Idol Dreams: Chikage v Yuko - Dawn of a Recording Contract

I read Idol Dreams Volume 2 and posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter and Tumblr or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Review: IDOL DREAMS Volume 1

IDOL DREAMS, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Arina Tanemura
TRANSLATION: Tetsuchiro Miyaki
LETTERING: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8256-6; paperback (November 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
184pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Idol Dreams is a shojo manga from mangaka, Arina Tanemura, the creator of such manga as Full Moon and The Gentlemen's Alliance †, to name just two of many.  A series for adult readers, Idol Dreams follows an ordinary office worker who becomes a teenager again and gets a shot at becoming a star.

Idol Dreams, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 5) introduces Chikage Deguchi, an office worker who believes that she has missed out on love and success.  During her high school reunion, it is revealed that she is 31-years-old and is still a virgin.  Although she is humiliated, Chikage gets a chance to be 15-years-old again, thanks to high school friend, Tokita.  On her first day being a teen again, a chance at stardom comes her way, but is Chikage really ready to change... everything.

[This manga includes the bonus, “Arina Way of Manga.”]

In her cartoon essay, mangaka Arina Tanemura says that when she was trying to decide what her next project should be, a publisher asked her to create a “magical girl” manga for adult readers.  The result is the Idol Dreams manga.

Idol Dreams Volume 1 has a “T for Teen” rating, but the series, in many ways, is indeed for older readers.  Teen can certainly read Idol Dreams, but you have to have at least reached a certain age well into adulthood in order not just to understand, but also to feel Chikage's sense of regret about what could have been.  The smart thing that Tanemura does is that she immediately confronts the reader with this reality:  how many of us would really do things differently if given the chance “to do it all over?”

I have liked many Tanemura manga, but Idol Dreams is the first one that I have liked unconditionally after only one volume.  I am dreaming of the chance to read the next volume.


A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE Volume 5

PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE, VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

ARTIST: Arina Tanemura
TRANSLATION: Tetsuchiro Miyaki
LETTERING: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6629-0; paperback (November 2014); Rated “T” for “Teen”
274pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

VIZ Media's English-language publication of Arina Tanemura's Phantom Thief Jeanne came to an end with the November 2014 publication of the fifth graphic novel of the manga.  The series focuses on Maron Kusakabe, a 16-year-old high school student who sometimes transforms into Phantom Thief Jeanne.

Jeanne foils demons that reside in certain paintings.  She sneaks into private art collections and steals paintings possessed by demons, sealing the demons before they can devour human hearts.  However, Jeanne has a rival, Phantom Thief Sinbad, but he is also Chiaki Nagoya, a boy in love with Maron.

As Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 5 (Chapters 26 to 29 to Final Chapter) opens, Maron realizes that Chiaki is under a spell.  Perhaps, that is why he is dating Maron's friend, Miyako Todaiji, even after declaring his love for Maron.

Also, Finn Fish, the “Minor Angel” that, until recently, served Maron, explains her dark actions – including betraying Maron.  That seems minor next to the fact that it is time for Maron to visit God, who created her.  It is also time for Maron to face the Demon Lord.

[This volume includes four bonus stories:  “Let's Go, Silk Road,” “The Memory of the Fish, the Snow Crystals of the Moon,” “I Will Be You Happiness,” and “The Memory of the Fish, the Snow Crystals of the Moon 2.”]

The Phantom Thief Jeanne manga (originally titled Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne) is an early work from beloved manga creator, Arina Tanemura.  Phantom Thief Jeanne Volume 5 does not demand the emotional involvement from readers that the fourth did (which was not that much, actually).  Still, these characters are full of love and a strong desire to sacrifice for the ones they love, and that is hugely evident in this final volume.  So we get a super-happy ending in the way that only Arina Tanemura can do it, so fans of Tanemura’s manga will want to try the Shojo Beat title, Phantom Thief Jeanne.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Phantom Thief Jeanne: Minor Angel, Major Saint

I read Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 4

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

Phantom Thief Jeanne: Because I Want You to Love Me...

