The year 2023 is slowly approaching its end, and several manga releases deserve a certain interest during this end-of-year holiday period. Here are the most interesting titles of the moment, perfect as gifts.
The year 2023 will have been rich for fans of Asian pop culture, particularly around manga and Japanese anime. A boom which is confirmed at the end of the year, with releases of highly anticipated titles.
For readers, it’s also a good time to treat yourself, whether with reissues, collector’s editions or simple releases, which allow you to continue series that you love. Finally, with the dozens of references that arrived in bookstores between November and December, there are still choices to make.
The Apothecary’s Notebooks Volume 12 (November 16)
With the broadcast of its animated adaptation on Crunchyroll, the manga The Apoth Notebooksicaire is experiencing a significant gain in popularity. Many anime only have already turned to the manga to learn about the rest of the adventures of Mao Mao, a young apothecary who finds himself involved in all the intrigues of the Chinese imperial court. In this volume 12, it is even the Dowager Empress (the emperor’s mother) who calls on her knowledge for a new investigation. A request that will lead him to discover the deepest secrets of the Chinese imperial family, much to his regret.
As with the 11 previous ones, this twelfth volume will continue to explore imperial China and the complexity of political games in the upper echelons of society. All staged by the scriptwriting of Itsuki Nanao and the drawing of Kurage Neko. Volume 12 is also already available since November 16.
Attack on Titan Volume 34 (November 22)
A few weeks ago, Attack on Titan delivered its final and final anime episode. The conclusion of a work that marked the 2010 decade, upon its arrival in French bookstores in 2013. To celebrate ten years of manga in France, Pika announced a superb limited anniversary edition of the final volume of the manga and available since November 22, 2023.
This includes a collector’s box, which itself includes the anniversary edition of Volume 34 (enhanced by a gallery of exclusive illustrations of 32 pages with a dust jacket with metallic reflections). There is also a 160-page mini artbook based on the exhibition. Attack on Titan – From Shadow to Light, which took place at the Angoulême Festival. Rich content, which will delight fans of this iconic manga.
Our Intertwined Differences Volume 6 (November 30)
Volume 6 of the manga Our intertwined differences was released on November 30, 2023. Written and drawn by Mikanuji, this manga tells the story of several young women who get to know each other despite society’s negative outlook on their relationships. In this volume, we follow Saori, a high school student who is emotionally very attached to her sister who has difficulty dealing with the fact that the latter is in a relationship and abandons her. To forget this distress, Saori calls on Shizuku, a classmate with whom she gets along more or less well. Are they closer than they think? This is what this sixth volume published by Meian will attempt to answer, by exploring the themes of love, family, friendship and solitude.
For this, we can count on well-developed characters and refined drawing which allows for effective reading. This volume also seems quite unique compared to the previous ones. Good news for new readers as well as those already captivated by the first volumes.
Dandadan Volume 9 (December 6)
In the crazy genre, Dandadan is one of the most beautiful mangas of this year, Written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan follows the story of two high school students who are completely opposite. While the first, Momo only believes in spirits, the second, Ken only swears by extraterrestrials. But both exist and our two high school students one day come face to face with these monsters, who will turn their lives upside down and bind their fate in the face of threats as supernatural as they are crazy. For example, our dear Ken has been searching since the first volume for one of his “balls”, which an alien stole from him.
In this ninth volume, the hunt to find her continues, and will also bring a new character to the cast. And the conflicts that await our protagonists promise new plates that are impressive from an artistic point of view, which can be discovered as soon as volume 9 of Dandadan, December 6 2023.
Demon Slave Volume 12 (December 7)
Japanese mangakas are known for having a crazy imagination, sometimes even disturbing compared to the Western vision. However, when the latter give birth to a manga which establishes a universe parallel to ours where women have power, this same manga deserves special attention. This is the case of Demon Slave, a manga in which women are at the head of everything and in all spheres of society (a bit like in Barbie, except that here they are much more ruthless and the world is much less rosy). On this basis, Demon Slave tells the story of Yuki, a young boy plunged into another dimension where he is narrowly saved by a young woman capable of transforming him into a super-powerful creature. But the activation of this power has a condition: he must become her slave to follow her into this world where the human being is nothing more than a pet.
A plot that continues in this volume 12 which arrives in bookstores on December 7, 2023, with a lot of action, fights and other more particular scenes, which will not please everyone.
Double Play Volumes 1 and 2 (December 15)
The only novelty of this selection is also the least known title. However, Double Play could be a nice surprise at the end of the year. The manga tells the story of Ran Homura, a former baseball player and Tamao Hiroi, star of her softball club and the most popular girl in her high school. Two personalities who are completely opposed and who will have to get along despite themselves when their parents get married. A scenario that we regularly see in many mangas. But here, their relationship takes a special turn, since Ran has a secret that Tamao ends up discovering. This secret is even at the center of the double relational game that takes place between them and which will intrigue the reader, fan of romance or not.
These first two volumes thus lay the foundations of a story full of meaning and deeper than it seems. But behind its air of romantic slice of life, Double Play is also a beautiful sports manga, which will find interest among readers looking for new series from December 15.
Back Street Girls Vol 9 (December 27)
When three notorious yakuza are forced to become an idol group to atone for their sin, it becomes Back Street Girls. In this ninth volume, the Gokudolls, the name of their group, must perform in an open-air concert in front of a crowd of fans. But beyond this event which promises to be intense, it is above all the relationship of the Gokuidols with their manager, Inugane, which will be deepened, with of course the humor which made the success of the manga.
Volume 9 is also full of comic moments and unexpected twists, perfect to keep the reader in suspense. Of course, the plot is supported by an energetic drawing, which allows us to affirm that fans of the series or new readers will not be disappointed with this volume which hits the shelves on December 27.
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