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Posts Tagged Tokyopop

Cosplay Ai, Blade of the Immortal Novel on Amazon.ca

A couple new finds on Amazon.ca today:

Blade of the Immortal: Legend of the Sword Demon (Del Rey)

“The first novel based on the worldwide sensation! Rendered immortal by an infusion of mystical worms that can repair any wound, the masterless samurai Manji wanders the hillsides of feudal Japan, his quest to slay one hundred evil people to atone for his past sins. By his side is the young woman Rin, an orphan who seeks vengeance for the murders of her parents. Driven in a quest for absolution, the two have faced many deadly challenges, both natural and supernatural. But can they survive their greatest battle against the all-powerful Inugami?”

Cosplay AiIf this was previously announced, then I missed it which mades me sad because I think it sounds really fun. As a fan and follower of Blade of the Immortal since the manga single-issue ‘floppies’ first hit comic store shelves, I think it’d be great enjoying the series in a different media (anime doesn’t count). I wonder how Manji will translate to prose?

Tokyopop has a listing for something simply titled Saving Life, which may or may not be the manga of the same-name by Girls Bravo creator, Mario Kaneda.

And lastly, GoComi has a listing up for the previously revealed sequel-of-sorts to Aimee Major-Steinberger’s wonderfully charming Japan Ai, titled Cosplay Ai (cover at right). While never having cosplayed myself, I have no doubt that this book will be worth a read and I really look forward it!

Edit: While I appreciate the e-mails from people with a heads-up that I “missed” the Haru Hana manga listing that is also on Amazon.ca, I already posted about that title back in February :)


Manga Bargains, Yaoi Not Actually

Unrelated Manga Guy

Though it’s already been covered at a variety of sites already, never hurts to spread the word, right? Aurora Publishing has sent out e-mails outlining some financial difficulties that have them cutting prices on their books to sell off some old stock. By contacting them directly at e-tung@aurora-publishing.com, you can purchase any of their titles prior to January 2009 for $4/US a book and anything more recent than that for $8/US a book. Snow has some recommendations as well as shipping cost information (for American customers at least), and Kris shares her thoughts on the tone of the e-mail itself.

 Also on the note of good bargains, the online store BookCloseOuts is currently selling all their Tokyopop backstock for a mere .99 cents a piece. A great way to cheaply grab some of their older series and even a few of their newer releases (such as Tactics volumes 1-5).

Yaoi Press is excited to announce that one of their artists, Rhea Silvan will be attending as a guest at 2009’s Anime Central convention. They’re also now offering their KOSEN’s Yaoi playing cards as rewards for purchasing through their all-yaoi online store, EverythingYaoi, which has lots of boys’ love stuff currently on sale. They’ve also begun posting amusing weekly strips that parody scenes from their books, a feature they’re calling Yaoi Not Actually.


Review: Your and My Secret (Vol. 04)


Manga-ka: Ai Morinaga
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: March 2009

Synopsis: “Senbongi is acting cold while Akira seems to be getting along with Shiina with no intentions of switching back. Akira gives Momoi the OK to go out with a guy, rubbing in the fact that she has no feelings toward him. Fed up with it all, Momoi agrees to go out with Senbongi and discovers that, to his surprise, he actually kind of likes it!”

I still love this series to death. It’s funny, the characters are all endearing (even scary Grandpa), the artwork is great and did I mention it was funny? But, unfortunately, this volume was a bit of a let down for me.

Read more…


Mini Review: Saiyuki Reload (Vol. 09)


Saiyuki Reload (Vol. 09) – Kazuya Minekura
Published by Tokyopop

I almost forgot Saiyuki Reload existed until the newest volume stared at me from the store shelve. It’s a shame the wait between volumes is so long but at least they’re still coming. Fortunately for all my interests in this series, this ninth volume delivered in spades.

In this book the highly foreshadowed darkly-dressed Sanzo, Ukoku, returns to take centre stage as he confronts Sanzo and Hazel. Unfortunately the two are mere child’s play in comparison to the dark Priest’s ability so the showdown quickly goes from confrontational to a dramatic game of life or death, with Ukoku’s unknown motivations pulling the strings.

A good portion of the book goes into the back-story of Hazel who we learn has connections to Ukoku from his childhood. It was a great chapter for building up this character who’s managed to remain a bit of an enigma, and now stripped to his most vulnerable, it’s impossible not to feel for him. As if I didn’t already like Hazel enough before, this book cinched it with nearly gut-wrenching suspense for the next volume.

An unrelated short story at the end of the book certainly has its humorous moments, and though I appreciate the attempt to balance out the books grimmer plots, it was a little annoying being pulled away from the main timeline when it’s just taken such a white-knuckled turn.

Review written February 20, 2009 by Lissa Pattillo
Book purchased in-store from Chapters


More on Amazon, Remove List Continues to Predict

More from Amazon.ca today, this time with the majority coming from Tokyopop. Usual disclaimer: Until officially announced by companies, all listed here remain speculation only.

Mad Love ChaseMikansei No. 1 (Vol. 01) – Majiko!

Maria Holic (Vol. 01) – Endo Minari
By the artist of Tokyopop’s currently released series, Dazzle.