I read Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

Manga Review: PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE Volume 1

PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Arina Tanemura
TRANSLATION: Tetsuchiro Miyaki
LETTERS: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6590-3; paperback (March 2014); Rated “T” for “Teen”
258pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

Japanese comics creator, Arina Tanemura, is known for such manga (comics) as The Gentlemen’s Alliance † and Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura.  VIZ Media is now publishing Tanemura’s second manga series, Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne (1998), as Phantom Thief Jeanne.

The series focuses on high school student, 16-year-old Maron Kusakabe, who is also Phantom Thief Jeanne.  She sneaks into private art collections, looking to steal paintings in which demons reside.  She seals the demons before they can devour human hearts.

Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 1 (Chapters 1 to 6) introduces Phantom Thief Jeanne on her latest mission to steal demon-infused paintings.  Now, she has a rival, the mysterious Phantom Thief Sinbad, and he promises to steal the paintings before she does.  At the same time, there is a new student at Maron’s school, Momokuri Academy.  He is Chiaki Nagoya, and Maron wonders if he is also Sinbad.

Apparently, Phantom Thief Jeanne was manga creator Arina Tanemura’s second manga series.  After reading the first two chapters, I found Phantom Thief Jeanne to be somewhat juvenile, which surprised me.  I have read a lot of Tanemura’s manga the last several years, and I learned that despite the pretty art, her manga can be quite dark and even edgy.

Phantom Thief Jeanne Volume 1 is neither dark nor edgy, but this is early Tanemura.  However, this series is cute, although there are a few moments with a bit of tartness.  I am somewhat interested in reading one more volumes, but I cannot say that I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next volume.  Of course, fans of Arina Tanemura’s manga will want to try Phantom Thief Jeanne.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Sakura Hime: The New Emperor

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura , Vol. 10

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Sakura Hime: Princess Yuri Wants Your Man

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura , Vol. 8

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

Sakura Hime: A Woman Without Nails

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura , Vol. 7

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Sakura Hime: A Sly Snow Spirit

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura , Vol. 6

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has free comics).

Sakura Hime: The Other Princess Sakura

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 4

I posted a review at (which has FREE smart phone apps).

Sakura Hime and the Prince

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 3

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

"The Art of Vampire Knight" Coming in September

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT

New Hardcover Edition Features Captivating Artwork From The Bestselling Manga Series By Matsuri Hino

VIZ Media invites fans to savor the lavish, gothic-inspired illustrations of manga (graphic novel) creator Matsuri Hino in THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT, scheduled for release on September 6th. The new hardcover edition will carry an MSRP of $24.99 U.S./$28.99 CAN.

THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT is an ideal companion to the bestselling manga series, and contains your favorite images in color plus never-before-seen artwork in the United States. The new book features an extensive character gallery with author comments, a how-to tutorial, and an exclusive full-color VAMPIRE KNIGHT poster.

Cross over into this mysterious and dangerous world of vampires with the lush artwork of Matsuri Hino. VAMPIRE KNIGHT takes readers to Cross Academy, which is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorms, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy’s dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

VAMPIRE KNIGHT (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) was created by Matsuri Hino, who burst onto the manga scene with her debut title, When This Dream Is Over, in LaLa DX magazine. With the success of subsequent series such as CAPTIVE HEARTS and MERU PURI (both published in the U.S. by VIZ Media), Hino has established herself as a major force in the world of shojo manga. VAMPIRE KNIGHT is currently serialized in LaLa magazine. VIZ Media also offers the VAMPIRE KNIGHT anime series on DVD and episodes are available online through its innovative video streaming web destination at VIZAnime.com.

For more information on the VAMPIRE KNIGHT manga and to read free manga previews online, please visit http://www.shojobeat.com/.

Sakura Hime, Why Did You Choose Me?

