New Books: Manga & Graphic Novels

Lists new books by month during the academic year.

Stand Alone Titles

The Sprite and the Gardener / written by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt ; illustrated by Rii Abrego

Long, long ago, sprites were the caretakers of gardens. Every flower was grown by their hand. But when humans appeared and began growing their own gardens, the sprites' magical talents soon became a thing of the past. When Wisteria, an ambitious, kindhearted sprite, starts to ask questions about the way things used to be, she'll begin to unearth her long-lost talent of gardening. But her newly honed skills might not be the welcome surprise she intends them to be. The Sprite and the Gardener, the debut graphic novel by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt, is bursting with whimsical art and vibrant characters. Join our neighborhood of sprites in this beautiful, gentle fantasy where both gardens and friendships blossom.

Stories of the Islands / by Clar Angkasa

Journey into a land of magic and powerful girls in this feminist graphic novel retelling of three Indonesian folktales. Once upon a time. . . a princess was cursed to live as a snail, two sisters were trapped by their father's wrath, and a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant. No one is coming to save them. Will they get their happily ever after? In this collection of reimagined Indonesian fairy tales, the girls are the ones with power. The power to fight evil, to protect others, and to grow as people. Because why should girls in folktales always need saving? What if they save themselves instead? Based on graphic novelist Clar Angkasa's favorite childhood stories and gorgeously illustrated with a dedicated color palette for each tale, this retelling of "Keong Mas," "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih," and "Timun Mas" is filled with spectacular landscapes, deep emotions, and a firm belief in the power of girls' stories.

Don't Spit in the Wind / story and art by Stefano Cardoselli

One man's trash is another man's living. Since earth became inhospitable, humanity escaped ages ago to live in a space station floating above the atmosphere. Now Travis and his crew of garbage men are tasked with cleaning up mountains of toxic waste, working for a company called Atomic Bros INC., to create a 'Clear World'. But when one of Travis' crew members goes missing near an old nuclear facility Travis' job becomes a bit more complicated.

Brooms / written by Jasmine Walls ; art by Teo DuVall

It's 1930s Mississippi. Magic is permitted only in certain circumstances, and by certain people. Unsanctioned broom racing is banned. But for those who need the money, or the thrills...it's there to be found. Meet Billie Mae, captain of the Night Storms racing team, and Loretta, her best friend and second-in-command. Cheng-Kwan - doing her best to handle the delicate and dangerous double act of being the perfect "son" to her parents, and being true to herself while racing. Mattie and Emma -- Choctaw and Black -- the youngest of the group, trying to dodge government officials who want to send them away to boarding school. And Luella, in love with Billie Mae. Her powers were sealed away years ago after she fought back against the government. She'll do anything to prevent the same fate for her cousins. Brooms is a queer, witchy Fast and the Furious that shines light on history not often told - it's everything you'd ever want to read in a graphic novel.

X-Men: the Trial of Magneto / writer: Leah Williams ; artists: Lucas Werneck with David Messina

Magneto, the mutant master of magnetism -- one of the founders of the mutant nation of Krakoa, a former villain who has never stopped fighting for the benefit of mutantkind -- stars in the story that will shake Krakoa to its core! A horrific murder. A shocking revelation. And a trial that will divide the new mutant nation down the middle -- and possibly shatter it forever! Leah Williams and Lucas Werneck bring you an epic mystery that threatens the Reign of X and upends the world that Magneto has worked so hard to build for his fellow mutants. Wanda Maximoff, branded one of mutantkind's deadliest enemies, has been killed on Krakoan soil! As Earth's heroes gather for a memorial, Magneto pushes Krakoa law and the Quiet Council to the brink. But something is wrong. Something very small. The truth is deeply hidden, but it won't stay buried for long. Who lurks in the shadows, and what do they know? Justice will be served, the guilty will be judged and the victims will be avenged! Collects X-Men: The Trial of Magneto (2021) 1-5.

Taproot / by Keezy Young

Blue has been living as a ghost for a year when he meets Hamal, a beautiful and sweet gardener who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Together, their friendship develops into something more, but being a ghost, Blue can never truly be connected with Hamal. When Blue realizes Hamal's strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him--even if it means leaving him.

The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Legendary Edition / story and art by Akira Himekawa ; translation, John Werry ; English adaptation, Steven "Stan!" Brown

Link must defeat evil at every turn in his perilous quest to help Princess Zelda! The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition contains two volumes of the beloved manga series, presented in a deluxe format featuring new covers and color art pieces by Akira Himekawa. The battle for Hyrule and the Sacred Realm has begun! A young boy named Link must defeat evil on his long, perilous quest to find the spiritual stones that hold the key to the Triforce, and deliver them to Zelda, princess of the land of Hyrule. Young Link embarks on a perilous quest to find three spiritual stones that hold the key to the Triforce, the wielder of which will rule the world! Link's plan is to deliver the stones to the Princess of the mystical land of Hyrule, Zelda. But obstacles abound and his long journey has only just begun!

