Update: Eyecandy, anyone?
Namida Usagi ~Seifuku no Kataomoi~ © Minase Ai/Shogakukan
[Serialized in Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Namida Usagi ~Tears of First Love~ by Gramedia/m&c!
Narumi confesses to Momoka, relieving Momoka of her unrequited love. But does this mean they're officially a couple? Despite saying he loves her, Narumi doesn't ask Momoka to be his girlfriend. Is he just leading her on? What's worse, Moa reappears begging, "Don't take Taka away from me..."
I really feel like booting Moa eternally from the scene and hoping that Narumi makes Momoka happy from here on out. But looking at the bewildered Momoka on the back cover (left)—and mindful that Namida Usagi has released eight volumes in Japan, with the ninth on the way (2012.02.24 street date)—we still have some ways to go before a definitive Happy Even After :P
Now for the top DO WANT!
Erementar Gerad vol 3 of 18
By Azuma Mayumi
To protect Ren, Arc Aile decides to spirit her back to its more easily defensible HQ, but Ren has other ideas. She pleads to be set free to reach Edel Garden. Why does Ren want to go there so badly?
Gamaran vol 2 of 13+
By Nakamaru Yosuke
The daimyou's 31 sons jostle for a shot at succeeding their father and ruling Unabara: the champions they field in Unabara's tournament of attrition will determine who will ascend to power.
Kurogane Gama, representing Washitzu Naoyoshi, faces Ten'gen fighters, masters in Naginata jutsu. He manages to subdue Ren'Ge, but can he withstand the true power of Baian Maki, Ten'gen's head honcho?
Thirteen Gamaran tankou have been compiled in Japan as of November 2011. Volume 14 is scheduled for a 17 January 2012 release.
New m&c! titles
Two Cherry mangazine series graduate to tankou: Always by Your Side (Itsumo Soba ni Koi no Uta) by Nakamura Sayumi and I Love Dog and You (Inu Jikan) by Ichikawa Show. I preview the shoujo manga pair, one ex-ChuChu and the other originally serialized in Sho-Comi, below the release list.
[RE-STO] Restocked - Individual volumes and Reprints
For those still looking to complete their collections, m&c! restocks Bleach volume 1 through 40. The latest m&c! volume, however, is Volume 44: Vice It, released November 2011. Still, this restock covers four-plus years-worth of Bleach manga in Indonesia :)
m&c! also reprints "Bestseller" one-shot tankou from Fujita Nimi, Usami Tae, Yagami Chitose, Ono Eriko and Seino Shizuru. List and snap synops below.
m&c! manga (2012.01.04)
- [Premiere] Always by Your Side (Itsumo Soba ni Koi no Uta) by Nakamura Sayumi
- Erementar Gerad vol 3 of 18 by Azuma Mayumi
- Gamaran vol 2 of 13+ by Nakamaru Yosuke
- [Premiere] I Love Dog and You (Inu Jikan) by Ichikawa Show
- Namida Usagi ~Tears of First Love~ (Namida Usagi ~Seifuku no Kataomoi~) vol 5 of 8+ by Minase Ai
- Next to You (Tonari no Atashi) vol 4 of 8+ by Namba Atsuko
 | Erementar Gerad |
Other languages
English Elemental Gelade (TOKYOPOP: 12 Volumes per 2010.08; dropped), French (Kami), Spanish (Editorial Ivréa), Italian (Star Comics), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 17 street date: 2012.01.30), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 武器種族傳說 18 per 2010), Vietnamese (as Truyền Nhân Yuruki)
Related series
Spin-off: EG: Aozora no Senki (ongoing, volume 6 per 2010.03)
Adaptations
XEBEC's 26-episode anime adaptation aired between April and September 2005 on TV Tokyo, with seiyuu Ishida Akira as Coud Van Giruet and Takahashi Mikako as Reverie Metherlence
Light novels: Mag Garden has also published light novels written by Asaka Shou and illustrated by Azuma Mayumi
Drama CDs: Three drama CDs featuring actors different from the anime's were released by Frontier Works between October 2003 and August 2005. One drama CD featuring anime seiyuu was released by Victor Entertainment.
