Shonen Americana

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spacer From the mind of the biggest name in western comics, Stan Lee, comes this exciting tale of east-meets-west robot versus alien action! Heroman, the story of a boy trying to discover his self-worth and his robot ally fighting to keep his loved ones safe from spirits, aliens, and whatever other foes may threaten the day.  A cross between traditional superhero comic books and Japanese giant robot science-fiction, Heroman brings an exciting cultural blend to the cookie-cutter world of shonen manga.

Joey Jones and, due to a Peter Parker-esque freak accident, second-hand toy turned superhero robot Heroman come together to form what on paper appears to be an old couple of sorts when considering the world of western superheroes. Nevertheless, in this first volume alone, they not only fight off an ancient demon spirit, but a several insect alien invaders hell bent on taking over the earth. In between the gripping not-so-giant robot action, Joey is trying to figure out what it means to be a hero and if he can be one alongside his trusted companion HM. But he’ll have to figure it out before the impending alien invasion launches in full force.

Set in the non-specific American town Central City, Heroman is filled with distinct characters, pulsating action, and enough shonen fury to fight off any opposing force.
A unique combination of top creative talent from both the east and the west, Heroman promises excitement, adventure, and enough action that a boy and his half super-hero half giant robot could handle.

Posted in Book Releases, news | Tagged Bones, Heroman, manga, Stan Lee, Tamon Ohta

Final Rumble

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spacer After countless street-fights and even more romantic rejections, Onizuka’s last fight in Shonan is upon us in this magnificent final volume of GTO: The Early Years. How things end for Eikichi Onizuka before he starts his prolific career as the greatest teacher in all of Japan is finally revealed.

In this 15th and final volume of The Early Years, Onizuka seems to have found someone he can truly love in Misato, but is it really meant to be? At the very least, there’s definitely more than meets the eye. Meanwhile, things are more than tense between Tsuji and Endo High Schools. With more than a few goof-ups from Onizuka and crew, Nakajo is finally gunning for him. This final rumble won’t be one to miss, that’s for sure. But wait! Is Nakajo really Eikichi Onizuka’s final enemy, or is there a bigger archrival waiting for him at the end of the road? Will Shonan finally figure out who rules supreme amongst the dangerous duo known as the Oni-Baku?

The manga that launched the international phenomenon, known affectionately as GTO, comes to a comical conclusion. But really was there any other way really? After what felt like an eternity English readers can finally close this chapter in the Onizuka universe and ride off into the Shonan sunset.

Posted in Book Releases, manga | Tagged GTO, GTO the Early Years, manga, Toru Fujisawa

MAXIMUM MEAN GIRLS

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spacer Fresh off the heels of our Paradise Kiss release, Vertical’s next new project also focuses on high school girls, however the themes are not as frilly and romantic. Instead, with Limit, by Kodansha Manga Award winner Keiko Suenobu, we are introduced to shojo’s dark side!  Part Lord of the Flies, part Mean Girls–and all shojo manga at its best, this engrossing, provocative look at the world of high school cliques and crowds, and the extreme things a person will do to survive should introduce western readers to a new dimension of Japanese girls comics.

When a group of high school girls is thrown out of their comfort zone, the rules suddenly change. Roles are reversed as the bullies become the victims while their former victims wield their new-found power to avenge past abuses. Friendships crash and burn, and new alliances are formed.  Sakura is at the epicenter of the elite circle at Yanno Prefectural High School. She’s pretty and smart, and everyone wants to be her friend. The two girls closest to her are Konno and Haru, who are constantly competing for Sakura’s attention–often by picking on other girls who aren’t in with the popular crowd. Tensions are already high as class 2-4 heads to the country by bus for a week of camping. Then the unthinkable happens. The bus careens off a cliff and everyone on board is killed–except five girls. Five survivors who must adjust to a dramatic shift in the social hierarchy if they want to stay alive.

Always attempting to expand the boundaries of Japanese culture in America, Vertical’s release of Limit will have readers re-evaluating the limits of not just shojo but manga as a whole.

Posted in Book Releases, manga, news | Tagged Keiko Suenobu, Limit, manga

Parent Teacher Conference

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spacer We’ve reached the halfway point in Eikichi Onizuka’s two-week excursion to his hometown of Shonan, and as always, the great teacher is giving life lessons with his fists more often than with his books. From restoring broken trust and giving the youth of today hope, to taking on delinquents, gangsters, and more, the GTO does it all!

