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Hey guess what?  It’s September!  That means it’s time for another Diamond Previews catalog.  There’s a good offering this month, so here are your manga highlights for September 2010’s catalog.  All product descriptions are from Previews unless stated otherwise.  Also, since I’ve had people point out titles I have “missed” before…a slight disclaimer.  This list is largely subjective, and is not meant to be comprehensive.  I do try to hit first volumes and final volumes, and titles that I know a publisher is pushing.  But please note that my personal opinions do have a part in what I pick for this highlights list.

Kris’s Pull List:

Bride of the Water God volume 7, by Mi-Kyung Yun, from Dark Horse.  “Soah, our heroine, is saved from a strange, sacrificial ritual by Habaek, the young Water God.  While Soah has come to appreciate the Water God and his kingdom,the heavenly Suguk, she’s also fallen in love with a mysterious man named Mui.  What she doesn’t know is that Habaek is Mui – he’s been cursed to appear as a little boy during the day while he lives in his true adult form at night!  Will Soah discover that she’s torn between two versions of the same person, or will other sinister forces drive them apart?  Soah and Habaek try to overcome a kidnapping, memory loss, pride, conflicting passions, and an array of devious interlopers on their paths to true love!”  January 2011, $9.99.

Twelve Kingdoms volume 4: Skies of Dawn, paperback edition, by Fuyumi Ono, from TOKYOPOP.  “After a year of depending on her ministers to govern the kingdom of Kei, Yoko follows Keiki’s advice and descends from the mountain to live among her people, eager to learn how to be a better leader.  But Yoko soon finds herself thrust into an all-out war between the kingdoms!”  November 2010, $12.99.

Vampire Knight volume 11, by Matsuri Hino, from Viz Media.  “The Night Class at Cross Academy has been abolished.  Zero still attends the Day Class while carrying out his duties as a vampire hunter.  Yuki now lives hidden away at the Kuran residence with Kaname, but can she embrace the life of a pureblood vampire?”  December 2010, $9.99.

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers volume 5, by Fumi Yoshinaga, from Viz Media.  From Amazon: “Gyokuei, who first arrived at the Inner Chambers as a young novitiate monk, has risen to become one of the Shogun Tsunayoshi’s advisors. He hopes to protect the shogunate the same way his mentor Arikoto once did. But the numerous intrigue of the Inner Chambers—and the shogun herself—are pushing Gyokuei’s patience and cunning to the breaking point.”  December 2010, $12.99.

Ouran High School Host Club volume 15, by Bisco Hatori, from Viz Media.  From Amazon: “The members of the Host Club plan an event to help Tamaki get over his separation anxiety from the Host Club, and even Haruhi gets in on the action. Will the bonds of friendship between Tamaki and Haruhi become bonds of love?”  December 2010, $9.99.

Skip Beat! volume 22, by Yoshiki Nakamura, from Viz Media.  From Amazon: “Is there such a thing as being too good? With Ren’s help, Kyoko finally gets into her new character. But when she shows up on set and wows the crew with her new spin on the old bully role, it sends some of her costars over the edge! Kyoko’s used to dealing with her own demons, but can she stand up to someone else’s?!”  December 2010, $9.99.

Not Love But Delicious Foods, by Fumi Yoshinaga, from Yen Press (part of my quest to own every English published Yoshinaga book possible).  “The way to this woman’s heart is through her stomach!  There is a Japanese saying that goes ‘Hana yori dango’ or ‘Dumplings over flowers.’  And no one is more of an advocate of this adage than mangaka Y-naga, a woman whose life revolves around her intense work and her equally intense sleep schedule.  The only thing that can rouse her from this cycle of deadlines and sleep?  Food.  As Y-naga and her friends visit restaurants around Tokyo, their individual approaches to food add an extra dimension to their witty interactions.  Friendships are revealed, lifestyle choices are explored, all over culinary creations that prove that food is, i truth, the spice of life.”  November 2010, $10.99.

