I know we had one for the Anime Expo anime forums, but those die quickly.

In this post you recommend manga series with a picture, the publisher, how many volumes released so far, a short summary of the back and a short review on why should be care.

To put it simply

Title:
(Picture)
Volumes Released so far:
Summary of first volume:
Short Review:

It may sound a little complicated, but we have an inventory list and I could say whether we offer a series or not. If we don't have it and you offer a compelling enough argument we may buy the first 2 volumes.

Edit 2: Saying something is TEH BEST SERIES EVAR is not a compelling argument, just a warning because that is not enough justification.

Priest, published by TokyoPop
http://www.editions-tokebi.com/priest/priest2page2.jpg
16 volumes, last I heard.
Ivan Isaacs was once a priest. Devoted to his faith he would have given up anything for it - then the establishment he believed in turned on him, sending him headlong into Hell.

Now, he's back. With the priesthood now corrupt with demons, the undead, and black prayers, he has returned with the help of the demon Belial, a voice in the darkness who offered Ivan a chance at vengeance, in exchange for his soul.

With his six-shooter and a bouie knife at his side and the white collar of his former life adorning his neck he is a lost pale rider in a barren wild west where past and future collide.
-Summary provided by RightStuf.com

I picked up this volume on a whim, and ended up being glued cover to cover. From the stunningly different artwork (Very linear and gritty; lots of black) to the intriguing storyline (Wrongful death of both he and his family, makes a deal with the devil for vengeance; goes against those in similar situations) and a decent pace between action sequences, Priest is not for die-hard fans of bubbly-cute, magic and romance, unless they have a dark side, too. The one major flaw I have found in it is the year-long wait between Volume 14 and 15.

Banana Fish
Picture
Volume released so far: v1-19 (Complete)
Summary of first volume: here
Short review:

Sorry for just quoting boyfruit author, but she said whatever I wanted to say. If I may add, I can cry every time when I read the ending, and I read it more than 5 times... T_T This is very underrated manga in N.A. or to English readers in general. The drawing style dramatically changes from the beginning to the end, but it didn't concern me much... rather, it was better since they become bishies...

For refence we do have both of those manga.

But more recommendations would be nice.

Maybe a list of what manga you have in inventory would be nice... so we don't have to write out whatever that's already you have

I will come up with a list, but keep in mind it is not final and some stuff needs to be ironed out.

