Welcome to Manga of the Week which is now a part of D&A Friday’s!! Every Friday Night we plan on bringing you the dish on some old/new manga that we’ve combed all over google for. If you’re a connoisseur of all things manga, then this is the page for you! 🙂

Our Manga of the Week is…One-Pound Gospel

When it comes to vigorous competitive sports (football, boxing, wrestling, etc.) you’ll always find yourself eating your own weight in ‘victory’ food after winning! That’s the case with Kosaku Hatanaka, a boxing prodigy who represents the pride of Mukoda Gym. He went pro after only two rounds due to his infamous strong punches that many of his opponents recognize.

There’s just one problem that Kosaku has: he can’t STOP eating! Enter Sister Angela who takes on the gluttonous Kosaku as a personal project, in order to help steer him back on the right track food-wise. Although both of them are working together in order to keep Kosaku in shape, the closeness that he and Sister Angela have is starting to breed feelings of love and affection. If you’ve never gotten the chance to read this manga yet, find your favorite manga reading website and give this title a shot! 😉

4.2 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Eyeshield 21

American Football is one of the most cherished sports (next to basketball and baseball) in the USA, but what if it crossed paths with anime or manga? That’s almost like saying what if a small percentage of NFL players also happen to be anime/manga fans, wouldn’t it? (There’s a few of them out there, trust us!) This manga title known as Eyeshield 21 crosses over into the hard-hitting, quarterback-sacking, touchdown-dancing world of the American Football; starring Sena Kobayakawa. Though he starts off as a weak and unassertive boy who enters Deimon High School, he soon becomes a great Running Back (RB) for the Deimon Devil Bats under the identity of “Eyeshield 21”.

Throughout the manga the team gets stronger and rebuilds its core in order to face tougher teams during the seasonal tournaments, leading up to the Christmas Bowl. We’re not allowed to tell you what happens next due to our “No Spoilers” rule, but if you’re a fan of manga and football, then be sure to check this title out! 🙂

4.6 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Cat Paradise

If you’re on the lookout for a manga about a council of students fighting against an ancient demon, then Cat Paradise might be the title for you! The story follows Yumi and her pet cat, Kansuke as the two of them enroll in Matabi Academy, a school where students are allowed to bring their pet cats. Things are fine and dandy until the two find themselves dragged into an age-old war against the ancient cat demon known as Kaen. Normally you’d think that with something like that the main character wouldn’t get involved, right? Nope. Princess Kiri and her cat, Shirayuki were the ones to seal away Kaen for good inside Matabi Academy itself, but not before threatening to resurface 100 years later. Now Yumi and her cat find themselves as one of the student-cat pairs to fight against Kaen and his minions. Will they win? Find out! 😉

4.1 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class

Art is beautiful. Art is fun! Art is (wait for it)…an EXPLOSION! (Someone had to say it. *chuckles*) This manga title we’ve got for you guys is about a student in the GA-1 class known as Kasaragi Yamaguchi, who loves making art even though her clumsiness and gullible personality make her a target for her friends Noba and Tomokane. The three of them along with Miyabi Omichi and Namiko Nozaki are a part of their art class group. Many of the girls have distinctive styles when it comes to creating art; such as Tomokane’s talented-yet-destructive art style that causes her to destroy her own work and Kasaragi’s too, much to her dismay. This slice-of-life manga is definitely something to look out for if you’re a fan of art groups.

4.4 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Haunted House

When you think of haunted houses you think of Sccoby-Doo, The Addams Family, and the haunted house level of any platforming Super Mario game. In a case like this, this manga title that we’ve got for you tonight is just another reminder of how stressful (and scary) meeting the parents of your girlfriend/boyfriend can be. Sabato Obiga is a teenager who is trying his best to keep a girlfriend, but his Addams Family-like family keep scaring them away. The family of course consists of his father who is a banker, his mother who is a poetry reader, and his twin sisters who like to create voodoo dolls and dress in Gothic Lolita attire. If you’re looking for a horror-comedy about the misadventures of a teenager trying to find love, then you’re gonna wanna check this manga title out! 🙂

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…The Candidate for Goddess

Whew, it’s good to be back doing this little sub-page segment again after a more than three week hiatus! This manga title is set just 1,000 years after the Star Year 4084, where an event called the “Crisis of Systems” caused the destruction of four planetary systems. To fight against this the humans have created mechanized weapons known as Goddesses (Ingrids), where an academy called Goddess Operation Academy (G.O.A.) trains the many few who possesses the qualifications needed in order to pilot the female-like mechs.

