A series of short manga stories, revealing important background details about the five young Gundam pilots and Relena Peacecraft. Episode Zero explains such details from the series as the origin of Duo Maxwell's nickname "Shinigami" (Grim Reaper/God of Death), Quatre Raberba Winner's link with the Maganac mercenaries, and other elements that would go on to play major roles in the Gundam Wing anime and its sequel, Endless Waltz. Before the outbreak of the colony war, forces were at work shaping the future and preparing its players for the final game. As children, each of the Gundam pilots endured hardships that would have broken the will of any normal person. Gundam pilots Duo Maxwell, Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton, Quatre Rabbera Winner and Chang Wufei have endured more pain and difficulties than most people experience in a lifetime. But not even their comrades in arms could have known about the even more tumultuous childhoods as war orphans and other hardships. (Source: Anime News Network)

In Highland, a country where fairies are slaves of the humans, Ann Halford, a countryside girl, decides to purchase her first one after watching how the fairy was mistreated by his seller. *Note: Volume 1 includes the side story "Ashita kara ne" (明日からね).*

Naota's life is not simple. He lives with his eccentric father and grandfather in a city distinguished by a gigantic hand-iron shaped factory perched on a hill. His brother's ex-girlfriend makes passes at him. And to top it all off, an impish, playful alien has run him over with her Vespa and smacked him in the head with a bass guitar! Little does he know that this is only the beginning of his involvement in an interplanetary ideological war. (Source: TOKYOPOP)

Megumi Amatsuka, a rough and tumble nine-year-old boy, always dreamt of becoming the "manliest man on earth." Upon receiving a book of magic from a sorcerer whom he saved from a group of local thugs, Megumi summons a genie in order to make a wish. But due to a sick twist of fate, the genie turns out to be an evil one, and Megumi winds up being the "womanliest woman on earth"! Six years later... Megumi is the most desirable girl in school, but deep within her hot-mama facade is the same trash-talkin', punk-stompin' boy. (Source: VIZ Media)

A 4koma style strip that follows Najimi Osana and her friends adventures in doujin -- that is to say drawing (often perverted) fan comics. Najimi decides to join the 'circle' as a doujin artist herself once she realizes how profitable it can be, but soon realizes it's harder than it seems.

From J-Novel Club: In the far-distant future, mankind has traversed the stars and settled distant worlds. But no matter how advanced the technology of the future becomes, it seems the spacefaring nations cannot entirely shed their human nature. Jint Lin finds this out the hard way when, as a child, his home world is conquered by the powerful Abh Empire: the self-proclaimed Kin of the Stars, and rulers of vast swaths of the known universe. As a newly-appointed member of the Abh’s imperial aristocracy, Jint must learn to forge his own destiny in the wider universe while bearing burdens he never asked for, caught between his surface-dweller “Lander” heritage and the byzantine culture of the Abh, of which he is now nominally a member. A chance meeting with the brave-but-lonely Apprentice Starpilot Lafier aboard the Patrol Ship Goslauth will lead them both headfirst down a path of galaxy-spanning intrigue and warfare that will forever change the fate of all of humankind. Note: Won Seiun Award in 1997.

Sei, a 20-year-old office worker, is whisked away to a whole new world. Unfortunately for Sei, the ritual that summoned her—meant to produce a “Saint” who would banish the dark magic—brought two people over instead of one. And everyone prefers the second girl over Sei?! But this is just fine by Sei, who leaves the royal palace to set up shop making potions and cosmetics with her newfound magic. Business is booming, and this might not be such a bad life, after all…as long as her supposed Sainthood doesn’t come back to haunt her. (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)

Michelle is a romantic daydreamer and hardcore book collector. Maggie is a soft-spoken bookworm who always gets mistaken for a boy. Anita is a tomboy who doesn't have time for reading. Together, they're the Paper Sisters, three very different siblings united by a strange power - the ability to control paper in any way they desire! And from their Hong Kong detective agency, they solve any and all cases involving books! (Source: VIZ Media)

Taking inspiration from the Russian classic Crime and Punishment and then placing the behemoth of a book into a modern metropolis, Ochiai Naoyuki retells Dostoevsky's drama from the eyes of a struggling Japanese writer. In the 2006 remake Crime and Punishment ~A Falsified Romance~ Ochiai's lead is an incredible talent with award winning abilities. Tachi recently placed as the Best New Writer in a major literary competition, but the stress of living up to his family's goals of him becoming a powerful man has broken him on the cusp of greatness. He dropped out of college. However after moving to Tokyo he struggles with his identity and the duality of life in this surreal megalopolis. Despite being recognized for his tremendous potential, success does not come quite as easy, and life is a constant struggle. For Tachi Miroku life is nothing but a battle, with his past and his moral fiber. He hasn't been to work in four months and his dreams are a total mess filled with abuse, taunting, and the strong smell of blood. Tachi is alone and without direction in life right now. You could say he is a hikkikomori but that is only where his troubles start. (Source: Otaku Magazine)

Return to the world of Shaman King! Before the Shaman Fight, there were countless tales of heartache and worry as Yoh and the others worked their ways toward the tournament...and they're here in Shaman King: Zero! (Source: Kodansha USA) *Note: Volume 1 contains a bonus chapter.*

When junior knight Roselyn is rescued from the bottom of a cliff after an ambush by an enemy kingdom, her brother Calix is relieved – that is, until he learns that she's lost her memory. Now, she behaves like a child, eats like a horse, and wields unbelievable strength. But something's not quite right... (Source: Manta)

Two miles up in the unforgiving heights of Mt. Owari, hikers and friends Asai and Ishikura are hit by a blizzard and lose their way. Injured and sure of his imminent death, Ishikura confesses to killing a member of their university hiking club five years ago. However, Asai then stumbles upon shelter and carries them both to safety, only to realize that the confession has forever changed their relationship—and that the brutal elements may no longer be the most deadly threat around. (Source: Kodansha USA)