me we'll soon be an official couple??
I can dream, can't I?, Nina whines, and to her face, I would say, "Sure, fine," but privately think Koga-kun's not done toying with Nina yet :P
In case you missed the genesis of Nina's quandary, the first Love Button restocks, too, along with another Love is Everywhere standalone — Paradise Café by Morita Fuji that we rated an 8 of 10 ♥. (More on Restocks below.)
New m&c! manga and manhwa
m&c! rolls out Last Summer Cinema 1 by Miyako Ritsu, The Love Helper by Shigano Iori and My Lovely Class Leader 1 by Nishimura Tomoko on the manga side. On the manhwa side, there's Bittersweet High School 1 by Park SunKyung that resists giving up its original Korean title or any other deet about it. (Other than that it was first published by Haksan (Chiro, Mystery Bride publisher) and that one volume goes for IDR 23,000.)
Because I ♡ Miyako Ritsu's shoujo retelling of Psychic Detective Yakumo, Last Summer Cinema grabs the Above the Cut spotlight.
Gunjou Cinema
© Miyako Ritsu/Hakusensha
[Bessatsu Hana to Yume]
Published in Indonesia as
Last Summer Cinema
by Gramedia/m&c!
Last Summer Cinema 1 of 2 by Miyako Ritsu
Asahi, Tamaki and Yakata want to surprise their former homeroom teacher who left for Tokyo three months ago with a home movie shot using an 8mm camera they just found. They discover that not only is film-making difficult, it's also expensive.
Can they finish their masterpiece before the deadline?
If I read the Japanese blurb right, the deadline is the upcoming indie film fest.
I mentioned that Miyako Ritsu-sensei illustrated Psychic Detective Yakumo - The red eye knows, but s/he has two other manga listed: the Trains slice-of-life Kanjou Hakubasen Shashou no Ei-san (Japan release: 2009.01) and the ongoing historical shoujo Touran Merry Rose (serialized in Bessatsu Hana to Yume; one volume as at 2011.02).
I preview the other newbies after the release list. Note that I placed Series Premiere
before Shigano Iori's The Love Helper because 7net returned two Saikyou Help xxx volumes (here and here).
☂ [RE-STO]: m&c! restocks individual Shanaou Yoshitsune volumes — from 1 through 10. If you need volumes 11 through 16 and volumes 17 to 22, wait for 20 July and 27 July respectively. (Unless, of course, you opted for teh box sets shipped 6th July.)
m&c! manga (2011.07.13)
- [Series Premiere] Last Summer Cinema (Gunjou Cinema) 1 of 2 by Miyako Ritsu
- Love Button (Kokoro ・ Button) 2 of 5+ by Usami Maki
- [Series Premiere] The Love Helper (Saikyou Help xxx) by Shigano Iori
- Love So Life 5 of 7+ by Kouchi Kaede
- Meet the Banchou (Kongoh Bancho) 7 of 12 by Suzuki Nakaba
- [Series Premiere] My Lovely Class Leader (Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou) 1 of 14+ by Nishimura Tomoko
- Seiyuu-Ka! Lovely Voice (Seiyuu-ka!) 2 of 6+ by Minami Maki
- Ultramix Collection 2 of 2 by Mizuto Aqua [Finale]
 | Kokoro ・ Button 「ココロ・ボタン」 |
 | Saikyou Help xxx 「最強ＨＥＬＰ×××」 |
Related series
Saikyou Help xxx volume 2 (JP release: 2010.09)
 | Love So Life 「ＬＯＶＥ ＳＯ ＬＩＦＥ」 |
Adaptations
Marine Entertainment released a drama CD in March 2010, starring seiyuu Noto Mamiko as Nakamura Shiharu and Ono Daisuke as Matsunaga Seiji.
 | Kongoh Bancho 「金剛番長」 by Suzuki Nakaba |
 | Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou |
Serializations/Other languages
Serialized in Cherry (Episode 28 in Issue 54/2011)
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 戀愛班長 12 per 2011.04.13)
Adaptations
The 51-episode Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou anime produced by Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment, starring seiyuu Ogawa Mana (Kitagawa Mimi) and
Oshima Ryo (Toujou Ushio) aired from April 2009 to March 2010 in Japan. The Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou Second Collection sequel premiered 2010.04.03; episode 51 aired 2011.04.10.
