Here it is, the long awaited Top Reads of 2018 list. I read a lot of books this year – 224 of them according to my Goodreads list. I’m not exactly stingy with 5 stars, either. If it’s a great book, then I’m going to give it a high rating. And I gave 4.5 to 5 star ratings on a whopping 50 books. I’ve managed to whittle that list down a bit since then and while still it might not be a short list, but it’s certainly more manageable than before! All of these books have been published in 2018 in the United States, though several were published prior in other countries.
It’s here! Shonen Jump has officially changed its format, and in a rather radical way. Instead of either a physical or digital magazine requiring a subscription Shonen Jump will be posting all new chapters of their ongoing series for FREE. These will be coming out the same day as Japan, which is Sunday afternoon in the US. Yesterday saw the rollout of the new platform, and while it seems the Shonen Jump team is still ironing out the kinks in the new system things are set up for a wonderful change.
By: Soraho Ina
Illustrator: Soraho Ina (illustrator); Alexandra Gunawan (lettering and retouching)
Translator: Molly Rabbitt (translator); Cae Hawksmoor (adaptation)
Release Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Fairy Tale Battle Royal
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:
Fairy Tale Battle Royal Vol. 1
By: Go Nagai
Illustrator: Go Nagai (Illustrator); Bambi Eloriaga-Amago & Roland Amago (Lettering and Retouch)
Translator: Zack Davisson
Release Date: August 28, 2018 (English)
Publisher: Seven Seas
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:
I have long loved classic manga and anime. When a new edition of an older manga comes out you can bet that I am first in line for a copy. Obviously, I jumped on the chance to read Cutie Honey: The Classic Collection by Go Nagai. Cutie Honey is a lot of things. In one sense it’s a magical girl manga. In another it’s a sci-fi manga. It’s a mystery story. There’s violence, nudity, and sexual themes. And I loved every second of it.
By: The Manga University Culinary Institute; Ryo KATAGIRI
Release Date: September 7, 2018
Publisher: Japanime Co. Ltd.
Series: The Manga Cookbook
Rating:
This is a bit of a different review than most Mondays, though it is still manga related. I had my eye on this series of books for quite some time, but I hadn’t stumbled across any in my bookshop travels. Well, one of my friends came across a copy of The Manga Cookbook Vol 3: Fusion Food With Character! at Comic-Con and got me a copy!
By: Hideyuki Furuhashi
Illustrator: Betten Court (artist); John Hunt (touch-up art and lettering); Julian Robinson (designer)
Translator: Caleb Cook
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Series: My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:
October 2nd saw the release of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Vol. 2 by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court. This volume explores the quirk based society from the eyes of a vigilante hero while continuing with themes and questions presented both in the first volume and the series proper.
Some of you may be wondering why things have been a little slow over here at Looking Glass Reads. This is two-part. I was sick twice in the last three weeks. After it took a solid 30 minutes to read three pages of a book, and retaining none of it, I decided to call off reading for the time being. Then, upon getting well, I immediately dove headlong into some heavy editing of a nonfiction title for work. So…I’m a little behind.
By: Junji Ito
Release Date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:
If a manga bears Junji Ito’s name you can be certain I’ll be reading it. Recently, I received an early copy of Frankenstein: Junji Ito Short Story Collection by Junji Ito.
A caveat I want to note – the e-arc I received only had Frankenstein. There are two other short stories included in the collection. One of these is the Oshikiri story cycle, and I believe there is something featuring Ito’s dog as well. Once I get a copy of the final copy this review will be updated to include my thoughts on this as well.
By: Kohei Horikoshi
Illustrator: Kohei Horikoshi
Translator: Caleb Cook
Release Date: October 2, 2018
Publisher: VIZ Media
Series: My Hero Academia
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:
The third season of My Hero Academia might be winding down, but there’s still plenty of manga volumes to go. Tomorrow, October 2, 2018, marks the release of My Hero Academia Vol 15 by Kohei Horikoshi. This volume explores heroism in a post All Might world, precaution and careful planning versus immediately jumping into a probably dangerous situation, among other things.
By: Kawo Tanuki
Illustrator: Choco Aya (Illustrations); Alexandra Gunawan (Lettering)
Translator: Nan Rymer (Translator); T Campbell (adaptation)
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Publisher: Seven Seas
Series: Dragon Goes House-Hunting
Received From: Publisher
(All reviews are our own, honest opinions.)
Rating:
I found it. I found the manga I always needed. I’ve always loved humorous fantasy. The Slayers light novels are a favorite, and I’ve been looking for something else to add to my ‘reread constantly’ list. And you know what? Dragon Goes House-Hunting by Kawo Tanuki and Choco Aya has absolutely made that list.
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