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It’s that time again!  Diamond’s July 2010 Previews catalog hit the stores last week, and as usual I have combed through the pages to find you the best manga (anime, figures, various related) items for the month.  It’s a bit shabby this month; most publishers have scant offerings, and CMX is, of course, completely absent as it officially closes July 1st.  Still, there’s a few gems tucked in there (and Viz Media has a lot to offer this month), so let’s have a look!  As usual, all product descriptions are from Previews unless otherwise noted.

From Dark Horse:

Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus book 2, by CLAMP.  Dark Horse’s CLAMP omnibus rereleases continue with another volume of Cardcaptor Sakura.  “The beautiful new teacher in Sakura’s class, Kaho Mizuki, soon reveals that she’s a shrine maiden with magic powers of her own.  But, as always, the struggle to capture the Clow cards is woven together with the mysterious – and complicated – threads of love and affection between Sakura and all the people in her life.  Will her heart be strong enough as she faces the one who will judge her worthiness to master the cards at last?”  Includes three volumes (or four?  It’s described both ways on the same page), with thirty color pages, for $19.99, in November 2010.  If it’s put together as well as their Clover omnibus, it’s well worth picking up.

Gantz volume 14, by Hiroya Oku.  “A gang of vampire guys…who can grow samurai swords from their very flesh!  Once again, Hiroya Oku is pushing the envelope with his crazy manga Gantz!
And to add to it, these vampire yakuza guys might not even be aliens!  This isn’t a mission.  These guys seem to know who is working for Gantz, and are coming after them.  On the streets where they work and live.  In the daylight.  All of a sudden the wal between everyday humanity and Gantz’s nighttime, extradimensional hunts is crumbling.  What will Kei and the others do?  Can they regenerate when they’re injured outside of a mission?  Find out!”  November 2010, $12.99.

POP Wonderland: Cinderella, by Michiyo Hayano, with art by POP.  With an age rating of 6+, this series is great for your little ones.  “Faithfully adapted by master storyteller Michiyo Hayano and illustrated in a modern yet warm and familiar style by the renowned animator and manga artist POP, the eternal story of Cinderella is brought to life for a whole new audience!”  Based on the Charles Perrault Mother Goose fairytale.  November 2010, $16.95 (HC).

From Bandai Entertainment INC.:

Eureka Seven Novel volume 4, by Tomonori Sugihara.  “The Final Volume!  14-year-old Renton Thurston is tired of this boring life and spends his time ‘lifting’, an extreme form of aerial hoverboarding.  One day, a large mecha known as an LFO crash lands in his grandfather’s garage and a beautiful young girl name Eureka emerges.  Thus begins a journey that will change both of their lives!  The story continues as Eureka and Renton encounter the infamous Gekkostate!”  October 2010, $8.99.

From Del Rey Manga:

CLAMP in America SC, CLAMP, with Shaenon Garrity.  “CLAMP is one of the most recognizable names in manga in the United States, and this indispensable, full-color fan book shows how they got that way!  CLAMP fans will go nuts for this book!  With an emphasis on the Japanese creators’ roots and their effect on the growth of the American manga market, no guide like this has ever been published before.  Like many manga creators, CLAMP rarely grants media access, and this guide will provide a unique look at the world of these superstar creators.  The book will contain over 300 pieces of art selected by the author and CLMAP themselves.”  Resolicited for September 2010, $27.99.

Fairy Tail volume 12, by Hiro Mashima.  “Fairy Tale takes place in a world filled with magic.  17-year-old Lucy is an attractive mage-in-training who wants to join a magician’s guild so that she can become a full-fledged magician.  The guild she dreams about joining is the most famous in the world, and it is known as the Fairy Tail.  One day she meets Natsu, a boy raised by a Dragon who mysteriously left him when he was young.  Natsu has devoted his life to finding his Dragon father.  When Natsu helps Lucy out of a tricky situation, she discovers that he is a member of the Fairy Tail magician’s guild, and our heroes’ adventure together begins.”  September 2010, $10.99.

From Digital Manga Publishing:

Kizuna Deluxe Edition vol. 1, by Kazuma Kodaka.  “Kei Enjouji and Ranmaru Samejima are a sweets couple, but their relationship is put to the test when Kei’s annoying bratty half-brother, Kai, decides to put [the] moves on Ranmaru.  Three is a [crowd] – but knowingly, he invites himself over to their home and tries to throw in his ‘wrench’, but the plan was immediately crushed, when Masanori Araki cleverly steers him away.
Masanori is the yakuza boss’s right-hand man, also Kai’s life-protector.  Gentle and smart with Kai, he makes him realize that havoc is not needed, [and] teaches him to leave them alone.  The story also takes you on a flash back and focuses on how Kei and Ranmaru met and what kind of sacrifices they [made] to get this far.”  September 2010, on their Juné yaoi imprint, $19.95.