 | Seiyuu-ka! 「声優かっ！」 by Minami Maki |
 | Ultramix Collection 「Ｕｌｔｒａｍｉｘこれくしょん」 |
m&c! manhwa (2011.07.13)
- [Series Premiere] Bittersweet High School 1 by Park SunKyung (Haksan)
- Crazy Girl Shin Bia 3 of 19 by Hwang MiRee
- Idol's Love Story (Idol's School of Noble's Story) 4 of 15 by Han YuRang
- Perfect Love Project (Nae Soong 9 Dan Project) 4 of 8 by Han YuRang
- Secret 8 of 10 by Han YuRang
 | Crazy Girl Shin bia 「크레이지걸 신비아 이계로 가다!!」 |
 | Idol's School of Noble's Story |
 | Nae Soong 9 Dan Project 「내숭 9단 프로젝트」 |
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
[RE-STO] Restocks (2011.07.13)
- 1/6 Jump (1/6 Ja~npu!) by Satsuki Mikiko
- Bitter Trap by Miyawaki Yukino
- Blooming Sakura (Nakizakura Kitan) by Saito Ken
- Little Beans in Love (Ayakashi Tennen Beans) by Minami Sachi
- Love Button (Kokoro ・ Button) 1 of 5+ by Usami Maki
- Miiko Fan Book by Ono Eriko
- Paradise Café (Gokujou no Yoru wo Ageru) by Morita Fuji [8 of 10 ♥ Review]
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 1 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 2 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 3 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 4 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 5 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 6 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 7 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 8 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 9 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Shanaou Yoshitsune 10 (of 22) by Sawada Hirofumi
- Since I Met You (Nanatsu Uekara Aishiteru) by Morishita Nodoka
- Sweet Black by Nishikata Mai
¹ Source: m&c! (covers and release advisory)
² All GN, including restocks, are priced at IDR 16,500 save Miiko Fan Book (IDR 18,500). Manhwa are IDR 19,900/volume, except Bittersweet High School 1 (IDR 23,000).
New titles continued
♡ Bittersweet High School 1 by Park Sun-Kyung
Bittersweet High School © Park Sun-Kyung/Haksan
Published in Indonesia by Gramedia/m&c!
Our high school is co-ed, but forget about any interaction. The two gender camps aren't talking to each other. This is what Battle of the Sexes looks like in Hwa Mok High School!
The least I could do was post the cover and (translated) blurb, but if you know Bittersweet High School's original Korean title or any other info pertaining to it (like how many volumes it spans and/or in which Haksan mangazine it serialized), do let me know. Comment box's is down there :D
♥ The Love Helper by Shigano Iori
Tsubasa's parents basically let her do whatever she pleases, so everyday, it's par-tay! Not only do friends flock to her, boys—boyfriends—do, too.
Everything changes when a boy named Kazumi presents himself at Tsubasa's mansion, promising darkly that he will change Tsubasa.
Kazumi × Tsubasa = Spartan Housekeeper × Rich Girl.
As noted earlier, Saikyou Help xxx (The Love Helper's Japanese title) concludes with volume 2 (Japan release: 2010.09). m&c!'s (first?) volume contains The Love Helper
Story 1-4 and the one-shot Love Derby.
Other Shigano Iori manga
m&c! has already published Shigano Iori's Secret Scandal, Devil Boyfriend and Cherry Love. I don't hold out much hope for series beyond Saikyou Help xxx getting licensed, especially as Shigano Iori-sensei's backlist comprises either smut series (Ga.ma.n Dekinai, Hanashite Nante Agenai yo, Kapo~n (>_<)!, Kiss dake ja Kaesanai, Mecha Mote Honey and Sonna Koe Dashicha Iya!) or one-shots in Sho-Comi Pink Label smut anthologies (like 17-sai Hajimete no H, Himitsu - H na Naishobanashi and Honnou - Motto Midaretai). Still, hope springs eternal for the Rivals! Kapo~n (>_<)! and Oujisama no Iutoori, ex-ChuChu.
The latest Shigano Iori manga I stumbled on is Nyan'nyan shitai, published under the Flower Comics Alpha imprint on 2011.07.08.
