I Give My First Love to You 1 by Aoki Kotomi, Innocent Bride by Kayoru, Love Me If You Dare by Shiraishi Yuki (m&c! 18 July 2012 manga)

baka-girl's wish has been granted. m&c! licensed Aoki Kotomi's Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu. :D Meanwhile, I'm drooling over the new (provocatively-titled) Shiraishi Yuki omnibus.

Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu © Aoki Kotomi
Shogakukan [Sho-Comi Flower Comics]
Published in Indonesia as I Give My First Love to You by Gramedia/m&c!

I'm happy. I like you, and the feeling grows each passing day. But I wonder if I shouldn't, if this passion is in vain.

That summer, my eight year-old self made a promise I can't ever keep.

And what “promise” did Takuma make, and why is he dead certain he won't be able to keep it? If you're not intrigued, if you need moar persuading (which I highly doubt), read baka-girl's 8.4/10♥ review of Aoki Kotomi's Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu. And when you finally GET! I Give My First Love to You 1, I suggest you keep handkerchieves or tissues (in the plural :p) nearby because this ex-Sho-Comi drama—tragedy, better get that out in the open early—Will. Induce. Tears.

The Shoujo with Male Lead, Childhood Friends, First Love Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu is actually a spin-off of Aoki Kotomi-sensei's Boku wa Imouto ni Koiwosuru (I Love My Younger Sister), but BokuKimi trumps the sibcestuous (smutlicious) BokuImo by running away with the 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards in the Shoujo category.

I Give My First Love to You spans 12 rivers of tears volumes, the last tank releasing in Japan in August 2008. Volume 1 contains a special Motto Ikitai..., which features two little kids scaring themselves silly after hearing a ghost story, but still mustering the courage to investigate whether the story is based on fact.

☞ I Give My First Love to You is also the title of the movie adaptation starring Okada Masaki (Sekime Kyogo in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e: Ikemen Paradise) as Kakunouchi Takuma and Inoue Mao (Makino Tsukushi, Hana Yori Dango) as Taneda Mayu. The movie premiered in Japan on 24 October 2009. The drama CD streeted earlier—in May 2006, to be precise—with seiyuu Ishida Akira voicing Kakinouchi Takuma and Orikasa Fumiko, Taneda Mayu.

I list other Aoki Kotomi shoujo manga titles m&c! has published, will publish (Love Lies!) after the cut. For nau, let's look at the other debuts.

New m&c! titles
Aside from Aoki Kotomi's I Give My First Love to You, Shiraishi Yuki's Love Me, If You Dare (Ookamidomo no Shitsukekata) debuts, along with Kayoru's Innocent Bride (Junai Bride). Like BokuKimi, both are ex-Sho-Comi. The other premieres are Konno Risa's May I Love You? (Suki ni Natte mo Iidesuka , first serialized in Betsucomi), manhwa A Bad Cinderella 1 by Hwang MiRee and Kuze Mizuki's Love Confusion (Tri/Angle, ex-Ciao). I preview the newbies after the release list except Love Me, If You Dare because I stalk Shiraishi Yuki-sensei. :p

Ookamidomo no
Shitsukekata
© Shiraishi Yuki/Shogakukan
[Sho-Comi Flower Comics]
Published in Indonesia as
Love Me, If You Dare
by Gramedia/m&c!

Nozomi is the only girl (sheep) in a school filled to the rafters with rowdy boys (wolves). How does she survive? Well, the wolflings know enough not to make cute and cheerful Nozomi angry, lest she turn into a ‘killing machine’ capable of slaughtering any Canis lupus, let alone Homo sapiens, without mercy. Only Homo sapiens sapiens transfer student Soga can handle even a rampaging Nozomi.

Exactly...how...?

Physically Strong Female, Transfer Student, Fast Romance, Male Lead Falls in Love First, INCOMING!

Love Me, If You Dare AKA How to Tame the Wolves also includes the one-shot Konna watashi ja nashi desu ka?! [Continued...]

m&c! manga (2012.07.18)

1. [Series Premiere] I Give My First Love to You (Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu) vol 1 of 12 by Aoki Kotomi

Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu 「僕の初恋をキミに捧ぐ」 by Aoki Kotomi Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 1 first published in Japan 2005.12

Awards
Winner, 53rd Shogakukan Manga Awards (2007), in the Shoujo category

Related Series
Adapted/spun-off from Boku wa Imouto ni Koiwosuru (10 volumes)

The Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu Secret Unrequited Love Offical Fan Book (Sho-Comi Flower Comics Fan Book) released on 2008.09.26.