Zero Enna is one of them…or at least he wants to become an Ingrid pilot. Not long after he enters the academy he suddenly becomes lost and is called into a hangar by a strange voice. (Right before an attack by the extraterrestrial beings known as “Victims”.) It was then that his nervous system was linked up with the Goddess as a vision of it was shown to Zero only for a brief moment, before he finds himself being pulled free by the actual pilot of the Ingrid (Goddess). If you’re on the lookout for a manga title filled with an action-adventure, mecha, and military story line, then The Candidate for Goddess will be the title that you seek, O great manga reader! 🙂

4.6 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Beauty Pop

Okay, this manga title is more for the ladies than anything…well, for guys and girls alike to be honest. This rom-com manga title known as Beauty Pop is about a girl named Kiri Koshiba, who possesses extraordinary hair-styling talents that she uses to make life better for girls, but does so anonymously. She’s not one to become enamored with fame due to her talents, however one of the boys from a group of male hair stylists known as the SP (or Scissors Project), threaten to expose Kiri’s hair-styling prowess. Will she continue to do what she’s loves in private? Or will she be able to break out of her shell, and expose to the world her natural born hair-styling skills? We can’t give you the answer to that question, but we can tell you to check this manga title out and see what happens for yourself! 😉

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Tail of the Moon

Judging by the plot of this manga title, you’d think that it would belong in our Slash Saturday’s Samurai Anime of the Week. (Better luck next time, sweetheart.) Tail of the Moon deals with the female main character named Usagi, who is a rather terrible ninja during the Tensho Era of Japan. Because of her poor progress her grandfather gave her a mission to look for Hanzo Hattori in Segachi and marry him, due to the fact that he’s the leader of the main branch family. Upon her arrival along with her friend Mamezo, she’s shocked to discover that Hanzo doesn’t plan nor have any intention of marrying anyone. Not only does she have to overcome that obstacle, but she also has to deal with all of the other potential female suitors that come his way as well. What will happen between Usagi and Hattori? you’ll have to check out this manga title and find out! 😉

4.4 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Enchanter

Looking for a manga about enchanted weapons and demon contracts? We know that there’s a lot of them out there, but for now we’ll be laying our eyes on this one. This manga title is about a high school boy named Haruhiko Kanou, who has the divine ability to fix mechanical as well as electrical appliances. (Although his gift in fixing things may be devine, his actual motivation to do so comes from his girl-next-door crush and childhood friend, named Yuki Fujikawa.)

During this time an ‘Enchanter’ named Fulcanelli and his contract demon named Eukanaira stumble upon the world of the living, however the former dies right before the story actually begins leaving the latter (Eukanaira) to find a vessel so that she can revive him. (Even though he really doesn’t want to, but doesn’t want to hurt her feelings.)

The bottom line; Eukanaira finds a possible vessel in Haruhiko, and wants him to either give up his own soul in order to place Fulcanelli’s into his body, die unexpectedly, lose the will to go on in life for whatever reason, or…have sex? (Yeah, it was kinda weird for us too.) Once more; if you’re on the look out for a good action and fantasy manga with a touch of romance, then Enchanter might be the answer that you’ve been looking for! 😉

4.4 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Foxy Lady

Here’s a foxy little manga title for you guys to check out! Kogane Mikasa is known as a half-human and half-demon hybrid girl, and somehow ends up at the Mikasa Shrine where Jin Mikasa currently is. She stays with him and his childhood friend Sogo Aoyagi while keeping her presence a secret from Jin’s Father Dokuan-San. One of Kogane’s greatest wishes was to become a human and one day marry a human, which she is only able to achieve by actually kissing a human; that human being Jin. There’s a lot more bigger spoilers then what we’ve just told you already, so if you want to know what they are, you’ll have to check out this manga title for yourself! 😉

