1. Imawabi no Dakini

Author: sigama
Artist:   sigama
Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Horror, Martial Arts, School Life, Seinen, Shounen, Supernatural

“Fushimi and Toume were just a normal boy and girl going to high school until one day they stumble upon a phantasmal mountain known to legend as “Mount Hagure” . Before either of them knew it, Toume was possessed by a Yoko by then name of Dakini, a goddess that grants wishes. 

When asking what Fushimi’s wish is, it is only this: Give Toume back. Dakini says she can grant the wish but in return he must become her servant. The deal is struck. Fushimi has now become Dakini’s servant and Toume has been returned. Darkness, however, is afoot and now Fushimi must take on a more active role as Dakini’s servant. Is he up for the task?!” -Kissmanga.com

Thoughts: Interestingly, you don’t know the most of the premise of the manga even by the end of the first chapter. Apparently, what happened prior to the start of the first chapter was so horrifying that the protagonist blocked out the memory.  His memory loss is being used as a nifty plot device to slowly immerse the reader in the story.

Click below to view the rest of the notable manga from 5-5 - 5/19.

Ken and two other Japanese chefs get thrown back into past and arrive in the Sengoku Era (the Warring States Period; 1467-1573). Almost immediately, Ken’s presumed co-workers are killed by soldiers.  The only survivor, Ken, is rescued by a female blacksmith, Natsu.

Upon arriving in the Sengoku Era, Ken lost almost all of his memories; the only thing he retained was his knowledge of cooking. To repay Natsu’s kindness, Ken does the only thing he knows how: cook. After seven months of cooking, Ken attracts the attention of a pivotal figure of the era, Oda Nobunaga.

1. Boku ni Koisuru Mechanical

Author: Watarai Keiji
Artist:   Watarai Keiji
Genre(s): ActionComedy Romance School Life Sci-fiSeinen

“Loser Shinjou Maita is trying to get new members for his movie research society club when he stumbles upon angelic first-year Hotohara Shiori. Life seems to be looking up for him, until a strange woman appears in his apartment, warning him that his life is in danger.” -Batoto.net

Thoughts: Although the plot has been attempted before, I like this attempt better already. Halfway through the chapter I liked the antagonist better than the support characters and the protagonist.

Click below to view the rest of the notable manga from 4/28 - 5/5.

One thousand years ago, after the Great Empire was created, the Emperor began to worry — he wished to protect his country forever, but he was not immortal.  Thus, he used his massive empire’s resources to create forty-eight weapons called the Teigu.  These weapons were created using the scientific minds, rare metals, and materials gathered from legendary creatures.

1. 49

Author: TOUDA Yoshimi
Artist:  TOUDA Yoshimi
Genre(s): Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Supernatural, Tragedy

“In this small town, within the 49 days after a person dies, you can see the dead’s spirit. She once admired this small town where you can still spent time with the ones precious to you within these 49 days, but…” -Kissmanga.com

Thoughts: A nonchalantly deep manga; the story truly opens up when the female protagonist gets confessed to by the ghost of her classmate. This manga is about the reverberations of the confession during and after the her classmate’s ghost’s stay with the living.

Click below to view the rest of the notable manga from 4/21 - 4/28.

The My Famicase Exhibition opened its doors two days ago on April 27th, and will end on May 31st.

This exhibition features fan-made cartridge art for fake NES games from artists who contribute internationally. The exhibit collect submissions every year and showcase only the new additions; however, past years additions can be accessed in their interactive archive or here.

[Polygon, Famicase]

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Our phones are smart, our glasses are smart*, and now our watches are smart, too. The Pebble is one of the first and most successful watches that can sync with both an iPhone and an android smartphone. This watch was destined for greatness when the Kickstarter project garnered funding that was over 10,266 times the project’s goal.

After being released a few weeks ago, I have extensively explored the The Pebble’s capabilities. Hit the break to read what I think of it.

1. The Lawless

Author: Khoo Fuk-lung
Artist:  Khoo Fuk-lung
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Seinen,Supernatural

“The story begins to unfold in 900-960 AD, Later Zhou dynasty when Chi Wu is being imprisoned after purposely losing to the emperor. His true goal lies within the prison itself, a clue to the whereabouts of world’s greatest lost treasure - Qi Lin Treasure. The words of his capture quickly spread to the ear of his senior and a former officer of the imperial court. Tie Zong Heng (Lawless), decides to be re-enlisted to the imperial services just to hunt down Chi Wu.” -Easy Going Scans

Thoughts: I truly marvel at the skill used in drawing manhua. Everything is colored with striking detail. However, the plot in this manhua is a fairly generic martial arts story.

