manga

Manga Review: Kaiju No. 8 Volume Three

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Kaiju No. 8 Volume Three sees the stakes going up for Kafka, as well as for the Defense Force.

Kaiju No. 8 Volume Three
Written by: Naoya Matsumoto
Publisher: Shueisha Inc.
English Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: July 12, 2022

Volume Three continues Kafka (as Kaiju No. 8)’s fight with the humanoid kaiju. While he’s able to weaken this kaiju, it still manages to get away. Unfortunately, when Kafka finds a spot to transform back into his normal self, he’s spotted by Hoshina, who starts fighting him. Poor Kafka is in a position where he needs to defend himself, yet not harm Hoshino. But Hoshino is incredibly talented, so it’s taking everything Kafka has to try to avoid Hoshino’s attacks. Kafka manages to get away, but this encounter causes issues for both Kafka and Hoshino.

For Hoshino, he realizes that something’s off about Kaiju No. 8, because it fights more like a human than it does a kaiju. Because of this, he thinks Kaiju No. 8 is a daikaiju. And for Kafka, he has to try to act normally around Hoshino and not give away that he is actually Kaiju No. 8. It also turns out that thanks to the information that Kafka provided in Volume Two to help defeat a kaiju (which is something he knew from his previous job at Monster Sweeper Inc.), Hoshino recommends Kafka for promotion to a general officer. I think these elements add an interesting dynamic to Kaiju No. 8, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Matsumoto handles this new dynamic between Hoshino and Kafka going forward in the series. It should also be mentioned that the promotion is good for Kafka, though, since it gets him closer to the promise he made to Mina about fighting kaiju by her side.

But things get crazy when a group of kaiju perform an aerial raid on the Defense Force base. But these wyvern-type kaiju aren’t acting normally, because they usually act alone but have come together as a group. Hoshino figures there must be a super-powerful leader pulling the strings, and Hoshino ends up facing off against the leader, since Mina is currently away.

Meanwhile, Kafka is able to provide information to the others that should help them defeat the wyvern-type kaiju. Unfortunately, these kaiju are making sure to keep this strategy from working, but Shinomiya was recently provided with a special prototype weapon, and this weapon helps her take down the wyvern-type kaiju that the others are having a hard time fighting. It wasn’t surprising to learn that Shinomiya is number three in combat power at the base, and that she is being included as part of the main force even though she’s still a cadet. The series had made it pretty clear up to this point that even though she’s a teenager, she has a lot of natural combat abilities that are effective against the kaiju.

Unfortunately, this fight isn’t concluded at the end of Volume Three. The volume ends with Hoshino unleashing more of his combat power and preparing to face off against the leader of the invading kaiju. I thought this was a great spot to end the volume on, because it makes the reader want to read the next volume in order to find out what’s going to happen next.

Kaiju No. 8 Volume Three has a good mix of action, story progression, and character progression to make it a riveting read. But with that being said, though, the action is focused on more at the beginning and at the end of the volume, with the development aspects being focused on more in the middle of the volume. Right at first, Volume Three comes across as if it’s going to be a quick read, and then once the action is over, the middle portion of the volume feels like it slows down quite a bit. With this sudden change in pacing, it almost feels like being a passenger in a car and the driver has to suddenly hit the brakes. However, the pace of the volume picks back up again when the kaiju attack the base, so at least the reader isn’t feeling nearly as bogged down by the end of the volume. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can potentially distract a reader if they pick up on this shift.

When it comes to the art, I was really getting the impression that Matsumoto really likes Hoshino’s character. Of the characters that appear in this volume, he was consistently getting some impressive close-up panels or being the main focus in many of the panels that he appeared in. It would almost make one think that the focus of the series is on Hoshino, not Kafka.

This volume realistically continues the story that’s been presented up to this point, and I think that readers who enjoyed the previous two volumes of Kaiju No. 8 will be able to appreciate Volume Three.

The reader was provided a review copy by VIZ Media

Additional posts about Kaiju No. 8:

Manga Creator Kazuhiko Miyaya Passes Away

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Manga creator Kazuhiko Miyaya (real name Hajime Fuchigami) passed away on June 28, 2022. He was 76 years old at the time of his passing.

The Asahi Shimbun newspaper cites a source saying that Miyaya was found collapsed at his home on June 28, 2022.

Miyaya debuted in Mushi Production’s alternative manga magazine COM in 1967 with his work When You Fall Asleep, and frequently published works in the magazine until the 1970’s, when the magazine ceased publication.

Miyaya is best known for his Like a Rolling Stone, Our Season, and Seishokuki manga.

Source: ANN

My Sister, The Cat Manga Ends

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The 33rd and final chapter of senko’s My Sister, The Cat manga debuted on July 4, 2022.