Also from Dark Horse:

Blade of the Immortal volume 23: Scarlet Swords, by Hiroaki Samura.  “To atone for the atrocities committed under his watch, Habaki Kagimura is no longer the top general for Edo Castle and the shogunate, and he must commit ritual suicide.  While his replacement gave the despised Itto-ryu gang a reprieve and an order to leave Edo and remain in exile, Kagimura still has one shot to redeem himself.  Desperate and with very little time left, he’s assembled his Rokki-dan warriors – with Kagimura’s own daughter among their numbers – and he now seeks to hunt down and wipe out the Itto-ryu for good.  But in his haste, will he fall for a string of traps planned by Anotsu, their devious leader?  Freed and unfazed by his time in Edo’s dungeons, Manji searches for his missing limb, and a few old friends return to the pages of this action-filled, epic manga series.”  January 2011, $19.99.

Gantz volume 15, by Hiroya Oku.  From Amazon: “Gantz is getting absolutely intense! Our protagonist, the eternally awkward otaku boy named Kei, has hunted a bevy of odd and dangerous aliens living in Japan. The Onion Alien was strange enough, but then there were the dinosaur aliens and eventually some vampires who might not be aliens at all. Gantz moves along at a furious pace, drowning readers in blood and violence, but then holds back for a few tender (and sometimes excessively sexy) moments here and there. It’s a crazy ride so far, a guilty pleasure for many readers. See who Kei is told to hunt next! It will certainly be a surprise.”  January 2011, $12.99.

Magic Knight Rayearth volume 2, by CLAMP.  “Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu have returned to Earth from Cephiro, but all three know they have been forever changed by their adventures there.  Haunted by the decisions they made and the unresolved war between Zagato and Emeraude, the Magic Knights journey to Cephiro once more, this time with a senseof duty.  But who was it that had the strength of heart to summon them again, if it was not thePrincess Emeraude?  Is it the person who, as Clef says, could replace her as the Pillar of Cephiro?”  January 2010, $19.99.

From Digital Manga Publishing:

Itazura na Kiss volume 4, by Kaoru Tada.  “‘Kotoko san, will you go out with me?’ says a cute freshman, Taketo-kun.  He liked her since high school and since Kotoko and Irie aren’t exactly an ‘item’, he thought he might have a shot at becoming Kotoko’s boyfriend.  Unlike Irie-kun, Taketo-kun is kind, generous and sweet to girls; and Kotoko decides to go out on a date with him…  Will Kotoko have a change of heart?  Irie-kun’s father’s business is in a big financial trouble.  Irie-kun reluctantly agrees to help him for a while and of course, Kotoko would do anything to be able to spend every day with him, so she applies as a part-time office assistant.  Ditsy Kotoko realizes that office work isn’t as easy as it looks – she spills coffee, ruins important documents, jams copy machines and breaks fax machines…  She was creating more work for everyone there!  When all this was done Irie-kun’s father hoped his son would be interested in becoming his successor but Irie-kun has a different plan for his future.”  November 2010, $16.95.

From Del Rey Manga:

A quick note for those concerned about Del Rey’s manga branch – they have nine titles listed this month, including a new one.  Then again, there are also two final volumes here.

I Am Here! volume 1, by Ema Toyama.  “A touching coming-of-age manga from the author of the popular Tokyopop series, Pixie Pop.  Hikage Sumino is shy and insecure about herself.  Due to her introverted personality, she has a tough time making friends and she spends most of her time alone.  The only place Hikage feels comfortable expresing herself is her blog that she maintains, and there she has two friends online who support her emotionally.  One day a popular male student, Hinata confesses his romantic interest to Hikage.  As she grows closer to Hinata, Hikage starts to gain confidence.  Will Hinata help Hikage overcome her insecurities and blossom into the person she always wanted to be?”  $16.99, but I couldn’t find a release date.

Rave Master volumes 33-35 Omnibus, by Hiro Mashima.  “The final three volumes of the hit Tokyopop series, Rave Master, an action/fantasy manga with laugh out loud humor!”  November 2010, $24.99.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei volume 8, by Koji Kumeta.  From Amazon: “November means that it’s time for the Shichigosan holiday, a rite of passage for all Japanese children. Of course, Zetsubou-sensei is quick to point out that rites of passage don’t end with childhood. There are many different rites of passage in the world. For instance, a manga assistant’s rite of passage is spilling coffee on the storyboards for the first time. And we mustn’t forget the important rite of passage that any true Zetsubou fan must undergo. What is it, you ask? Why, buying a copy of Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei volume 8, of course!”  November 2010, $10.99.

