Want to learn about databases without the tedium? With its unique combination of Japanese-style comics and serious educational content, The Manga Guide to Databases is just the book for you. Princess Ruruna is stressed out. With the king and queen away, she has to manage the Kingdom of Kod's humongous fruit-selling empire. Overseas departments, scads of inventory, conflicting prices, and so many customers! It's all such a confusing mess. But a mysterious book and a helpful fairy promise to solve her organizational problems—with the practical magic of databases. In The Manga Guide to Databases, Tico the fairy teaches the Princess how to simplify her data management. We follow along as they design a relational database, understand the entity-relationship model, perform basic database operations, and delve into more advanced topics. Once the Princess is familiar with transactions and basic SQL statements, she can keep her data timely and accurate for the entire kingdom. Finally, Tico explains ways to make the database more efficient and secure, and they discuss methods for concurrency and replication. Examples and exercises (with answer keys) help you learn, and an appendix of frequently used SQL statements gives the tools you need to create and maintain full-featured databases. (Of course, it wouldn't be a royal kingdom without some drama, so read on to find out who gets the girl—the arrogant prince or the humble servant.) (Source: No Starch Press)

“Higurashi no Naku Koro ni” anthology manga, released by Earth Star Comics.

A second anthology of short comedic stories based on the visual novel *Mahoutsukai no Yoru*.

Suzuna Osanai is a first-year student in high school. She's a little bit afraid of boys. When she meets one, she merely runs away at light speed, or trembles uncontrollably, or otherwise acts suspiciously. A romantic comedy progressing little by little, where things usually don't go as intended. (Source: Takeshobo, translated)

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Comic Anthology series.

This anthology features popular illustrator Izumi Sakurazawa and other renowned artists. It includes not only comics but also numerous illustrations from "Mai-HiME." The book is packed with content, including an original mail-order project and a cover-themed telephone card giveaway for all readers.