The manga is described as:

After losing his mother at a young age, Nekota is taken in by family friends… who happen to be a couple of human-sized walking, talking cats. Not only do his new parents have paws, tails, and furry pointed ears, but now he also has an adorable little sister, Neneko-chan. As a high schooler, he’s integrated well into their household, and his precocious adoptive sister has fully accepted him as her big brother. Whether she’s showing him things she brought home from elementary school, purrsistently asking him to play with her mouse toy, or waking him up at the same early hour every morning for breakfast, life with this charming feline family is never dull.

senko launched the manga on the pixiv website under Mag Garden MAGXiv label in December 2019. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the manga for North America, and will release the first volume in January 2023.

Source: ANN

Azuki’s Announcements at Anime Expo 2022

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

KiraKira Media Inc.’s digital manga service Azuki announced at its Anime Expo 2022 panel that it has licensed three new manga, including an anthology from indie publisher Glacier Bay Books. The company will release following titles digitally in English in August 2022:

Title: Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer!
Authors: Bachi Miyako (manga), Aresanzui (original work), Mizore Saba (original character design)
Summary: Yuuki Narito’s new seatmate Yui Takatsuki is the notorious “Seatmate Killer,” who strings guys along before breaking their hearts. But Yuuki’s so clueless he might be immune to her charms. And so begins a fierce competition between two seatmates in this hilarious rom-com.

Azuki will release new chapters of the manga every week, and later release new simulpub chapters the same day as Japan.

The manga is based on Aresanzui’s light novel of the same name, and Futabasha is publishing the ongoing manga adaptation in Japan. The manga will be exclusively available in English on the Azuki website and apps. Tentai Books publishes the light novels in English.

Title: My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files
Author: Natsumi Ito
Summary: Mitsuko is Japan’s first female detective in the turbulent 1920’s. When a handsome college student shows up with a new case, he ends up assigned as her new assistant. Join Mitsuko and Saku as they solve cases, explore the changing cultural landscape of early Showa-era Japan, and maybe grow a little closer along the way in this fashionable mystery series.

Azuki will release new chapters of My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files every week, and later release new simulpub chapters the same day as Japan.

Futabasha publishes the ongoing manga in Japan. Azuki is translating the manga, which will be exclusively available on its platform.

Azuki has begun releasing the following manga on its website and apps:

Title: Invisible Parade
Author: MISSISSIPPI
Summary: Invisible Parade collects 13 stories both recent and from over a decade ago. This is the definitive collection of Kyoto-based painter and comic artist MISSISSIPPI’s comics work.

The anthology collects manga by painter and independent comic artist MISSISSIPPI. Glacier Bay Books published the anthology in English in print. Azuki’s website and apps are hosting the first few chapters, and will add the remaining chapters in the next few weeks.

Source: ANN

futekiya Announces Two New Boys’ Love Licenses From futurecomics

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

futekiya, the online boys’ love manga subscription service, has announced the license acquisition of the following boys’ love titles* from futurecomics Co., Ltd.:

Elite Inma-kun wa Ikasetai! by Tarako Nekokawa
Shin Kaels gets sent to Earth as he attempts to pass the demon world’s higher placement exam. It might seem way too easy to ask an infamously prolific incubus to take a man to bed – but Shin’s about to find out why his next target deserves that five-star difficulty rating.

Morechau Aoharu by Shiero
Haruta’s a good-looking guy who always helps other people out – and it’s all thanks to his power that lets him hear what’s in people’s hearts. Surely there can’t be any better guy than him? Wrong. Meet Aoyama, Haruta’s friend who outshines him in every single way. When Haruta can’t listen in to what’s on Aoyama’s mind, how’s he supposed to catch his weakness?

*English title and release date will be announced later.

Fans can read the first chapter of these futurecomics BL titles for free. Subscribers to futekiya will have access to the full volumes as well as other BL manga titles published by Shodensha Publishing Co., Home-sha Inc., Parsola Inc., Julian Publishing, Thirdline, Group Zero, MUGENUP Inc., swamp, KAIOHSHA, EIWA Publishing, Media Soft Ltd., futurecomics Co., Ltd., Tokyomangasha, DOGENZAKA SHOBO, TAIYOHTOSHO, TORICO, COMPASS Inc., Libre Inc., TOSUISHA Co.,Ltd., Shonengahosha, Shusuisha Inc., and independent BL artists in the futekiya Library.

World’s End Harem: Fantasia Academy Manga to End on July 17, 2022

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The 51st chapter of Okada Andō’s World’s End Harem: Fantasia Academy manga has announced that the manga will end with its next chapter on July 17, 2022.

The manga is described as:

World’s End Harem: Fantasia Academy reimagines the characters from the original series in a modern-day school. Come along for the ride while Lord Arc Nargala and the cast of women who serve him navigate a whole new world of heart-pounding attraction and intrigue. Even the mysterious Dark Elf Lati makes an appearance–as Arc’s new homeroom teacher. Do Arc and Aurelia stand a chance of being happy together in this place? What of Arc’s power to wield Macht? And is it even legal for a homeroom teacher to be so scantily dressed?

The manga is a comedy spinoff of LINK and SAVAN’s World’s End Harem: Fantasia manga, itself a fantasy setting spinoff of LINK’s World’s End Harem manga. World’s End Harem: Fantasia Academy launched Shueisha’s Ultra Jump magazine in May 2020. Seven Seas Entertainment is releasing the manga in English.