Tsubasa volume 28, by CLAMP.  From Amazon (final volume): “Syaoran faces off against Fei-Wang Reed, a villain so driven that he is willing to destroy the fabric of all the universes to fulfill his desire! But hidden in Syaoran’s and Sakura’s past are the keys that may unlock a blessed future—or a hell that will be lived and relived for eternity.”  November 2010, $10.99.

From Seven Seas Entertainment LLC:

Hayate X Blade Omnibus volume 1, by Shizuru Hayashiya.  “The all-girls boarding school Tenchi Academy is known, not just for its academics, but for its swordfighting training.  Enter Kurgane Hayate.  While her sister recovers from an injury, Hayate takes her place at the academy and becomes a Sword Bearer.  But Hayate needs a partner to compete, and Ayana, a talented sword fighter, wants nothing to do with her!”  November 2010, $15.99.

Inukami! Omnibus volume 1, by Mamizu Arisawa, with art by Mari Matsuzawa.  “Inukami: a sacred being with a dog-like appearance who forges a bond with a powerful human tamer to help eliminate monsters and demons.  Slacker Keita is the latest in a long line of Inukami-tamers, but he seems to lack the necessary ability.  Then he meets the cute Inukami named Yoko, but while she appears docile she is actually impossible to control!  Together Keita and Yoko have the chance to shape the world – if they don’t hurt each other first!”  November 2010, $15.99.

Also from TOKYOPOP:

Eensy Weensy Monster volume 1, by Masami Tsuda.  “Nanoha is your average, ordinary high school student.  Her most notable quality is that her best friends are both totally overachieving babes.  But when Nanoha runs into Hazuki, the hunk of the school, her gentle disposition disappears and she turns into a total monster!  Thus begins our hilarious love battle!”  November 2010, $10.99.

Skyblue Shore (Sorairo Kaigan) volume 1, by Yamada Nanpei.  “When one of her classmates rescues Tomo from being harassed on the bus one day, she’s very grateful.  But when she notices he has a trinket just like the one given to her by a boy in her youth, she becomes curious – is he the same person from her past?  And what is his mysterious connection to the sea?”  November 2010, $10.99.

From Udon Entertainment:

Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki TP, by Jim Zubkavich, with art by Omar Dogan.  “All Ibuki wants is a normal Japanese high school experience, but her secret ninja life follows her everywhere she goes!  With deadly ninja assassins, a crazy karate girl named Makoto, and the mysterious hermit Oro all on her case, she’ll be lucky if she even makes it to lunch house in one piece!  Street Fighter Legends: Ibuki is one part ninja action, one part high school antics, and 100% non-stop excitement!”  December 2010, $14.99.

Also from Viz Media:

Gente volume 2, by Natsume Ono.  “Claudio reminisces about when he was a young, insecure waiter just getting his feet wet.  Vanna gets to the bottom of why Teo’s stubborn lack of ambition prevents him from living up to his full potential in the kitchen.  A woman running a streak of bad luck finds cheer when Gabriella introduces her to the magical ambiance of Casetta dell’Orso.  And finally, a mysterious young woman arrive with an important message for Lorenzo.”  December 2010, $12.99.

House of Five Leaves volume 2, by Natsume Ono.  “Masterless samurai Akitsu Masanosuke was persuaded to join the kidnapping ring ‘Five Leaves’ after drawing the inter3set of its charismatic leader, Yaichi.  However, after succumbing to illness he withdraws to the country villa of Goinkyo, an associate of the Five Leaves, to recover.  While there, he inadvertently learns more about the history of the gang and about the cords that bind each of the members to their pasts.”  December 2010, $12.99.

Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys volume 12, by Naoki Urasawa.  “Will 2015 bring an end to human history?!  An urgent but mysterious message left by her mother Kiriko in 2002 finally reaches Kanna.  But where is Kiriko, who developed the germ warfare weapons used on Bloody New Year’s Eve, and what is she doing now?  Memories of New Years past flood the minds of Kenji’s friends and family.  Will Yoshitsune’s clandestine actions eventually prove fruitful, or are the doomed to repeat the tragedies of the year 2000?”  December 2010, $12.99.

Ultimo volume 3, by Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei.  “Yamato’s best friend Rune is now a doji master to the envious trickster Jealousy.  But why is Rune using Jealousy to attack Yamato and Ultimo?  The answer lies deep in the past and will shock everyone – even Rune!”  December 2010, $9.99.

Kamisama Kiss volume 1, by Julietta Suzuki.  “Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment.  So when a man she’s just saved from a dog offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity.  But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity!”  December 2010, $9.99.

Itsuwaribito volume 1, by Yuuki Iinuma.  “Utsuho’s truthfulness as a child resulted in an enormous catastrophe, and he decided to lie from that day forward.  Raised in a village of orphans by a monk, Utsuho is an unrepentant troublemaker.  The monk eventually inspires him to help people, but there’s no way Utsuho’s going to lead an honest life!  Instead, he’s going to use his talents for mischief and deception for good!”  December 2010, $9.99.

Children of the Sea volume 4, by Daisuke Igarashi.  From Amazon: “Jim, Dehdeh, and Ruka’s mom finally track down Anglade’s yacht, but neither the rouge scientist nor Umi and Ruka are on board. All that remains is a cryptic invitation to Jim. While Jim tries to figure out the game his ex-colleague is playing and Kanako dives into memories of her daughter Ruka, the strange sea-changes continue around the world.”  December 2010, $14.99.

Also From Yen Press:

Nabari no Ou volume 5, by Yuhki Kamatani.  “As Kumohira and Miharu argue about whether or not he should be allowed to use the secret art, Kumohira’s lover Hanabusa comes home, bringing Yoite with her.  Hanabusa strongarms Kumohira into allowing Miharu to help Yoite, but have they brought danger straight into their midst by lending him a helping hand?”  November 2010, $10.99.

Time and Again volume 4, by Ji-Un Yun.  “A gorgeously illustrated historical fantasy/horror tales following the adventures of a wandering exorcist and his bodyguard.  When the person you promised to love forever dies, what would you do?  When your life ends when your beloved has departed this world, what would you do?  With a glimpse of Beak-On’s past revealed, the cycle of hatred and love continues.”  November 2010, $10.99.

From Vertical INC:

Tezuka’s Black Jack volume 14, by Osamu Tezuka.  From Amazon: “The Third Call: A man who’s mother recently passed away calls Black Jack’s home office. As soon as the surgeon picks up the phone, the stranger on the other line goes into a long tirade about hospital conditions and the lack of care his mother’s doctors were able to provide. He quickly turns to attack Black Jack’s practices and his high fees, calling the rogue medic out for ignoring his medical roots to alienate the poor and challenged. And before he hangs up he informs BJ, that he has kidnapped Pinoko. He demands Black Jack lower his fees or else after three calls he will not only kill Pinoko he will kill everyone BJ saves.

Transcient Love: A young woman is dying from what has long been considered a terminal illness. With only about a month or so to live she shares her dying wish with her parents. Despite being bed-riden she wishes to someday marry. She wants to be a happy bride, and realize the joy of having someone love her eternally. Her father struck with grief, promises to marry his daughter to the first man who walks into her hospital room. That man is Black Jack, and his medical fees do not normally include fake marriage fees. This is going to be one costly marriage, however he cannot deny the fact her wish is essentially what is keeping her alive right now. If taking her hand will give her the strength to survive this procedure, it will have to considered part of the treatment.”  November 2010, $16.95.

That’s about it for this month, aside from a handful of nice looking figures that are way over priced.  Also a set of Venture Brothers bobble heads, and some great looking Mass Effect 2 figures from DC Unlimited (not sure how much those are as no price is listed, but I’d love to get my hands on that Garrus figure).

Kris
kristin@comicattack.net
@girlg33k_kris