Bambino! Secondo 5, Dark Edge 5, March Story 2 (Level Comics manga out nau~)

Street date: 7 August 2012, Tuesday, not Wednesday, the first of a two-part manga release before the Idul Fitri holiday break.

I'll get to Most Wanted Bambino! Secondo in a moment (read: I don't have a big enuf Bambino! Secondo 5 cover, so it's not the lead pix). First, let's take a look at the Lady in the Box (Dark Edge volume 5):

Dark Edge © Aikawa Yu
MediaWorks [First serialized in Dengeki Comic Gao!]
Published in Indonesia by Level Comics

Takagi Kuro volunteers to take Nishiwaki Rui's place, trusting that his friends will soon bust him out of the coffin. Unfortunately for Kuro, they all forget about his existence, save for Ise who hatches up a plan with Tsuchiya and Sato to get Kuro out. What Ise doesn't know is the the two teachers have their own agenda...

Seems cognitive dissonant to segue to pasta after Nosferatu and zombies, but... *sheepish grin*

Bambino! Secondo vol 5 (of 11+)
By Sekiya Tetsuji

Ban's hard trudge pays off. He finally manages to track down the legendary Yokohama waiter who agrees to return to active restaurant duty on Ban's insistence. But can the legend's magic save Legare?

Eleven Bambino! Secondo volumes have been collected in Japan as of June 2012; the 12th streets on 28 September.

I should've back-to-backed this next DO WANT! with Dark Edge 5, but... *sheepish grin, the sequel*

March Story vol 2 (of 4+)
By Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl

During an Ill exorcism mission, March meets fellow hunter Belma, but wishes she didn't. Belma's weapon Scarecrow, capable of producing illusions to entrap Ill, turns on March. Not only that, even Belma believes March is an Ill, and an inevitable clash ensues.

Meanwhile, the real Ill target is...

...getting away?

You can revisit the March Story premise, if you missed it when it debuted. I gave the first March Story a grade of 8 of 10♡, equivalent to an A-. I wonder what the second volume would get?

Level Comics manga (2012.08.07)

1. Ami Non Stop vol 6 of 12 by Kitagawa Miyuki

Ami! Nonstop 「亜未！ノンストップ」 by Kitagawa Miyuki Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo Volume 6 first published in Japan 1994.08

Reissues
Rereleased in six volumes under the Flower Comics Deluxe label from 2001.05 to 1993.09

2. Bambino! Secondo vol 5 of 11+ by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! Secondo 「バンビ～ノ！ＳＥＣＯＮＤＯ」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2010.10

Related series
Prequel: Bambino! (15 volumes)

3. Basara vol 22 of 27 by Tamura Yumi

Basara 「ＢＡＳＡＲＡ」 by Tamura Yumi Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo Volume 22 first published in Japan 1998.01

Awards
38th Shogakukan Manga Awardee in the Shoujo category

Other versions/languages
Rereleased in 16 bunko volumes (2002.03 to 2002.10)
English Basara (VIZ Media: 27 volumes), French (Kana: 27 volumes), German (EMA: Band 27 per 2012.01), Danish (Mangismo Danmark), Swedish (Mangismo Sverige) and Vietnamese (Kim Dong: 27 volumes)

Adaptations
A 13-episode Legend of Basara anime by KSS, starring seiyuu Kimura Akiko (Sarasa) and Inoue Kazuhiko (Shuri), aired on Chiba TV from April to June 1998.

