Don't look for GTO Shonan 14 Days vol. 3 here. It's been postponed to 19 October.
Blood Alone © Takano Masayuki/MediaWorks [First serialized in Dengeki Daioh]
Published in Indonesia by Elex Media/Level Comics
Before the newbie, ongoing DO WANT! first.
In buxom babes, beastmen, and giant mechs as only GAINAX can provide!
Gurren Lagann vol. 3, Kitan rushes to help Kamina and Simon kick Viral and Thymilph's *rses. Gurren Lagann proves powerless against Daigunzan, and Kamina's Do or Die recklessness isn't helping, either. But just as the sitch looks bleakest, Simon hits on a way to beat Daigunzan.
Seven Gurren Lagann volumes have come out in Japan as of 27 June. The shounen manga continues to serialize in Dengeki Daioh.
Meanwhile, in The Drops of God 8, Shizuku's dad's old pal, whodunit writer Natsuyagi Maiko, receives a threatening letter accompanied by a suspicious bottle of wine, labeled in black. Shizuku already has his hands full trying to track down the 2nd Apostle; can he juggle two riddles?
The Drops of God vol. 8 compiles chapters 69 through 78 and teh usual special chapter on wines. Toggle the release link (below) for moar deets.
By 17 November, Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu will have released 31 volumes in Japan.
New Level manga
Blood Alone vol. 1 of 7+ By Takano Masayuki
I lurve Wiki's Blood Alone synopsis, so excerpting it here:
Kuroe Kurose is a former vampire hunter, turned private detective and best-selling author. He lives in a modern-day city with Misaki Minato, an adolescent girl who has recently been turned into a vampire. Kuroe's investigations often lead him to battle vampires and other undead creatures, sometimes with the support of Higure, a leading figure in the vampire world. Misaki meanwhile struggles to come to terms with her vampire nature and her love for Kuroe. –Wikipedia
Doncha think the above summary fits better with the question Level poses in its blurb: What happens when a vampire and a human (who Sees Dead People) live together?
Especially when, as Baka-Updates Manga points out, Misaki is perhaps the most innocent and most sincere young lady there ever was,
and Kuroe is a Handsome Male Lead.
Curious? So, don't miss it!
as Level exhorts.
Blood Alone has an interesting publication history. It was originally a series of doujinshi from Takano Masayuki, manga-ka of Boogiepop Dual. Many of the manga's arcs are based wholly or partly on the Blood Alone dj. MediaWorks opted to serialize Blood Alone in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh and published volumes 1–4 from February 2004 to April 2010. Even after MW became ASCII Media Works, it continued the series, releasing volumes 5 and 6 in April 2008 and January 2010.
After November 2010, however, Kodansha took over and began serializing Blood Alone in Evening. Not only that, Kodansha reissued the existing volumes from November 2010 to January 2011. Kodansha published the seventh tankou on 23 February 2011.
Here's where it gets even moar interesting. Level indicates the status of the manga as seven volumes, ongoing
(which you saw from my street date advisory above). But the 10.05 STO identifies MediaWorks as the publisher. How does that work out for the Indonesian version? Will Level will switch approval submissions to Kodansha after volume 6?
If you're interested in other Other Takano Masayuki manga, scroll down.
One a side note (yes, another one), Blood Alone has three drama CDs. Seiyuu Nakahara Mai, Morikawa Toshiyuki and Kobayashi Sanae voiced Misaki, Kuroe and Higure respectively.
Level Comics manga (2011.10.05)
- Basara vol. 20 of 27 by Tamura Yumi
- [Series Premiere] Blood Alone vol. 1 of 7+ by Takano Masayuki
- Devil Devil vol. 5 of 15 by Miyoshi Yuuki
- The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) vol. 8 of 31+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu
- Gurren Lagann (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) vol. 3 of 7+ by Mori Kotaro
- Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) vol. 14 of 14 by Koyama Yukari [Finale]
- Karakuri Circus vol. 5 of 43 by Fujita Kazuhiro
- RRR vol. 4 of 10 by Watanabe Jun
- Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy (Kachuu Hana) vol. 7 of 15+ by Nishi Yuuji & Hikino Shinji
- Zipang vol. 8 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji
 | Blood Alone 「ＢＬＯＯＤ ＡＬＯＮＥ」 |
Related series
Originally published as series of doujinshi (the manga is based wholly or partly on Blood Alone dj: Wild Arts 1.2.3., Holy Night, Stroll, Vanishing Point - Kiss In the Moonlight)
Other languages
English Blood Alone (Infinity Studios: four volumes [discontinued], picked up by Seven Seas: four volumes per 2011.09.13 • volume 5 street date: 2011.12.06), French (Editions Ki-oon: Tome 6 shipped 2010.06), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 6 released 2011.02), Italian (Edizioni BD s.r.l. [JPOP Division]), Russian (Istari Comics), traditional Chinese (Kadokawa Media Taiwan), Vietnamese (as Dòng máu lạ kì)
Adaptations
Three Blood Alone drama CDs—BLOOD ALONE, BLOOD ALONE II and BLOOD ALONE III— were released between July 2006 and May 2008. Seiyuu Nakahara Mai and Morikawa Toshiyuki voiced Misaki and Kuroe. Supporting cast included Kobayashi Sanae, Tanaka Rie and Miki Shinichiro as Higure, Sainome and Slye respectively.
