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In *Dream of Spring*, the first volume of this new suite of tales, teen vampires Edgar and Alan are in the United Kingdom, Wales, 1944. WWII rages, and Alan is weak as they encounter figures from their past―Falka, a charismatic vampire, kind and sinister in turns; Chloe, an emissary from the Village of Poe, greedy for Edgar's rich blood (granted by the King himself) and, above all, power; and others too mysterious to mention. Meanwhile, Edgar becomes the subject of fascination for their neighbors: 16-year-old Blanca and her little brother, Noah, Jewish refugees who long to reunite with their mother and father. Alan, dependent on Edgar and often left in the dark about vampire society, is jealous, angry, and despondent. But, for mortals and immortals alike, there are always forces (and fates) beyond their control… (Source: Fantagraphics)
The story follows the life of a teenage boy named "Mesh," so-called for his unique "mesh"-colored hair: blonde with silver strands on the sides. It begins with a scene where Mesh, after being beaten, escapes from a mob and encounters Milon, a forger and painter. Mesh ends up staying at Milon's house, and the two form an unlikely bond as they navigate life together. Each chapter is a poetic blend of crime, peaceful everyday moments, or the vibrant nightlife of artists in a fictionalized Paris. *Mesh* is regarded as one of Hagio Moto's defining works, marking a pivotal shift in her artistic style. It was her first series to adopt a more realistic look while retaining the ethereal beauty characteristic of 1970s shoujo art. The story ventures into more mature themes while continuing to explore Hagio's recurring motifs, such as parent-child relationships and adolescence. Volume 1: 1. Mesh 2. Rouge Volume 2: 3. Haru no Hone Volume 3: 4. Kakumei 5. Montmartre Volume 4: 6. Mimi wo Katamukete 7. Buran Volume 5: 8. Sen no Ya 9. Nigate na Jinshu Volume 6: 10. Shanikusai Volume 7: 11. Surreal na Ai no Real na Shi Volume 8: 12. Fune *Note: In 2024 a digital only eight volume was released which included the story Fune*
When Miranda, a nurse, is lured outside by a captivating sound, she finds an unfamiliar man playing the saxophone. Tempted by his sinfully soft voice, Miranda kisses him passionately. Then, suddenly, she's brought back to reality by the deep wounds in her heart and she flees. She decided long ago that she would never let herself be attracted to anyone again... Why did she let her guard down with him? Full of regret and bewilderment, she arrives at her new workplace and must confront a shocking situation. The man she kissed is her boss! (Source: Renta!)
Tachibanaya, a ningyo-yaki pastry shop with eight generations of history is located in the heart of downtown Tokyo. It is home to the stubborn Takuo and kind Kahoru, as well as their three beautiful daughters. This heart-warming comedy follows the three Tachibana daughters as they make their way in the world while their family struggles with the difficulties of finding someone to inherit the shop. (Source: Bookwalker Global)
Merry, a server, was in desperate need of money. One day out of the blue, Peter, one of her customers, asked her to pretend to be his girlfriend over the Thanksgiving holiday. He seemed serious and the money would certainly help, so Merry accepted his proposal. When they went to visit his family, his sweet mother welcomed Merry with open arms. She believed that Merry and her son were going to get married. Merry was concerned that Peter's mother was getting too excited about their fake relationship. But she was more concerned about how Peter and his son didn't seem to get along. Perhaps there was a way Merry could help Peter and his family... (Source: Renta!)
An eight page full colour one-shot by Moto Hagio about loving somebody.
Young girls, made to eat nothing but flowers, a barbed wire fence stretched round about them… Is this a girls' flower garden…? Or a nightmarish prison…? (Source: Coolmic)
*"Ah...jeez! I want to have sex...!"* Aya is a 33-year-old office worker who's dealing with sexual frustration. She wants to feel the touch and love of a man but hasn't had a boyfriend in 8 years. And societally speaking, if women show their desire, they are looked down upon. One day, Aya's flirty supervisor Dojima invites her out for drinks. Dojima is divorced and down to have a one-night stand instead of a partner. Hearing this, Aya makes up her own rules to not get carried away or have any regrets for having a one-night stand and sets out to make her one-stand a reality. (Source: Manga Plaza)
Shannon's sister, Keira, is critically injured in a car accident, the same one that killed Keira's husband, Angelo. It's Luca, Angelo's brother-and Shannon's ex-who delivers the tragic news to her in London. "Are we alone?" he asks, barging into her home and searching through it. Shannon shakes with anger, realizing that he must be looking for a man. They'd been in love two years ago, until Luca accused Shannon of cheating while he was away and broke up with her without even letting her explain. Who would have thought she'd meet him again, and like this, of all the ways? (Source: Renta!)
Ali's goal is buying a house to make her mother happy, which is why she became a model-to earn her nest egg. One day, she receives news that her uncle died and left his estate to her! There's one condition she has to meet, which is that she must marry within a month of his death. She decides a marriage of convenience is the answer, so she proposes a deal to window cleaner Jethro. He then gives her a piercing stare, looking totally different from his usual sweet self, and she wonders who he really is. (Source: Renta!)