The Drops of God 13, Bambino Secondo 4, Gisele Alain 1 by Kasai Sui (Level Comics manga out nau~)

Not to forget — Ice Forest 8.
Street date: 25 July 2012

Before top DO WANT! The Drops of God and Bambino! Secondo...(You know you've been wondering about Giséle Alain. Admit it. :D)

Giséle Alain © Kasai Sui
Enterbrain [Serialized in Fellows!]
Published in Indonesia by Level Comics

Aristocrat Gisele Alain is a lady of great curiosity. She leaves home and goes into the Jack (Jill) of All Trades trade — to help people in need, but also to satisfy her overwhelming curiosity about the world she lives in and life in general.

Eric, one of her tenants, is drafted as assistant (he complies because of rent arrears). Although Eric complains volubly, he's always ready to assist Gisele, and need help she does on several fronts — from kitty lost-and-found to woods patrol.

Gisele Alain (and Eric), at your service!

The Smart if Naïve Female Lead, Runaway from Home episodic historical slice of life Giséle Alain serializes in Enterbrain's seinen mangazine Fellows!. Three Beam Comix volumes out in Japan as of this June.

Only found one fellow Fellows! manga credited to Kasai Sui-sensei other than Giséle Alain and that's the Tsukiyo no Toratsugumi antho (JP release: 2011.05), which includes the side story Hana no Mori no Majo-san or Witch of the Flower Forest.

I preview the other Level premiere, Karate Master Minoru, after the jump. For now, Most Wanted:

The Drops of God vol 13 of (33+)
By Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

Shizuku and Loulan sort out the wine just in time, but Shizuku still searches—grape fruitlessly?—for a vino to complement spicy Korean food, primarily kimchi. Will Shizuku ever find the elusive vintage?

Also, the battle to identify the 4th Apostle gets underway. The theme this time: first Love~

Relieved to hear we're back to the Twelve Apostles. Or nine, as the case may be, plus that there "Drops of God." For a while I thought K-invasion eclipsed Kami no Shizuku's original compelling premise. :p

Just kidding!

Thirty-three Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu tanks have been published in Japan as of May 2012. The 34th releases on 23 August.

Still in the wine—and food—biz:

Bambino! Secondo vol 4 (of 11+)
By Sekiya Tetsuji

Just when Legare can't plunge any lower, Ban hears about a mythic waiter who, during his (her?) time, reportedly revolutionized Yokohama's food service. But the clock is ticking, and it's been a decade since the legend disappeared.

Can Ban locate the former megastar before Legare's prospects dim for good?

Level Comics manga and manhua (2012.07.25)

1. Bambino! Secondo vol 4 of 11+ by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! Secondo 「バンビ～ノ！ＳＥＣＯＮＤＯ」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 4 first published in Japan 2010.06

Related series
Prequel: Bambino! (15 volumes)

2. The Drops of God (Kami no Shizuku) vol 13 of 33+ by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu

Kami no Shizuku: Les Gouttes de Dieu 「神の雫」 by Agi Tadashi & Okimoto Shu Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 13 first published in Japan 2007.11

Awards
Special Award of the Year - La Revue du vin de France (French wine magazine); Nominee (Glénat's Les Gouttes de Dieu, tome 1), French Angoulême Comics Awards; Nominee, 1st Keitai Comic Taishō (Mobile Phone Comic Award, along with Hiura Satoru's Hotaru no Hikari, Miyasaka Kaho's Kare First Love and 17 other manga)

Other languages
French (Glénat: Les Gouttes de Dieu Tome 23 shipped 2012.05 • Tome 24 street date: 2012.08.16), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: 神之水滴 30 per 2011.12), English Drops of God (Vertical: four volumes as of 2012.06.19 • Volume '05: New World street date: 2012.09.25)

Adaptations
A live-action renzoku starring Kamenashi Kazuya as Kanzaki Shizuku aired from January to March 2009 in Japan on NTV.

3. Drug-On vol 3 of 5 by Saitoh Misaki

Drug-On 「ＤＲＵＧ‐ＯＮ　ドラゴン」 by Saitoh Misaki Gentosha Comic Birz, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2008.03

4. Fight!! Ippo (Hajime no Ippo) vol 92 of 100+ by Morikawa Joji

Hajime no Ippo 「はじめの一歩」 by Morikawa Joji AKA Fighting Spirit Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 92 first published in Japan 2010.06

Volume 92 chapters:
Round 883: Desired Battle
Round 884: Right There...!
Round 885: The Grim Total
Round 886: Now What!?
Round 887: No Excuses
Round 888: Desperate Resolution
Round 889: Invisible Hindrance
Round 890: The Wild Child Grounded
Round 891: Traces of Accumulation
Round 892: Your Specialty
[*NOT Level chapter titles]

Awards
Winner, 1991 Kodansha Manga Awards in the Shounen category

Related series
Hajime no Ippo Gaiden (one-shot prequel)

Other languages
French (Kurokawa: Ippo, Saison 3: La Défense Supréme Tome 2 [Hajime no Ippo 48] shipped 2012.07.05), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 第一神拳 99 released 2012.07.23)

Adaptations
A 76-episode anime by Madhouse, starring seiyuu Kiyasu Kohei (Makunouchi Ippo), aired on NTV from October 2000 to March 2002. A sequel/special, Hajime no Ippo - Champion Road, came out in June 2003, followed by the spinoff Hajime no Ippo - Mashiba vs. Kimura OAV (2003.09). The 26-episode second season Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger was telecast from January to June 2009.