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 2

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has some FREE smart phone apps).

Latest Arina Tanemura Series Arrives in April

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF NEW MANGA SERIES SAKURA HIME: THE LEGEND OF PRINCESS SAKURA

Latest Fantasy Series By Visionary Shojo Creator Arina Tanemura Launches In April

San Francisco, CA, March 29, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will delight shojo readers and fans of creator Arina Tanemura with the North American premiere of her current manga (graphic novel) series – SAKURA HIME: THE LEGEND OF PRINCESS SAKURA – on April 5th. The new title launches under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Sakura is the granddaughter of a mysterious moon princess who slew demons with her Blood Cherry Blossom sword. All her life Sakura has been forbidden to look at the full moon without knowing why. Then one night, unhappy over her impending marriage, Sakura gazes up at the moon, only to see a demon attacking her...

“Arina Tanemura returns to fantasy in her latest series, SAKURA HIME,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “The story takes place during the Heian period of Japan and interweaves the myth of the moon princess with magical shojo and the supernatural. Wanting to escape a life arranged by others, Princess Sakura runs away from an impending arranged marriage to a man she’s never met, only to find she’s caught up to her true destiny as a descendant of the moon princess. This manga features the beautiful artwork and emotional impact that has given Tanemura a worldwide following.”

Arina Tanemura began her manga career in 1996 when her short stories debuted in Ribon magazine. She gained fame with the 1997 publication of I•O•N (published by VIZ Media), and ever since her debut Tanemura has continued to be a major force in shojo manga with popular series such as TIME STRANGER KYOKO, SHORT TEMPERED MELANCHOLIC, FULL MOON, and The Gentlemen’s Alliance † (all published in North America by VIZ Media) as well as Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne. Both Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne and FULL MOON have been adapted into popular animated TV series.

For more information on SAKURA HIME or other works by Arina Tanemura, please visit http://www.shojobeat.com/.

Sakura Hime is Under the (Blood) Cherry (Blossom Sword) Moon

I read Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Vol. 1

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).

"Mistress Fortune" from Arina Tanemura Due in February

A TEENAGE PSYCHIC MIXES ON-THE-JOB ROMANCE WTH INVADING ALIENS IN ARINA TANEMURA’S MISTRESS FORTUNE MANGA FROM VIZ MEDIA

New Shojo Beat Title Is The Latest From The Creator Of FULL MOON And THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE†

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will delight shojo manga (graphic novel) fans with the release of Arina Tanemura’s MISTRESS FORTUNE on February 1st. The new single-volume story will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Fourteen-year-old Kisaki Tachibana has psychic powers. She works for PSI, a secret government agency that fights aliens. She's in love with her partner Giniro, but PSI won't allow operatives to get involved. Just when Kisaki thinks she may be getting closer to Giniro, she finds out she's going to be transferred to California!

“We’re exited to release MISTRESS FORTUNE for current and new fans alike,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “Arina Tanemura pulled from her experience of visiting San Francisco, the home of VIZ Media, as well as San Diego Comic-Con for this manga. Her huge following of readers here will have fun with this story that takes place in both Japan and the United States.”

Arina Tanemura began her manga career in 1996 when her short stories debuted in RIBON magazine. She gained fame with the 1997 publication of I•O•N, and ever since her debut, Tanemura has remained a major force in shojo manga with popular series TIME STRANGER KYOKO, FULL MOON, and THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † (all published by VIZ Media). FULL MOON and another Tanemura manga, KAMIKAZE KAITO JEANNE, have also been adapted into animated TV series.

For more information on MISTRESS FORTUNE, please visit http://www.shojobeat.com/.

Mistress Fortune in Love

I read Mistress Fortune

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).  This is an Arina Tanemura manga.

The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross Comes to an End

THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE† REACHES A DRAMATIC SERIES CLIMAX IN EXCITING FINAL VOLUME FROM VIZ MEDIA

VIZ Media will bring on the conclusion of Arina Tanemura’s acclaimed shojo drama THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE† with the release of Volume 11 today.