Mad Love Chase (Vol. 01) – Kazusa Takashima
With the original title Harlem Beat wa Yoake Made, Made Love Chase is a five-volume shoujo series by the boys’ love famed artist known for her popular series Wild Rock and Man’s Best Friend (both published under Tokyopop’s BLU imprint). Undoubtedly my favourite find of the day :)

And anyone remember my post back in October 2008, License Fortune Telling… But Not Really? Well as of today that list of crossed out licenses has gotten six titles shorter. Only a few left on there now that have yet to be announced or spotted as listings (which remember are not 100% definitive). Titles now crossed off:

.hack//Alcor – Kanami Amou
Ashita no Yoichi – Minamoto Yuu
Harlem Beat wa Toaki Made – Kazusa Takashima
Haru Hana – Kazumi Yuana
Karakuri Odette – Suzuki Julietta
Metal Heart – Yoon Jae Ho

Other listings of interest that popped up today were one for Tokyopop’s recently announced Domo manga project, which looks to have Clint Bickham, one of Tokyopop’s previous winners of the Rising Stars of Manga competition, as atleast one of its artists. Del Rey’s upcoming OEL adaptation of Bakugan Brawlers has Kriss Sison listed as illustator.


Saturday at NYCC 2009

While I usually wait until a con’s end to post an overview of the manga news, some exciting announcements (okay, one inparticular) have left me too over-eager for that this time! I have Twitter to thank for that, @MangaCast and @DebAoki inparticular, who via dedicated posting, I’m able to read all the fun stuff as it happens! What’s better than that for those of us who couldn’t make it?

So thus far at New York Comic Con we’ve had a bunch of new manga  announcements:

You can just tell this is gonna be cute. Tokyopop announced that they’re adapting the NHK mascot, Domo, into a full-colour manga due out in September. No word yet on whose writing or drawn it though. They’re also holding a contest for artists to have their fanart featured in the book though as is customary for TP, the contest it open to residents of the US only.

Bandai Entertainment informs fans that they’ve acquired the license to “all” the Gundam 00 manga, including spin-offs and light novels.

CMX has confirmed some titles that Amazon exposed in December, such as Broken Blade and King of Debris.

Del Rey has gotten their hands on Four-Eyed Prince by Wataru Mizukami, Only One Wish by Mia Ikumi and You Higuri’s manga adaptation of the anime series, Night Head Genesis. As another anime series I found interesting, but ultimately dull due to the fact that animes need to try a million times harder to maintain my attention, I really look forward to You Higuri’s version (and no complaints to more of her work in general!).

And finally, Yen Press has announced that it’s licensed the Spice and Wolf manga, Park JinJun’s supernatural mahnwa Raiders,  Crescent Moon Story –a yaoi by Fujiyama Hyouta – and, the most long-awaited yet still surprising news, the license rescue of the well-loved and ridicuously charming, Yotsuba&! ! They’ll be picking up where ADV Manga left off with the sixth volume due out this coming September.


Review: Togainu no Chi (Vol. 01)


Author: Nitro+ Chiral
Manga-ka: Chayamachi Suguro
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: January 2008

Synopsis: “The Igura: a deadly battle game where players stake their lives in the ruined city of Toshima. In a post-apocalyptic Japan where the underworld rules the day, Akira is placed in jail for murder. He’s given a chance at freedom if he can win the game. Whether he finds victory, death, or even love, he will be in for the fight of his life! Based on the ground-breaking bishonen game!”

Togainu no Chi is a manga based off a Japanese-released video game of the same name. Those who’ve heard, or played, the game before, will recognize it as a Nitro+ Chiral boys’ love title that didn’t go easy on the violence and stylishly attractive men. Unfortunately to some, and the benefit of others, though two different versions of manga adaptations exist for this game, neither have focus on the man-on-man portions of the game. So, as one of the two, this version Tokyopop chose to release falls in category as yet another gritty action story set in yet another apocalyptic future.

Read more…


Review: +Anima (Vol. 10)


Manga-ka: Natsumi Mukai
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: December 2008

Synopsis: “In this final volume of +Anima, the secret of Cooro’s past is finally revealed as the group makes it ‘s way to Astaria. But when they learn of the relationship between Cooro and Fry, this friendly team may be torn apart. What are those who are seeking the +Anima really plotting? And what choices will the characters make when given the opportunity to rid themselves of their animal selves… forever?”

With the characters’ adventures coming to an end, foreshadowed effects take centre stage when the travelling friends find themselves in Cooro’s childhood village. Staying in the church that raised him, Huksy, Nana and Senri all come to learn more about Cooro and that their friendship may not be based on intent as innocent as they assumed.

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Review: Kyo Kara Maoh! (Vol. 01)


Author: Tomo Takabayashi
Manga-ka: Temari Matsumoto
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Yuri Shibuya just can’t catch a break. First, he had his head dunked in a toilet. Then he was transported to another world – where he finds himself king of the Mazoku’s, a new race expects him to lead them to war against all of humanity. And to top it all off, he’s engaged – to a man! From the creator of Shinobu Kokoro comes an outrageous, gender-bending, high-school demon love story!”

Based off a series of light novels, Kyo Kara Maoh! is the story of Yuri, your everyday high school student whose life suddenly takes a bizarre turn via a swirly gone horribly wrong. Now finding himself transported via toilet to a fantasy world, he’s proclaimed King of the Demons and charged with the task of destroying all humans!

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Review: Wild Adapter (Vol. 06)


Manga-ka: Kazuya Minekura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: November 2008

Synopsis: “Sanada and the young new leader of the Izumo group finally make their move – by kidnapping Tokito! But after what happened to the Tojou group when Kubota was involved, they should have known better. Now, Kubota is on a mission, and nothing will stand between him and getting Tokito back.”

Wild Adapter takes a turn down a dark and dirty path here in the sixth volume when Tokito is kidnapped by the Izumo group as they seek more information about the deadly W.A. drug. More over, Tokito interests their boss even more when they realize how close he’s gotten to Kubota.

Read more…


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