5. [Series Premiere] Giséle Alain vol 1 of 3+ by Kasai Sui

Giséle Alain 「ジゼル・アラン」 by Kasai Sui Enterbrain Fellows!, seinen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2010.07

6. Ice Forest vol 8 of 12 by Saito Chiho

Ice Forest 「アイスフォレスト」 by Saito Chiho Shogakukan Flowers, josei Volume 8 first published in Japan 2010.10

7. [Series Premiere] Karate Master Minoru (Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru) vol 1 of 48+ by Baba Yasushi

Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru 「空手小公子　小日向海流」 by Baba Yasushi Kodansha Young Magazine, seinen Volume 1 first published in Japan 2000.07

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: 空手小霸王-小日向海流 (45) released 2012.06.16)

Related
Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru Kōshiki Guide Book published 2005.07.06

8. Misaki No.1!! vol 2 of 2+ by Fujisaki Masato

Misaki Number One!! 「美咲ナンバーワン！！」 by Fujisaki Masato Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits and Monthly Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2011.02

Adaptations
Ten episodes of the live-action Misaki Number One!! renzoku aired on NTV between 12 January to 16 March 2011 with Karina as Tennoji Misaki.

9. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) vol 17 of 45+ by Chan Mou

Sanguozhi Qunxiongzhuan: Huo Feng Liao Yuan 「火鳳燎原」 by Chan Mou AKA The Fiery Phoenix Razes the Steppes Tong Li New Youth, seinen

Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 火凤燎原 #42 released 2011.09), Japanese (Media Factory 三国志群雄伝　火鳳燎原 9 per 2009.12), Vietnamese Hỏa Phụng Liêu Nguyên. The manhua is also published in Mainland China, Korea and Thailand.

10. RRR vol 10 of 10 by Watanabe Jun [Finale]

RRR 「ＲＲＲ」 by Watanabe Jun AKA Rock 'n' Roll Ricky Kodansha Young Magazine, seinen Volume 10 first published in Japan 2009.10

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]
Postponed titles
Dark Edge vol 5: Lady in the Box (new tentative street date: 2012.08.07)
Gun Smith Cats Burst 5 of 5 (pending new release schedule).

European comics/BDs (2012.07.25)

• Leonard: Berburu Harta Karun (Léonard, Tome 40: Un trésor de génie) by Turk & De Groot

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Drug-On 2, Have a Good Night 3, Blue Seal 7 of 7 (Level Comics 16 May 2012 manga) [UPDATED]

Also, The Bride's Stories volume 3. (Those who've been waiting for the continuation for 10 months, go, go, GO! to your favorite bookstore nau.)

Update: Replaced placeholder Japanese covers with Level artwork.

Drug-On © Saitoh Misaki/Gentosha
[First serialized in Comic Birz]
Published in Indonesia by Level Comics

The Takers find themselves outclassed as the battle against the Prince drags out. Kai is held captive while Jack goes berserker mode ON! and begins attacking indiscriminately. What will happen when the Prince retaliates and uses his ability to kill in an instant?

Obviously the Drug-On volume 2 cover with which I lead this post is not Level's version. Level artwork were still thin on the ground when I wrote this, so must make do. Still, the Indonesian cover shouldn't stray far from the JP ＤＲＵＧ‐ＯＮ　ドラゴン　２ original. »Edit: Yup, the Level cover is the same as the Japanese one. Not like, say, the cover for the finale Blue Seal bunko, which also streets the same day. (For comparison, »here's how the Japanese Ao no Fuuin bunko volume 7 looks. Level uses the tankou volume 11 cover. Of course...)

Blue Seal vol 7 of 7
By Shinohara Chie

After gaining the power of Byakko, Akira executes the plan to wipe out all demons and orders the forest surrounded. Meanwhile, Soko learns the secret of the demons' source of life and wracks her brain for a peaceful coexistence alternative. But with Mt. Fuji erupting, Soko is forced to make a decision as demon queen Souryu, a decision that...

Don't miss the last volume of Blue Seal—what Level describes as a moving story of horror and love that transcends eons of darkness—for the fate of Akira × Soko and other surprising secret revelations.

Now that Blue Seal's finished...what about Shinohara Chie-sensei's Red River? :D Also, I wouldn't mind if Level ramped up the release schedule for Basara... (There's still seven more volumes to Tamura Yumi's equally starcrossed lovers saga.)

Have A Good Night vol 3 of 12
By Yamazaki Sayaka

Shio's ex-husband Hibiki returns to Japan, but li'l brother Gai hides the news from Shio. Keeping the secret proves too much for Gai and he ends up making a huge mistake while working!

What was Gai's #Fail? And can Shio ever get away from Hibiki? Grab Have A Good Night volume 3 as your next bedtime read for answers.

