Author: Daimuro Kishi
Manga-ka: Tamao Ichinose
Publisher: CMX Manga
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: June 2007
Synopsis: “Is the Time Shop closing for good?! In this eries finale, Miu tries to stop two former sweethearts from trading in their memories in order to forget their past relationship. Then Mr. Kusaka announces he’s selling all the Time Shop’s assets and closing up for good. Can Miu and Ginzo change his mind?”
A romantic entanglement becomes Time Guardian Miu’s first big job of volume two, taking her on an emotional journey as go between for two struggling lovers. But their waffling relationship proves only the tip of the book’s real iceberg as Miu is thrown for a loop when she learns what all the memories the shops’ been collecting are really for, then finds herself traveling to another world to see that the Time Shop isn’t closed for good.
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Manga-ka: Kaoru Mori
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2008
Synopsis: “From the acclaimed author of Emma, this collection of short stories presents further exploration into the stratified world of English society, portrayed through the experiences of young maids. Miss Bennett lives alone and keeps busy running the pub she inherited. Needing some help, she posts a notice for a maid. Along comes Shirley, a girl who can clean and cook as well as any maid – even if she’s only 13 years old!”
After a long day’s work, Miss Bennett returns home only to find a quiet young girl waiting patiently on her doorstep. In her hand she has the ad that Miss Bennett has placed in the paper only recently, an ad seeking a healthy young girl to be hired as a live in maid. Though her patience is admirable, the young girl is just that, very young. But faith is rewarded as Miss Bennett takes in the thirteen year old and gains both a dedicated maid and kind company.
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Author: K-Ske Hasegawa
Manga-ka: Asuka Izumi
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: August 2009
Synopsis: “Shinigamis are usually thought of as dark and scary, but not Momo. She’s the beautiful and sympathetic messenger of death who helps people transition to the other side, prevents others from ending their own lives, and carries messages from the dead to the living. Based on the Japanese light novel series that later became an anime, Ballad of a Shinigami is a collection of stories about people coming to terms with death that alternately sad, funny, and heart-warming.”
The first book to win me over to a purchase after reading a short sampler in CMX’s recent SDCC sampler, Ballad of a Shinigami is a collection of episodic chapters that are all strung together with the appearance of a mysterious Shinigami fully clad in white. Instead of leading humans towards death, she subtly steers them back on the road to life.
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Today it’s part two of my look at the manga samplers handed out at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Last week I went through some of Viz Media’s offerings and today I take a look at another of their sampler books, plus a really pleasantly plump CMX sampler and a look at some recent Del Rey books properties. One thing’s for sure, my to-buy list keeps getting progressively longer with each one.
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Manga-ka: Kaoru Mori
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: December 2006
Synopsis: “William Jones regards Emma as a beautiful, charming young woman, not merely a servant. After their first real date, things seem to be going in a positive direction for them. But the leisurely pace of the growing relationship between Emma and William ends when tragedy strikes at home, forcing Emma to leave the house she shared with Mrs. Stownar. Meanwhile, when the rest of William’s brothers and sisters show up, they discover their brother’s budding relationship and try to bring it to a screeching halt.”
In this second volume the dynamics of Emma’s world are shifted when she loses the woman who helped her begin the life she’s come to be so content with. Now left tending to the affairs of her estate, and preparing herself for her seemingly empty future, Emma struggles with her own profound loneliness. Despite the fact that I still find myself unable to connect much with Emma because of her overtly docile personality, it’s impossible not to feel sympathy for her during such an emotionally trying time, even if the impact is quickly lost after the fact.
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Here we go at the convention’s last industry manga panel: CMX Manga! A few technical difficulties slowed the start but it gave some attendees time to share a few con stories with the staff, and then soon enough, things began!
Note: Due to technical problems of my own, I wasn’t able to live blog the panels that happened yesterday but I do have all the information so that will all hopefully be up tonight!
CMX staff begin by showcasing multiple series,most of which acting as elaboration for previously announced/revealed titles while the others near-the-end are new:
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Author: Daimuro Kishi
Manga-ka: Tamao Ichinose
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: March 2007
Synopsis: “High school student Miu Asahina stumbles upon a shop where time is loaned to anyone who needs it. But the price is a memory one risks losing forever. Miu gets hired by the manager to help other people manage their time… too bad she can’t handle her own!”