In GTO: 14 Days in Shonan volume five, Onizuka continues to help foster care child Seiya through his heart-breaking situation with his neglectful mother and abusive father-in-law. Taking down both a gunman and a giant monster of an assassin, Onizuka one again puts himself on the frontlines for the sake of the kids who have no one else to believe in. But the real star of this volume is a certain unlucky vice-principal, who while in the middle of his search of Onizuka, redeems himself ever so slightly by changing his curriculum and “hair-style” after witnessing some fresh see-food.

Toru Fujisawa’s GTO has been a namesake in manga for more than a decade, and 14 Days In Shonan is continuing that legacy.  With a successful anime and numerous live-action adaptations over the years, the GTO franchise remains recognized around the world for its intense action, emotionally charged and compelling characters. Few manga brands have changed the landscape of  manga publishing as this, and GTO: 14 Days in Shonan teaches readers that stories do not need martial arts hijinks to make stand-out shounen manga.

Posted in Book Releases, manga, news | Tagged GTO, GTO: 14 Days in Shonan, Toru Fujisawa

Fashion Forward

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spacer Ai Yazawa’s beloved series Paradise Kiss captures all the drama, enthusiasm, and sense of collaboration of “High School Musical”—only in this case, the talented kids are fashion design students and they’re putting on a fashion show. Yazawa, an internationally top-selling author of shojo manga, was also an aspiring designer and a student at a top fashion school in Japan, so readers get a real insider’s look at the world of fashion and the creative, passionate—and often eccentric—people who dedicate themselves to it.

Paradise Kiss 1 opens as Yukari is rushing to a college exam cram course. Yukari is a serious, straight-laced high school senior, but she’s started questioning whether there’s more to life than just taking tests and succeeding in school. On this particular day, she’s kidnapped by a group of fashion design students who ask her to be their model in the upcoming runway show.At first, Yukari refuses, because she thinks the design students are airheads and flaky, and she’s too busy with her studies. But then George, the complicated and charismatic lead designer of the group, turns on the charm, convincing her to be in the show and also to take a good, hard look at her life.

Ai Yazawa’s gorgeous drawings and lively dialogue (in a new translation) combine to create a cast of endearing, quirky, and very human characters. Readers of all ages will relate to Yukari, George, Miwako, Hiro, Arashi, and the others as they struggle to find their unique identities and make the tough choices necessary to becoming an adult.

Posted in Book Releases, manga, news | Tagged Ai Yazawa, Fashion, manga, Paradise Kiss

The Wine Frontier

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spacer Get ready to be whisked away from the culture and complexity of French and Italian wines, and let this palatable manga help you drink in the innovative new tastes of American wine, and other wines of the new world. The Drops of God is the only manga about wine in US, and The United States itself is at the forefront of this special volume, with wine from Australia also sharing the spotlight. Showing off new kinds of wine, and an entire new world not present in previous volumes, There’s a lot to savor in Napa Valley and Australia, and The Drops of God: The New World will take you through every sip.

The competition is more intense as ever. Set some time after their confrontation for the 2nd apostle, Japanese wine enthusiasts Shizuku Kanzaki and Issei Tomine once again collide in a head to head, palate to palate global hunt for a heaven sent wine. This time, their battle brings our two wine connoisseurs, and their lovely female assistants, to the far reaches of wine’s new world. From Napa Valley, California to the Australian outback, there, through a whole lot of thought and even more drinking, they see that there are more sides to wine, and to them, than just what southern Europe has had to offer.

Not only has The Drops of God sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, in recent years it has become one of the most important wine publications around.  It’s the most influential wine publication in Asia, single-handedly more than doubling the sales of wine in that region. Needless to say, this comic knows its wine, and The Drops of God makes it accessible to any reader. And this volume showcases excellent domestic wines, painting a beautiful picture of America’s wine country, it lets the world know that our wine, like our comics, are every bit as sophisticated and impressive as our French counterparts.

Posted in Book Releases, manga, news | Tagged Drops of God, Shu Okimoto, Tadashi Agi