☞ I preview Mori Kaoru's The Bride's Stories 3—which introduces us to a new bride—after the release list.

New Level titles (bandes dessinées or ROMICs)
Level launches Robin (Hood), the BD series by Turk & de Groot, originally published by Le Lombard. Robin Dubois, the brainchild of the same duo that brings us the hysterical Léonard, obviously draws inspiration from the legendary English outlaw, but Turk & de Groot's Robin deviates from the original heroic into silly and hilarious and...best buds with the Sheriff of Nottingham!? Enjoy their "Your money or your life!" hijinks in Makin Ramai, Makin Seru! (Robin Dubois: Plus on est de fous...) and Sama-Sama Bodoh (Robin Dubois: Le fond de l'air est bête).

Level Comics manga and manhua (2012.05.16)

1. Blue Seal (Ao no Fuuin [Bunko]) vol 7 of 7 by Shinohara Chie [Finale]

Ao no Fuuin 「蒼の封印　(小学館文庫)」 by Shinohara Chie AKA The seal on deep blue Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Bunko volume 7 first published in Japan 1999.05 (originally published in 11 tankoubon from 1992.04 to 1994.12)

Adaptations
Audio drama CD released by Shogakukan in May 1993 and light novels written by Yamamoto Natsumi and illustrated by Shinohara Chie, published under the KSS Comic Novels imprint (three volumes from September to December 1998)

2. The Bride's Stories (Otoyomegatari) vol 3 of 4+ by Mori Kaoru

Otoyomegatari 「乙嫁語り」 by Mori Kaoru Enterbrain Fellows!, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2011.06

Awards
Nominee, 4th Manga Taisho awards (2011), along with I am a Hero by Hanazawa Kengo; March comes in like a lion by Umino Chika (award winner); Hana no Zubora-Meshi by Kusumi Masayuki, Mizusawa Etsuko; Un chocolatier de l'amour perdu by Mizushiro Setona and eight other manga

Other languages
English A Bride's Story (Yen Press: three volumes as of 2012.03.27), traditional Chinese (Kadokawa Media Taiwan: 姊嫁物語 3 per 2011.11), French (Editions Ki-oon: Bride Stories, Tome 3 shipped 2011.12)

Related series
4-koma side story Pariya-san wa Otoshigoro

3. Drug-On vol 2 of 5 by Saitoh Misaki

Drug-On 「ＤＲＵＧ‐ＯＮ　ドラゴン」 by Saitoh Misaki Gentosha Comic Birz, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2007.09

4. Have A Good Night (Shima Shima) vol 3 of 12 by Yamazaki Sayaka

Shima Shima 「シマシマ」 by Yamazaki Sayaka Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2008.12

Adaptations
The 10-episode live-action Shima Shima aired on TBS from April to June 2011, starring Yada Akiko as Houkigi Shio, Miura Shohei as Tamabuki Gai, Kikuta Daisuke as Futaba Ran, Suzuki Katsuhiro as Hayashida Rindou and Fukushi Sota as Makomo Shuuji.

5. The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan) vol 16 of 45+ by Chan Mou

Sanguozhi Qunxiongzhuan: Huo Feng Liao Yuan 「火鳳燎原」 by Chan Mou AKA Fiery Phoenix Burns Steppes Tong Li New Youth, seinen

Other languages/serializations
Simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi: 火凤燎原 #42 released 2011.09), Japanese (Media Factory 三国志群雄伝　火鳳燎原 9 per 2009.12), Vietnamese Hỏa Phụng Liêu Nguyên. The manhua is also published in Mainland China, Korea and Thailand.

6. Zipang vol 13 of 43 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Zipang 「ジパング」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 13 first published in Japan 2003.12

Awards
Winner, 26th Kodansha Manga Awards (2002) in the General category

Other language versions
English (Kodansha Bilingual Comics; partial), French (Kana: Zipang Tome 34 per 2012.02) and traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press: 次元艦隊 43 per 2010.06)

Adaptations
Anime by Studio DEEN starring seiyuu Inada Tetsu (Executive Officer Kadomatsu Yosuke), Hoshino Takanori (Gunnery Officer Kikuchi Masayuki), Ueda Yuuji (Navigation Officer Oguri Kouhei), Yara Yuusaku (Captain Umezu Saburo) and Touchi Hiroki (Lt. Commander Kusaka Takumi) aired in Japan from October 2004 to March 2005

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

European comics/BDs (2012.05.16)

1. Lucky Luke: Western Circus (Lucky Luke, Tome 5: Western Circus) by Morris & Goscinny
2. Rantanplan: Ramuan Cerdas (Rantanplan, Tome 10: Les Cerveaux) by Morris, Vittorio & B. de Groot
3. [Premiere] Robin: Makin Ramai, Makin Seru! (Robin Dubois: Plus on est de fous...) by Turk & de Groot
4. [Premiere] Robin: Sama-Sama Bodoh (Robin Dubois: Le fond de l'air est bête) by Turk & de Groot
5. Scrameustache: Scrameustache Kabur (Le Scrameustache, Tome 6: La fugue du Scrameustache) by Gos - Walt

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