4.2 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Genshiken

This manga title is meant for ALL otaku, ALL manga fans, and ALL fans who are greatly obsessed with Japanese animation and illustration! Genshiken is basically a manga title about the life and culture of the otaku generation; from the trends to the anime, and from the manga to the novels, and of course from the cons to the cosplay! All the very things that we as fans (and including ourselves on this blog) are doing right now in this day and age. This title is a must-have if you’re a TRUE otaku, as he highly recommend checking it out online, or in any store that might still have it! (Make sure you check online first, you might have better luck!) 😉

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens

This rom-com-drama manga title is about a goddess by the name of Nagi, who awakens from her slumber by a sculpting artist named Jin Mikuriya. She has the power to cleanse the world of its impurities, but because her sacred tree was cut down, her powers have been cut down rather significantly as well. Upon discovering that Nagi has another persona named Kannagi, Jin alongside Kannagi and his friends make the decision to revive both Nagi and Zange due to the fact that Kannagi’s appearance was the reason of their disappearance in the first place. If you’re looking for a good rom-com-drama manga, then Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens might be for you! 🙂

4.6 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Pita-Ten

Looking for a cute manga read about angels and demons? Then Pita-Ten might be the answer you’re looking for. Kotarou Higuchi is friends with angel-in-training, Misha, and Shia, who happens to be a demon who’s looking for something. Life for Kotarou is nothing but ordinary until Shia absorbs his life energy and disappears from town, afterwards he discovers that she is a descendant relative of his who is looking for his great-grandfather, Taro Higuchi. (Who’s actually dead.) There is a test that soon follows as Misha is charged with helping Kotarou look for happiness, although once the deadline is reached the two will go their separate ways. It was during that time, that Kotarou made a choice to look for his own happiness, so he asked Misha to erase his ability to see angels in order for him to do so.

4.4 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…DearS

If you’re a fan of Chobits then you’re gonna love this manga title we’ve got for you! DearS is about a group of 150 humanoid aliens who have crashed landed in the Tokyo Bay, and have been given their nickname by the government upon making contact with extraterrestrial life.

Takeya Ikuhara is a high school student who doesn’t like “DearS” at all due to a childhood scare that caused him to believe that aliens were not real, and that it was all media hype. He carried that thought in his mind until he met a homeless DearS, who he named Ren, and decided to adopt and shelter her inside his home. At first Takeya didn’t really care for Ren very much due to his prejudice towards DearS in general, but then compassion began to set in when her genuine care for him started taking shape overtime. This manga title’s got sci-fi, romance, comedy, and is possibly a harem, so if you’re a fan of alien girls and you’re looking for something similar to Chobits, then DearS might be the manga title for you! 😉

4.7 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Pandora Hearts

A psychological thriller and a mystery, this little manga title we have for you is about a fifteen year old heir named Oz who has a rather carefree rich life. (In spite of his father’s absence.) During his coming-of-age ceremony Oz is thrown into a prison known as the “Abyss” for a strange reason, but is somehow saved by a girl named Alice who happens to be the Bloodstained Black Rabbit. Other than the Abyss and Alice Oz has bigger fish to fry, as he attempts to uncover the truth about them both as well as the mysterious and strange organization of Pandora. This manga title is a pretty nice read, so if you haven’t read it yet check it out on an online manga store, or find the nearest place that sells it! 🙂

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Legendz

If you’re familiar with Pokemon, Digimon, or any anime/manga that’s about monsters, then Legendz is a manga title that’s going to offer something a little bit different. For starters this title takes away the gotta-catch-em’-all aspect that you would find in Pokemon, and replaces it with more of the overall background story about the monster characters themselves. The story centers around the discovery of “Soul Dolls” that contain monsters inside of them, while a group of evil individuals known as the Dark Wiz Company, wants all of them of a strange and unknown reason. (Although four of the dolls have gone missing.) Ken Kazaki is a monster breeder who attends Ryudo Elementary School together with his Windragon Shiron, as they fight against other breeders before making a decision to participate in the Legendz Carnival.

