WWAC editors and contributors read a lot of different manga last year, from indie publishers like Glacier Bay Books to heavy hitters like VIZ and Kodansha. We read romance, horror, slice-of-life, autobiography… And we’ve managed to narrow down our list to our very favorite manga of 2023, so here they are!
REVIEW: River’s Edge Reflects Gritty Millennial Malaise
Kyoko Okazaki’s graphic novel River’s Edge is a gritty foray into the lives of teenagers with nothing to lose. Originally serialized between 1993 and 1994 in the women’s fashion magazine Monthly Cutie, this powerful work by an influential artist has been released in a handsome edition by Kodansha USA with an excellent translation by Alexa…
WWAC’s Favorite Manga of 2021
This year we’ve read and wrote about a wide variety of manga: funny comics, thoughtful comics, educational manga and silly manga, longrunning series and series that just started recently. There’s sure to be something on this list of recommendations for every type of manga reader. WWAC also just got a new editor of manga reviews…
REVIEW: I Want To Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die
A new licensed manga reader app called Azuki launched recently, offering digital manga from Kodansha and Kaiten Books. As I scrolled through the list of titles, I asked my friends what’s worth checking out on there, and one of them recommended I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die by Umi Shiina.
WWACommendations: Spy x Family, Junji Ito’s Uzumaki, A Girl Called Echo, and More
What comics have you been reading lately? This year has been painful and difficult in many ways, so I’m glad to hear many friends have found comfort in discovering new comics. Every month, WWAC contributors share the comics we’re especially enjoying. Let us know on Twitter what comics you’re enjoying lately!
Previously on Comics: Not Much Happened TBH
Hello again! Kate here on this Memorial Day in the USA…for everyone else it’s just “Monday” and so that’s why we’re just gonna keep going. But maybe we can blame Memorial Day for why this week was so slow, in terms of news. And I don’t just mean good news. I mean any news. So,…
Previously On Comics: Ground Control to Major X
Hello! I hope your Monday’s going well. We do not want to invoke the Garfield, after all. Some news:
“To Your Eternity” is not “A Silent Voice”
To Your Eternity Volumes 1 – 4 Yoshitoki Ōima (mangaka), Steven LeCroy (translation), Darren Smith (lettering), Haruko Hashimoto and Alexandra Swanson (editing) Kodansha Comics 2017 – 2018 *Note: this article is based on review copies obtained from the publisher. Over the course of their* existence, Fushi has been many things: a moss, a rock, a wolf,…
Quickstep, Tango, Foxtrot: Let’s Dance a Waltz
Let’s Dance a Waltz, Volumes 1-3 Natsumi Ando (story and art) Kodansha April/June/August 2015 There’s a romance inherent in the flowing dresses, crisp tuxedos, intricate footwork, sweeping turns, and bright-eyed smiles of ballroom dance. This makes it a perfect partner for a love story, even (especially?) when the dancers are teenagers, and Let’s Dance a…
You Be You: a Review of Princess Jellyfish
Princess Jellyfish, Volume 1 Mangaka: Akiko Higashimura Translation: Sarah Alys Lindholm; Lettering: Carl Vanstiphout; Editing: Haruko Hashimoto; Kodansha Comics Edition Cover Design: Phil Balsman. Kodansha Comics March, 2016 Disclaimer: This review of Princess Jellyfish is based on a review copy provided by the publisher.
NYCC 2015: A Q&A with Kodansha Comics
I was at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this past weekend, and got the opportunity to sit, and chat with the Kodansha execs: Mr. Hiroaki Morita (President of Kodansha Advance Media/Vice-President of Kodansha) Mr. Kohei Furukawa (President and CEO of Kodansha USA/Vice-President and Head of Rights, Media, Digital, and International at Kodansha) Mr. Yasumasa Shimizu (Senior Vice-President…
Attack on NYCC: Kodansha Teases Big Manga Announcement
New York Comic-con is officially in full swing, and people are lining up for the most popular events–including some of our own WWACers! In addition to celebrity panels and autograph sessions, there are sure to be some major announcements. I’m hoping for new North American manga licenses myself, but maybe that’s just me being greedy….