Hotaru no Hikari © Hiura Satoru/Kodansha [First serialized in Kiss] · Asakiyumemishi © Yamato Waki/Kodansha [First serialized in Mimi]. Published in Indonesia as Hotaru's Light and Hikayat Genji by Elex Media/Level Comics
In the penultimate Hotaru's Light —
Hotaru and Seiichi-san's secret is revealed, the news spreading quickly from the office to Hotaru's family. Hotaru's brother corners Seiichi and demands that he take responsibility, and to his chagrin, Seiichi agrees, saying he will marry Hotaru.
Hotaru should be ecstatic that the man she loves has (suddenly) proposed to her, so why the doubts?
Meanwhile, in the ultimate Hikayat Genji:
Hikayat Genji vol 13 of 13
By Yamato Waki
Kaoru goes to Uji to accompany Ukifune whom he fell in love with, partly for her resemblance to Oigimi. But word reaches Nio no Miya and he forces himself on Ukifune. After this, what awaits Ukifune? And how does she view either Kaoru or Nio no Miya?
I preview the other finale—Psychometrist Eiji (volume 25)—after the release list, but lemme just ask Level Comics up here: How about teh Psychometrer sequel? :D OK, ok, I'll just focus on the new titles (ROMICs) streeting today.
New Level Comics titles
Agatha Christie series
Agatha Christie, Tome 1:
Le Secret de Chimneys
by François Rivière, Laurence Suhner
(Emmanuel Proust Editions)
Published in Indonesia as
Agatha Christie:
The Secret of Chimneys
by Elex Media/Level Comics
Level double-launches the Emmanuel Proust Editions' Agatha Christie graphic novel series with Agatha Christie: The Secret of Chimneys (Agatha Christie, Tome 1: Le Secret de Chimneys) and Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile (Agatha Christie, Tome 2: Mort sur le Nil).
In case you haven't read the originals, The Secret of Chimneys traces the link between an English mansion, Chimneys, and the small Balkan state of Herzoslovakia that draws a handsome adventurer, a money magnet and the most beautiful woman in London into a web of intrigue and assassination.
Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile, meanwhile, brings in the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Beautiful and wealthy Linnet Ridgeway suffers torment after she appropriates her best friend's fiancé for herself. A ‘chance’ meeting brings them all together on a deadly Nile river cruise.
Level Comics manga (2012.01.11)
- A Spirit of the Sun (Taiyou no Mokushiroku) vol 13 of 17 by Kawaguchi Kaiji
- Happy Hello Work at Age 21 (Takunabi) vol 5 of 5+ by Yamaguchi Katsumi, in collaboration with Watanabe Chiho
- Hikayat Genji (Asakiyumemishi) vol 13 of 13 by Yamato Waki [Finale]
- Hotaru's Light (Hotaru no Hikari) vol 14 of 15 by Hiura Satoru
- Jormungand vol 5 of 10+ by Takahashi Keitarou
- Psychometrist Eiji (Psychometrer Eiji) vol 25 of 25 by Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi [Finale]
- Tomo'o (Danchi Tomoo) vol 13 of 19+ by Oda Tobira
 | Takunabi 「たくなび」 by Yamaguchi Katsumi, |
 | Asakiyumemishi 「あさきゆめみし」 |
Related/reissues
Adapted from Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu
Reissued in seven volumes in 1993 under the KCDX imprint. Also re-released in bunkoban (Asakiyumemishi Genji Monogatari Kodansha Manga bunko: seven volumes, 2001.08 and Asakiyumemishi Genji Monogatari Kodansha Aoi Tori bunko: five volumes, 2006.10–2008.02) and kanzenban (Kanzenban KCDX Asakiyumemishi The Tale of Genji: 10 volumes, 2008.04–2008.07)
A Genji Monogatari Asakiyumemishi Illustrations book was published in December 1984, while the Asakiyumemishi no Sekai Genji Monogatari Navi BOOK guide was issued in April 2005.
Other languages
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial)
 | Hotaru no Hikari 「ホタルノヒカリ」 |
Adaptations
The 11th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix award-winning Glow of Fireflies live-action adaptation aired between July and September 2007 on NTV. The 10-episode drama starred Ayase Haruka ((Amemiya Hotaru) and Fujiki Naohito (Takano Seiichi). The pair reprised their roles in the 11-episode second season that aired between July and September 2010 on the same network.
 | 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)
Adaptations/Related
A Jormungand drama CD was bundled with manga volume 9 (JP release: 2011.02), the Mini art book "Ricochet" drama CD with volume 5 (JP: 2008.10).