 | Gamaran 「我間乱～ＧＡＭＡＲＡＮ～」 |
 | Inu Jikan 「犬じかん」 by Ichikawa Show |
Serializations
Serialized in Cherry
 | Namida Usagi ~Seifuku no Kataomoi~ |
 | Tonari no Atashi 「隣のあたし」 |
Best-seller Reprints (2012.01.04)
- Cokelat & Mint (Choco to Mint to) by Fujita Nimi
- A Heart for Money (Otome no Heart mo Kinshidai) by Usami Tae
- Kurumitic Miracle by Yagami Chitose
- Miiko Zaman Edo by Ono Eriko
- Suki Suki Darling by Seino Shizuru
- To Get Him in 10 Days (Koi wa, Hitotsu Yane no Shita de...) by Usami Tae
 | Choco to Mint to 「チョコとミントと」 |
 | Otome no Heart mo Kinshidai |
 | Kurumitic Miracle 「くるみちっく☆ミラクル」 |
 | Suki Suki Darling 「スキスキ・ダーリン」 |
Contains: Chocolate Lover
Sakura: The Fire Heroine!
Sakura: Returns!
Sakura: The Final Battle!
 | Koi wa, Hitotsu Yane no Shita de... |
m&c! manhwa (2012.01.04)
- Crab Kiss vol 10 of 10 by Hwang MiRee [Finale]
- Idol's Love Story (Idol School of Noble's Story) vol 10 of 15 by Han YuRang
- Secret vol 9 of 10 by Han YuRang
 | Crab Kiss 「Crab Kiss 크랩키스」 |
 | Idol School of Noble's Story |
Hong Kong manhua (2012.01.04)
- Long Hu Men - The Next Battle vol 4: "Rumput Liur Naga" by Tony Wong
 | Long Hu Men - The Next Battle |
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
¹ Sources: m&c! (release schedule and artwork and synopses).
² All manga, including reprints and restocks are priced at IDR 16,500 each, all manhwa at IDR 19,900, except the restocked Miiko Zaman Edo (IDR 20,000/volume). Manhua Long Hu Men - The Next Battle 4 carries an IDR 85,000/volume price tag.
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).
New titles ex-Cherry - continued
Always By Your Side
By Nakamura Sayumi
I dedicate this love song to you...
So went a love letter Kohana received, sent by a boy named Miyata. Kohana can't conceal her dismay that the letter didn't come from her crush, Inoue. Instead of nursing disappointment, Miyata gamely throws himself into helping Kohana get close to Inoue.
But once she gets what she asked for, how come Kohana is distressed by Miyata's growing distance?
I wanna say to Kohana: Make up your mind! (I wouldn't have bought Cherry for this.) Let's hope either of the two one-shots that make up Always by Your Side—Addicted to Love
or Flash Memory
—doesn't star such an irritating heroine.
Other Nakamura Sayumi manga
Always by Your Side is m&c! 's latest Nakamura Sayumi compilation but earlier it published Finding My Destiny (A.ka.i.i.to), 5PM I Fall in Love (PM 5:00 - Koi Ochiru Toki), Hoshi Star (Hoshiori), The Shortest Poetry For You (Sekaiichi Mijikai Uta wo Kimi ni) and Please, Stop the Time (Toki Nazumi, Futari Nazumu).
Nakamura Sayumi also contributed to the 16-sai Kiss anthology (along with Miyasaka Kaho, Minami Kanan, Fukami Sakana, Ibuki Kaede, Satsuki Mikiko and Yuina Haga), released here as First Kiss by Level Comics.
I Love Dog and You
By Ichikawa Show
Riku loves dogs but her apartment doesn't allow pets. When she learns that Inukai-senpai has a dog, she asks permission to play with it. Meeting Inukai-senpai everyday makes Riku love the owner as much if not more than the dog. But does Inukai-senpai reciprocate Riku's feelings?
I Love Dog and You spans only three chapters, but two one-shots—Sweet Love
and Secret Power
—pad the volume.
For other Ichikawa Show manga published by m&c!, check »here. Not much has changed since I last wrote about it in July, except that Koakuma Lion is now serializing in Cherry as Captured by Love.
Featured series
Crab Kiss vol 10 of 10
By Hwang MiRee
Yeon Ji finally gives up on Ryul, leaving the field clear for Hye Bin. Hye Bin, however, can't quite wrap her head around her good fortune and in her confusion, leaves Seoul. On Jeju island, she struggles to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor.
What about Ryul? What is Ryul doing??
This marks the end of Crab Kiss, "the most beautiful kiss in the world."
