Readers, the Del Rey Manga newsletter is no place for embarrassing personal revelations. But I'm about to make one anyway: I love toys. Yes, I'm a (reasonably) mature and grown-up professional person who has a deeply treasured toy collection. People ask me why I enjoy being a manga editor so much, and I usually say something serious about manga being an important art form or some other splendid lie. But really, there's one reason: I do it for the toys.
I promise that I have not just shamed myself publicly for no good reason at all: Read on for the details of this month's contest, which features Del Rey Manga's first ever TOY GIVEAWAY. But, first, before our feature presentation: the newsreel.
ANIME MADNESS: SUZUKA and LE CHEVALIER D'EON
Not only do I play with toys and read funny books all day long (and eat Pocky for breakfast), I also watch cartoons. A good thing, too, because two exciting Del Rey Manga books are now available in the U.S. in shiny, gorgeous anime form.
Suzuka is the story of a shy high school boy who has a crush on a beautiful track star. Kouji Seo's gorgeous manga art looks just as great animated. Check out Funimation's official Suzuka site to see the trailer.
I love all my books too much to (openly) play favorites, but there's just something about Le Chevalier d'Eon. This amazing manga—about a French secret agent who's possessed by the soul of his murdered sister—is now a mindblowing anime, available on DVD from ADV films. Go to ADV's official Chevalier d'Eon site to watch the trailer—and find out why this is the anime and manga of the year!
Suzuka 3 (Suzuka) by Kouji Seo
MANGA PREVIEWS!
Need some help deciding which Del Rey Manga series to read next? Need something to distract you from doing homework/e-mailing your boss/writing your manga newsletter? Head on over to the Del Rey Manga site where we've just put up previews of a bundle of wonderful new Del Rey Manga series. Visit our site, or click the following links, for bite-sized, snackable samples of Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes, Free Collars Kingdom, Mamotte! Lollipop, Shugo Chara!, and Kitchen Princess.
Avril Lavigne's Make 5 Wishes by Camilla D'Errico, Joshua Dysart
AVRIL EVENTS
Speaking of Avril Lavigne... We have some awesome news! Unlike Hana in Make 5 Wishes, you don’t need a little red demon to grant your wish for more Avril Lavigne goodness! Avril will be rockin' out in New York City and Hollywood, with two special events to celebrate the release of her new manga and new CD The Best Damn Thing. She'll be at the Times Square Virgin Megastore on April 18th and the Virgin Megastore Hollywood on April 19th. If you're in either area, check the stores for more details. And don't delay! Time, space, and attendance to the events will surely be limited.
AIR GEAR — REVISED EDITION
Hitting stores soon is the next printing of Air Gear Volume 1, with the authentic text fully restored. To make it them easier to spot for those of you who've been waiting for them, we've marked the revised editions with the text "REVISED EDITION" in the bottom right corner of the back cover.
IN STORES MAY 1ST—PRINCESS RESURRECTION and PARASYTE
Our May new releases would make an outstanding Grindhouse-style Midnight Movie double feature.
First up, Princess Resurrection. The cover tells you everything you need to do about this ridiculously cool book. Yes, that is a girl in a goth-loli maid outfit swinging a bloody chainsaw. Picture Buffy starring in a sublime Evil Dead-type splatterfest and you have Princess Resurrection.
Princess Resurrection 1 by Yasunori Mitsunaga
Next on the bill: Parasyte, which is a little Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Little Shop of Horrors. That hand on the front cover belongs to Shin, an ordinary high school student, when he finds himself on the front lines of an alien invasion. The aliens have landed—and have colonized the bodies of helpless Earthlings! The brilliant Parasyte, though, is way above B-movie fare: this is a true classic of the genre, now in a new translation and beautiful new packaging.
Parasyte 1 by Hitoshi Iwaaki
TRAIN MAN — THE SECRET ORIGIN
Admit it. You're a romantic at heart. That's why Train Man resonates so much. The story of a shy boy who finds the courage to win the girl of his dreams. The story of a chatroom full of internet friends ready to offer advice and support. The story Wired called "A fairy-tale romance. A very nerdy fairy-tale romance." You've seen the movie. You've read the manga. But if you want to know where the story really starts, it starts here:
In Train Man: The Novel the chatroom transcripts that birthed the Internet-generation love story are finally available in English. Read it today and see the worldwide romantic phenomenon in a whole new light. And remember that sometimes, all it takes to find true love is one moment of courage and a shared commute.
Train Man: The Novel by Hitori Nakano
PARASYTE/PRINCESS RESURRECTION CONTEST — AND TOY GIVEAWAY!
I wasn't kidding earlier when I said our May releases were a double feature. We just couldn't choose between them, so this contest is going to be like a box of Count Chocola: a delicious treat with a bonus toy. E-mail us, and if you're one of ten lucky readers, you'll get a copy of the Princess Resurrection book, along with a super-cool Parasyte toy, straight from the exotic shores of Japan.