4.6 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…The Gentleman’s Alliance Cross

There are some days where life can be rough, however there are those moments when things start coming together just at the right time. This drama/romance manga title proves just that; as the main character (Haine Otomiya) had a disoriented moment in her life when she was sold to the Otomiya Family for 50 Million Yen, and decided to become a gang member. However love found a way to her heart when she met Shizumasa Togu, who gave her a picture book and told her to ‘live life the way she wanted to’.

Through a series of circumstances and a case of mistaken identity, Haine finds herself falling in love with Shizumasa’s twin brother Takanari Togu; who claimed his brother’s identity due to him being too sickly. Of course the end of the story comes with a big surprise, but we won’t be the ones to tell you what it is. So if you’re curious and have never gotten the chance to read this manga title yet, head to your nearest online store that has it and check it out! 🙂

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Great Teacher Onizuka

Have you ever had a teacher that said “screw you” to the usual modern-day teaching style, that’s been a part of the school curriculum for many years? If the answer is yes, then you’re gonna love this manga title we’ve got here for you.

Great Teacher Onizuka or GTO as some would call it, is about an ex-gang member who after a failed attempt to sleep with a girl he met at the mall, becomes a school teacher for Holy Forest Academy in Tokyo, Japan. Instead of teaching his students the way a normal teacher would, he uses life lessons as his guide and his own brand of philosophy. Despite the fact that most of his teaching methods would get a regular teacher thrown in jail or fired, Onizuka proves that they work to help enrich the lives of his students and make them into better people because of it. (So could it be true that the best teacher of all, is life?)

This title is a great read for those fans who love a slice-of-life comedy-drama, so if you’re one who fits that description, find the nearest store (online or offline) and grab a copy! 😉

4.9 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Canon

We’ve got another manga title that you can really sink your teeth into. This classic title is about a vampire who kills 39 students inside a school and leaves one of them alive…as a vampire. During this time she developed a grudge towards this particular vampire in hopes of killing him for the murder of her friends. Canon (the main female character) meets with a half-blooded vampire named Sakaki, who appears to have a grudge against another vampire named Rod. (Even though he’s the one responsible for turning Canon into a vampire, and the deaths of those students as well as her friends.) Somehow romance sneaks into the hearts of these two vampires as their love for one another begins to grow…

If you haven’t gotten the chance to check this horror/romance manga yet, find the nearest online manga store that has it, and buy it! (If they ask, tell em’ D&A sent you!)

4.7 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Kekkaishi

Many of us have seen the anime and red the manga, which makes this title far from being uncommon. This action/supernatural-comedy is about the heirs of the Hazama Clan known as Yoshimori Sumimura, and Tokine Yukimura, who are two Kekkaishi that protect the land of Karasumori from supernatural creatures known as Ayakashi.

It was said that five centuries ago there was a demon annihilator named Tokimori Hazama who was the protector a lord that attracted ayakashi to his land, as well as his castle. (With Yoshimori and Tokine being the ‘spiritual descendants’ of Tokimori.) Together the two of them fight against the threat of the ayakashi, as well as other threats to the sacred land of Karasumori; including the “real” and actual truth behind the legend of the ayakashi, and the land of Karasumori. Should you find yourself coming across this manga anywhere in the world, we encourage you to pick it up and check it out for yourself! (We’re not ones to spoil too much!) 😉

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Fall in Love Like a Comic!

Who doesn’t love drawing manga, right? Just ask the few hundred manga artists in Japan who are creating all of our favorite manga; both old and new! This little number is about a non-typical high school girl named Rena, who just happens to be a manga artist who loves drawing love scenes. She bumps into a boy who’s also popular around the school named Tomoya, who soon discovers that Rena is a manga artist as she asks him to be her boyfriend and help her with her manga. The story progresses through Rena’s own vision of what love and romance truly is, as she uses it to her advantage while dating Tomoya in order to give her manga the ‘boost’ it deserves. This manga title is 100% romance and comedy all the way, and if you haven’t checked it out yet be sure to when you get the chance! 🙂

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Blood Sucker

Halloween has never looked bloodier, and this manga title amplifies that in a major way. Blood Sucker is about a vampire named Migiri who has taken Kikuri as his bride, but not if Yusuke Himukai has anything to say about it! If you haven’t had the chance to read this manga yet, this will make a nice addition to your horror manga collection (if you haven’t already started one).