Haine goes to Shizumasa and Takanari's grandfather, the head of the Togu family, to ask him to release the twins from their fate. But he tells her that she must pass the same trial the twins went through for determining the rightful Togu heir. Haine agrees, but little does she know that a former friend is now out for her life!

Published under the Shojo Beat imprint, THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE† (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) has helped to define the shojo genre of manga, selling more than 2.5 million copies in Japan. Creator Arina Tanemura’s beautiful flowing art and spunky female lead characters has brought her international adoration.

THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE† opens when, in return for a business loan of 50 million yen, the prestigious Kamiya family gives their daughter Haine away to the Otomiya family. Haine, now an Otomiya, is appointed to the student council of the exclusive Imperial Academy, a private school for the aristocracy. Even though Haine is of proper lineage to be on the council, she finds herself struggling to find her place among the many secrets of its elite members, especially those of the president, Shizumasa Togu, aka "the Emperor”, who holds her heart.

Arina Tanemura began her manga career in 1996 with several short stories published in the shojo manga magazine Ribon. But she started to gain fame in 1997 with her series I•O•N (published by VIZ Media, rated ‘T’ For Teens), a high school romance with a supernatural twist. From 1998 to 2000, Tanemura worked on the popular series Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, about a young girl who is the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, followed by TIME STRANGER KYOKO in 2000–2001 and FULL MOON in 2002 (both also published by VIZ Media, rated ‘T’ for Teens). Both Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne and FULL MOON were adapted into popular TV series.

Buy The Gentlemen's Alliance +, Vol. 11

Fourth Quarter Books from VIZ Media

Press release from VIZ Media:

VIZ MEDIA SERVES UP SCIENCE FICTION, ACTION FANTASY, ROMANCE AND JAPANESE CUISINE FOR NEW FOURTH QUARTER MANGA RELEASES

New Titles Span A Variety Of Genres To Delight Fans Of All Ages And Interests

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has previewed an array of new manga (graphic novel) releases scheduled to debut throughout the Fourth Quarter of 2009. The new titles span a diverse range of genres everywhere from science fiction, fantasy/adventure, and crime thrillers to shojo (comics for girls) and teenage coming-of-age stories.


The new manga titles debuting are as follows:
YU-GI-OH! r, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN · Available Now!

YU-GI-OH! R is the shocking manga-only sequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist and the prequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World. Volume 1, with story and art by Akira Ito, begins when the follower of an old enemy returns to take revenge. Yugi Muto must duel to save a friend's life, but can he overcome the power of the three "Jashin," the terrifying Evil God Cards? Creator Kazuki Takahashi built an action-packed adventure based on themes of friendship and fighting, and combined lots of weird and imaginative monsters to make YU-GI-OH! an international smash hit that spawned a real-world card game, multiple video games, and three anime series. Exclusive bonus card in the first print run!



RIN-NE, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN · Available Now!

RIN-NE is the brand new series from celebrated manga creator Rumiko Takahashi (INUYASHA). As a child, Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma’s home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura’s has been empty since the start of the school year, then one day her always-absent classmate shows up, and he’s far more than what he seems!

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN · Available Now!
A poignant collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, Inio Asano’s WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence.

BEAST MASTER, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN · Available November 3rd
Leo Aoi looks like a crazy animal with wild eyes, and he goes berserk whenever he feels threatened and sees blood. That doesn't stop animal-lover Yuiko Kubozuka from befriending him, however. In fact, Yuiko is the only person Leo will listen to when he has one of his violent fits...

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd (Novel) · MSRP: $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN · Available Now!

DEATH NOTE: L, Change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” (Kenichi Matsuyama) spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving him with only 23 days left to live. For his final case, L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to.