Other languages
Partially translated into English (Shogakukan English Comics I Give My First Love to You volume 1 released 2009.03.27), French (Soleil: My First Love, Tome 12 shipped 2011.04), Spanish (Editorial Ivréa Spain: Secretos del Corazón), traditional Chinese (Ever Glory Taiwan: 我的初戀情人 12 per 2009.09.11)

Adaptations
The Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu Drama CD was released on 2006.05.17. Seiyuu Ishida Akira voiced Kakinouchi Takuma, Orikasa Fumiko, Taneda Mayu.

The I Give My First Love to You movie, starring Okada Masaki (Sekime Kyogo, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e: Ikemen Paradise) as Kakunouchi Takuma and Inoue Mao (Makino Tsukushi, Hana Yori Dango) as Taneda Mayu, premiered in Japan on 2009.10.24.

The Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu Shogakukan Bunko novel written by Hashiguchi Ikuyo streeted on 2009.09.04. Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu I give my first love to you Shogakukan Junior Cinema Bunko novelization written by Momose Shinobu was released on 2009.10.23.

2. [Premiere] Innocent Bride (Junai Bride) by Kayoru

Junai Bride 「純愛ブライド」 by Kayoru Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2011.11

3. [Premiere] Love Confusion (Tri/Angle) by Kuze Mizuki

Tri/Angle 「トライ／アングル」 by Kuze Mizuki Shogakukan Ciao, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2011.12

4. [Premiere] Love Me, If You Dare (Ookamidomo no Shitsukekata) by Shiraishi Yuki

Ookamidomo no Shitsukekata 「オオカミどものしつけ方」 by Shiraishi Yuki Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2011.12

5. [Premiere] May I Love You? (Suki ni Natte mo Iidesuka) by Konno Risa

Suki ni Natte mo Iidesuka 「好きになってもいいですか」 by Konno Risa Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2011.08

6. Runway Sweetheart (Runway no Koibito) vol 2 of 3 by Shibano Yuka, Tanaka Wataru

Runway no Koibito 「ランウェイの恋人」 by Shibano Yuka, Tanaka Wataru Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo Volume 2 first published in Japan 2011.08

Related series
Novel Runway no Koibito by Tanaka Wataru published by Shogakukan first in January 2010 and reissued under the Shogakukan Bunko imprint (Volume 1 per 2012.07.06 and continuation volume 2 (Paris-hen): 2012.08.03 street date)

m&c! manhwa (2012.07.18)

1. [Series Premiere] A Bad Cinderella vol 1 of 10 by Hwang MiRee

A Bad Cinderella 「불량 신데렐라」 by Hwang MiRee Samyang, soonjung Volume 1 first published in Korea 2010.09

2. The Breaker vol 9 of 10 by Jeon KeukJin & Park JinHwan

The Breaker 「브레이커 (THE BREAKER)」 by Jeon KeukJin & Park JinHwan Daewon C.I. Young Daiwon, seinen Volume 9 first published in Korea 2010.03

Related series
Sequel: The Breaker: New Waves (four volumes per 2012.06.27, ongoing)

Hong Kong manhua (2012.07.18)

• City of Darkness vol 4 of 6 by Andy Seto - Yu Er

City of Darkness by Andy Seto - Yu Er Published by The One Comics Publishing Limited

KOLONI Local comics (2012.07.18)

• Real Masjid vol 2 @tonytrax, Faza Meonk & THOMA

Real Masjid by @tonytrax (Story), Faza Meonk & THOMA (Art) Volume 2 first published in Indonesia by Gramedia/m&c! in 2012.07.18

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Goong 25, Idol's Love Story 13, He Doesn't Belong to Me by Kayoru (m&c! manhwa and manga out nau)

Street date: 4 April 2012
☞ Reiterating redux (isn't that a redundancy?) Comic prices have gone up↑ as of April 2012, so what used to cost IDR 16,500 now retails for IDR 17,500. Manhwa ex-Samyang like Han YuRang's Idol's Love Story 13 is now IDR 22,000/volume.

Goong © Park SoHee/Seoul Cultural Publishers
[First serialized in Wink]
Published in Indonesia as Goong [Palace Story] by Gramedia/m&c!

Shin gives up his claim to the throne with grace. His desire to remarry ChaeKyeong is also approved. But on coronation day, the new crown prince Yul is nowhere to be found!?

Trust Yul to create a rumpus just when Shin is thisclose to total redemption. :P Yul's last-ditch shenanigans are prolly the reason for Goong [Palace Story] taking two more volumes to reach Happy Even After. Which can't come too soon for me, cuz I've been/am saving up the last seven volumes for a Goong marathon.