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Dorohedoro

This fantasy/sci-fi/horror manga title centers around a person (?) named Caiman; who before the series was transfigured by “The Sorcerer” and given a reptile’s head. Alongside a female companion named Nakaido, Caiman travels to a place in the story called The Hole, and chomps down on the heads of the Sorcerers there until he’s able to find the one that turned him into this state. There’s a reoccurring question that is always being asked by the “Second Man” inside of Caiman that asks, “What did the guy inside my head say?” We may not know what that actually means, but if you haven’t read this manga title yet, be sure to check it out! (And hopefully tell us what that question means.)

4.6 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Angel/Dust!

Angel/Dust tells the story of a high school student who is shy and really doesn’t talk to anyone, but she (Yuina Hatori) has an encounter with a seraph who is an Emulate and thus; her whole life gets more complicated then before. (If you add in her childhood friend transferring to school too!) The seraph tells her that she is looking for Lucifer; the black winged one, and that she and Yuina should merge with each other in order to give her great power. If you haven’t gotten the chance to check this manga title out, then by-all-means give this one a shot!

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Cowa!

This little manga title was created by Akria Toriyama right after his success with the Dragon Ball manga. Cowa is about a half-vampire, half-werekoala named Paifu who travels with Jose’ to a house that is rumored to have a murderous human inside of it. They discover a small raft with an orange spirit on it but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the human that they feared. Not long after the case of mistaken identity, Paifu and Jose’ become friends with Maruyama; the ‘murderous human’ that they had previously feared. The three of them overcome many barriers during their adventure, as they look for a special cure that would help them solve a case of monster influenza in their town. If you’re a fan of Toriyama’s works then we encourage you to give this lil’ manga title a shot! 🙂

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…A.I. Love You

An early manga title from one of our favorite anime/manga creators, Ken Akamatsu. This title is about a high school student named Hitoshi Kobe, who’s not great at anything except computer programming. One night he creates a program known as “Program 30” (which just happens to be a female), and cannot believe that said program came to life right before his eyes due to the lightning strike from a thunderstorm.

The two not-so-normal beings now teach each other about the real world; with Saati (Program 30) teaching Hitoshi how to properly have a girlfriend, and Hitoshi teaching Saati about the rest of the world. However when you’ve got a hacker after your “program” as well as two other programs that you’ve created springing to life, things can get a little bit more complicated than usual…

4.9 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…07-Ghost

A manga about vengance, amnesia, and the Barsburg Empire. Teito is a former slave who now attends the Barsburg military academy because of his ability to use Zaiphon; a type of “magic” that allows its users to convert life energy into different forms of power, with Teito being one of those users who can use said magic. Him and his friend Mikage; through a series of events, find themselves against the forces of the Barsburg Empire due to the fact that Teito overheard the Chief of Staff talking about the man whom he killed (who happened to be Teito’s Father).

Eventually it’s discovered that Teito holds the Eye of Mikhail; a talisman with great power from his home country which was destroyed long ago. With said talisman as well as his Zaiphon abilities, Teito along with Mikage now find themselves in a conflict with the 07-Ghosts, and the Barsburg Empire. This title is a good read for anyone looking for a good revenge story that has supernatural powers and a corrupt government, so if you happen to fit that category as a fan, then give this title a shot! 🙂

4.9 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Beyblade

Next to Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon, Beyblade was one of the most popular games of all time to play! It involves shooting powerful spinning tops known as Beyblades at your opponents Beyblade, in order to see who would win. The manga title is about a group of kids who form teams and battle against each other using Beyblades. Tyson enters a qualification tournament in Japan as he battles Ray Kon, and after his defeat the two of them form a team along with their two other friends Max Tate and Kenny known as the Bladebreakers. From there the team battles numerous other Beyblader teams all while going through the trials of friendship. Any anime/manga fan born after 1989 may know of this popular phenomenon or is at least familiar with it, but one thing’s for sure, we’ll never ever forget how fun (and hard) this game really is!