 | Psychometrer Eiji 「サイコメトラーＥＩＪＩ」 |
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)
Related series/Reissues
Re-released in 12 bunko volumes (2003.06 to 2003.11)
Sequel: Psychometrer (began serialization in Young Magazine No. 22-23, street date: 2011.04.25; two volumes per 2011.11 • volume 3 street date: 2012.02.06)
KPC (Kodansha Platinum Comics): Psychometrer Eiji - Satsujin Chef (one volume, 2011.11.16); Psychometrer Eiji - Aoi zameta-te (2011.10.19); Psychometrer Eiji - Jude no Mokushiroku (2011.09); Psychometrer Eiji Satsujinki Justice (2011.08); Psychometrer Eiji - Silent Stalker (2011.07); Psychometrer Eiji - Tokei Shikake no Ringo (2011.06); Psychometrer Eiji - Satsujin Oni Mebius (2011.05)
Kunimitsu (spin-off; 27 volumes)
 | Danchi Tomoo 「団地ともお」 by Oda Tobira |
Recognitions
Nominated for the 11th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize
[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
European comics/BDs (2012.01.11)
- [Premiere] Agatha Christie: The Secret of Chimneys (Agatha Christie, Tome 1: Le Secret de Chimneys) by François Rivière, Laurence Suhner (Heupe Sarl-Emmanuel Proust Editions)
- [Premiere] Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile (Agatha Christie, Tome 2: Mort sur le Nil) by François Rivière, Solidor (Heupe Sarl-Emmanuel Proust Editions)
- Smurf: Pensmurf Perhiasan (Le Schtroumpfeur de Bijoux, Tome 17) by Peyo (Le Lombard)
- Smurf: Smurf Magang (L'Apprenti Schtroumpf) by Peyo (Dupuis)
- Smurf: Smurfin (La Schtroumpfette, Tome 3) by Peyo (Dupuis)
- Tanguy & Laverdure: Skuadron Bangau Putih (Tanguy et Laverdure L'intégrale, Tome 2: L'escadrille des cigognes; Mirage sur l'Orient; Canon bleu) by Charlier & Uderzo (Dargaud)
¹ Sources: Elex STO 11 January 2012 (release schedule) and Komikologi and Gramedia Shop (synopses, unless indicated otherwise).
² All manga retail for IDR 18,500 each, all ROMICs at IDR 30,000 except Smurf: Smurf Magang, Smurf: Smurfin and Tanguy & Laverdure: Skuadron Bangau Putih (IDR 38,000/volume).
³ Links like this are commercial Amazon search and/or product links (other language versions).
Finales - continued
Psychometrist Eiji vol 25 of 25
By Ando Yuma & Asaki Masashi
A conspiracy within the police claims Akagi as a casualty. Eiji and Ryoko struggle to reveal the stink and the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they face. And now, criminal genius Sawaki Akira appears before Eiji...!
Other 11 January 2012 highlights
- A Spirit of the Sun vol 13 by Kawaguchi Kaiji: Munakata Misao allows the North Area forces to establish a base on the channel and announces the U.S.'s appointment as mediator of the South-North ceasefire. In reality, however, Munakata's recognition of Todo's victory is a feint, with Munakata actually plotting Todo's demise.
- Happy Hello Work at Age 21 vol 5 by Yamaguchi Katsumi, in collaboration with Watanabe Chiho: At the end of his arduous job search, Taku is faced with a hard choice: protect the one he loves or take the work that will set his future. Which alternative will Taku choose?
- Jormungand vol 5 by Takahashi Keitarou: Koko and team fly off to the Balkan Peninsula, doctors on a secret humanitarian mission among the payload. But the militia at their warzone destination learn of their covert entry, forcing Koko and her troops into open confrontation with the war criminal dubbed The Balkan Dragon.
- Tomo'o vol 13 by Oda Tobira: While Tomo'o appears to suck at everything, his homeroom teacher realizes that no one can beat Tomo'o at jumping. And Tomo'o leaps when he's happy. Teach isn't the only one who knows; Tomo'o's friends do, too, and that's how they win a baseball game.
Still not enuf? Here are the other 11 January 2012 manga and manhwa
Elex Media: Fairy Tail 12 · 07-GHOST 4 · Kekkaishi 11 · Ciuman Dewa 7 · Juvenile Remix 8 · My First Mr. Akuno 6 · Natsume Yujincho 2 · The Dog's Magical Touch 3 of 3 · Mokke 6 · Chunchu 4 · Doraemon: Kelompok Penjelajah by Fujiko F. Fujio · Lum, The Invader Girl 32 · Princess & The 3 Beasts V4 of 4 · Shinagawa Cat Story 3 · Shonen Magz Issue 01/2012
m&c!: Electric Daisy 9 · Beast Lover 1 and 2 of 2 by Motomi Kyousuke · Love Button 5 · Flower of Queen 3 · Born To Cook 10 · Chocolate Magic - Bittersweet by Mizuho Rino · The Story of Wang Fenglei Season 2 Book Seven | Reprints: Café de Romance by Miyawaki Yukino · Figure Star by Nagareda Masami · Hijiri, The Boy Next To Me by Yagami Chitose · My Rival Is My Love by Shiumi Saki
Iamque opus exegi,
~Niki C. DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography who still has the m&c! post to go
disclaimer
Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.
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 · Amazon France · Wikipedia · ANN · Angelzon.com (Psychometrist Eiji 25 cover)
Taiyou no Mokushiroku 「太陽の黙示録」
by Kawaguchi Kaiji
Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen
Volume 13 (chapters 87-93) first published in Japan 2006.11
Awards
Winner, 51st Shogakukan Manga Awards, in the Seinen/General category
Grand Prize winner for the comic category, 10th Japan Media Arts Festival
Other languages
French (Tonkam's Spirit of The Sun, tome 17: per 2009.12)
Adaptations
Adapted into an anime special by Madhouse (two episodes)