Another SNAFU's in the works in the other manhwa streeting on the fourth —

Idol's Love Story vol 13 of 15
By Han YuRang

Choe Jang Gun rejoices over the revelation that Lang Land and Ian Freeman have blood ties that bind, thinking this is his chance to once more nab Lang Land. But the (melo)drama spirals out of control, in a way Choe Jang Gun never expected...

I'm betting Nicky had something to do with the chaos. Must check Idol's Love Story 13 though for confirmation.

New m&c! manga
All new manga: m&c! follows up Kayoru's 1/2 Love antho launched last week with another Kayoru shoujo omnibus, He Doesn't Belong to Me, originally Kare wa, Ano Ko no Mono ex-Sho-Comi. It also releases the Sweet Dog's Stories (Tengoku no Inu Monogatari ~Zutto, Zutto, Isshoni~) tankou from Hotta Atsuko, which serialized in Cherry last year. Finally, there's Ikeda Takashi's collection of—seinen?—shorts Platonic Form that, despite being advised as costing IDR 17,500 actually retails for IDR 22,000. Scroll down for previews.

m&c! manga (2012.04.04)

1. [Premiere] He Doesn't Belong to Me (Kare wa, Ano Ko no Mono) by Kayoru

Kare wa, Ano Ko no Mono 「彼は、あの子のモノ」 by Kayoru Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2010.06

2. [Premiere] Platonic Form (Platonic Form Ikeda Takashi Tanpenshuu) by Ikeda Takashi

Platonic Form Ikeda Takashi Tanpenshuu 「プラトニック・ホーム　いけだたかし短編集」 by Ikeda Takashi Media Factory MF Comics This volume first published in Japan 2010.03

3. [Premiere] Sweet Dog's Stories (Tengoku no Inu Monogatari ~Zutto, Zutto, Isshoni~) by Hotta Atsuko

Tengoku no Inu Monogatari ~Zutto, Zutto, Isshoni~ 「天国の犬ものがたり～ずっと、ずっと、一緒に～」 by Hotta Atsuko AKA The Heavenly Dog's Stories Shogakukan Sho-Comi Flower Comics, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2011.04

Related series
Tengoku no Inu Monogatari ~Zutto, Zutto, Isshoni~ is the sixth volume of the Tengoku no Inu Monogatari series that includes:
(1) Tengoku no Inu Monogatari (JP release: 2004.11)
(2) Zoku Tengoku no Inu Monogatari (2005.11)
(3) Shin Tengoku no Inu Monogatari (2007.12)
(4) Tengoku no Inu Monogatari ~Kiseki~ (2008.06)
(5) Tengoku no Inu Monogatari ~Negai~ (2009.12)

Serializations
Serialized in the Indonesian Cherry mangazine

m&c! manhwa (2012.04.04)

1. Goong [Palace Story] vol 25 of 27 by Park SoHee

Goong 「궁(宮)」 by Park SoHee Seoul Cultural Publishers Wink, soonjung Volume 25 first published in Korea 2011.04

Other languages
English Goong: The Royal Palace (12 volumes per 2011.09 • volume 13 street date: 2012.05.22), French (Samji Editions: Palais Tome 13 per 2012.01), Japanese (Shinshokan: らぶきょん　ＬＯＶＥ　ｉｎ景福宮; Un Poco Comics volume 27 released 2012.02.26)

Adaptations
Live-action Princess Hours, starring Yoon EunHye (ChaeKyeong), Joo JiHoon (Shin), Kim JeongHoon (Yul) and Song Ji Hyo (HyoRin) aired in Korea from January to March 2006. The Goong S spin-off aired on the same MBC network from January to March 2007.

2. Idol's Love Story (Idol School of Noble's Story) vol 13 of 15 by Han YuRang

Idol School of Noble's Story 「IDOL SCHOOL OF 귀족연애사」 by Han YuRang Samyang, soonjung Volume 13 first published in Korea 2006.11

Hong Kong manhua (2012.04.04)

• Long Hu Men: The Next Battle vol 7: Pertarungan Berdarah! by Tony Wong

Long Hu Men - The Next Battle by Tony Wong Published in Hong Kong by Jade Dynasty

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Reprints (2012.04.04)

1. Kabuki Prince (Kiwatmetsuke Gakuya Ura Ouji) by Sakurakouji Kanoko
2. The Secret Kiss in a Fairy Tale (Otogibanashi de Himitsu no Kiss) by Takamiya Satoru
3. September Storm (Suki, Tokoro ni Yori Arashi) by Mitsuki Kaco

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Crazy Girl Shin Bia 11, Mail Girlfriend 4, My Handsome Butler by Shiiba Nana (m&c! 28 March 2012 manhwa and manga) [UPDATE2]

Shopping list only this week. Can't be helped. Update: And recommendations And took out Canvas ~ Rainbow Sketch vol 2 (moved to 2012.04.18)

Bishounen Moraimashita © Shiiba Nana/Shogakukan
[First serialized in Betsucomi]
Published in Indonesia as My Handsome Butler by Gramedia/m&c!