.Hack// Legend of the Twilight
.remote.
50 rules for teenagers
A Midnight Opera
A.I. Love you
Aapuupu
Abenobashi
Ai Yori Yoshi
Aitsu ga Heero
Akira
Alice 19th
Alichino
Alichino
Amie
Angel Sanctuary
Angelic Layer
Animage
Animal Paradise
Anime V
Animedia
Ano Natsu ga Owaru
Aria
Arm of Kannon
Art of Cardcaptor Sakura
Astro Boy
Asura
At Large
Azumanga Daioh: The Manga
B.B. Explosion
Bambi
Banana Fish
Banner of the Stars
Basara
Basilisk
Bastard
Battle Angel Alita
Battle Royale
Battle Vixens
Beck
Beet the Vandel Buster
Beserk
Beyblade
Beyblade
Blade of Heaven
Blade of Heaven
Blade of Heaven
Blade of the Immortal
Blazin Barrels
Blazin' Barrels
Bleach
Bleach
Blue Spring
Boys Be
Boys Be
Boys Over Flowers
Boys Over Flowers
B'TX
B'TX
By the Sword
Café Occult
Candidate for Goddess
Cantarella
Card Captor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura: Master of the Clow
Cardcaptor Sakura: Master of the Clow
Case Closed
Case Closed
Celebrate Song
Ceres: Celestial Legend
Ceres: Celestial Legend
Cheeky Angel
Cheeky Angel
Chobits
Chobits
Chronicles of the Cursed Sword
Chrono Code
Chrono Crusade
Chrono Crusade
Chrono Crusade
Chrono Crusade
Chrono Crusade
Clamp School Defenders: Duklyon
Clamp School Detectives
Clamp School Detectives
Clamp School Paranormal Investigators
Clamp School Paranormal Investigators
Clamp: North Side
Clamp: South Side
Combination: Heero Yuy
Comic Party
Comic Party
Comic Party
Confidential Confessions
Confidential Confessions
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star
Cowboy Bebop: Shooting Star
Crazy Love Story
Crazy Love Story
Crescent Moon
Crescent Moon
Crest of the Stars
Cromarite High School
Cromarite High School
Cross
Cross
Culdcept
Culdcept
Cyborg 009
Cyborg 009
Daemon Hunters Hymn for the Dead
Dark Edge
Dark Edge
Dead End
Dead End
Dear End
DearS
DearS
Demon Diary
Demon Diary
Descendants of Darkness
Desert Coral
Desert Coral
Desert Coral
Desire
Deus Vitae
Deus Vitae
Devil May Cry: Dante
DH: It's a Monster
Diablo
Diablo
Digi Charat Theater: Dejiko's Adventure
Digi Charat Theater: Leave it to Piyoko
Digimon
Digimon
Digimon 02
Digimon Tamers
DNAngel
DNAngel
DNAngel
Doll
Doll
Doll (Hardcover)
Dolls
Double: With True Love
Doubt
Dr. Slump
Dragon Hunter
Dragon Hunter
Dragon Knights
Dragon Knights
Dragon Voice
Dragon Voice
Dream Gold: Knights in the Dark City
Dream Saga
Dream Saga
Duo x Heero: Love Hysteria
Eagle: The Making of An Asian-American President
EduManga: Ann Franke
Eerie Queerie
Eerie Queerie
Endless Night
En-Musu
ES Eternal Sabbath
Et Cetera
Eternity
Evil's Return
Excel Saga
Excel Saga
Eyeshield 21
Faeries Landing
Fake
Fake
Fantasy Land
Fighting! Guidance
Final Fantasy VIII: I Promise
Fire Fighter
Fire Fighter
Flame of Recca
FLCL
FLCL
Flower of the Deep Sleep
Flower of the Deep Sleep
Flowers and Bees
Flowers and Bees
Forbidden Dance
Freeze My Love and Crimson Kiss
From Far Away
From Far Away
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket
Full Metal Alchemist
Full Metal Panic!
Full Metal Panic! Overload
Fullmetal Panic Overload
Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play
Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play
Fushigi Yuugi (Import)
Fushigi Yuugi (Import)
Gacha Gacha
Gadirok Requiem Chorus
Gadirok: Requiem Chorus
Galaxy Angel
Gamerz Heaven
Gamerz Heaven
Genshiken
Get Backers
Ghost Hunt
Ghost In the Shell
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Ani-manga boxed set (4 vols.)
Girl Got Game
Girl Got Game
Gorgeous Egoist
Gravitation
GTO
Gundam Anthology Comic and Novel
Gundam W Love Sleeper
Gundam: The Origin
Gunslinger Girl
Gunsmith Cats: Bonnie and Clyde
Guru Guru Pon-Chan
Hana-Kimi
Hana-Kimi
Hanasaka Tenshi Tenten-kun
Hands Off
Hands Off