♡ My Lovely Class Leader 1 of 14+ by Nishimura Tomoko
Kitagami Mimi is the perfect class president, but three boys in her class always give her trouble. To keep her record pristine, pretty Mimi decides to teach the rebel trio some lessons.
Nishimura Tomoko's My Lovely Class Leader or Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou serializes in Ciao; fourteen volumes have been collected as at April 2011. m&c! serializes it in Cherry, the latest episode 28 (ex-volume 9) appearing in Issue 54/2011. Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment produced the 51-episode Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou anime and its 51-episode sequel, Gokujou!! Mecha Mote Iinchou Second Collection.
Other Nishimura Tomoko manga
m&c! has published Nishimura Tomoko's Angel's Happiness, Daisy Magic, Hanamaru's Kitchen, Little2 Miracle, Ninja Girl and the Scramble meta-series (Scramble-b, Sky Blue Scramble, Rainbow Scramble).
Finales
♥ Ultramix Collection 2 of 2 by Mizuto Aqua
By the light of a full moon, vampire Shin whisks Tan Tan to ST. Laurel, the school for MIX, or Not!Purebloods. Human Tan Tan has trouble keeping up, but Shin and other friends help ease her way.
The first full moon after she turns 14, however, Tan Tan grows... horns and a tail?
Now that Ultramix Collection has ended, who wants to speculate on the next Mizuto Aqua manga to be licensed? I say Ayakashi Kaitou.
Featured
Crazy Girl Shin Bia 3 of 19 by Hwang MiRee
The attention Crown Prince Yoo Baek lavishes on Bia makes our Crazy Girl crazy(er), especially when she realizes it is not Shin Bia whom he truly loves. So while out on a jaunt (just the two of them), Bia makes a run for it.
Too bad her mad dash throws her into the arms of Bia's assassin.
Kyaaa~! If the would be killer is He Who Appeared in Volume 1, then this is definitely a GET!
Idol's Love Story 4 of 15 by Han YuRang
"Why did you push her?" Ian questions Sally, shocking the perp of the Push Lang Land off the stairs caper. What does Ian plan to do?
Idol's Love Story grows intriguing by the volume; I think I'll take the series for a spin.
Seiyuu-Ka! Lovely Voice 2 of 6+ by Minami Maki
Hime enrolls in Hiiragi High's Seiyuu Department because she wants to voice her favorite anime heroine. She's one step closer as she and her pals win the lunchtime broadcast duel against Class 2. They ask for help from Ichijou Ume, the animator in Class 1-Film, for upcoming broadcasts, but Ume considers Hime...an enemy?
Other 13 July highlights
- Meet the Banchou 7 by Suzuki Nakaba: Kongou Banchou and Machine Banchou together rescue Tsukimi from the clutches of Shin Machine Banchou.
- Perfect Love Project 4 by Han YuRang: Lee Junki suddenly ditches his hostility against Jung Eun Chae. Eun Chae who simultaneously resents and loves Junki has trouble refusing his peace overtures. What is Junki really planning?
- Secret 8 by Han YuRang: Mu Hyul and Bo Eun make plans to get married, but the SS company director learns that Bo Eun is related to the family by blood and objects to the marriage.
Still not enuf? Here are the other 13 July 2011 manga and manhwa
Elex Media: Detektif Conan 62 · Kekkaishi 7 · Kungfu Boy 3 Premium · Pirates & The Mermaid 3 · Bride of the Water God 2 · I Hate You More Than Anyone 7 · Dream Eater Merry 3 · Inuyasha 53 · Mystery Bride 5 of 5 · Katsu! 12 · Doraemon 9 · Masked Rider Spirits 16 of 16 · Shonen Magz 7/2011
Level Comics: X Blade 5 · Half an Apple 12 · Red River 8 · Sky of Love 6 · Air Gear 23 · Glass Chair 7 · Cesare 6 · Giant Killing 5 · Dolls of God 4 · Devil Devil 3 · Fist of The Blue Sky 5 · Shadow Skill 4 · Zipang 7 · Smurf - Pensmurf Kartu · Jojo - Nenek Jagoan
Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography
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Gunjou Cinema 「群青シネマ」 by Miyako Ritsu
Hakusensha Bessatsu Hana to Yume, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2010.01