Who, pray tell, gets a BUTLER for a birthday present?

16y.o. Yoshino, that's who. For as long as she can remember, she's been engaged to the scion of a rich family, and for as equally long, he's been giving her weird birthday gifts. But an air-freighted butler is the weirdest one yet! What on earth is commoner Yoshino supposed to do with a bishie butler/bodyguard?

Shiiba Nana's My Handsome Butler, originally Bishounen Moraimashita, first serialized in Betsucomi. The bishie-themed antho—does Nana-chan-sensei produce any other type?—contains six shorts including the title story. Aside from My Handsome Butler, there's My Handsome Butler Background Story, Love Love Gang, It Becomes a Habit, Prince's Salon and Continue! Love Love Gang.

I rate Bishounen Moraimashita 7.5 of 10 and its follow-up Ura Bishounen Moraimashita background story, a 6; Love Love Gang receives a 7.75 (yes, higher), but the Zoku! Love Love Gang continuation drops to 7/10. Oujisama no Salon merits a 7.25. My favorite, the image transformation, revenge-troped It Becomes a Habit or Kuse ni Nacchau! clocks in at 8 of 10♥. So with a 7.25/10 average, I recommend My Handsome Butler as a GET! if not a Must Borrow!

☞ m&c! has published quite a few of Shiiba Nana's shoujo manga, most recently My Gentle Wolves (Ookamitachi no Shiikuhou). If interested in other Shiiba Nana titles m&c! has released (and which were reviewed by other manga critics), go »here.

I preview and rate the other m&c! debut—the ex-Sho-Comi 1/2 Love by Kayoru (I've Loved You Since So Long manga-ka)—after the release list. Previews of ongoing series DO WANT! there, too.

Mangazines: Cherry March 2012 Edition
The March edition of Cherry, the Indonesian mangazine that serializes shoujo titles off Ciao, (now defunct) ChuChu, Sho-Comi, Flowers and Betsucomi, highlights Nakajima Yuka's Heart Curtain and features the Ciao manga on the cover. We're up to episode 3 from one-volume Kokoro Curtain tankou here. [Continued...]

m&c! manga (2012.03.28)

1. [Premiere] 1/2 Love by Kayoru

1/2 Love! 「１／２ＬＯＶＥ！」 by Kayoru AKA 1/2 Love! Flower of Love Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2011.04

2. Canvas ~ Rainbow Sketch (Canvas 2 - Nijiiro no Sketch) vol 2 of 4 Kodama Miki, FC01FANDC. CO. JP Postponed ➝ 2012.04.18
3. Mail Girlfriend (Mel Kano.) vol 4 of 5 by Oshima Towa

Mel Kano. 「メルカノ。」 by Oshima Towa Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 4 (chapters 21–27) first published in Japan 2009.09

4. [Premiere] My Handsome Butler (Bishounen Moraimashita) by Shiiba Nana

Bishounen Moraimashita 「美少年もらいました。」 by Shiiba Nana Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2008.06

m&c! manhwa (2012.03.28)

• Crazy Girl Shin Bia vol 11 of 19 by Hwang MiRee

Crazy Girl Shin Bia 「크레이지걸 신비아 이계로 가다!!」 by Hwang MiRee Samyang, soonjung Volume 11 first published in Korea 2008.04

Hong Kong manhua (2012.03.28)

• Pedang Maha Dewa 4: Amazing Weapons - The Lost Blade vol 7 by Tony Wong

Pedang Maha Dewa 4: Amazing Weapons - The Lost Blade by Tony Wong Published by Jade Dynasty

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mangazine (2012.03.28)

• Cherry March 2012 edition (Indonesian Ciao, ChuChu, Sho-Comi, Flowers, Betsucomi)

Reprints (2012.03.28)

1. The Crescendo Memory (Koi o Kanaderu Kisetsu) by Yabuuchi Yuu
2. Summer Kiss (Himitsu no Summer Kiss) by Takeuchi Masami
3. Yearning Moon (Katakoi no Tsuki) by Mitsuki Kako

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