4. Dark Edge vol 5 of 15 by Aikawa Yu «Ex-2012.07.25

Dark Edge 「ＤＡＲＫ　ＥＤＧＥ」 by Aikawa Yu MediaWorks Dengeki Comic Gao!, shounen Volume 5 first published in Japan 2001.02

Other languages
English Dark Edge (ComicsOne then DrMaster: 10 volumes per 2009.03.03)

5. Exit vol 7 of 12+ by Fujita Takami

Exit 「ＥＸＩＴ」 by Fujita Takami Gentosha Birz Comics Girls Collection, shoujo Volume 7 published in Japan 2003.05

Earlier editions
Volumes 1–5 published between 1998.08 and 1999.06 under Sony Magazines Comics Kimi to Boku (KB) Collection imprint

6. Giant Killing vol 14 of 24+ by Tsujitomo & Tsunamoto Masaya

Giant Killing 「ＧＩＡＮＴ　ＫＩＬＬＩＮＧ」 by Tsujitomo and Tsunamoto Masaya Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 14 first published in Japan 2010.04

Awards
34th Kodansha Manga Award for General Manga

Adaptations
Studio DEEN's 26-episode anime adaptation, starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Tatsumi Takeshi), Okiayu Ryotaro (Murakoshi Shigeyuki), Mizushima Takahiro (Tsubaki Daisuke) and Ono Daisuke (Yoshida Luigi) aired between April and September 2010 on NHK.

7. March Story vol 2 of 4+ by Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl

March Story 「ＭＡＲＣＨ　ＳＴＯＲＹ」 by Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 2 first published in Japan 2009.12

Other languages
English March Story (VIZ Media: three volumes as of 2011.10 • volume 4 street date: 2012.10.16), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: MARCH STORY獵魔荒世錄 (04) released 2012.07.18

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

European comics/BDs (2012.08.07)

• Suske & Wiske: Texas Rangers (Suske en Wiske 125: De Texasrakkers) by Willy Vandersteen

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Soul Eater 16, Air Gear 29, Bambino Secondo 3 (Level Comics manga out nau~) [UPDATED]

Street date: 6 June 2012
Imma lead this Level shopping list—now + NikBabble™—with March Story 1, Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl's ongoing Sunday GX Demons, Exorcism, Gothic seinen manhwa starring demon hunter March that was supposed to have been postponed to next week, but actually streeted yesterday. (I can confirm; I have an actual copy in front of me...and I have a snap review below.)

March Story © Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl
Shogakukan [Serialized in Sunday GX]
Published in Indonesia by Level Comics

Pretty things that seduce and creatures spawned from such perfection — ill. Demonic ill latch on to humans through these things of beauty suffused with their creators' anguish, driving their hosts to commit monstrous violence. Hunter March wanders from town to town exterminating ill.

I can add from VIZ Media's March Story, Vol. 1 description, Born of tragedy, the artifacts all have their own tales to tell, as do each of their victims. But March's story may be the most tragic of all.

March Story 1 Report Card × My Impreshuns
I can attest to the promised pathos. Black Dream (chapter 4) delving into the history of the peripatetic March IS the most harrowing of all, at least of this volume 1 sub-set. (Raspberry... *wails*) The other tragic tales, Hunter with Thorns, Orche's Mask and Memory of Glass Color that Runs by the Wind, are equally poignant and guaranteed to wring a tear, or three. For this reason—plus the pretty, pretty and appropriately creepy art—I grant March Story 1 an 8 of 10 ♡, or an A-. GET!

Other Kim HyungMin and Yang KyungIl manhwa
March Story, serialized in Sunday GX since 2008 (four tankou compiled in Japan as of December 2011), is writer Kim HyungMin's debut.

Meanwhile, you might've already run across manhwa-ga Yang KyungIl from his collaborations with scribe Youn InWan, among them, Shin Angyo Onshi, serialized in Korea and Japan in Young Champ and Sunday GX (17 Japanese tankou published between July 2001 and October 2007; Level Comics' volume 17 released October 2008), and Defense Devil, which originally ran in Shonen Sunday (10 tankou compiled from August 2009 to September 2011), and published here by Elex Media (volume 7 released April 2012; serialized fortnightly in Shonen Star).

Aside from the Shin Angyo Onshi Gaiden side story (JP release: 2007.05), Yang KyungIl is also credited—along with Nanatsuki Kyouichi (ARMS, Aegis In the Dark)—with the new Prison, Super Powers, Survival, Transformations Area D - Inou Ryouiki (debuted in Shonen Sunday in 2012). For other Yang KyungIl titles, go »here.