Happy Lesson
Happy Mania
Happy Mania
Harlem Beat
Heat Guy J
Heaven Above Heaven
Hellsing
Her Magesty's Dog
Here is Greenwood
Here is Greenwood
Hikaru no Go
Hot Gimmick
Hot Gimmick
How to Draw Manga: Bishoujo
How to Draw Manga: Bishoujo around the world
How to Draw Manga: Bodies & Anatomy
How to Draw Manga: Developing Shojo techniques
How to Draw Manga: Dressing in Casual Wear
How to Draw Manga: Giant Robots
How to Draw Manga: Illustrating battles
How to Draw Manga: Male Characters
How to Draw Manga: Super Tone Techniques
Hunter X Hunter
Hurrah! Sailor
Hurrah! Sailor
Hyper Police
Hyper Police
Hyper Rune
Hyper Rune
I.N.V.U.
I.N.V.U.
iD_entity
iD_entity
Imadoki Nowadays
Imadoki Nowadays
Immortal Rain
Immortal Rain
Imperfect Hero
In Dream World
In Dream World
Indian Summer
Infinite Ryvius
Initial D
Instant Teen
Instant Teen
Intron Depot 1
Inu Yasha
Inu Yasha
Inuyasha Ani-Manga
Inuyasha Ani-Manga
Iron Wok Jan
Iron Wok Jan
Iron Wok Jan
IWGP: Ikebukuro West Gate Park
Jing King of Bandits
Jing King of Bandits
Juline
Junk
Junk Force
Junk Force
Junk Force
Juvenile Orion
Kagetora
Kare First Love
Kare Kano
Keep Yourself Alive
Kekkaishi
Ken-chan to Isshou
Kids Joker
Kill Me Kiss Me
Kill Me Kiss Me
King of Hell
Knights of the Zodiac
Knights of the Zodiac
Kodocha
Kodocha
Koucha Ouji
Koucha Ouji
Koucha Ouji
Koucha Ouji
Kuro Gane
La La La Love Song
Lagoon Engine
Lagoon Engine
Lament of the Lamb
Lament of the Lamb
Lament of the Lamb
Le Petit Prince
Legal Drug
Legal Drug
Legend of Chun Hyang
Legendz
Les Bijoux
Les Bijoux
Les Bijoux
Let's Draw Manga: Astro Boy
Let's Draw Manga: Astro Boy
Let's Draw Manga: Monsters
Let's Draw Manga: Monsters
Let's Draw Manga: Ninja and Samurai
Let's Draw Manga: Ninja and Samurai
Let's Draw Manga: Sexy Gals
Let's Draw Manga: Sexy Gals
Let's Draw Manga: Using Color
Let's Draw Manga: Using Color
LiLing Po
LiLing Po
Lone Wolf 2100
Love Hina
Love Letters
Love Me Mamu
Love or Money
Love Roma
Love Roma
Lupin III
Lupin III
Lupin III: World's Most Wanted
Lupin III: World's Most Wanted
Maburaho
Magic Knight Rayearth
Magic Knight Rayearth
Magic Knight Rayearth II
Magic Knight Rayearth II
Magic Knight Reyearth
Magic Knight Reyearth
Mahoromatic
Mahoromatic
Mahoromatic
Maison Ikkoku (1st edition)
Maison Ikkoku (2nd edition)
Maison Ikkoku (2nd edition)
Man of Many Faces
Man of Many Faces
Manga Techniques:Robot Design Techniques for Beginners
Maniac Road
Mar
Mark of the Succubus
Marmalade Boy
Mars
Mars: Horse with No Name
MBQ
Megaman NT Warrior
Megaman NT Warrior
Mermaid Melody Pitchi Pitchi Pitch
Mermaid Saga
Mermaid Saga
Mink
Mink
Miyuki Chan in Wonderland
Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Astray
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Astray
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Astray R
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Astray R
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Last Outpost
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Last Outpost
Model
Model
More Starlight to your Heart
More Starlight to your Heart
Moryou Kiden: Legend of the Nymph
Moryou Kiden: Legend of the Nymph
Najica Blitz Tactics
Najica Blitz Tactics
Najica Blitz Tactics
Nakayoshi
Nanairo no Shinwa
Nananana
Naruto
Naruto
Nausicaa: Of the Valley of the Wind
Nausicaa: Of the Valley of the Wind
Neck and Neck
Neck and Neck
Necromimesis: His Momentary Grief
Negima
Neko ga Nashi
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Never Give Up
Never Say Good Bye
News on the Nineteen o' Clock
Newtype USA
Nintendo Power
No Need for Tenchi!
No Need for Tenchi!
Nodame Cantabile
Noodle Fighter Miki
Oh My Goddess: Leader of the Pack
One
One
One Piece
One Piece: The Oath
Onegai Teacher
Onegai Teacher
