2008 Readers Poll: Best New Original English Language Manga

Author & Artist: Dany & Dany
Publisher: Yaoi Press
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Italian manga-ka duo Dany and Dany delve into sci-fi with Anima, a one-shot story set in a steampunk-inspired future world where humans and androids co-exist seamlessly. In this high tech world, Danya Arsiniev is a ballet dancer who is renown for his ability to move gracefully, and move his audience to tears of joy. Patrick is an investigative reporter who finds himself fascinated with Danya, but by falling in love with Danya, will he get too close to the secrets that might doom his lover's career?

Author & Artist: Nina Matsumoto
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Visit Del Rey Manga's Yokaiden page
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Hamachi is a cheerful, happy-go-lucky kid who lives with his super-grumpy grandmother in a bamboo forest. Unlike most kids his age, Hamachi more fascinated than fearful of yokai or Japanese demons and ghosts. But when his grandmother's soul is abducted by a vengeful kappa (water sprite), Hamachi finds himself venturing into the strange and scary domain of the yokai to rescue her.

Author & Artist: Kôsen
Publisher: TokyoPop
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Left scarred by an auto accident when he was a child, Seisu is a loner who finds it difficult to really fit in with other people his age. His only friend and ally is his sister Alys, who frets about his health. But when Alys takes Seisu to a monastery to get away from it all, this 'vacation' unleashes horrible events of demonic origins that leaves Seisu wondering who he is and who he can really trust.

Author: Surt Lim
Artist: Hirofumi Sugimoto
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Visit Del Rey Manga's Kasumi page
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When her dad starts a new job, Kasumi is forced leave her friends behind to start a new life in a new town. Kasumi finds herself enrolled in an elite private school, where the popular kids aren't exactly excited to meet her. When her attempts to win over her classmates with magic tricks fall flat, Kasumi discovers that she has some real magic up her sleeve that just show some of those snooty bullies a thing or two: Kasumi can turn invisible when she holds her breath, and she's about to find out that might not be the only student with special powers.

Author & Artist: Judith Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Visit Yen Press' Y Square Plus page
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After helping his pal Yoshitaka with his girl troubles in Y Square, pretty boy Yagate has got romantic woes of his own. Charming and handsome Yagate has no shortage of female admirers -- but the trouble is that he's gay. To make matters worse, he must compete romantically with Chana, a sexy, flirtatious troublemaker who has no trouble snagging any guy she sets her sights on. Can Yoshitaka help his pal Yagate find romance when he can barely keep his relationship with Ju-Jin from imploding?

Author & Artist: Wendy Pini
Publisher: Go! Comi
Visit Go! Comi's Masque of the Red Death page
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Elfquest creator Wendy Pini gives Edgar Allen Poe's short story a sci-fi twist by setting her version of Masque of the Red Death in a futuristic society where people can live longer than ever, if they have the money to modify their bodies. But playing God will eventually catch up with this decadent society, and the price will be paid by the rich and famous guests at "Prince" Anton Prosper's exclusive birthday bash.

Author: Christopher Hart
Artist: Anzu
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Visit Del Rey Manga's The Reformed page
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Giancarlo is a handsome, aristocratic and reclusive man who just happens to be a vampire. After hundreds of lonely years as a blood-thirsty predator, Giancarlo finally meets his match in Jenny, a pretty, street-wise human girl. He almost immediately falls in love and vows to reform his vampire ways. But can love be enough to sustain them, when Giancarlo must battle his blood-thirsty urges while fending off a detective's attempts to expose his secret to the world?

Authors: Christine Boylan, D.J. Milky
Artist: Misaho Kujiradou
Publisher: TokyoPop
Read a review of Princess Ai: Prism of the Midnight Dawn Volume 1
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Pop princess Ai is back in Ai-Land, but her royal duties are a bore compared to her life as a superstar singer on Earth. When Ai is offered a magical jewel, The Prism of Midnight Dawn, she is given the chance to simulcast a concert to her fans in both dimensions. However, something goes terribly wrong. Ai is returned to Earth, where she discovers that things have changed for the worse since her last visit.

Author: Dean Koontz
Artist: Queenie Chan
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Visit Del Rey Manga's In Odd We Trust page
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In this prequel to Dean Koontz' novels for young adults, In Odd We Trust introduces us to Odd Thomas. This 19-year old teen lives in a quiet desert town, where he knows almost everyone, and almost everyone knows that he's a darn good fry cook who has a knack for making excellent pancakes. But Odd has an odd secret: He can see and talk to ghosts, and the recently deceased often seek out his help when they've got a wrong they want to right from beyond the grave.

Authors: Richard Knaak, Dan Jolley, Troy Lewter, Mike Wellman
Artists: Jae-Hwan Kim, Mi-Young No, Nam Kim, Carlos Olivares
Publisher: TokyoPop
Read a review of Warcraft: Legends Volume 1
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Based on the hugely popular online role-playing game, Warcraft: Legends delves deeper into the swords and sorcery-driven fantasy world, and delivers several tales of action, adventure, triumph and tragedy. Brave warriors battle legions of demons and orges, go on quests to discover the secrets of their past, and fight for the fate of their world and their souls.