☞ Level also launches a new BD series—Cotton Kid by Pearce and Léturgie (Lucky Luke cartoonist)—but more on that below.

For nau, top DO WANT!

Soul Eater vol 16 (of 21+)
By Ohkubo Atsushi
Couldn't find a Level Soul Eater volume 16 blurb, so borrowing Wiki's summary:

While testing her new flying ability made available through Soul's powers as a Death Scythe, Maka learns that she is now considered to be a valuable asset to her enemies and will be hunted, which is made clear when she is attacked by Noah's servant Gopher, who she manages to defeat. Later, Kilik, Kim, Liz, and Patty retrieve Medusa's research notes in her old laboratory, briefly encountering and fighting off a black clown manufactured by Medusa. Black Star, meanwhile, seeks out Medusa's hideout and encounters Crona.
–Wikipedia

Soul Eater volume 16 compiles chapters 63 to 67: Gonna Be An Angel, Preparedness, Black Wings vs. White Wings, The Witch's Research (Part 1) and The Witch's Research (Part 2). [*NOT Level chapter titles]

Air Gear vol 29 of 37
By Oh!great
Before I get into Air Gear 29, someone please confirm that volume 37 is the final volume? All I know is that the last chapter is Trick 357, and that's obviously not in volume 36, which streets in Japan next week (16 June), because there's a volume 37 skedded for release 17 July 2012.

Ikki and pals hit the ground running upon boarding the enemy ship. Nue engages Ikki, who, mindful of Simca's warning, hesitates to fight the Thunder King. Still, a clash is inescapable, forcing Ikki to order his friends to leave.

Who emerges the victor — the Storm King or the Thunder King? Find the answer in Air Gear volume 29, which compiles Tricks 268 to 277.

More previews of ongoing series after the release list.

New Level titles - cont'd: Cotton Kid
Per earlier note, Level premieres Pearce & Léturgie's Cotton Kid with the double-launch of Cotton Kid: Atas Nama Hukum dan Mr. Pinkerton (Cotton Kid, Tome 1: Au nom de la loi et de Mr Pinkerton) and Konser Rawa (Cotton Kid, Tome 2: Charivari dans les bayous). The titular Cotton Kid is the sidekick slash protector of big brother Pinkerton agent Trevor who dreams of becoming the agency's best operative.

(BDs, or ROMICs this week also include Lucky Luke: Bukit Apache by Morris & Goscinny, Agatha Christie: Murder on the Links Lapangan Golf Maut, Boule & Bill: Si Iseng Bill and Yakari: Pembalasan Wolverine.)

Level Comics manga and manhwa (2012.06.06)

1. Air Gear vol 29 of 37 by Oh!great

AirGear 「エア・ギア」 by Oh!great Kodansha Weekly Shonen Magazine, shounen Volume 29 (Tricks 268–277) first published in Japan 2010.07

Awards
Winner, 2006 Kodansha Manga Awards in the Shounen category

Other languages/serializations
English Air Gear (Del Rey: until Volume 15/16/17 per 2010.08; Kodansha Comics: from volume 18; 22 volumes as of 2012.02 • volume 23 street date: 2012.04.17), Korean (Haksan), traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 飛輪少年 #34 per 2012.03), simplified Chinese (Chuang Yi Singapore: volume 28 per 2010.08), French (Pika Édition: Tome 33 shipped 2012.06.01), Italy (Planet Manga), Germany (Heyne) and Sweden (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB/serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 25-episode anime by Toei Animation, starring Kamakari Kenta as Ikki; a series of Satelight-animated OADs shipped with the manga tankoubon (The first Air Gear: Kuro no Hane to Nemuri no Mori -Break on the Sky- OAD streeted with volume 30 in November 2010 with seiyuu Okamoto Nobuhiko as Ikki; the second OAD was bundled with volume 31 (2011.03.17), with a third released 2011.06.17); and a series of musicals