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Afro Samurai

The one who has the Number 1 headband is the fiercest fighter of them all! The only other person that can fight the wearer of the Number 1 headband is the wearer of the Number 2 headband. Afro is a black samurai who faces this situation after the death of his father by Justice, and is willing to go through hell and high water to avenge him…

5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Basilisk

A manga title about ninjas, assassinations, and shoguns that’s sure to quench the thirst of any manga fan that loves action, adventure, romance, and tragedy. Taking place in 1614 two ninja clans known as Tsubagakure and Manjidani, are in a battle to see which Tokugawa leyasu will be next in line to become a shogun. This manga is based off of the actual events that took place during 16th Century Japan; where Hattori Hanzo I made a cease fire of the bloody and bitter feud between the two clans. You won’t miss a moment of action upon reading this manga title; so if ninjas, samurai, and shoguns are what you love, then pick up this title and check out what Basilisk is all about! 🙂

5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…BECK

Also known as Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, this manga title is about a group of teens from Japan who form a rock band as well as their struggle to reach the top. Yukio Tanaka is an ordinary 8th grader in junior high school with a boring life; that is until he crossed paths with a not-so-ordinary dog named Beck. His owner is a 16-year-old aspiring rock musician (Ryusuke Minami) that encourages Yukio to grab a guitar and start playing. Over the course of the manga Yukio becomes part of the band Beck (aka Mongolian Chop Squad) as he, Ryusuke, Koyuki, and Saku play in verious gigs and release their first album through an independent label in the United States. A great read if you’re a manga fanatic who loves rock bands and odd-looking dogs who are the inspiration behind a rock band name, so if this title is for you, pick it up n’ read it! 🙂

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Bamboo Blade

This Slice-of-Life sporty comedy manga title is about a young male Kendo instructor by the name of Toraji Ishida, who’s challenged by a higher ranked classman who is also an instructor, in a competitive effort to see who’s class of female students is stronger. This causes Toraji to find a team of girls to train up in the arts of Kendo, as he finds a rather skilled student by the name of Tamaki Kawazoe. It is noted that a few of the names of the characters are based off of real life practitioners of Kendo, however they don’t entirely look like them (aside from Eiga Dan). This is a good little title to read if you’re looking for a “relaxed” fix on your manga cravings, but don’t take our word for it. We’ll leave that impression up to you! 🙂

4.7 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Dogashi Kaden

This basketball manga title is about a boy named Haruyoshi who’s a bench warmer at his school, but plans on a fresh start at his new high school. After running into the school’s basketball club manager, Haruyoshi’s now been given a chance to prove his worth on the court. However things won’t be easy as Haruyoshi is soon to find out that there’s a difference between skill, and talent. Like a good basketball manga? Check this title out! 🙂

4.5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Asura Cryin’

This light novel (manga) is about a boy named Tomoharu Natsume who’s haunted by the ghost of a childhood friend of his named Misao Minakami. He moves into a dormitory where he starts living a carefree life on campus, that is, until he crosses paths with a girl named Shuri Kurosaki. (Who brings a trunk that his brother told her to bring to him for some strange reason, or so we think.) It is eventually revealed that the trunk contains big secrets about the world that they live in, which spells “irony” for many others across the continents of this blue and green planet we call, earth. (Eh-heh-heh…)

Although this is a new manga title for us many of you may (or may not) have heard of it before. So if a story like this is what you like, pick up a volume of this light novel and tells us all about it! 🙂

4.7 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Dr. Slump

The manga title that set off the career of the artist and producer of the Dragon Ball franchise. (Insert mind-blowing expression here.) Dr. Slump is a classic manga title that takes place in Penguin Village; where humans and anthropomorphic beings (like one blue hedgehog and his franchise) exist. (Just not “you-know-who”.)

