With summer vacation drawing near, manga publishers are filling the shelves with new volumes. VIZ Media releases the one-shot Marvel manga Deadpool: Samurai, and for those who can’t get enough cat manga, Yen has the first volume of Nights with a Cat, a super-cute slice-of-life-with-a-furry-feline series. New volumes of several blockbusters are on deck as well: VIZ has Vol. 11 of Chainsaw Man, Vol. 16 of Jujutsu Kaisen, and Vol. 19 of Komi Can’t Communicate; all three series are frequent flyers on our best-seller charts. Also coming this month: Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira: Art of the Wall, which documents a public art project inspired by Otomo’s classic manga (see “‘Akira: Art of the Wall’”).
Now here’s a look at our pick hits for June:
Yashahime: Princess Half Demon, Vol. 1
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: 6/22/22
Price: $9.99
Creator: Rumiko Takahashi
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781974732654
Age Rating: Teen
What It’s About: In this sequel to Takahashi’s classic series Inuyasha, a young woman is whisked off to feudal-era Japan, where she finds her twin sister and a cousin and joins them in a quest to fulfill their destiny.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: The main characters of Yashahime are the children of the main characters of Inuyasha, so it’s a natural pickup for fans of the latter series, and the new series is based on an anime that’s already available in English (see “NYCC: Viz Announces ‘Yashahime’ Manga”).
Blue Lock, Vol. 1
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Release Date: 6/22/22
Price: $12.99
Creators: Muneyuki Kaneshiro (writer), Yusuke Nomura (artist)
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781646516544
Age Rating: 16+
What It’s About: It’s a soccer battle royale as 300 youths compete to be the star striker who will become the key player on Japan’s World Cup soccer team in this cynical, action-packed sports manga.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: This one’s a natural for fans of soccer and soccer manga (of which Kodansha already has several), and the competitive action and will draw in non-fans as well. An anime is in the works.
Ghost Reaper Girl, Vol. 1
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: 6/28/22
Price: $9.99
Creator: Akissa Saike
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781974729760
Age Rating: Teen Plus
What It’s About: Chloe, a frustrated actress prone to fits of violence, chases down and conquers evil spirits who have escaped from Hell.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: Everyone loves a good soul reaper story (see: Bleach), and this one is by the creator of Rosario + Vampire. The series has already built an audience on the Shonen Jump app, where it is available digitally. At the author’s request, the series is published from left to right, making it an easier read for newcomers.
Source: ICV2
