One part of this blog that I have wanted to implement for some time is a list of manga coming out every month, both to help you find new manga to read that may not be in your local store, but also to help eager buyers. Now that Tokyopop’s left us, what manga are still on the shelf? And with manga release schedules being bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, or sporadic, it can be hard to keep track of when to expect them. Furthermore, what day of the month will that sought-after new volume appear? Well, fear no more! The first list has rolled out. Check back monthly to see what’s up with your favorite series, or to find some new ones.
This list includes major publishers; there are few others around whose releases proved a bit more elusive. If you’d like your manga to be on this list, send us a note. In the future, I’d like to be able to add if there’s digital distribution, and the genres involved; however, if there’s any other data you readers think would be helpful, please leave a comment to help improve this service.
In the mean time, Spring has swept the country early, and that means a lot of good days for reading out in the sun. How about taking some manga with you next time you’re out? Here are manga releases in America for the month of April, 2012.
Arrangement:
1. Demographic Group (Boys’, Girls’, Kids’, General, Matured Reader)
2. Series Title (Alphabetical), volume # – date of release – publisher/imprint – age rating – notes
* Age rating guide: A (All) – T (teen) – T+ (Older Teen) – M (Mature/Adult)
* New Series in Bold (For this issue, I’m bolding all the one that are relatively new, releasing up to volumes 4)
KIDS’ manga (~10 and under)
Voltorn Force vol. 1 – 4/03 – Viz/Viz Kids – A
Of note: While not strictly manga, Viz Kids is also putting out these two comic titles this month:
Mr. Bump: Lights, Camera, Bump! – 4/17 – A – (Left to right format)
Little Miss Sunshine: Here Comes the Sun! – 4/17 – A – (L-to-R)
SHONEN (“Boys’” manga; typically heavy in action, adventure, and camaraderie)
Air Gear vol. 23 – 4/17 – Kodansha – T+
Bakuman vol. 10 – 4/03 – Viz/Shonen Jump – T+
Bleach vol. 39 – 4/03 – Viz/Shonen Jump – T+
Blue Exorcist vol. 7 – 4/03 – Viz/Shonen Jump Advanced – T+
Cage of Eden vol. 5 – 4/10 – Kodansha – T+
Cross Game vol. 7 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
Isuwaribito vol. 5 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
Katsuya Terada’s The Monkey King vol. 2 – 4/11 – Darkhorse – T
Kekkaishi vol. 31 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys, vol. 20 – 4/17 – Viz/Viz Signature – T+
Love Hina Omnibus vol. 3 – 4/24 – Kodansha – T+
Maoh: Jevenile Remix vol. 10 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
Negima! vol. 34 – 4/24 – Kodansha – T+
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan vol. 8 – 4/03 – Viz/Shonen Jump – T+
Oh My Goddess! vol. 41 – 4/25 – Darkhorse – T+
Slam Dunk vol. 21 – 4/03 – Viz/Shonen Jump – T+
Tenjo Tenge vol. 6 – 4/17 – Viz/Viz Signature – T+
Toriko vol. 9 – 4/03 – Viz/Shonen Jump – T+
SHOJO (“Girls’” manga; typically deals heavily with relationships and romances)
A Devil and Her Love Song vol. 2 – 4/03 – Viz/Shojo Beat – T+
Arisa vol. 7 – 4/03 – Kodansha
Dawn of the Arcana vol. 3 – 4/03 – Viz/Shojo Beat – T+
Kamisama Kiss vol. 8 – 4/03 – Viz/Shojo Beat – T+
Magic Knight Rayearth vol. 2 – 4/11 – Darkhorse – T
Rosario+Vampire: Season II, vol. 8 – 4/03 – Viz/ Shounen Jump Advanced – T+
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura vol. 7 – 4/03 – Viz/ Shojo Beat – T+
Skip Beat vol. 27 – 4/03 – Viz/Shojo Beat – T+
Toradora! vol. 4 – 4/10 – Seven Seas – T
X vol. 2 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
GENERAL
Biographical Comics: The Wright Brothers (PB and hardcover) (L-to-R) – 4/10 – Viz – A
Biographical Comics: Mother Theresa (PB and hardcover) (L-to-R) – 4/10 – Viz – A
Case Closed vol. 42 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
Excel Saga vol. 23 – 4/10 – Viz – T+
Gen Manga compilation vol. 10 – Genmanga.com – Digital and hardcopy – T to M
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney vol. 5 – 4/24 – Kodansha – T
Gon vol. 5 – 4/10 – Kodansha – T
Tokyo Mew Mew Omnibus vol. 3 – 4/24 – Kodansha – T+
ADULT (Matured Reader Recommended)
Dorohedoro vol. 6 – 4/17 – Viz/Viz Signature – M
Check back later in the month for an article on what it really means to classify something as “shojo” or “shonen.” Until next time: happy reading!
Toradora is not shoujo manga. and Rosario+Vampire: Season II is not shoujo manga either, you ignoramus