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Who Killed the Hero?, Vol. 3

By Daken and toi8. Released in Japan as “Dare ga Yuusha wo Koroshita ka” by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Kim Morrissy. This was well-written, and I enjoyed it, but I have to say that diminishing returns are starting to set in. I am wondering how many times we can go to the well of what it means to be a hero, and how many times we’re going to get a clever identity twist. The bulk of this book is written knowing that the reader will be trying to “work out” what is happening, so there are lots of false clues and real clues scattered throughout. More importantly, though, we’re back with the cast of the first book, and we get to see…

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Imperial Reincarnation: I Came, I Saw, I Survived, Vol. 6

By Masekinokatasa and Kaito Shinobu. Released in Japan as “Tenseishitara Koutei deshita: Umarenagara no Koutei wa Konosaki Ikinokoreru ka?” by TO Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Gwendolyn Warner. The author indicates, in the afterword, that they are already not a fan of harem series, and now that Carmine has a wife and two concubines they do not plan to add any more to the pile. This is a great shame, because in the same afterword the author talks about how much they love writing strong female characters, and we get another one here who is absolutely magnificent. Last time we introduced fantasy Mei Hatsume, this time we get a successful version of Leeroy Jenkins. She’s a Count, she was raised as a boy (though thinks…

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Manga the Week of 7/22/26

SEAN: Still hot, and be on the lookout for poison ivy. And manga. Hopefully you don’t drop your manga in the poison ivy. MICHELLE: And evil lettuce. ANNA: Yes, I’m scared of evil lettuce now. SEAN: Airship has the print debut of The Dangers in My Heart – The Novel (Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu), a light novel spinoff of the hot manga that looks at the main couple through the eyes of the other characters. Also in print: My Girlfriend Cheated on Me, and Now My Flirty Underclassman Won’t Leave Me Alone 2. They also have a digital-only debut. Reluctant Space Commander: From Death Wish to Galactic Hero! (“Koko wa Makasete Saki ni Ike!” o Shitai Shinitagari no Nozomanu Uchuu Gekokujou) stars a guy who wants to end…

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High School DxD: Funny Angel of Christmas

By Ichiei Ishibumi and Miyama-Zero. Released in Japan by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Haydn Trowell. Yes, that’s right, we finally get a volume dedicated to Irina… well, a bit. She’s still not really getting as much screen time as the main cast, but at least there are events here that rely on her being who she is, which is a step up from “random girl says dialogue X”, her role in the last eight or nine books. Irina is very fortunate in that this is a harem series that we already know is going to end with multiple wives, and therefore she should be fine. Because really, she is the definition of the Unlucky Childhood Friend from these romcoms, the sort who…

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Spy Classroom Short Story Collection: From Inferno with Love

By Takemachi and Tomari. Released in Japan as “Spy Kyoushitsu” by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Nathaniel Hiroshi Thrasher. We may have finally drained the Avian well dry (or maybe not – I hear there’s another spinoff just started that features them), but that doesn’t mean we’re going back to the main girls for these short stories. In fact, as the cover might suggest, the main girls, with one or two minor exceptions, don’t appear in this story at all. That’s because, despite the formatting, this really isn’t a short story collection at all, it’s a prequel, dealing with Inferno, the spy group Klaus was drafted into years ago, and how they trained him to be what he is today, as well as…

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Otherside Picnic, Vol. 10

By Iori Miyazawa and shirakaba. Released in Japan as “Urasekai Picnic” by Hayakawa Bunko JA. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Sean McCann. (More spoilers than usual in this review.) Since the famous Book 8, I’ve felt that this series is riding on a newfound confidence and swagger, and this volume does nothing to disabuse me of that feeling. Divided into three stories, the first shows us Sorawo’s conflicted and muddled feelings about her relationship with Toriko, and how normal tokens of affection such as a lap pillow can not only be twisted by jealousy but also turned into an Otherside encounter. In the second story they discuss Kozakura’s AI ghost story teller (which may be influencing things a lot more than expected), and then go meet…

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The Devil Princess, Vol. 4

By Harunohi Biyori and Geso Umiu. Released in Japan as “Akuma Koujo” by K Lanove Books. Released in North America by Airship. Translated by Julie Goniwich. Adapted by Emlyn Dornemann. I’ve talked before about the sort of series that has a clear ending but keeps going as the publisher wants it to. I’m not sure that’s what’s going on here – the author seems to indicate they had this in mind at the start – but it’s pretty blatant, complete with an “End of Part One” at the finale. Yulucia spends most of this book marching towards the demon lands, where the demons are getting ready to invade humanity, and where her not-quite-ex-boyfriend is currently being held after being summoned. Once she gets there, she’s quickly so insanely powerful that…

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7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! Short Story Collection

By Touko Amekawa and Wan*Hachipisu. Released in Japan as “Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuukimama na Hanayome (Hitojichi) Seikatsu wo Mankitsusuru” by Overlap Novels f. Released in North America by Airship. Translated by Amy Osteraas. Adapted by Vida Cruz-Borja. Oh God, microstories. My old nemesis. (Yes, I know Monthly Comic Alive is supposed to be my nemesis, but I feel that was a me-from-20-years-ago nemesis. Sorry, Monthly Comic Alive.) It was going to be hard enough to review this, given it’s been almost two years since the last book and I’ve forgotten so much about the series. But now I find that most of the stories are the 3-5 page ones you get as freebies when you buy it at a certain chain store, or ones…

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Manga the Week of 7/15/26

SEAN: Mid-July, and everyone’s buying manga to take on their vacation. ASH: Vacation? What’s a vacation? SEAN: Yen On has a ridiculous amount of light novels to start us off. There aren’t any debuts, though we do get Love Unseen Beneath the Radiant Night Sky (Gokusai no Yoru ni Kakeru Kimi to, Me ni Mienai Koi o Shita), a one-shot sequel to 2025’s Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky. It’s got an anime currently airing. ASH: I haven’t read the first book, but that is an evocative title. SEAN: They’ve also got A Certain Magical Index NT 6, Date a Live 16, Hell Is Dark with No Flowers 5, High School DxD 18, I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History 4, I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300…

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