Only The Ring Finger Knows
Orphen
Othello
Passion
Passion
Pastel
Peacemaker Kurogane
Peach Fuzz
Peach Girl
Peach Girl: Change of Heart
Peach: Miwa Ueda Illustrations
Peigenz
Petshop of Horrors
Petshop of Horrors
PhD: Phantasy Degree
PhD: Phantasy Degree
Phoenix
Phoenix
Pita-Ten
Pixy Junket
Planet Blood
Planet Blood
Planet Ladder
Planet Ladder
Planetes
Planetes
Please Save My Earth
Please Save My Earth
Pokemon: Pikachu Shocks Back
Popo Can
President Dad
President Dad
Pretear
Priest
Prince of Tennis
Prince of Tennis
Princess Ai
Project Arms The Second Revelation: White Rabbit
Psychic Academy
Psychic Academy
Quantu Mistake
Qwan
R I Shadow
R2: rise R to the second power
Ragnarok
Ragnarok
Rah Xephon
Ranma 1/2
Ranma 1/2
Rave Master
Rave Master
Real Bout High School
Rebirth
Rebirth
Rebound
Red River
Red River
Revers
Revolutionary Girl Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena
RG Veda
Rising Stars of Manga
Rising Stars of Manga
Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin
Rurouni Kenshin Profiles
Saber Marionette J
Saber Marionette J
Saikano
Saiyuki
Samurai Champloo
Samurai Crusader
Samurai Deeper Kyo
Samurai Executioner
Sandland
School Rumble
Scryed
Scryed
Sensual Phrase
Sensual Phrase
Sgt. Frog
Sgt. Frog
Shadow Star
Shaman King
Shaman King
Shaolin Sisters
Shaolin Sisters
Shaolin Sisters: Reborn
Shirahime-Syo
Shirahime-Syo
Sho-Comi
Shutterbox
Shutterbox
Sister Red
Sister Red
Slayers: The Ruby Eye
Slayers: The Sorcerer of Atlas
Snow Drop
Snow Drop
Snow White
Sokora Refugees
Sorcerer Hunters
Sorcerer Hunters
SOS
Soul to Seoul
Soul to Seoul
Spirited Away
Spirited Away: Picture Book
Spirits Dance
Starry Night: Cardcaptor Sakura Fan Book
Steel Angel Kurumi
Steel Angel Kurumi
Steel Angel Kurumi
Stone
Stone
Sugar Sugar Rune
Sugar Sugar Rune
Suikoden III: The Successor of Fate
Suikoden III: The Successor of Fate
Sukeban Deka
Suki A Like Story
Suki A Like Story
Supernova
Sweat & Honey
Sweet and Sensitive
Sweet and Sensitive
Tactics
Tactics
Tenshi Ja Nai!!
Tezuka School of Animation
Tezuka School of Animation
The Big O
The Calling of Silen
The Demon Ororon
The Demon Ororon
The First King Adventure
The Kindaichi Case Files: The Headless Samurai
The Kindaichi Case Files: The Mummy's Curse
The Kindaichi Case Files: The Opera House Murders
The Missing White Dragon
The Missing White Dragon
The Missing White Dragon
The Monkey Kingdom: Duo x Heero
The One I Love
The Queen's Knight
The Ruler of the Land
The Ruler of the Land
The Ruler of the Land
The Tarot Café
The Tarot Café
The Vision of Escaflowne
The Vision of Escaflowne
Threads of Time
Threads of Time
Tight Rope
Tokyo Babylon
Tokyo Mew Mew
Tokyo Mew Mew A La Mode
Tokyo Tribes
Tokyo Tribes
Tomodachi
Tomoe ga Yuki (Import)
Tough
Towa Kamoshirenai (Import)
Tramps Like Us
Tramps Like Us
Tramps Like Us
Traveler of the Moon
Trigun
Trouble Maker
True Colors
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Tumblin' Dice
Tuxedo Gin
Tuxedo Gin
Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy
Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy
Under the Glass Moon
Under the Glass Moon
Until the Full Moon
Vagabond
Vampire Game
Vampire Game
Van Von Hunter
Vespa Presents Gundam W
Video Girl Ai
Visitor
Visitor
W Juliet
W Juliet
Wallflower, The
Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy
Warriors of Tao
Warriors of Tao
Wedding Peach
Whistle!
Wild Act
Wild Act
Wild Com
Wings of Freedom
Wish
Wish
Witch Class
Wizard
Wolf's Rain
Worst
Worst
Worst
X Day
X/1999
X/1999
X-Day
X-Day
xxxHolic
XYZ Jesus Christ
XYZ2 Guilty
Yotsuba&!
Your and My Secret
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yu-Gi-Oh!
YuYu Hakushou
Zippy Ziggy
Zippy Ziggy
Zodiac P.I.
Zodiac P.I.

