Manga Monthly: A Jam-Packed July

Welcome back to Manga Monthly, your best look at the coolest upcoming manga releases from the July PREVIEWS! The summer’s been hot, but the manga market is even hotter this month with some really intriguing new books from some of the best publishers in the business. Be sure to preorder your favorites at your local comic shop!!

Kodansha gets us started this month with the release of Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network (JUL182431). This gorgeous, full-color, hardcover volume contains four all-new stories from creators from around the world: Max Gladstone and David Lopez, Alex de Campi and Khoi Pham, Nrenden Fletcher and LRNZ, and Genevieve Valentine and Giannis Milonogiannis. All of these stories have been overseen by Ghost in the Shell’s creator, Shirow Masamune, who was the driving force behind this project. The goal of Global Neural Network was to be a global collaboration, and the end result is a dream come true for the creators involved. Any fan of this legendary anime and manga franchise should put this on their must-read list!

Also hitting shelves this September is the long-awaited release of Sailor Moon: Eternal Edition (JUL182438). This book had originally been solicited earlier this year but was delayed by Kodansha in order to make sure it looks the best it can possibly be. Thankfully, it’s worth the wait! This particular release features a new holographic coating that will look stunning on your shelf for a long time, and the book also features totally fresh color pages by Naoko Takeuchi. Sailor Moon has long been the gold standard when it comes to magical girl series and this will absolutely be the definitive release of the manga when it arrives.

The first volume of Hinamatsuri (JUL182444) is heading your way soon thanks to the folks at One Peace Books! Nitta is an ambitious, young member of the Ashikawa-gumi yakuza syndicate. One day, a mysterious, oval-shaped object falls out of thin air into his apartment, and suddenly changes everything! Inside of the object is an expressionless young girl named Hina. The girl has formidable telekinetic powers that she uses to threaten Nitta, forcing him to allow her to live in his apartment. Dangers abound as the yakuza member and young psychic begin their life together as roommates! Originally a one-shot published in the Japanese manga magazine Fellows!, Hinamatsuri quickly became a favorite following its serialization. And now, propelled to success by the passionate support from fans, the strange world of Hinamatsuri is finally being published as a trade paperback!

Leiji Matsumoto’s legendary series will return to print – in English, at last! – with the debut of Space Battleship Yamato Classic Collection (JUL182470), thanks to our friends at Seven Seas Entertainment. Aliens known as the Gamilas have attacked Earth, poisoning it with radioactivity and driving humans underground. As humankind grows sicker by the day, their final hope is the space battleship Yamato, constructed from secret plans and equipped with advanced technology. Its mission: to reach a distant planet and bring back a cure to save humanity. Will the ship and its crew rescue the Earth in time?

Weight loss can be hard. So the story of an elf who’s struggling to drop some pounds after discovering the joys of French fries might be pretty relatable! Read all about it in Plus-Sized Elf (JUL182468), heading your way thanks to Seven Seas Entertainment. Naoe-kun, a massage therapist, is about to head home for the day when he's saddled with a rather strange patient. This lovely lady has emerald eyes, pointy ears, and grew up in the forest - everything about her screams "elf," except for one thing: her bodacious body. It turns out she left her world but loves junk food in this one, and now her obsession has caught up with her. Can Naoe-kun help this lovable elf girl lose the weight - and keep it off?

The Nightmare Before Christmas has maintained a strong cult following, decades after the film’s original release. Now, fans can get their hands on a new story focused on the lovable ghost pup from the story thanks to Tokyopop with the collected edition of Zero’s Journey (JUL182329)! When Jack Skellington's faithful pet Zero gets lost, the ghost pup must get the help of the residents of Christmas Town to find his way back. With Halloween plans on hold while Jack mounts a search, will they be reunited in time to save both holidays? Explore the magical realms of Halloween Town and Christmas Town through the eyes of Zero as he tries to find his way home in an unfamiliar world.

Vertical Comics is debuting a wacky new comedy manga with the first volume of Delinquent Housewife (JUL182488)! The story follows a high school boy and his sister-in-law who moves in, who has a big secret from her past. High School sophomore Dai Komukai meets his sister-in-law Komugi, who moves into the Komukai household. After his brother leaves for a business trip, Dai senses something weird with his sister in law. Sure, she’s outwardly nice and cute, but Dai finds out that she actually can't cook or do laundry! And then one night he finds out another big secret! What could it possibly be? You’ll just have to read and find out for yourself!

Imagine – you’re finally about to confess your feelings to your high school crush, when suddenly you’re turned to stone! That’s the unfortunate reality in Dr. Stone (JUL182344), heading your way thanks to Viz Media. High-schooler Taiju has been petrified, along with every other human on Earth, and kept that way for thousands of years. When he finally reawakens, he and his pal Senku must help rebuild civilization from square one, with the power of science!

The award-winning 20th Century Boys (JUL182349) is hitting shelves with this new deluxe edition, courtesy of Viz Media! Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren't for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns. This is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world.

That’s it for this edition of Manga Monthly, but don’t fret – this is just the tip of the manga-berg in the July PREVIEWS catalog, so be sure to pick up your copy today and see the full lineup of what’s available! Stay cool inside this summer with these and other great new series, and stay tuned for more next month!