Alice the 101st vol. 2, by Chigusa Kawai.  “Cute but fumbling Alice is up to his ears in homework and half-remembered melodies, but with a crucial concert only days away, he has no other option than to team up for tutelage with…his would-be rival Max?!  Sure, Alice’s performance of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ isn’t expected to bring the audience to their feet, but he just may find a shimmering secret deep within its familiar notes!”  September 2010, on their Doki Doki imprint, $12.95.

From Netcomics:

There’s Something About Sunyool volume 2, by Youngran Lee.  “From a down-and-out child to the only daughter of a powerful politician, Sunyool Lee has seen and heard it all.  When her father is convicted of bribery and is unable to cope, he commits suicide and her step-mother takes off with all the inheritance.  Sunyool quickly finds herself at the bottom of the social ladder, but she picks up the pieces and starts a new life.  Years go by, and Sunyoo’s love life remains as rocky as ever.  Will Sunyool ever find true love and more importantly, herself?”  Probably in September or October 2010, $9.99.  Preview at Netcomics.com.

From Tokyopop:

Hetalia Axis Powers volume 1, by Hidekaz Himaruya.  “Germany is the bully.  Italy is the pest, and Japan is the exotic new friend from the East!  When this bad boy club clashes with the hamburger-loving America and stodgy old Great Britain, it’s all-out war — WWII, that is — portrayed in hysterical, politically incorrect 4-panel comic strips!”  The basis for the Hetalia anime, licensed by FUNimation, and currently streaming on Hulu.  September 2010, $12.99.

Deadman Wonderland volume 3, by Jinsei Kataoka, with art by Kazuma Kondou.  “The madness that is Deadman Wonderland continues for young Ganta, as he battles for his life in the nightmarish Carnival of Corpses, only to make a horrifying discovery about Shiro!”  September 2010, $10.99.

From Vertical INC.:

Tezuka’s Black Jack volume 13, by Osamu Tezuka.  From Amazon.com: “An Animator Suffering from Cancer: In a chapter devoted to Pinoko, we follow her to the pool where she is starting to take swimming lessons. The nineteen-year-old in a tween’s body is struggling with her slow development and is anxious to learn to do what most everyone else her age takes for granted. So after finding herself in a bit of a verbal bind, she decides to take the plunge only to quickly sink like a rock. Her body made of prostetics, she had little chance of floating let alone swimming very far. But a proud teen came to her aide. The boy is a genius. A budding animator he is working on the animated adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s Jungle Emperor Leo but there is something lurking within him that might take his dreams away…cancer. Pinoko knows too much about the disease, and she knows that there is someone in her life that can treat it like no one else ever.
Death of an Actress: Marilyn Swanson, the top female actor of the 40’s, is suddenly seeing a revival among the cinema inteligentia. Her films are being broadcast on TV through almost every channel in prime time and every major film festival is devoting screenings to her performances. She was a rare beauty that captivated a generation on and off the screen. But age has caught up to her. Because of her pride she cannot make any appearances at these events, and worst of all she cannot perform again without regret. So she asks a medic with god-like skills to reverse time, if only briefly so she can dazzle audiences one last time.”  September 2010, $16.95.

From Viz Media:

Cross Game, vol. 1, by Mitsuru Adachi.  “Cross Game is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch.  The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street and the game of baseball.  This poignant coming-of-age story will change your perception of what shonen manga can be.”  Three volumes in one, October 2010, $19.99.  View the anime at VIZAnime.com and preview the manga at ShonenSunday.com.

InuYasha, vol. 53, by Rumiko Takahashi.  “Magatsuhi, the embodiment of the evil half of the Shikon Jewel, is on the loose.  Inuyasha and Kagome return from modern-day Tokyo to find their friends possessed, injured or unconscious!  Then, as if things weren’t bad enough, their archenemy Naraku appears and tries to absorb one of the few left standing.”  October 2010, $9.99.

Vampire Knight Official Fanbook, by Matsuri Hino.  “Can’t get enough of Vampire Knight?  Delve into the world of your favorite vampires with this official fanbook filled with insider information about the hit series.  Includes a Cross Academy student ID card, glossy color pages, character design sketches, storyboards, and an exclusive interview with Vampire Knight creator Matsuri Hino!”  October 2010, $14.99.

Kingyo Used Books, vol. 2, by Seimu Yoshizaki.  (See my review of volume 1 here.)  Another collection of tales about the workers and patrons of Kingyo Used Books.  October 2010, $12.99.

Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, vol. 11, by Naoki Urasawa.  “Is the Friend really Kanna’s father?!  Will she still be able to stand up and fight, despite this anguishing news?  Meanwhile, Koizumi Kyoko and Sadakiyo have gotten away from the Dream Navigators by the skin of their teeth, but as Yoshitsune once warned, these people will chase you to the ends of the earth…  With Kanna in shock over the truth of her paternity, will she have the strength to go and rescue Koizumi?”  October 2010, $12.99.

Natsume’s Book of Friends, vol. 4, by Yuki Midorikawa.  From Amazon.com: “Takashi’s quiet afternoon in the forest is disrupted when an angry spirit tries to possess him. He manages to dodge the spiritual attack, but he can’t as easily avoid the yokai’s pleas for help. Now he’s tracking down an escaped evil sprit that threatens the life of the forest. But he’s still learning that yokai never tell the whole truth, and the secrets spirits keep spell trouble for him!”  October 2010, $9.99.

Grand Guignol Orchestra, vol. 1, by Kaori Yuki.  “Lucille loves heading up the traveling Royal Orchestra, roving form town to town entertaining the masses and making money.  But now the musicians have met their toughest audience: people infected with the Guignol Virus, turning them into zombie dolls intent on killing all humans!”  October 2010, $9.99.

From Yen Press:

Bunny Drop volume 2, by Yumi Unita.  “Returning to his family’s estate for his grandfather’s funeral, thirty-something bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a much younger lover!  In a fit of spontaneity, Daikichi decides to adopt her!  But is living with an overgrown teenager who can barely take care of himself the key to making Rin come out of her shell?”  September 2010, $12.99.

Kobato volume 3, by CLAMP.  From Yen Press: “Kobato’s mission to fill up her magic bottle might just be on the backburner. It seems that the members of Yomogi Kindergarten’s staff are no strangers to wounds of the heart, but despite Kobato’s efforts, she’s no closer to healing either Sayaka-sensei or the ever-solemn Fujimoto-kun! Moreover, the center is still on the verge of being shut down by unscrupulous gangster types! Leaving Kobato to her own devices, Ioryogi-san meets (read: clashes) with some odd characters from his past and uses his otherworldly connections to investigate Yomogi. Who is Ioryogi-san really?! And will Kobato’s sheer determination to help those around her be enough to unravel the kindergarten’s secrets and save the hearts of its staff from despair?!”  August 2010, $11.99.

Misc. for your shelves:

One Voice: Syunya Yamashita’s Art Book, from Kotobukiya.  Video game character designer and artist Syunya Yamashita’s illustrations are collected in this book.  The followup to 2008’s “Flowers,” One Voice contains 120 pages of illustrations.  September 2010, $75.00, in Japanese and English.

Evangelion: 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance Asuka Shikinami Test Suit Ani*Statue, by Kotobukiya.  This 6 inch tall Asuka features the pilot in a “test” plug suit based on the suits from the new films.  November 2010, $89.99.

Kingdom Hearts II Formation Arts Box Set, from Square Enix. The description here says it includes four figures, but five are shown in the image: Roxas, Sora, Mickey, Riku, and Namine.  Each figure stands between 4-6 inches tall.  November, $39.99 for the set.

Final Fantasy XIII Play Arts -Kai-, from Square Enix.  A new set of FFXIII Kai figures, featuring Serah Ferron, Sazh Katzroy, Hope Esteim, and Oerba Yun Fang.  At an overpriced $39.99 each.

Fraulein Revoltech: Evangelion 2.0 Rei Ayanami Action Figure.  Another great Revoltech figure in the Fraulein Revoltech line, it appears to be an updated version of the one they released previously, to reflect her image in the new films.  August 2010, $39.99.

Death Note 3-Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray, from Viz Media.  This DVD set contains parts 1 and 2 of the live action Death Note films.  $39.99.

Eden of the East: The Complete Series, from FUNimation.  “On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan.  This terrorist act does not result in any casualties, however.  Three months later, Saki Morimi is in the United States of America on her graduation trip.  But just when she stands in front of the White House, she finds herself in trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her.  But this man is a complete mystery – not only is he an amnesiac, but he is stark naked save for the gun in one hand and the mobile phone, charged with billions of yen in digital cash in the other.”  September 2010, 11 episodes, on DVD for $54.99, and Blu-Ray for $59.99.

My Bride is a Mermaid Season 1 Part 2, from FUNimation.  The conclusion of the hilarious romantic comedy, contains episodes 14-26.  September 2010, $49.99.

And that’s it for this month!  If anyone noticed, I didn’t put my own pull list choices on here this month, because there wasn’t anything to put on it (which simply means there aren’t any titles I’m currently, personally, reading up for order this month).  Though I might pick up that Vampire Knight fanbook…although it’s a tad pricey at $14.99.  July Pre-orders are due on July 10.

Kris
kristin@comicattack.net
@girlg33k_Kris