... ^^; Thanks for the list. Now I don't have to waste my time looking up about something that you already have.

Hrm, the list is mixed of English version and Japanese version, isn't it...? I see Koucha Ouji in there.



Ouran High Host Club (Japanese title: Ouran Koukou Host Club)
Volumes released so far: v9 by VIZ
Summary of first volume: One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the "Host Club," a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else. (from VIZ)
Short review: I don't think I need to say it so much since this series is so popular... A good series to put in manga cafe so that you can draw people's attention >_<; ... Erm... From the first volume, it contains a lot of WTFness, and this series quickly grabbed many people's heart.

Reborn! (Japanese title: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!)
Volumes released so far: v3 by VIZ
Summary of first volume: A home tutor decided to come to the home of a junior high kid, Tsuna, who was living a dull life. The name of the home tutor was Reborn! Though he looked like a baby, his real profession was a high-class hitman!! ... His reason for coming from Italy was to raise the 10th heir of the mafia family, Vongola! If you are willing to die for it, you can do anything! So, Tsuna's life-risking study days had begun!! (from volume summary)
Short review: Chapters 1-47 and 54-61 consist of daily life with full of jokes, and since it lasted so long, people usually don't find it worth reading. Though, once it become c62, a start of new arc, it will have a solid storyline that makes you excited and nervous, and afterwards you'd appreciate the daily life arc to see characters' personality in detail. ... ^^; (I know, my reviews are weak... am not good at it.)

Satisfaction Guranteed (Japanese title: Yorozuya Tokaido-honpo)
Volumes released so far: v3 by TOKYOPOP
Summary of first volume: Shima is a jack-of-all-trades who can solve any problem that's presented to him. When he's approached by Kaori, a super-hot teenage model who's being followed by a mysterious figure known as "The Snowman," the two team up to catch the stone-cold stalker in the act. One thing's for sure: When you hire this hot duo, your satisfaction is guaranteed! (from Amazon.com)
Short review: ... Yaoi/Shounen-ai hinting series, though, there won't be anything serious. Good series to see how both of their trauma has overcome by helping each other.

Pearl Pink (Japanese title: Ten'nen Pearl Pink)
Volumes released so far: v2 by TOKYOPOP
Summary of first volume: We follow the bumpy and funny romance between bubbly Tamoko and the serious Kanji. With Kanji's father running an idol agency, and Tamoko being the daughter of their top-selling idol, Shinju, things get complicated. Tamako must hide the fact she is Shinju's daughter to save public face, but at the same time, is determined to be his ideal wife (a was promised when they were little kids). It doesn't help that Tamako's pretty clumsy and poor of domestic chores, but no matter what comes down the road, she's not about to give up! (Taken from TOKYOPOP)
Short review: A story of clumsy girl working herself up so that she can be a good match with her ... favorite guy. (Fails on reviewing it once again. Maybe you can read other people's review here.)


Here are some input from my friend (AKofTroy):

Dragon Head
Volumes released so far: v6 by TOKYOPOP
Summary and Review: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Head-Graphic-...8111&sr=1-2

Chibi Vampire
Volumes released so far: v4 by TOKYOPOP
Summary and Review: http://www.amazon.com/Chibi-Vampire-Novel/...8232&sr=1-3

The Embalmer
Volume released so far: v3 by TOKYOPOP
Summary and Review: http://www.amazon.com/Mitsukazu-Mihara-Emb...8301&sr=1-1

Chibi Vampire is popular, but other two I mentioned which are good but not many buyers. - Quoting AK.


I'll probably continue some other time. Gotta take care of some works first... >_<;

Great Recommendations, I love Ouran Host Club and Chibi Vampire.

Hopefully we can get both of them.

Skip Beat <-link to an image
Volumes released in America by Viz: 6
Summary (taken from back of volume one): Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he's casting her out now that he'd famous! Kyoko won't suffer in silence--she's going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in showbiz!
Thoughts: I had first learned about Yoshiki Nakamura by reading scanlations of Tokyo Crazy Paradise (which for some odd reason they decided to mention on the back cover of the English version even though it has never been released in America @-@; ). When I heard that Skip Beat was by the same author, I decided to give it a try...and it went on from there. While the art is very nice, I have to admit that at some points the character are drawn inconsistently. Kyoko's antics as she struggles her way up to the top are often hilarious and endearing, and later she discovers an innate talent for acting. The part I like best though, is the acting. Those scenes really draw you in as the tension increases...