The DEATH NOTE novel features the same format as the original Japanese printing with a hardcover and clear acetate jacket with metallic ink. DEATH NOTE is one of VIZ Media’s top five bestselling properties, with over 1 million copies of the manga sold in the U.S. The character of L is extremely popular with fans and has inspired various products such as apparel and stationery as well as spinoff novels and two live action DEATH NOTE films (available from VIZ Pictures).

POKÉMON: Giratina & the Sky Warrior! Ani-Manga, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $11.99 US / $15.99 CAN · Available November 3rd

Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokémon, usually leads a peaceful life in forests and among flowers. But when it gets swept up in a great battle between Legendary Pokémon Giratina and Dialga, it accidentally becomes part of a struggle to maintain the delicate balance between the Real World and an alternate dimension called the Reverse World. Ash, Dawn and Brock join the fight and soon discover that there's more to Shaymin than meets the eye!



INUYASHA (VIZBIG), Vol. 1· Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN · Available November 10th
Rumiko Takahashi’s epic manga adventure INUYASHA is given an omnibus VIZBIG treatment that combines the first three volumes of the smash hit series. Pulled back in time to Japan's ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome's previous incarnation as the woman who killed him - and to the Shikon Jewel, or "Jewel of Four Souls," which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone's nightmares are given the power they need to come true. Beginning October 3rd, fans can also catch animated episodes of INUYASHA THE FINAL ACT (subtitled) on ShonenSunday.com/anime and Hulu.com mere hours after they air in Japan.

GO GO MONSTER, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $27.99 US / $36.00 CAN · Available November 17th
Third grader Yuki Tachibana lives in two worlds. In one world, he is a loner ridiculed by his classmates and reprimanded by his teachers for telling stories of supernatural beings that only he can see. In the other world, the supernatural beings vie for power with malevolent spirits who bring chaos into the school, the students' lives, and even nature itself.

This gorgeous edition is available in hardcover format with a four-color slipcase.

GO GO MONSTER was created by Taiyo Matsumoto, whose other works include BLUE SPRING, NO. 5 and TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, which are all published in North America by VIZ Media. TEKKONKINKREET won a prestigious Will Eisner Award in 2008 and was also adapted into an animated feature film.

OISHINBO THE JOY OF RICE, Vol. 6 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN · Available November 17th
Japanese cuisine is the star in this appetite-inducing series that has sold more 100 million copies in Japan. In this volume, Tōzai newspaper writer Shiro Yamaoka and his colleagues look into the single most essential food in Japanese cuisine: rice. Cultivated for millennia, a staple meal in itself and the basis of countless other dishes, rice is an important component not only of the Japanese kitchen but also of Japanese culture. When Yamaoka is asked by Tōzai's head chef for help in coming up with a new rice dish, what starts out as a simple culinary request rapidly grows into a disquisition into the past, present and future of Japan's food culture.

THE ART OF GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE †, ARINA TANEMURA ILLUSTRATIONS · MSRP: $19.99 US / $27.00 CAN · Available November 17th

Renowned manga artist Arina Tanemura created this acclaimed series that exemplifies the shojo style with highly stylized artwork and romantic plot twists presented with a swirl of billowing ribbons, romance and heartbreak. The gorgeously illustrated edition features designs for all the major characters from THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE † and also includes two exclusive images for North America, author commentary, and a double-sided, full color fold-out poster. Tanemura is a prolific manga artist and is also the creator of several popular shojo series such as I-O-N, TIME STRANGER KYOKO and FULL MOON (all of which are published in North America by VIZ Media).

BUTTERFLIES & FLOWERS, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences · MSRP: $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN · Available December 1st

Choko Kuze is the sensible daughter of a venerable family who went bankrupt. She joins a real estate company as an entry-level office worker, but her eccentric boss is harder on her than anyone else in the company! After hearing him inadvertently call her "milady," she realizes he was the young servant boy she knew as a child. At work he's a tyrant, but after hours he insists on treating her like a lady of the nobility. Is romance even possible for a couple locked in such a crazy role reversal? [END]

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