Send your emails to delreymanga@randomhouse.com with PARASYTE in the subject line, including your full name and address in the body of the e-mail (NOTE: your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this contest). Ten (10) lucky winners will be selected at random and will receive a copy of the book when it is published. All submissions must be received by Wednesday, April 25, 2007.
SHUGO CHARA! CONTEST WINNERS
And now we present ten of PEACH-PIT's biggest fans: the winners of last month's Shugo Chara! giveaway contest. Remember, lucky winners, it's unseemly to gloat, so be humble about your good fortune.
Matt Blind, Marietta, GA
Brian Ngov, Rochester, MN
Michael Link, Pasadena, MD
Ricki Marking-Camuto, Wildwood, MO
Sam Schechter, Toms River, NJ
Linli Pao, Berkeley, CA
Ashely Hurst, Mandeville, LA
Amanda Chord, Anacortes, WA
Alexandra Jones, Crowley, TX
Kim Pham, Shorewood, WI
Now that this is all over with, I'm ready to curl up on my couch with a box of Count Chocola, the complete Gamera on DVD, and my favorite Ugly Doll plushie (shhh)!
Tricia Narwani
delreymanga@randomhouse.com
NEW IN STORES
GACHA GACHA: THE NEXT REVOLUTION 2
by Hiroyuki Tamakoshi
Every time Akira Hatsushiba sneezes, he transforms into Akira-chan, a sexy female version of himself. Androgyny may not be easy, but at least it helps him get closer to his true love, Yurika Sakuraba. When Akira and his best friend, Kikuchi, convince Yurika and her friends to join them for a trip to a hot springs, it seems almost too good to be true.
Gacha Gacha: The Next Revolution Vol. 2 by Hiroyuki Tamakoshi
GENSHIKEN 8
by Kio Shimoku
The Genshiken girls have been trying to spark a little romance between Kanji and Ogiue for month—and a Genshiken trip to a hot springs resort seems like the perfect opportunity. When Ogiue falls sick, Ohno assigns Kanji to take care of her. The rest of the Genshiken gang leave for the day, and Kanji is finally ready to make his move.
Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture, Volume 8 by Kio Shimoku
GHOST HUNT 7
by Shiho Inada and Fuyumi Ono
After a series of disappearances in an old mansion, the intrepid ghost hunters of Shibuya Psychic Research try to unearth the gruesome secret of this scary maze of rooms and passageways.
Ghost Hunt 7 (Ghost Hunt) by Shiho Inada, Fuyumi Ono
GUNDAM SEED DESTINY 3
by Masatsugu Iwase
Shinn Asuka is the ZAFT Empire's ace pilot with elite combat skills and a burning hatred for the Earth Alliance. But then Shinn meets someone who makes him question everything he believes. Stella Loussier is beautiful and innocent—and a pilot for the hated Earth Alliance.
Gundam Seed Destiny 3 by Masatsugu Iwase
KAGETORA 5
by Akira Segamio
Ninja Kagetora takes his job as Yuki's martial arts instructor and bodyguard very seriously. So he must ignore his growing attraction to her or else risk dishonoring his entire ninja clan. Then Kagetora is challenged by another ninja admirer who demands to be Yuki's protector.
Kagetora 5 by Akira Segami
KUROGANE 4
by Kei Toume
Samurai cyborg Jintetsu wanders the open road, trying to escape the painful memories of his past life. Then he meets Ayame, a female drifter who just might understand his plight. She, too, is haunted by her past. Will she make the ultimate sacrifice to save a loved one in peril?
Kurogane 4 by Kei Toume
PASTEL 6
by Toshihiko Kobayashi
Mugi's life has changed in ways he never could have imagined. Living with Yuu, the girl of his dreams, makes life seem too good to be true… But Yuu's mother shows up unexpectedly to reveal a secret that will change everything!
Pastel 6 by Toshihiko Kobayashi
SCHOOL RUMBLE 5
by Jin Kobayashi
Harima Kenji has tried everything he can think of to attract his cute classmate Tsukamoto Tenma. This time he's grown his beard to enormous lengths. But one snip of the scissors by wealthy beauty Sawachika Eri ruins everything!
School Rumble, Volume 5 by Jin Kobayashi
SHUGO CHARA! 1
by Peach-Pit
Amu is a shy girl who wishes she had the courage to truly be herself. Changing Amu's life is going to take more than wishes and dreams—it's going to take a little magic, courtesy of three strange eggs, each containing a magical Guardian Character who can give her the power to be someone new.
Shugo Chara! 1 by Peach-Pit
THE WALLFLOWER 11
by Tomoko Hayakawa
Determined to turn goth loner Sunako into a real lady, and frustrated by their lack of progress, the guys persuade a reluctant Kyohei to take Sunako out on her first date. But where would morbid Sunako agree to go? To a pro-wrestling death match, of course!
The Wallflower 11: Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge by Tomoko Hayakawa