Source: ANN

Kadokawa Releases the First Three Volumes of the I’m Quitting Heroing Manga on BookWalker

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Kadokawa has announced that it is digitally releasing Nori Kazato’s I’m Quitting Heroing manga exclusively, with the first three manga volumes already available digitally on Kadokawa’s BookWalker service. The fourth volume will be available on July 7, 2022, the fifth volume on July 15, 2022, and the sixth volume on July 27, 2022.

Yen Press announced at Anime Expo 2022 that it has licensed the manga for physical release. BookWalker will only have the exclusive digital release of the manga.

The manga adapts Quantum and Hana Amano’s I’m Quitting Heroing: Next Gig Is at the Demon Queen’s Castle fantasy light novel series.

The manga is described as:

After saving the world from the Demon Lord, the Hero, Leo, discovers that there isn’t a place for him in it anymore. The incredible strength that made him humanity’s greatest asset during the war is just a terrifying threat in times of peace, and he soon finds himself shunned from human society. But if the forces of good won’t have him, that means it’s time for him to apply elsewhere—for a job with his former enemy, the Demon Lord’s Army.

Source: ANN

Dark Horse’s Announcements at Anime Expo 2022

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Dark Horse announced at its panel Anime Expo 2022 panel that it will be reprinting TAGRO’s Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt manga in English. Dark Horse previously released the one-volume manga in 2015.

The publisher also stated it will be reprinting the “manga editions” of Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima’s Lone Wolf and Cub manga.

Source: ANN

Tokyopop’s Announcements at Anime Expo 2022

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Tokyopop announced at its Anime Expo 2022 panel that it has licensed the following manga:

Title: SCRAMBLUES
Author: mame march
Summary: Kurosaki is the designer in charge of the CD jacket design for the powerhouse musician Eddie. As he sees beyond Eddie’s surly exterior and catches a glimpse of the man beneath the affectation, he begins to think about the message and emotions that Eddie tries to convey through his music. And at that moment, Kurosaki realizes that Eddie’s voice is the thing to guide him on his course. But how can he communicate what he truly feels?

Title: The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow
Author: Nna Natsuo
Summary: In a world where forest creatures can take human form, a member of the sparrow clan, Komazu, is one day saved from a boar stampede by a cold but eye-catching white snake named Shiratoh. Dealing with both animal problems — fear of predation by their common enemy, the eagle — and human problems — differences in class, loneliness, and prejudice — these two boys learn to overcome the difficulties that come their way through an open mind and heart.

Title: Be My Love, My Lord
Author: Adumi Nagano
Summary: This is a world where humans keep beasts and beasts obey humans. Born as the second son of a well-known family, the lonely Reiji has always had his beastman servant, Tsubaki, an irreplaceable presence since he was a child.
But one day his feelings turn to love, and Reiji playfully kisses Tsubaki, which invites his bestial lust. His sharp bite overflows with his own repressed feelings, but comes with a dark realization; they are different races, different castes. Can they overcome these hurdles and embrace their love?

Title: My Coworker Has a Secret
Author: Mushiro
Summary: Akari is a 25-year-old bookstore worker who lives in Tokyo. She looks like a very normal and stylish office worker, but she has a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know: she is a massive otaku for 2.5D stage play actors, to the point that she spends all of her paycheck immediately to support them. She desperately hides this, but somehow her male coworker finds out her secret anyway.

The company also announced it is bringing back its Rising Stars of Manga competition. The competition will have 10 winners. The first place winner will receive a $1,000 prize, the second place winner a US$500 prize, and the third place winner a US$250 prize. Runners up will get US$100 and an audience favorite will also get US$100.

The theme of the competition will be “25.” The submission period will be from July 25 to October 25. Submissions can be in black and white or in color and must be between 10-25 pages long.

Tokyopop said previous winners and industry professionals will judge the competition. The company also added that artists will retain the copyright on their works, and that Tokyopop will not have ownership of the IP. Tokyopop will publish the winners in a digital collection. The company will reveal more details like where to submit the entries online and the full terms at a later date.

The company revealed it also launched a Discord server and encouraged fans to join.

Source: ANN

VIZ Media’s Announcements at Anime Expo 2022

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Viz Media announced during its panel at Anime Expo 2022 that it will make all 366 English-dubbed episodes of the Bleach anime available to purchase digitally in the United States for a limited time on July 5, 2022 to July 7, 2022. VIZ Media will offer the bundle for a limited time after that, but at a higher price. The series will be available on Apple TV app, Microsoft, and VUDU and will retail for US$99.

The company also announced that it will release the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series on home video in February 2023, as well as the Burn the Witch anime in October 2022.

VIZ Media also confirmed that it will continue to simulpub Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man manga when it returns from hiatus for its second part on July 13, 2022 in Japan. The manga will switch publications from the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine to the Shonen Jump+ website in Japan.

Source: ANN
Source: The Fandom Post