Monstress

Monstress, volume 1: Awakening / by Marjorie Liu (writer) ; Sana Takeda (art)

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers.

Kaiju no. 8

Kaiju No. 8, volume 2 / story and art by Naoya Matsumoto ; translation, David Evelyn

Kafka wants to clean up kaiju, but not literally! Will a sudden metamorphosis stand in the way of his dream? With the highest kaiju-emergence rates in the world, Japan is no stranger to attack by deadly monsters. Enter the Japan Defense Force, a military organization tasked with the neutralization of kaiju. Kafka Hibino, a kaiju-corpse cleanup man, has always dreamed of joining the force. But when he gets another shot at achieving his childhood dream, he undergoes an unexpected transformation. How can he fight kaiju now that he's become one himself?! The final test of the Defense Force has come to an end, but the examinees' challenges aren't over yet. A mysterious humanoid kaiju revives a neutralized honju and sics it on Kikoru Shinomiya. Just when Kikoru seems to be at the end of her rope, Kafka rushes to her defense! But what is the humanoid kaiju's goal?

The Tea Dragon Society

The Tea Dragon Society: book 1 / by written & illustrated by Kay O'Neill

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives--and eventually her own.

The Tea Dragon Festival: Tea Dragon Society, book 2 / by written & illustrated by Kay O'Neill

Rinn has grown up with the Tea Dragons that inhabit their village, but stumbling across a real dragon turns out to be a different matter entirely! Aedhan is a young dragon who was appointed to protect the village but fell asleep in the forest eighty years ago. With the aid of Rinn's adventuring uncle Erik and his partner Hesekiel, they investigate the mystery of his enchanted sleep, but Rinn's real challenge is to help Aedhan come to terms with feeling that he cannot get back the time he has lost. Critically-acclaimed graphic novelist K. O'Neill delivers another charming, gentle fantasy story about finding your purpose, and the community that helps you along the way.

The Tea Dragon Tapestry: Tea Dragon Society, book 3 / by written & illustrated by Kay O'Neill

Join Greta and Minette once more for the heartwarming conclusion of the award-winning Tea Dragon series! Over a year since being entrusted with Ginseng's care, Greta still can't chase away the cloud of mourning that hangs over the timid Tea Dragon. As she struggles to create something spectacular enough to impress a master blacksmith in search of an apprentice, she questions the true meaning of crafting, and the true meaning of caring for someone in grief. Meanwhile, Minette receives a surprise package from the monastery where she was once training to be a prophetess. Thrown into confusion about her path in life, the shy and reserved Minette finds that the more she opens her heart to others, the more clearly she can see what was always inside.

Initial D = Inisharu D

Initial D: Omnibus 1 / by Shuichi Shigeno ; translator, Kevin Steinbach

Remember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara's journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in an all-new edition featuring refreshed translation and lettering! Takumi Fujiwara spends a lot of time behind the wheel. His tofu delivery job sends him racing down the treacherous roads of Mount Akina, and without even realizing it, Takumi has mastered racing techniques that take most drivers a lifetime to learn. Of course, none of his friends realize this. They're all too busy watching the Akina Speed Stars, the local street racing team. When the legendary Red Suns show up to challenge the Speed Stars, the rival team obsesses over a phantom car, the Trueno Eight-Six, seen racing through the mountain roads. Who is the driver, and will they take on the dangerous challenge? Collects Initial D volumes 1 & 2.

Kimi ni Todoke = From Me to You

Kimi ni Todoke = From Me to You, volume 1 / story & art by Karuho Shiina ; translation, Tomo Kimura

Sawako Kuronuma is the perfect heroine ... for a horror movie. With striking similarities to a haunting movie character--jet-black hair, sinister smile and silent demeanor--she's mistakenly called Sadako by those around her. But behind her scary facade is a very misunderstood teenager. Too shy to fit in, all she wants to do is make some friends. But when the most popular boy in class befriends her, she's sure to make more than just that--she's about to make some enemies too!

Orange

Orange: the Complete Collection 1 / story and art by Ichigo Takano ; translation, Amber Tamosaitis ; adaptation, Shannon Fay

A Plea From the Future ... On the day that Naho begins 11th grade, she receives a letter from herself ten years in the future. At first, she writes it off as a prank, but as the letter's predictions come true one by one Naho realizes that the letter might be the real deal. Her future self tells Naho that a new transfer student, a boy named Kakeru, will soon join her class. The letter begs Naho to watch over him, saying that only Naho can save Kakeru from a terrible future. Who is this mystery boy, and can Naho save him from his destiny? The heart-wrenching sci-fi romance that has over million copies in print in Japan!