 | Devil Devil 「デビデビ」 by Miyoshi Yuuki |
Other languages
French (PIKA Édition: 15 volumes)
 | Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu |
Volume 8 chapters:
69. Botol Wine dengan Niat Jahat
70. Wanita yang Tinggal Dalam Wine
71. Titik Kritis Niat Jahat
72. Pesta Penuh Darah
73. Kemudian, Dampak dari Ikatan
74. Dalam Pelukan Badai Pasir
75. Sambil Mengingat MonaLisa
76. Dalam Senyum yang Lembap dan Menyejukkan
77. Bersulang untuk Penyesalan dan Rasa Malu
78. Demi Merebut Kembali Wine
Bab Tambahan Khusus
(Kolom Penjelasan Drops of God: Wine yang Tepat untuk Malam Ini; Original Wine Chart/List Drops of God; Daftar Istilah Wine yang Bisa Dimengerti Anjing Sekalipun; Wine Akhir Minggu Tadashi Agi)
Awards 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; 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)
Other languages
French (Glénat: Les Gouttes de Dieu Tome 20 shipped 2011.08 • Tome 21 street date: 2011.10.19), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: 神之水滴 29 per 2011.09.19), English Drops of God (Vertical: one volume per 2011.09.13 • volume 2 street date: 2011.12.13)
Adaptations
A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Shizuku aired from January to March 2009 in Japan on NTV.
 | Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann |
Related series
Based on the GAINAX anime that aired between April to September 2007 in Japan, starring seiyuu Kakihara Tetsuya (Simon), Konishi Katsuyuki (Kamina), Inoue Marina (Yoko), Fukui Yukari (Nia Teppelin) and Hiyama Nobuyuki (Viral).
Alternate stories: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Guren Gakuenhen (one volume; 2009.03), Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Yoko no Obeso-hen (one volume, 4-koma; 2008) and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - Rasen Shounentan (one volume; 2010.02).
Other languages
English Gurren Lagann (Bandai Entertainment: six volumes per 2011.08 • volume 7 street date: 2012.01.10), French (Glénat: Tome 5 shipped 2011.08 • Tome 6 street date: 2011.10.05)
 | 1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 |
 | Karakuri Circus 「からくりサーカス」 |
Reissues/Other languages
Reissued in shinsō-ban beginning July 2011 (Shonen Sunday Comics Special volume 6 street date: 2011.11.18) and in 16 wide-ban volumes (from 2008.11 to 2010.02)
French (Delcourt: Karakuri Circus Tome 21 per 2007.12)
 | RRR 「ＲＲＲ」 by Watanabe Jun |
 | Kachuu Hana 「華中華」 |
Reissues
Kachuu Hana My First BIG Specials volumes 1-8 released between 2010.10 and 2011.05
 | Zipang 「ジパング」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji |
Awards
Winner, 26th Kodansha Manga Awards (2002) in the General category
Other language versions
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial), French (Kana: Pack Fidelite Zipang Tome 30+T31 per 2011.08 • Pack Fidelite T32+33 street date: 2011.10.21) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: 次元艦隊 43 per 2010.06)
Adaptations
Anime by Studio DEEN starring seiyuu Inada Tetsu (Executive Officer Kadomatsu Yosuke), Hoshino Takanori (Gunnery Officer Kikuchi Masayuki), Ueda Yuuji (Navigation Officer Oguri Kouhei), Yara Yuusaku (Captain Umezu Saburo) and Touchi Hiroki (Lt. Commander Kusaka Takumi) aired in Japan from October 2004 to March 2005
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
ROMICs/BDs (2011.10.05)
- Jojo - Sebastien Kapok (Jojo, Tome 10: La chance de Sébastien) by André Geerts (Dupuis)
- Marsupilami - Baby Prinz (Le Marsupilami, Tome 5: Baby Prinz) by Franquin, Batem, Yann (Marsu Productions)
- Petualangan Spirou & Fantasio - The Black Ray (Spirou et Fantasio, Tome 44: Le Rayon Noir) by Tome & Janry (Dupuis)
¹ Sources: Elex STO 5 October 2011 (release schedule) and Komikologi and Gramedia Shop (covers and/or synopses, unless indicated otherwise).
² Manga are priced at IDR 18,500 each, except Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy 7 (IDR 19,500) and Zipang 8 (IDR 20,000). ROMICs retail for IDR 30,000/volume.
² Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).
[New manga] Blood Alone - continued
Other Takano Masayuki manga
We already covered Blood Alone, the doujinshi and the manga, and I also mentioned in passing the horror drama/mystery Boogiepop Dual, adapted from Boogiepop wa Warawanai, itself the prequel to the Boogiepop Phantom series. Two Dengeki Comics Boogiepop Dual volumes were published on April and November 2000.