An inventor by the name of Senbei Narimoki invented the perfect little girl robot known as Arale Narimoki (why does this sound familiar?), however due to her naive nature, a multitude of funny, romantic, and just plan “What-the-hell-just-happened?” moments occur. This manga has a lot of parodies of both eastern and western cultures plus the creator based the design of Senbei on himself, so one might say, he was “deeply involved in his work”. So if you love a good classic from the DBZ franchise founder and anime pioneer we all know and love, check out good ol’ Dr. Slump and bask in its nostalgia…

4.9 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Ai Yori Aoshi

A classic title about true love, happiness, and a bunch of girls who happen to be living with a college male…who’s also engaged to be married. (Yeah, let us explain…)

Kaoru is a college university student who’s had a hard life. His mom and dad never married, his father wants him to take over the Hanabishi Zaibatsu clan, and both his parents died causing him to go into self-imposed exile from the rest of the Hanabishi Family. However he met someone that would change his life forever; a woman by the name of Aoi Sakuraba. Within a turn of events both of them were freed from their parents affairs and were looking for a place of their own, thus they found in in a nice summer house owned by Aoi’s family. (With Kaoru staying in the servant’s guest house next to it.) However things get interesting as Kaoru’s friends who happen to be rather attractive girls all crash at the servant’s house, turning it into a dorm, and making Aoi the female landlady. And it only gets ‘better’ from there…

Check out this great manga classic along with its anime adoptation if you love a good story about love, happiness, and a “light romantic distractions”. 🙂

4.9 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom

Though many consider this title to be “lesser known” in a metaphorical sense of the word, it’s actually pretty good. The story’s about a rebellious demon who gets sent to the human world (by Dark Liege) to learn how to be obedient at the hands of a student council president, Kazuma. She has a phone conversation with the school president about demons infiltrating the human world and causing all sorts of madness and destruction. She has entrusted him with a “great power” (the demon known as Nora) in order to combat this dangerous threat to mankind, however, she warns Kazuma that he (Nora) can be a bit of a handful. There’s different ways you can look at this story, but if demons and the legendary hellhound Cerberus are two of your favorite things to see in manga, then Nora might be a great choice for you! 🙂

4.2 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Appleseed

This is one of the great classics in manga history that has spawned an OVA, and two films. It is about two ESWAT members (Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires) formally of the LAPD, living in Olympus after the non-nuclear WWIII took place, decimating the Earth. With China, USA, and Great Britain struggling to gain power and order, the “Sacred Republic of Munma” as well as “Poseidon” established themselves during the post-apocalyptic aftermath. They both join the ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons and Tactics) as they defend their world against enemies and foes both major and minor. Be sure to check out the manga (as well as the two films and OVA) if you love a good classic post-apocalyptic story that is! 🙂

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Trigun

When the Wild, Wild West meets the Final Frontier, you get a rather good space-western manga title known as Trigun! To us this is an unforgettable series; as it is backed up by so many Vash the Stampede cosplayers we’ve come across throughout anime conventions that it HAS to be good. Well, here’s the lowdown; the story’s about Vash and two Bernardelli Insurance Society employees known as Meryl and Milly, to try and minimize the collateral damage he leaves behind his path. Due to his retrograde amnesia he can only remember fragments of what happened when he destroyed a city once before during his travels. Despite this he tries to save lives without using lethal force. This title is a fan classic to many manga lovers and old school anime fanatics, so if you love you a good space-western, check out the manga as well as the anime! 🙂

4.8 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our Manga of the Week is…Hyakka Ryoran (Samurai Girls)

A personal favorite from Yours Truly due to being a lover of samurai anime, and all things related to the culture and history of Japan. The story takes place in the Edo Period of Japan with the elements of modern culture that we have today, however the Tokugawa Shogunate has hidden themselves from the rest of the world after WWII.

A man by the name of Muneakria arrives at Buou Academy (a place for students from samurai families) where he finds a dojo that was supposed to be inhabited due to it losing its master long ago. A power struggle between Sanada and Goto of the Toyotomi Faction and the Student Council is brewing in the middle of the academy, and Muneakira as well as a mysterious girl named Jubei Yagyu are right in the center of it. Since its still being written I’d say check out the first two volumes of this great title, if you happen to like a good samurai story that is.

4.7 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Tonight’s Manga of the Week is…Psyren

This is quite an interesting manga, so if you get the chance be sure to check it out! Before you do however, let’s give you a brief rundown about it for those who haven’t read the manga yet. Well ladies n’ gents, this story is about a boy named  Ageha Yoshina who beats the crap out of a bully for 10,000 Yen (about $1,000 I believe), then heads home to get scolding from his own sister. Before that he finds a pay phone that’s ringing and only hears the sound of his own voice on the other end of the line, but he just shrugs it off, but not before finding a card with the world “Psyren” on it.