Idol's Love Story vol 10 of 15
By Han YuRang
A mysterious assassin guns down Ian Freeman while he and Lang Land sneak some alone time at the family's holiday home. Who could've hired the gunman? Could it be Jang Gun, Lang Land's jilted boyfriend?
I have to say this again: Ian ♡ is turning out to be more psycho than Jang Gun. Lurves it xD. I rate Idol's Love Story volume 10 a 7.5 of 10 and recommend it as a GET! Telor Ceplok contributor, Lina-chan, meanwhile, yellow lights the prospect of sibcest smut.
Next To You vol 4 of 8+
By Namba Atsuko
Miyake's sudden confession unsettles Nina but perhaps he's the answer to Nina's despair over Kyousuke's increasing intimacy with Asou?
Eight Tonari no Atashi tankou have been compiled in Japan as of October 2011. The ninth is expected to street on 13 February 2012.
Other 4 January 2012 highlights
- Secret vol 9 by Han YuRang: Mu Hyul and Bo Eun try their best to obtain the blessings of Bo Eun's real family even as Hae Ri's resentment grows unwieldy. Thanks to pressure from Hae Ri, the SS company director calls in the debt of Mu Hyul's family hospital. Unable to settle the loan, Mu Hyul's family declares bankruptcy and disappears. Bo Eun attempts to locate Mu Hyul, but her efforts prove futile...
Reprints
- Cokelat & Mint by Fujita Nimi: Second-year middle school student Keito still hasn't found her soul mate, much less a boy to crush on, but that's about to change. One day, she helps a cute boy who collapsed from anemia. Too bad, Cutie's attitude doesn't match his looks. Instead of thanking Keito, he calls her "Auntie." What shocks Keito more than her promotion to adult is that the boy she'd mistaken a grade schooler is just one year below her AND steals her first kiss!
- A Heart for Money by Usami Tae: Sixteen-y.o. Kotori works hard for the money!, believing that cash equals happiness. Imagine her delighted amazement when her filthy rich paternal grandpa—whom she'd never met before—shows up, promising to make her his sole heiress. There's only one catch: to inherit, Kotori must find a fiancé in Yashiro Senior High.
- Kurumitic Miracle by Yagami Chitose: Kurumi is besotted with her classmate Naoki. One day, she finds a magic bracelet that grants any wish. Will Kurumi use it to get Naoki? Before she can even decide either way, an evil critter shows up to grab the bracelet...
- Suki Suki Darling by Seino Shizuru: Tomboy Sumika is a loser in the love stakes. She dreams of one day finding that someone who can understand her...
- To Get Him in 10 Days by Usami Tae: School girl Umi is totally smitten with Ryu, her childhood friend and next door neighbor, and never fails to drop by his house everyday. Her world crumbles when she hears that Ryu will soon be living in a boy's dormitory. Unwilling to forgo even one meeting with Ryu, Umi confides in her aunt who just happens to be Ryu's dorm caretaker. Auntie's bright idea: Umi will replace her as dorm manager for 10 days...
Still not enuf? Here are the other 4 January 2012 manga and manhwa
Elex Media: Detektif Conan 65 · Dr. Koto 9 · Faster than a Kiss 2 · Arakure - The Wild Ones 2 · Topeng Kaca 20 Deluxe · Twinkle Stars 2 · Gogogo to the West 4 · Metal Fight Beyblade 5 · Rinne 6 · Slam Dunk Deluxe 3 · Shonen Star Issue 24/2011
Level Comics: Shattered Knife 11 · Basara 21 · Brave Story 7 · Fight!! Ippo 87 · Go-On! 3 · The Ravages of Time 15 · Lanfeust of Troy: Paladin dari Eckmul · Scrameustache: Pewaris Bangsa Inca and Scrameustache: Penyihir Ursa Mayor (Ex-12.21) by Gos - Walt
Iamque opus exegi,
~Niki C. DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography
disclaimer
Cover images used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.
other invaluable resources
Baka-Updates Manga · 7net Shopping · Amazon Japan · · Yes24Wikipedia · ANN · Angelzon.com (Next to You 4 cover)
Itsumo Soba ni Koi no Uta
「いつもそばに恋のうた」 by Nakamura Sayumi
Shogakukan Chuchu, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2010.04
Serializations
Serialized in Cherry