Demon From Afar 異域之鬼 (Iiki no Ki)

Well, I’d like to have read more before writting this up about Demon From Afar 異域之鬼 (Iiki no Ki) by YUKI Kaori 由貴香織里 ; however, Yen Press is not releasing these volumes in a well-timed manner, and so really not read enough to make a decision about it. 

This is a shojo manga, but seems not to be the typical shojo manga, at least so far.  Which is good.  There is a tiny bit of school life, but not enough to ruin it for me.  It’s horror/supernatural with demons, occult societies, murder, earthquakes, an important part of it is about promises, there are also spies, amnesia, seemingly betrayal, etc.

I’m still on what seems setup stage in this series and there also seems to be at least one time skip, maybe more.

Yen press only has the schedule at this time for the first 3 volumes out of 6 volumes.  They should probably had the series done by now if they cared about the series and those that like it, and I’m not sure if they’ll finish the series since no release dates past volume 3. 

Devils and Realist 魔界王子 Devils and Realist (Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist)

If you’re a regular reader I think you probably know I’m not a fan of Comic Zero Sum stories – so why am I giving Devils and Realist 魔界王子 Devils and Realist (Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist) by TAKADONO Madoka 高殿円 and YUKIHIRO Utako 雪広うたこ a chance?  I really don’t know, maybe not much out there that’s different.

The story takes place in an English boarding school about an aristocrat that has lost his money and is super ambitious and not even religious but needs the appearance of a religious background for his ambitions and demons (and eventually angels) who are basically stalking him due to who he is and about his naming the next king of hell while Lucifer slumbers.  He has a sidekick that’s into the occult, seemingly for comic appeal.

There is anime out there but I’ve not seen it – so can’t comment on it.  In Japan there are at least 9 volumes out and it’s ongoing.  Seven Seas seems to be releasing a volume every 3 – 4 months.

Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル

SubLime (VIZ) is releasing Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル by YAMANE Ayano やまねあやのat a healthy rate of 1 volume every other month until they get caught up with Japan (5 volumes and ongoing).  I expect that volumes will come out once every year or every other year after that as she’s also working on another classic, Finder ファインダーの標的, for a different publisher in Japan (Finder ファインダーの標的 is now licensed by SubLime (VIZ) in the US – although they’re a volume behind Japan in the Finder ファインダーの標的 series and no date (that I know) to release volume 7 – please release Finder ファインダーの標的 vol 7 soon).  Both Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル and Finder ファインダーの標的 series are classic and extremely graphic (sex and violence).  Great adult stories and definitely NOT for children!

Crimson Spell クリムゾン・スペル is  a fantasy action adventure BL, a rare genre these days for BL and a great story.  Curses, princes, swords, journey, monsters, wizards, inter-wizard politics, familiars, etc.  Some of the more interesting BL classics used to be fantasy works; however, they’re very rare these days (I understand they take a bit longer to draw as most of the characters have the difficult to draw long hair and maybe newer audiences just aren’t into them or know them in the genre).

The 3 main characters, Prince Vladrigr, Halvir, and Liethregveel – renamed Rulca by Vlad, are on a journey to break the prince’s curse and meet up with others, mostly hostile wizards and monsters/demons; however, that is only in the first volume. By volume 4 they have added to their companions and adventures.

If you love fantasy, action, and adventure and read BL you may wish to try this ongoing classic.

Bloody Cross ブラッディ・クロス by KOMEYAMA Shiwo 米山シヲ

I read the first volume of Bloody Cross ブラッディ・クロス by KOMEYAMA Shiwo 米山シヲ  last night.  I’m out on whether to continue the series, published by Yen Press in the US and Shounen Gangan (Square Enix) in Japan with at least 9 volumes in Japan and ongoing.  I’m not sure if it was a bad translation (although, think that is the problem) or just bad dialogue; however, the story promises to be interesting if they can do something about the translation/dialogue.  Yen Press has it coming out at a snails pace of 3 months between volumes.  At this point I’d rather have a volume a month or at least every other month until caught up.

I’m obviously not along in the series enough to have it totally set up; however, you’ll find angels, mixed blood angels that suffer curses, angels fighting to become gods (the translation may be off – potential god contenders at any rate), demons, etc.  This is shonen adventure, action, supernatural story that has the potential for a slow romance – maybe.  Lots of double crossing, if that’s your sort of thing. 

This has potential to be a well written interesting shonen battle manga – if they get a better translator.