This month’s pick hits tap into popular genres, with some mixing and matching: A young man becomes a reluctant ghost hunter in a comedic horror series, centaurs enslaved by humans struggle to be free in a series puts a new spin on classic historical manga, and a manga adapted from an animated film presents a cute rom-com about two awkward young people. Here’s a look at three intriguing manga coming our way in May and June.
Dark Gathering, Vol. 1
Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: May 17, 2023
Price: $9.99
Creator: Kenichi Kondo
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-9747-3894-6
Age Rating: Teen+
What It’s About: A young man who seems to attract ghosts decides to avoid them altogether after an unnerving encounter, but he ends up tutoring a girl who is obsessed with hunting ghosts because she wants to find the one that stole away her mother.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: Horror is hot, and this one brings comedy into the mix; the series is being adapted into an anime that will launch in the third quarter of 2023.
Centaurs, Vol. 1
Publisher: Ablaze Publishing
Release Date: June 14, 2023
Price: $12.99
Creator: Ryo Sumiyoshi
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-6849-7136-7
Age Rating: 13+
What It’s About: Centaurs are real in the world of this story, and at one time they were revered as gods, but in this alternate version of samurai-era Japan, humans have enslaved them and used them for military purposes. A wild centaur who is captured meets a tame centaur whose enslavers amputated his arms; together they struggle to be free once more.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: This series places the mythic creatures in the midst of a historical struggle that has inspired numerous classic manga, with a story that offers a bit more depth than the standard battle/action tale.
Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, Vol. 1
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: June 21, 2023
Price: $13.00
Creator: Imo Oono
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-9753-6439-7
Age Rating: 13+
What It’s About: Two misfits, a boy who communicates mainly through haiku and a girl who is self-conscious about her braces and wears a mask to hide them, find happiness together in this slice-of-life rom-com.
Why It’s a Pick Hit: This manga is adapted from an animated film that runs on Netflix; Yen Press has licensed the light novel as well.
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Source: ICv2
