New York Comic Con may’ve been almost a month ago but I’m still digging myself out of the stacks of stuff I bought there. What I brought back from the ‘big apple’ remains a post for another day but October proved itself manga-behemonth enough in release count to ensure every release-day was another manga buying opportunity.
Eager to see what happens next in one of the series lost to Tokyopop’s shut-down, I bought Shinobi Life (Vol. 08-10) in French from Amazon.ca. The volumes are a different size and colour than the English books (though are lovely!), and my ability to read is stiff, but I’ve really been enjoying going through them and seeing what drama befalls everyone next.
Also in French, I purchased Hinako Takanaga’s Silent Love (Vol. 02) and Be-Boy Magazine (Vol. 11). I really hope we see Silent Love in English someday and Be-Boy Magazine continues to impress me with how high-quality it is. This one even came with a mousepad for A Strange & Mystifying Story! I rounded out the order with Jeu du Chat et de la Souris (Game of Cat & Mouse), a boys’ love story by Setona Mizushiro that I’ve heard mentioned a lot by readers so I had to check it out.
Back to English, and my Halifax-local manga supplier, I bought the new volumes to a bunch of different Viz Media titles. Bakuman (Vol. 07) topped the stack with Kamisama Kiss (Vol. 04) and Natsume’s Book of Friends (Vol. 09) close behind. I also bought Psyren (Vol. 01) to give a new shonen series a go.
The last new Viz Media book I purchased was Tenjo Tenge (Vol. 03), though I’m still in debate on if it’ll be the final Tenjo Tenge book I buy. I honestly can’t tell if I like it or not. I read the volumes I buy eventually but… I guess we’ll see what my gut says when volume four hits store shelves in December.
Yen Press made me a happy buyer indeed with two series I’d never consider stopping out of lacking interest – Yotsuba&! (Vol. 10) and Black Butler (Vol. 07). I subscribe to their digital YenPlus magazine just to read Yotsuba&! chapters each month but having the collected book is the perfect reason and chance to sit down and read them all over again.
Other recent books came from different publishers. From NBM Publishing, I bought Stargazing Dog which is a sweet and simultaneously heart-breaking read. Seven Seas released Blood Alone (Vol. 04) which I was eager to get after loving their first omnibus release. It’s a vampire story I keep forgetting is a vampire story.
I started two new shoujo series with Gate 7 (Vol. 01) from CLAMP and Dark Horse and Tokyo Mew Mew (Vol. 01) from Kodansha Comics. I posted a review on Gate 7 back in October. The latter is an omnibus edition re-release of the series, complete with new translation and an adorable cover/spine design. I’ve read most of Tokyo Mew Mew years ago yet it’s been long enough now that this should feel like a fresh experience.
Because of a job situation my manga buying will need to be cut back for the next little while but I’m glad to have so many books to enjoy in the meantime! It’s also a good moment to remind people about the importance and awesomeness of local libraries. Free books! Borrowing costs you nothing but still supports your favourite publishers and creators so browse, borrow and enjoy :)
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I got Gunslinger Girl omnibus 3 (volumes 7-8) and the sereis keeps getting better and has me waiting expectintintlly for Omnibus 4. I also got the Tokyo Mew Mew omnibus not tht impressed but I’ll see how volumes 2 and 3 hold up.
I also got the new X/1999 3 in 1 omnibus and it’s great but the art it looks like some of the same charcter designs from RG veda and Wish where reused although I get a certen preverse thrill out of seeing gory dismemberment and crucixion in a Shojo Manga. I also have my Sailor Moon volume 2 and Codename Sailor V volume 2 pre orders due hopefully the 15th.
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