July Shojo Beat Previews 2 New Shojo Manga Titles

The third anniversary issue of Shojo Beat magazine has arrived in subscriber's mailboxes and at newsstands, and just to make it extra special, this July issue includes two previews of new manga that will be hitting the bookstores in August '08.

The first featured preview is a chapter from Short-Tempered Melancholic, a new one-shot collection of short stories from Arina Tanemura, the creator of The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross and Full Moon o Sagashite. This time, the heroine is a ninja who is torn between practicing her natural-born martial arts skills and her crush on a guy who's told her to act more 'ladylike.' Look for the graphic novel to hit the stores in August 5, 2008.

The second preview features Sugar Princess, Hisaya Nakajo's follow-up to the long-running Hana Kimi (which just recently wrapped up, stateside). Instead of track and field, the sport of choice is pairs figure skating. Maya is a junior high student who miraculously pulls off a double axel jump on her first visit to a skating rink. Scouted by a coach, Maya soon gets recruited to partner with a cute, but somewhat troubled skater, who just happens to be one of her classmates. Sparks fly as this aspiring "ice princess" tries to learn how to skate like a pro, and break through her partner's aloof demeanor.

Other treats in this issue include a Vampire Knight pin-up poster, recipes for cool and sweet summertime treats, a how-to article to make a pretty parasol, and a chance to win one of 20 anniversary prize packs just for responding to this issue's readers poll.

Image credit: © Hisaya Nakajo / VIZ Media LLC