June New License Announcements + Mini Reading Update

Before I get to my main point, quick update on my reading! I'm almost finished reading Parasyte! onto volume 7 out of 8 and I'll finally be done with this one! I feel a bit disappointed that I left this one on the backburner for soooo so long but I've got the drive to remain consistent now! The series has felt a little stagnant for a bit but Parasyte will sometimes hit you with a really thoughtful and fascinating series of character interactions and highly tense situations that leave you on the edge. It's also got a greatly distinct artstyle, Hitoshi Iwaaki isn't what I'd call a master mangaka for his art but his characters feel realistically proportioned and almost Western-influenced in how down-to-earth and "un-anime" it is.

Now for the main event, new VIZ announcements! I'm just going to highlight my favorites but there's some great ones. I'm looking forward to some of these that drop next year!

 

Ruri Dragon

 

This one is currently being simulpublished in the JUMP  app and I've read quite a few chapters. The Mangaka was on hiatus for a really long time due to personal reasons but just last month the series went back into motion. It's a light fantasy series where a school girl finds out she's half dragon and slowly adapts to her strange new skills and odd powers. It's really low-stakes and feels comfy to read, which you might not think is the case with the synopsis, but its just a sweet and heartfelt stroll through an oddball circumstance. Will I pick this up? Too early to say probably... I'll see how I feel after reading a little more but I'll definetely keep my eye out. 

 

The Climber 

 

Here's the big one! People have been BEGGING for The Climber to get a license for a while now, especially after Shinichi Sakamoto's other works (DRCL and Innocent)  have only recently been releasing. The Climber, however, is by far his most prolific work, following a closed-off quiet kid type high-schooler discovering his calling of solo-climnbing and chasing the rush of excitement. I have purposefully kept myself mostly unaware of what goes on in the series and from what I know its highly reflective and thoughtful (very seinen, what a surprise!). Quick note, Shinichi Sakamoto is up there with some of the best current artists in the industry WITHOUT A DOUBT. His work is uncannily mesmerising and beautiful. Finger's crossed VIZ give us a fantastically put-together physical release to go along with the jaw-dropping art!

 

 

Firefly Wedding

 

 Here's another one I've read some of online! It's a period drama where a young lady finds herself looking to get married off for the sake of her somewhat financially suffering family, however she has a severe chronic illness and is weak and frail because of it. Expected to have a short life span she accepts her fate until meeting a peculiar assassing who becomes overly attatched to her! I actually quite liked what I read of this online so I'm definetely keeping an eye on this one!

 

 Hunter X Hunter 3-in-1 Omnibus Edition

 

This one is already out as you probably know but its never had an English special edition! I always wanted the series to have a much easier way to collect it and here's my answer! Although I don't plan on jumping the gun. This will likely be a series I read on the JUMP app before making any decision to buy it, but its nice to know that if I do want it, I don't have to settle for chasing down so many single volumes!

Dogsred

 

This one I really don't know much about, but the new title by esteemed Mangaka Satoru Noda; Golden Kamuy author, definetely piques my interest! It revolves around an ex-figure skater learning ice hockey and joining a team! If its anywhere near as good as Medalist I'll totally check it out!

 

Pink Candy Kiss

 

I knew absolutely nothing about this one before I saw it. But that art style immediately grabbed me. It's a Josei Yuri series (rare for VIZ!) about a middle aged woman re-uniting with her high school crush. Reminds me a lot of Even Though We're Adults, a series I've heard plenty of praise from - with a similar premise. Maybe this will be the first Yuri series I check out! 

 Mujina into the Deep

 

I somehow didn't even know that Inio Asano was working on a new series after Dead Dead Demon's Dededededestruction (yes, that's a real series, it's actually getting an anime soon!) but surprise surprise! He only started it last year and I know basically nothing about it but I absolutely won't ignore anything from Asano! 

Vagabond Definitive Edition 

Welp, it was bound to happen at some point. A new edition for Vagabond, which will now be an enormous hard-trim, which will no doubt be a gorgeous book. I'm not too upset about already owning the series, but such is life. It will be amazing for those who haven't bought the series and want it for themselves!

That's the highlights of the new VIZ announcements! Some really great ones, looking forward to when these drop next year! Until then I've got plenty of series to catch up on!