Author: Nishiwaki Dat
Manga-ka: Type-Moon
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis:
“When he was little, high school student and amateur mechanic Shirou Emiya was adopted by a magus man. Now he wants nothing more than to follow in his stepfather’s footsteps and become a hero of justice. Little does he know that a war is waging among some chosen magi, and that he is about to become its focal point…”

There was a time when all I knew of the Fate series were the pretty pictures. And, of course, I loved those pretty pictures. Within the last year I had the chance to play through the game. All three routes and the Tiger Dojos too! The story was absolutely amazing. I loved pretty well every moment of it, with the exception of a certain selection of scenes. After I’d played the game inside and out, I sat down to watch the anime. Though it didn’t follow my favorite of the three routes, I still loved just about everything about the anime. So of course, when I finally found the manga on the shelf at my local bookstore, I had to pick it up.

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Manga-ka: Ai Morinaga
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: November 2008

Synopsis: “With no intention of ever switching back, Momoi begins dating her pre-swap best friend, Shiina. Meanwhile, Akira’s pre-swap best friend, Senbongi, continues to purse him, making Akira even more devoted to regaining his own body. But when Senbongi overhears a conversation between Momoi and Akira and uncovers their secret, what will happen to them now that someone knows the truth?”

Volume three of Your & My Secret returns with much of the same but doesn’t for a moment take it easy with the jokes, jeers and charm. Akira and Momoi’s body switching secret is discovered by Senbongi but he remains undeterred in his affection for Akira. Meanwhile, Momoi in Akira’s body continues to date her pre-switch best friend, Shiina though realizes that her girlfriend is getting a little worried about their defensive nature of “Momoi”’s chastity.

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Manga-ka: Shiho Sugiura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2008

Synopsis: “Rakan’s normal life had been turned upside down thanks to strangers from another world suddenly appearing in his backyard! Chigusa and Narushige are starting to become more comfortable with their new surroundings, but coming to disrupt the peace is an assassin sent by the Prince. Will Chigusa save the day again?”

The two travellers from another world, Chigusa and Narushige, remain residents of Rakan’s home. More is revealed about their dark pasts that’ve led them here but not before an assassin is sent by the other world’s Prince to get rid of them both. Sweet home life moments, brisk confrontations and a likeable cast of returning characters, awaits readers in this second volume of Silver Diamond.

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

Synopsis: “Cooro and the others find themselves in a town that has just been graced with the presence of an angel, who Cooro realizes right away is a +Anima. But the “angel” doesn’t like being discovered and turns the town against Cooro, telling them he’s a messenger of death. When researchers arrive to investigate, will Cooro and friends the other cheek for their fellow +Anima?”

With Husky’s back-story arc now at a close, what undoubtedly sucked me in the most about this ninth volume was the beginning of Cooro’s. He’s been somewhat of an enigma since the beginning: happy go lucky, innocent and seemingly with complete acceptance of his Anima abilities. Even the characters make note of these oddities, foreshadowing for some revelations to come. With Cooro being as happy and spirited as he usually is, subtle changes in his personality are very noticeable. Some returning characters set to trigger the final climatic events are +Anima researchers, the head of which is known to Cooro from his past.

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Manga-ka: Kei Kusunoki
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Volumes: 3
Released: September 2006 – September 2007

Synopsis: “From Kei Kusunoki, the creator of Sengoku Nights comes a twisted psychological drama about Makoto, a private eye with an uncanny, almost otherworldly, ability to get his man. When he is put on the case of a suspected witch, the trail suddenly takes a dark turn along the fine line that separates the guilty from the innocent…”

Innocent W is a three-volume horror story that follows a bus of witches into the deserted mountains. Waiting for them amidst the trees and darkness are those who look for retribution from these witches, for crimes against themselves and their family. Among the witches is a private eye named Makoto who has strange powers of his own. Unfortunately for him and the girls, the hunters aren’t looking for apologies; they’re looking for blood.

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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis: “When the dath of a bird ignites a great crisis that threatens to destroy all of Japan, will Count D be part of the solution – or the problem? Later, it will fall on Count D to help a wife who is treated like a servant and a girl who is imprisioned by her family. But when the Count helps, it usually comes at a steep price…”

Dreams and reality walk a thin line here in the third volume of Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo. Count D’s business continues to thrive in the lively Chinatown centre and people from all around look to him for the perfect pet. This time a long girl seeks the truth about her past, a cat yearns for acceptance, a young woman struggles to survive in a world that seems to hate her and a dead bird means much more than a simple hole in Count D’s heart.

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Manga-ka: Ryo Saenagi
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis:
“The heart-thumping, vein-draining conclusion! When a suspected vampire escapes from a mental institution, Paranormal Task Force members Nanaki and Ao are on the case again – except this time, they have to cooperate with the regular police! Are they doomed to become the vampire’s next meal?”

The third and volume final volume of Psychic Power Nanaki puts Nanaki and his aforementioned psychic powers to work against a suspected vampire. When the priest accused of murdering his victims while drinking their blood escaped from the mental institution that held him, the hunt is on for Nanaki and Ao as their paranormal investigation group, Lock, is put on the case.

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Manga-ka: Ai Morinaga
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “When Akira Uehara, overlooked because he doesn’t open his mouth, and Nanako Momo, looked over until she opens her mouth, switch bodies, they find their new selves surprisingly comfortable. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones. Akira and Nanako’s pre-swap best friends are no drawn to them post-op. And they want to spend the night! Akira and Nanako will have to do more than just tango in this of Your & My Secret!”

Akira continues to struggle with his new life as a girl in Nanako’s body and yet as each day passes, he becomes more and more accustomed to it (maybe even more than being guy originally). His pre-change best friend, Senbongi, continues to hit on him relentlessly but Akira can’t help but find himself attracted to his ‘new’ best friend, Nanako’s friend, Shiina. Throw these jumbled feelings into an overnight beach trip and Valentine’s Day and you’ve got yourself the second volume of Your & My Secret.

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