Click below to view the rest of the notable manga from 4/14 - 4/21.

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Since the conclusion of World War Three in 2064 and the outlaw of nuclear weaponry, magicians — now known as a Magic Technicians — have become the focus of the current arms race.  ”Supernatural Power,” which were once unique to an individual, have become the focus of study from both Western and Eastern powers. Now, in the form of “Magic,” “Supernatural Power” is accessible for the masses.  However, like the arts and the sciences, talent is required to attain the mastery of magic necessary for use professionally.

It is now 2095, fifty years after World War Three started. The year marks the start of four turmoilous years for Japan and the world during which Magic Technicians replace nuclear weaponry as weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps not so coincidentally, this is the same year that Miyuki Shiba and Tatsuya Shiba enter the most prominent magic high school institution of Japan.

1. Dragons Rioting

Author: WATANABE Tsuyoshi
Artist:  WATANABE Tsuyoshi
Genre(s): Action  Comedy  Ecchi  Martial Arts  School Life Shounen  

“As a 6 Year Old, Rintaro is diagnosed with Henisei Tashu Ijou Syndrome (also known as Hentai Syndrome), a disease that could kill him if he gets sexually aroused. To save him and provide a way for him to live as normal a life as possible, his father teaches him the ways to control his body and mind for ten years in the mountains, with the martial art of the Koei Sougetsu. When he’s 16, he chooses to enroll Nangokuren High School, which he assumed to be the biggest all-boys school in the country but is actually the biggest all-girls school that has just gone coed.

On his first day, he stumbles upon a large scale battle and learns that the first rule of the school is that it “Abides the Law of Nature” which has turned the campus into a war zone-like environment. Rintaro now sees transferring out as his mission, but will it be that easy now that he’s caught the eye of the 3 “Dragons”, the bodacious female leaders of the three biggest factions around?” -Mangahelpers

Thoughts: I usually don’t like manga full of overly well-endowed girls but this one actually has a fairly interesting, if easily avoidable, premise.

Click below to view the rest of the notable manga from 3/17 - 3/31.

Our final Elite 8 match-up features a pair of manga powerhouses coming off dominating performances.

Saitama punched his ticket to the Elite 8 by knocking out his opponent before the chaos began, and Trafalgar Law proved pirates are better than ninjas when his devil fruit ability overpowered his opponent’s ninjutsu.

Who will be the fourth and final character to land in the Final 4? Help decide by voting after the break!

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As the title indicates, I will be listing and explaining five new manga that have shown great promise in developing into a great series.

For the sake of setting parameters, “new” will mean that it does not have more than 20 chapters released. Twenty chapters puts any usual manga at four volumes, which I take as young enough that the series is still developing but has been developed enough that don’t have to delve into guesswork when talking about it. Most of the following manga are at or close to 20 chapters.

Hit the break to learn what manga I look forward to reading.

The final Sweet 16 match-up is here, and it’s a fitting battle between brute strength and genius intellect.

It took more than one punch for the C-Class Superhero to defeat his opponents. Meanwhile, the Pure White was able to manipulate his way to the next round after getting tired of his First Round foes.

Who will take the final spot of the Elite 8: Saitama or Shogo Makishima? Help decide by voting after the break!

1. Yuusen Shoujo - Plug-in Girl

Author: Kaya8
Artist:    Kaya8
Genre(s): Action, Sci-fi, Shounen

“Six years ago, Tsukihiko was caught in an assassination attempt on a little girl, Sami, when he attempted to be her shield. This incident nearly killed him and the girl together, but the little girl was the daughter of an extremely powerful family. With its vast amount of resources, the family was able to keep both Tsukihiko and Sami alive by recreating both of their bodies with cyborg technology. This has forced Sami to permanently rely on wired connection to her life sustaining computer. On the other hand, Tsukihiko has become a cyborg “Knight,” sworn to protect Sami from harms way. [DrCoke]” -Mangahelpers

Thoughts: Besides the great premise can we just marvel on the beauty of the cover art? God, it is beautiful.

Click below to view the rest of the notable manga from 3/10 - 3/17.

The letter ‘S’ is the theme of today’s First Round all-manga match-up. It not only stands for the first names of today’s combatants, but it also stands for “short” and “sweet,” which is what the intro is going to be.

Saitama will, reluctantly but unregretfully, try to strike his way to victory with a single punch, Seira Loyard will silently and soulfully try to scythe her way through her opponents, and Shouyo Hinata will try to spike and scale his way to the top.

Which one of these S-named manga characters will succeed into the Sweet 16? Help decide by voting after the break!