Several events later he finds himself in the world known as Psyren, where people who have gotten the “Psyren” cards have to complete missions from a voice known as ‘Nemesis Q’ in order to re turn home. Each of the Psyren contenders have the power to use PSI in three ways; enhance their physical abilities, blast their eneimes or create creatures, or effect someone’s mental state. With all this in mind Ageha encounters many allies and a few foes as he master’s his new Psyren abilities in order to return home.

So, if you like a good manga with some action, adventure, competitive fighting competitions, and finally characters with powers, then Psyren might be a good place to start your manga journey. Don’t take our word for it, pick it up! 🙂

4.9 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Tonight’s Manga of the Week is…Kill la Kill!

If you thought the anime was a massive hit, then the manga is sure to add to the excitement! Before D&A we have come across many Kill la Kill cosplays at Otakon and a few others, so there’s no doubt that this is a great show. Here’s how the story goes; Ryuko Matoi is a student at Honnouji Academy who possesses a scissor-like sword, who is on the hunt for her father’s killer. Along the way she challenges the student council ran by Satsuki Kiryuin, who defeats Ryuko in a battle, but afterwards finds a sailor uniform made of a special battle material known as Life Fibers. She then goes back to challenge Satsuki again, as well as many other obstacles that come into her path; including the real murder of her father. (Am I sensing some “Kill Bill” influence somewhere around here? Hmmm…)

This manga is packed with action, but if you already are the proud owner of one, two, or multiple volumes then you don’t need us to tell you that, right? They say this title is a ‘spiritual successor’ to Panty & Stocking, but will this (and PSG) get a second season Anime-wise? (Seriously, it’s been over five years. T.T)

5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Tonight’s Manga of the Week is…Akira!

This is a classic post-apocalyptic story set in Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019, which in my mind is only three years away. (*laughs*) Well, this manga/plot is divided into six different volumes, meaning that a lot of action happens between each volume. so let’s start with volume one, shall we?

In December of 1962 a nuclear explosion destroys Tokyo and causes the third World War. 57 years later Neo-Tokyo was built but suffers from anti-government terrorism and gang violence. Tetsuo Shima; a bosozoku gang member led by Shotaro Kandea, encounters a child Esper after his bike exploded while riding through the old Tokyo ruins–by the child. After a series of events from battling other gangs, experiencing his psychic powers, and possibly terrorists of the anti-government as well as the mysterious figure known as “Akira”, Tetsuo will sure have his hands full…and this is only volume one.

So if you like a good post-apocalyptic story with action, government, psychic powers, and biker gangs, then Akira is right in your lane!

5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)

Our first Manga of the Week is…UQ Holder!

If you’ve read the entire Negima manga (not Neo, that’s different) then you know that it left you with a handful of questions. We’re hoping that UQ Holder may bridge the gap to any missing pieces of the magi puzzle, of course seeing that this manga takes place over 70 years after the fight between Negi and Fate Averruncus, one can only imagine. Upon reading the first volume I’m glad to see Evangeline (aka Yukihime) is back, and taking on a main supporting role as opposed to being a student in Class 2-A. But I’m getting ahead of myself so here’s the plot’s rundown…

In 2086; ten years after magic was revealed into the world, a young boy named Tota Konoe wants to leave his home village to seek what’s atop the capital. However in order to do so he’s gotta defeat Eva, which we all know is going to hard as hell. After a bounty hunter mortally wounds the lad, Evangeline decides to turn him into a vampire while creating a society of immortal beings known as the titicular “UQ Holder”. Though there are only 7 or 8 volumes so far, the manga is actually pretty good. There are a few returning faces; such as Mana, Nagi, and of course Fate Averruncus. So if you loved the Negima manga, continue the story through UQ Holder. Don’t take our word for it, check it out for yourself! 🙂

5 out of 5 Stars

~ D.J. Lewis (Owner/Founder/Administrator/Moderator of D&A Anime Blog)