2. Bambino! Secondo vol 3 of 10+ by Sekiya Tetsuji

Bambino! Secondo 「バンビ～ノ！ＳＥＣＯＮＤＯ」 by Sekiya Tetsuji Shogakukan Big Comic Spirits, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2010.02

Related series
Prequel: Bambino! (15 volumes)

3. Haruka 17 vol 17 of 19 by Yamazaki Sayaka

Haruka 17 「はるか１７」 by Yamazaki Sayaka Kodansha Morning, seinen Volume 17 first published in Japan 2007.08

Adaptations
A 10-episode live-action drama starring Hirayama Aya (Miyamae Haruka) aired on TV Asahi from July to September 2005.

4. [Series Premiere] March Story vol 1 of 4+ by Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl

March Story 「ＭＡＲＣＨ　ＳＴＯＲＹ」 by Kim HyungMin & Yang KyungIl Shogakukan Sunday GX, seinen Volume 1 (chapters 1–4) first published in Japan 2008.12

Other languages
English March Story (VIZ Media: three volumes as of 2011.10 • volume 4 street date: 2012.10.16), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: MARCH STORY獵魔荒世錄 (03) released 2011.11

5. RRR vol 9 of 10 by Watanabe Jun

RRR 「ＲＲＲ」 by Watanabe Jun AKA Rock 'n' Roll Ricky Kodansha Young Magazine, seinen Volume 9 first published in Japan 2009.08

6. Soul Eater vol 16 of 21+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul Eater 「ソウルイーター」 by Ohkubo Atsushi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 16 (chapters 63–67) first published in Japan 2010.02

Other languages
English Soul Eater (Yen Press: nine volumes as of 2012.05.29 • volume 10 street date: 2012.08.21), French (Kurokawa: Tome 19 shipped 2012.03 • Tome 20 street date: 2012.07.05), German (Carlsen Comics: Band 16 per 2012.04 • Band 17 street date: 2012.07.03), traditional Chinese (Sharp Point Press Taiwan: SOUL EATER噬魂者 20 released 2012.04)

Related series
First appeared as one-shots in two Gangan Powered special editions (Summer and Fall 2003) and Gangan Wing's 26 November 2003 issue. (Regular Monthly Shonen Gangan serialization commenced May 2004.)
Spin-off: Soul Eater Not! (began serialization in Shonen Gangan 2011.01; one volume released in Japan as of 2011.09; English Soul Eater NOT! manga licensed by Yen Press, volume 1 street date: 2012.07.24)

Adaptations
Manga volumes 1 to 12 adapted to anime by BONES. Fifty-one episodes starring seiyuu Omigawa Chiaki (Maka Alban) and Uchiyama Kouki (Soul Eater) aired in Japan from April 2008 to March 2009.

Square Enix bundled an audio drama, Soul Eater (Vol. 1): Special Social Studies Field Trip, with an artbook in August 2005. The drama CD featured different actors (Takeuchi Junko as Maka; Hoshi Souichirou as Soul Eater); only Kobayashi Yumiko reprised her Black☆Star role in the TV series.

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

European comics/BDs (2012.06.06)

1. Agatha Christie: Murder on the Links Lapangan Golf Maut (Agatha Christie, Tome 7: Le crime du golf) by François Rivière, Marc Piskic
2. Boule & Bill: Si Iseng Bill (Boule et Bill, Tome 16: Jeux de Bill) by Roba
3. [Series Premiere] Cotton Kid: Atas Nama Hukum dan Mr. Pinkerton (Cotton Kid, Tome 1: Au nom de la loi et de Mr Pinkerton) by Pearce - Léturgie
4. [Premiere] Cotton Kid: Konser Rawa (Cotton Kid, Tome 2: Charivari dans les bayous) by Pearce - Léturgie
5. Lucky Luke: Bukit Apache (Lucky Luke Tome 6: Canyon Apache) by Morris & Goscinny
6. Yakari: Pembalasan Wolverine (Yakari, Tome 26: La Vengeance du carcajou) by Job, Derib, Dominique

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