With a bit of accidental dumb-luck, Miu Asahina finds herself a guest in a magical shop run by a man who exchanges time for people’s memories. Intrigued by her mistaken entry into the store, the shop-owner hires her on as an assistant of sorts, there to help be a bridge between his entrepreneurial prowess and his customer’s emotional needs.
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Anime Expo 2009 rounds up today down in Los Angeles which means it’s time for a quick news round-up. Industry presence seems considerably less this year, an observation that I make as someone who wasn’t able to attend mind you, and the announcement list is considerably smaller than the whopping 61 manga licenses that Anime Expo 2008 had for us. Goes to show how the industry’s changed over the past year I suppose, right? Anime Expo did continue its reputation as the largest anime convention in North America however with an attendence of over 44,000.
For the manga news, check out my round-up under the cut.
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Two new listings popped up on Amazon.ca today, both listed from CMX, the manga imprint of comic-giant, DC. The titles are Stolen Hearts (Vol. 01) by Miku Sakamoto and The World I Create (Vol. 01) by Ayami Kazama. I wasn’t able to find information on either of the titles past what the Amazon listings provide, but based on the name Ayami Kazama I was at least able to provide an adorable cat-kid for the image. It may not be entirely relevant but it sure is cute, right? Both Amazon titles are listed for release in early 2010.
Edit: Stolen Hearts, original name Toraware Gokko, is currently running in Japan’s Hana to Yume magazine with three compiled volumes so far. Japanese Amazon pages for these books in their original release can be seen here and here. Information updates compliments of Toukochan (Twi), Kilthan (Twi) and Michelle Smith.
On a more informative note, the new edition of Battle Royale that Viz Media is putting out in November 2009 (according to Amazon), now has a slick cover design uploaded. On the cover are some of the books’ facts including “Foreward by Max Allan Collins, Newly Revised Text, Interview With Director Kinji Fukasaku and 22 Extra Pages by Author Koushun Takami”.
Manga-ka: Kaoru Mori
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: September 2006
Synopsis: “The saga begins. In Victorian England, a young girl named Emma is rescued from a life of destitution and raised to become a proper British maid. When she meets William, the eldest son of a wealthy family, their love seems destined. But in this world, even matters of the heart are ruled by class distinctions.”
As far as we’ve gone here in volume one, Emma is the story of a maid of the title name who works under the charge of a stubborn, yet kind, older woman. A previous student of the older woman comes to call one day and is immediately smitten with Emma, something that is no uncommon occurrence for the timid but attractive young woman. Though she has long since become accustomed to politely declining the advances of men, in this case Emma can’t help but be rather charmed in return.
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Manga-ka: Yoshinori Natsume
Publisher: CMX
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: November 2008
Synopsis: “In present day Gotham City, there is a new killer on the loose. Its appearance coincides with the arrival of an ambitious Japanese businessman, who female aide is a dead ringer for a woman young Bruce Wayne met years ago. Suddenly, Batman finds himself haunted by his past, when he trained in Japan and came face to face with the darker side of his own nature. Is this killer a man, a demon, or some twisted manifestation of the Batman himself?”
This book mixes together two of my favourite things, Batman and manga, so it’s a wonder how I’ve gone this long without picking up CMX’s release of Batman: Death Mask. When Batman begins to suffer from horrible nightmares, he realizes they may be connected to a face-stealing serial killer attacking Gotham City. When his past returns to haunt him, coincidences become too much for him to ignore and his search for the killer takes a personal path.
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RightStuf has a listing for a new yaoi manga being published, tentatively, May 27, 2009 by Kitty Media: You Higashino’s Shihaisuru Yubisaki (and/or possibly its sequel one-shot, Kogareru Yubisaki).
“Dreamy neurosurgeon Tsuda is in a passionate relationship with fellow doctor Shiraishi. But when a steamy new patient shows up and wants to play doctor with Shiraishi, their love is put to the test!”
The translated name? Gay’s Anatomy. Oh Kitty Media, you’ve been having fun with your translated names recently haven’t you?
On a semi-unrelated note, Mangachat left a comment on my recent post regarding some CMX possible licenses, to point me at The Lizard Prince by Asuka Izumi, another CMX listed title that’s recently surfaced on the online retail website.
Not that I can complain about more manga but does anyone miss the days when manga acquistions were more exciting? Or should I say announced before discovered atleast.
