Manga-ka: Sakurako Hanafubuki
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “After a bittersweet separation from the showbiz industry and experiencing an accident, Ayukawa has lost his memory of the two years he spent working as a pop idol. The only clue he has is a feeling that he must meet the most popular actor in Japan—Koji Mizuhara—no matter what! But, a crazy fate seems to be haunting Ayukawa. A videotape is circulating throughout the showbiz industry. It’s entitled “Crazy Star” and stars Ayukawa himself—being forced upon. The people who care about Ayukawa are trying desperately to round up all the tapes. But just who is hiding the final copy? And what does the video have to do with Ayukawa’s accident?”

Crazy Star is the third volume in Sakurako Hanafubuki’s series following actors Kyo Ayukawa and Koji Mizuhara, but like the volumes before it can be read as a stand-alone. This is both the series’ greatest strength and weakness. While it does mean you can pick up any book and read it, it also means there’s not a lot of momentum book to book. Because each volume tries to be new-reader friendly, the story and characters don’t really get a chance to grow or become any more complex.

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Manga-ka: Nabako Kamo
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “Kaioh, the amphibious, bad-boy “mermaid” has taken to submissive Kanan like a fish to water. But when Kaioh’s feud with his childhood rival, Haru, threatens to complicate things, Kanan might just get to see Mr. Mermaid’s ugly side. All this conflict attracts the unwanted attention of Lord Amur, a self-centered monarch to whom the beautiful denizens of the deep are mere playthings. Clearly, this arrogant trickster knows that real sunken treasure does not come in the form of aquamarines or pearls, but in the form of flesh. Can Kaioh and Kanan overcome Amur’s meddling to make it back to shore together? And just what part does that giant clam play in all this, anyway?!”

Was I a writer of ‘worst-of’ lists, the first volume of Selfish Mr. Mermaid would’ve made the list and battled for the top position. With two extremely unlikable characters and a mythology so far off base it was pointless, there was little to enjoy about the mish-mash of abusive relationships and awkward art. But what then could there be left to say for volume two? To my surprise, more than I’d thought posssible as volume two makes a tremendous leap forward and proved an actual treat to read. Lesson learned – never trust a book by its predecessor, or at least don’t underestimate one man’s love for a giant clam.

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Manga-ka: Naduki Koujima
Publisher: June
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: November 2009

Synopsis: “During a trip following a devastating heartbreak, Raoul meets the handsome Arabian prince, Asif! The prince is more radiant than the sun and Raoul finds himself captivated by Asif’s beauty. Despite Raoul’s vow never to let himself suffer heartbreak again, he wonders if this love is worth breaking his vow over. Filled with an endless supply of beautiful princes and valets, the popular Our Kingdom series brings you a delicious tale of exotic love!”

A spin-off of the multi-volume series, Our Kingdom, Arabian Nights follows the series’ antagonist-esque character, Raoul. Remaining envious of his same-age uncle, with whom he’s felt a lifetime of rivalry towards, the young man travels to Arabia to find solace away from his broken heart and spoiled little sisters. But love and trouble follows a boys’ love character everywhere so it doesn’t take long for him to become prisoner of the country’s attractive young prince, Ashif.

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