Are there any more recommendations.

Pretty soon we will start buying more manga, so keep them coming.

Is the manga library willing to accept donated manga? I have a good number of volumes that I don't really read much anymore/have already lent to my friends. To be honest, the library already owns most of what I'm willing to part with, but if you don't mind multiple copies, I can just bring it to the front desk of the cafe. Let me know if you're interested. I'll also be volunteering, so hopefully I'll be around.

Manga not owned by library:
Blame ! 1/2
Bow Wow Wata 1

Manga owned by library:
-Remote- 1/2
Girl Got Game 1/2
Initial D 10
Jing: King of Bandits 2
Othello 1
Tactics 1
The Vision of Escaflowne 1
Yotsuba&! 1

I wish, but we can't accept donated manga.

I could seriously donate some import manga, but even I can't, and I RUN this department

Host Club rocks my socks!

Um... manga:

Title: Vampire Knight
(Picture)
Volumes Released so far: two, by Viz
Summary of first volume:

Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy's secret. Yuki believes that vampires and humans can coexist peacefully, but her partner has different ideas...

Short Review:
This series is so tantilizingly HOT.
Matsuri Hino's artwork is truly that - a work of art. It's vivid and expressive, the drawings are so beautiful. The story-line has all the fixings of regular shojo: bishies, angst, a damsel, a love-triangle, and yet there's an air of intesensity to it: whether it's the sexual tension of forbidden love (and, literally, blood lust) the darkness of being a vampire, or a suicidal character who doesn't believe in his own self-worth, yet still keeps on the occasional comedy. Truly a major recommendation for any shojo fan!

I'd also like to recommend "Lovely Complex" but I don't feel like writing a review right now...

Wow, what a great list! This is exciting. During what hours will the manga cafe be open? This would be a great thing to do late at night. Anyway, I have a few humble reccomendations.

Anyway, as I noticed that Newtype and Nintendo Power are both on the list...it's nice to through in magazines with comics, that sounds great! I was wondering if you could get any issues/backissues of other magazines.

Japanese mag's I'm requesting - I'm obviously not expecting all of these, but one or two would be great:
FOOL'S MATE - J-rock related
SHOXX - J-rock/visual-kei related
CURE - Visual-kei/fashion related
NEO Genesis - J-rock/visual-kei related

All are currently still on a regular printing schedule.


Moving on to manga/manwha/OEL stuff.

Title: 1001 Nights (Manhwa, BL warning)
picture: http://www.seriejournalen.dk/billeder/sjny...union_cover.gif
Volumes Released so far: 3, I believe.

Summary of first volume: A reworking on the original Arabian Nights tale, in which (if you didn't already know) a woman is forced into the harem of a corrupt Sutlan, who sleeps with virgins one night then has them killed the next morning. The woman, Sharrazad, saves herself by telling the Sultan a story each night that calms his nerves and eventually makes him fall in love with her.

In this version, the character Sharrazad is replaced by two siblings, a brother, Sehara, and sister, Dunya. Many women in the kingdom are being forced into the Sultan's brothel, but when Dunya gets word that she's next, Sehara dresses up as a woman and takes her place to save her.

I most likely mispelled some names; my apologies.

Short Review: It's a boy-love story, but the BL themes aren't ridiculosuly overpowering, like in most boy-love comics. Sehara takes the role of Sharrazad and tells stories to the Sultan - but his stories are differnt from the ones you've heard in storybooks before, they're interesting and fresh. And the artwork is very profressional, it's a real step above most manhwa.

Title: Kaze Hikaru
Picture: http://www.emerchandise.com/images/p/VVV/pdGNVVV0090.jpg
Volumes Released so far: 5

Summary of first volume: "In the year 1863, a time fraught with violent social upheaval, samurai warriors of all walks of life flock to Kyoto in the hope of joining the Mibu-Roshi—a band of warriors united around their undying loyalty to the Shogunate system. In time, this group would eventually become one of the greatest (and most famous) movements in Japanese history...the Shinsengumi!

