Seven Seas Pubwatch: October 2022

Manga Pubwatch
Carrie McClain

October is here! Spooky SZN has arrived and I am ready to go to a pumpkin patch or apple picking–whatever comes first! This month’s releases have a little something for everyone: slice of life lovers, yuri fans and those who love manga with cute but deadly child characters! Jump in, and take a seat as we get into it!

(All The) Tropes (You Love) Galore:

Imaginary

Story & Art by: Niiro Ikuhana
Release Date: 10/04/2022
Translation: Amber Tamosaitis
Adaptation: Patrick King
Lettering: Nicole Roderick

 Imaginary, sold as “a gorgeously illustrated tale about childhood friends, unrequited love, and the power of imagination” caught my imagination with its cover. Featuring eight characters in different poses all seeming to be pondering or questioning, it looked at first glance like a manga with rom-com vibes. Reading the first chapter revealed a multifaceted story first introducing Tasuku, a young man who fell in love with his friend Maika when they were kids. But Maika moved away for school before he could gather his courage and confess. Now, as adults, they’ve reconnected as friends, and being together is bringing back memories of their childhood. Not all of them are good ones, in fact, Tasuku is remembering some of the cringiest ones. He hasn’t worked up the courage to tell her now, even in his 30s and it’s easier to just fantasize about being brave rather than being so in real life.

Childhood friends, unrequited love, tsunderes, and all the tropes we love are more await readers in this manga about friendships. From the first chapter, I really liked the back and forth from child Tasuku and his current self. In one hilarious scene, the current version of him is trying to lecture the child version of himself on being nicer to girls when an even older version of himself appears to, in fact, lecture him! This should be a pick for folks looking for the messiness and comedic stories of manga about finding love or reconnecting with an unrequited one.

All Aboard The Yuri Train:

The Summer You Were There

Story & Art by: Yuama
Release Date: 10/04/2022
Translation: Margaret Ngo
Adaptation: Asha Bardon
Lettering: Elena Pizarro

Yuri is one of my favorite genres. That sweet, high school life genre of Yuri always brings me back to my first gateway series and The Summer You Were There totally feels right up my alley. This manga by the creator of The Girl I Want is So Handsome!, follows the story of two girls–one is a social butterfly and the other is an introverted writer. I love the opposites attract trope when it comes to romance and this setup is brilliant as Kaori comes across the manuscript that was never supposed to see the light of day. Shizuku, the shy high schooler who is an aspiring writer is devastated to learn that her way more popular classmate has found the novel she’s put her blood, sweat and tears into. Kaori suggests that, in order to give Shizuku material for her next book, the two of them should start dating! There is always love in my heart and room on my (digital and physical) bookshelves of more yuri and this title here looks like a welcomed surprise!

Assassins, much?

Candy and Cigarettes

Story & Art by: Tomonori Inoue
Release Date: 10/18/2022
Translation: John Neal
Lettering: Arbash Mughal

Hope you weren’t expecting Léon: The Professional (1994) vibes from this manga release! Retired cop Hiraga Raizou ponders about the next chapter in his life and needs money for a loved one fast so when he happens upon an ad for a lucrative gig he applies and gets the job on the spot. The first day of his new job, he comes across a grisly murder scene and a lone little girl who’s far from innocent. The kid’s name is Suzukaze Miharu. She’s an 11-year-old master assassin–and his new partner! Raizou now works for a shadowy government organization and this new professional arrangement means she kills and he cleans up and hides any evidence. For this grandpa who has always worked on the right side of the law, he’s conflicted but knows deep down, that the pay he’s receiving is going to a good place to take care of a beloved person –just how much blood is Raizou willing to get on his hands? For the Seinen lovers among us, here’s a new manga filled with action, thrill, and revenge with some expected commentary of all the black and grey areas of mortality from the creator of Coppelion!

WRAP UP:

Here are two short threads of some of the new licenses coming our way via Seven Seas:

Lastly: An update from the Seven Seas Union! For anime, gaming, and manga fans, this year has been filled with uncomfortable news that has disappointed us all regarding the treatment of some of the best of the industries from voice actors to gaming to those who help bring us our manga. I wish the Seven Seas union continued strength. I’ll keep you readers of the pub watch updated with future news updates! See you all in next month’s pub watch!

Advertisements
Carrie McClain

Carrie McClain

Carrie McClain is a Southern Californian native who navigates the world as writer, editor and media scholar who firmly believes that we can and we should critique the media we consume. The X-Men were some of her first best friends. She is forever chasing the nostalgic high of attending school book fairs. As a retired magical girl, you can usually find her buried under a pile of Josei manga.
mcclain.y.carrie@gmail.com
https://carriemcclain.carrd.co/
Carrie McClain

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts

Close
Menu
WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com