Cronos Haze, a shounen mecha action/drama, serialized in Dengeki Daioh beginning 2000. MediaWorks published two volumes on December 2001 and February 2003 under the Dengeki comics EX label.
Takano Masayuki, a member of the VANISHING POINT and Family Affair circles, is also credited with the seinen science fiction series Moon Edge, serialized in Ultra Jump. Shueisha releases the first volume under its Young Jump Comics imprint on 18 November 2011.
Finales
Half an Apple vol. 14 of 14
By Koyama Yukari
"After repeated failures and regrets, I finally get to meet you again. You're the love of my life."
Natsuko would rather die than see Hikaru and Shindo happy. Will Hikaru and Shindo cave under this ultimate threat? Meanwhile, Shizuka confesses to Amano before the latter leaves.
Caught in this vortex of emotions, Hikaru seizes her half apple...
Level advises: Don't you dare miss the grand finale of Hikaru's It's complicated... love story!
Featured series
Karakuri Circus vol. 5 of 43
By Fujita Kazuhiro
After the incident that befell Masaru's friends, Masaru and Shirogane decide to go away, to escape those after Masaru's wealth. Circus Nakamachi accompanies the pair in their wandering. Along the way, the group meets Lieselotte, a lady with a dark past. Can Masaru and Shirogane help Lieselotte overcome her past?
Karakuri Circus vol. 5 consists of 10 episodes, effectively chapters 37-46. Shogakukan began reissuing Karakuri Circus in shinsō-ban from July this year. Shonen Sunday Comics Special volume 6 is scheduled to release next month (2011.11.18) in Japan.
Other 5 October 2011 highlights
- Basara vol. 20 by Tamura Yumi: Under cover of Kyoto's curfew, Ageha battles alone against a senior official close to the sovereign. Meanwhile, Tatara soldiers continue to win on all fronts, thanks to Asagi's cooperation. Unbeknownst to them, the Zakura Plan gets underway. [Additions from Kana's Basara, Tome 20 description]
- Devil Devil vol. 5 by Miyoshi Yuuki: Sword clashes against Shiva Garland. If Sword cannot defeat his ex good buddy, he stands to die within 66 days. Sword doesn't have much time; to lift the curse, he makes the difficult decision to infiltrate Hell.
- RRR vol. 4 by Watanabe Jun: The day of the pro-boxing exam finally arrives. Rikitaro manages to hurdle the mandatory written test, thanks to Mori who lets him cheat off him. Now the only thing left is the sparring contest, and Rikitaro's opponent is 185cm tall! Is that the sound of shattering dreams that Rikitaro hears?
- Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy vol. 7 by Nishi Yuuji & Hikino Shinji: Her parents' blessing in hand, Hana decides to marry Yasuhiko. They plan their wedding in the midst of Manten restaurant and Shanghai shop busy-ness. How will their reception turn out? What "fly lice" will Hana create for the occasion?
- Zipang vol. 8 by Kawaguchi Kaiji: The Mirai crew holds a meeting with Imperial Japanese Navy top brass and the caucus decides to move the vessel to other waters. More importantly, the Mirai crew gets to meet one of the emperor's most-trusted. Can the Mirai leverage this meeting to end the war?
Still not enuf? Here are the other 5 October 2011 manga and manhwa
Elex Media: Fairy Tail, Vols. 1-10 [Box set] · Juvenile Remix 6 · Dr. Koto 7 · Mokke 5 (Ex-9.28) · Crows 20 · Katsu! 14 · Tale of The Sea King 38 · Shonen Magz 10/2011
m&c!: Idol's Love Story 7 · Love Sick 1 by Morie Satoshi Ai Hime - Love & Secret 1–3 of 3 by Mitsuki Kaco · Perfect Love Project 7 · Takeru: Opera Susanoh Sword of the Devil 1 by Nakashima Kazuki x Karakara Kemuri · Bittersweet High School 3 of 3 · Country Dog & Seoul Cat 1 by Hwang SukJi · Moon Fighters 2 · Pedang MahaDewa -fore story V- God of the Gods 4 of 4 · Super Sweet Honey by Aoi Michiru
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 · 7net Shopping · Amazon Japan · Wikipedia · ANN · Angelzon.com (Basara 20 and Yokohama Chinatown Fantasy 7 covers)
Basara 「ＢＡＳＡＲＡ」 by Tamura Yumi
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 20 first published in Japan 1998.02*
*1997.02 per Amazon Japan
Awards
Winner, 38th Shogakukan Manga Awards in the Shoujo category
Other versions/languages
Re-released in 16 bunko volumes (2002.03 to 2002.10)
English Basara (VIZ Media: 27 volumes), French (Kana: 27 volumes), German (EMA: Band 26 ships 2011.10; Band 27 per 2012.01), Danish (Mangismo Danmark), Swedish (Mangismo Sverige) and Vietnamese (Kim Dong: 27 volumes)
Adaptations
A 13-episode Legend of Basara anime by KSS, starring seiyuu Kimura Akiko (Sarasa) and Inoue Kazuhiko (Shuri), aired on Chiba TV from April to June 1998.