Into this fierce milieu steps Kamiya Seizaburo, a young, would-be warrior who, though lacking in combat experience, possesses a fiery enthusiasm to both aid the Mibu-Roshi in their mission and to avenge his wrongfully murdered family. One of the Mibu-Roshi's most gifted (and immature) swordsmen, the legendary Okita Soji, agrees to take Seizaburo under his wing. But what no one suspects, least of all Soji, is that Seizaburo is actually a girl named Tominaga Sei in disguise!"

Short Review:
This used to run in Shojo beat, and when they cancelled it, well...I miss it! Good period piece that packed with a suprising amount of history goodies. Overall, it really stuck out from the publication's other titles as being unique.

I know this is too late for this year's Expo, but I thought I'd add my two cents for future Expos.

Title:Gakkou no Ojikan
I don't have a picture, but here is a link with synopisis of the series and pictures. http://www.swb.de/~zahara/shoujo/tajima/ojikan/ojikan.html
Volumes Released so far: 10
Summary of first volume: see the link above
Short Review:
This is a typical shoujo manga by Tajima Mimi. Lots of love triangle and love squares. It is set in a elite highschool, and the main character Riku, who is a highschooler herself, becomes the school chairman. Insert chaos and drama. The story is funny and cute and pulls at the heart strings, at least it pulls at mine.

I am probably biased tho, since this is the manga I used when first starting teaching myself Japanese. But, that means that the language is at a pretty low level and an easy read for those who are not yet proficient in Japanese (myself included).


Also, I know Yotsuba to! has been licensed in the US, but I have only seen up to volume 3 published. I think I have up to volume 6 in Japanese. Totally hilarious, seriouly on of the best mangas I have read. And again, the Japanese in it is super basic.

Title: Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa
vol 1 type 1
vol 1 type 2
Volumes Released so far: 5
Summary of first volume: (From TokyoPop)
Yukari wants nothing more than to make her parents happy by studying hard and getting into a good college. One afternoon, however, she is kidnapped by a group of self-styled fashionistas calling themselves "Paradise Kiss." Yukari suddenly finds herself flung into the roller-coaster life of the fashion world, guided by George, art-snob extraordinaire. In a glamorous makeover of body, mind and soul, she is turned from a hapless bookworm into her friends' own exclusive clothing model.
Short Review: This series is a must-have in any manga collection. You will get hooked by the first chapter by the chic fashion and the drama-filled storyline!

short review is short lol

Title: Clover

Volumes Released so far: None yet, but a collective volume of all four volumes will be released in late April by Dark Horse Comics.
Summary of first volume: (From the Dark Horse site) "Kazuhiko is a young, but already deeply wounded black ops agent of a baroque, retro-tech future-pulled out of retirement to escort Sue, a mysterious waif, to a destination she alone knows. Sue and Kazuhiko have never met . . . yet she knows him, having grown up since the age of four with her only human contact two distant voices: that of her elderly "grandma," General Ko, and of Kazuhiko's dead girlfriend, Ora. And Sue has been kept in that cage all these years because of what she is, and what the Clover Leaf Project found her to be -- a military top secret, and the most dangerous person in the world."
Short Review: I've honestly never been able to read this as it's been out of print for quite a few years, though the art is compelling and I've heard nothing but good reviews from those fortunate enough to have read it. It's done by CLAMP and I've never read a horrible manga produced by them.

^ actually, Tokyopop released volumes 2-4 a long time ago (i own them). they're probably also out of print.. but i swear i've seen them in bookstores from time to time. :o

Title: Fairy Tale by del rey manga
(Picture)
Volumes Released so far: 5
Summary of first volume:
Cute girl wizard Lucy wants to join the Fairy Tail, a club for the most powerful wizards. But instead, her ambitions land her in the clutches of a gang of unsavory pirates led by a devious magician. Her only hope is Natsu, a strange boy she happens to meet on her travels. Natsu’s not your typical hero–he gets motion sickness, eats like a pig, and his best friend is a talking cat. With friends like this, is Lucy better off with her enemies?
Short Review:
I haven't read the series myself but have been told that it is a blend of one piece and bleach. It is also done by the creater of Rave master which is a great series.

Yay, Fairy Tail! Even though the drawing resembles One Piece sooo much, I can gurantee the storyline is different, and very enjoyable

I've never been to the manga cafe before, so I don't really know what exactly has been offered. Does it include untranslated/imported manga? What about Korean manhwa?

I got a few interesting series that I didn't see on the list.
Fairy Cube:

Author: Kaori Yuki
Volumes: 3 out right now I think
Genres: psychological, supernatural
Plot Summary: Hasumi Ian has believed to see Fairies and other things since he was little (His mother being a fairy told by his father), however now tries to keep that away since his title as the famous writers son 'Lying Ian'. Lately there have been several mysterious murders known as the 'Fairy Murders' which Ian encounters a scene due to his bag being stolen by his other unseen self 'Tokage' that involves 'Fairy Cubes'.

Godchild:

Author: Kaori Yuki
Volumes: 8 total
Genres: horror, mystery, supernatural
Themes: Historical
Plot Summary:
Cain C. Hargreaves is the son of a wealthy count. He’s good looking, rich, and has pretty much everything a guy could want, but there’s actually many secrets surrounding him. Supposedly there’s a family curse on him, he collection poisons, and well, he gets involved in a lot of odd mysteries. This story is set in 19th Century England, and is “Season 2” of Kaori Yuki’s Count Cain series.
Mystery surrounds the young Count Cain C. Hargreaves, a known procurator of poisons famous in his home of Victorian England, it is said he brings a curse on all those around him. Bloody intrigue follows where ever he goes, the whip marks on his back burning with each sinful act by the secret society his supposedly dead father has gathered. Cain strikes back this time, acting against the destiny engraved onto his gold eyes, evidence of his father and mother's incestuous ways.


Spiral (Bonds of reasoning):

Genres: comedy, drama, mystery, romance
Plot Summary:
In Spiral, Ayumu Narumi is a teenage boy who is accused of murdering Sayoko Shiratanagi. His sister-in-law is the one who is in control of the case, so she lets him go. Ayumu is determined to find the answer to the mystery, and, along with the head of the newspaper, Hiyono, figures it out. This sets off a series of events. He meets pianist Eyes Rutherford, Rio Takeuchi, Kosuke, Ryoko, and their so called leader, Kanone. For some reason, they all seem to know his older brother, Kiyotaka, and they think that he can save them. Just who are the "Blade Children".
Two years ago, the famous detective Narumi Kiyotaka disappeared, leaving behind only the words, "I am pursuing the mystery of the Blade Children." Now, his younger brother Ayumu is accused of murdering a fellow student, and begins to discover people with connections to the Blade Children all around him. The Blade Children were born cursed, and Ayumu may be the only key to saving them, but first they want to test him, by trying to kill him with everything they've got. All the while, it seems that Kiyotaka is manipulating events for his own unknown purposes.


Goong:
Author: Park So-hee
Korean Manhwa
Genres: historical, drama, romance
Volumes: 3 out so far
Plot Summary:
Chae is a normal high school girl that gets dragged in to Korean palace life, which in this world has never stopped. She is forced to marry a classmate, the Prince, who she hates because of a promise by their fathers. This series journeys through her emotions has she struggles to adapt to Palace life and a spoiled Prince.

Title: Tail of the Moon

Author: Rinko Ueda

Volumes: 15 including a prequel volume

Genre: adventure, romance, historical

Summary: The story takes place in the Tenshō Era of Japan. Usagi is a bumbling ninja-in-training in her village in southern Iga. Since she is such a terrible ninja and has made no progress, though she is already fifteen, her grandfather gives her a special mission: to go to Segachi and marry Hanzō Hattori, the leader of the main branch ninja family, and bear his child.

Mamezo, Usagi's longtime friend and companion, accompanies her on her trip to Segachi. Once they arrive it becomes apparent that Hanzō has no intention of marrying anyone, and worse yet, it seems Usagi has a much more refined rival. It is clear that as Usagi spends more time with Hanzō, she is growing on him, though the fact that he is constantly bombarded with new potential brides makes Usagi self-conscious.

My view on the manga: I like this manga, basically because it has everything from action, bishounen, to romance. warning: the series is highly addicting and when you start reading it you cant stop because you want to know if Usagi will end up with Hanzo.