2009 Readers Poll: Best New International Manga

Author and Artist: Kai
Publisher: Udon Entertainment
Compare prices for 1520 Vol. 1

In a kingdom filled with magic, a young prince from a poor kingdom and a maid for a spoiled princess are tied together by a strange spell: They must alternate being transformed into 10-year old versions of themselves. The only way for them to regain their adult stature is if the other is turned into a child.

Created by a team from Hong Kong, 1520 was one of the winning entries in the 2007 International Manga Competition sponsored by the Japanese government.

Author and Artist: Svetlana Chmakova
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Nightschool Vol. 1

By day, it’s a normal high school – but when the sun goes down and a key is turned, Nightschool is in session. Young vampires, witches, werewolves and wizards learn math, science and spell-casting in a setting that’s anything but ordinary. Alex’s sister Sarah is a staff member at the school, but Alex prefers to hone her supernatural skills as a homeschooled student. But when Sarah disappears under mysterious circumstances, Alex enrolls in Nightschool to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Author: James Patterson
Artist: NaRae Lee
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Maximum Ride Vol. 1

Maximum Ride is a pretty teen with a strange name and even stranger problems. Instead of stressing about prom dates and exams, Max and her friends have wings, and are on the run from the scientists who created them, and a pack of vicious mutant wolf men.

Authors: Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman
Artist: Anzu
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Compare prices for X-Men Misfits Vol. 1

Kitty Pryde has always been the odd girl out. A mutant, she was born with strange superpowers, magical talents that make her the class freak. But Kitty's world is changed when she's invited to study at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a special home for mutant teens. There's just one catch: Kitty's the only girl at the all-boy school. Kitty falls for a hot-tempered guy with a fiery mutant talent – but a cool ice-man has also caught her eye too. Is a X-love triangle on the horizon ?

Author and Artist: David Ratte
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Toxic Planet

Imagine a future when the world is so polluted, people must constantly wear gas masks. The water is almost undrinkable and the crops are all genetically modified – but for a factory worker like Sam and his girlfriend, this is just how things are. It’d be easy to be depressed about it, but Sam just observes the strange ways of this toxic world, and finds black humor amidst the smog.

Author and Artist: Benjamin
Publisher: TokyoPop
Compare prices for Orange

Orange is an angry, alienated teen living in modern day China. Disappointed by her parents, friends and so-called boyfriends, she decides to end it all by throwing herself off a building. But before she can take a step, Orange meets Dashu, a mysterious older man who encourages her to find a reason to live.

Author: Dan Jolley
Artist: Rocio Zucchi
Publisher: TokyoPop
Compare prices for Warcraft: Death Knight

Warcraft: Death Knight is based on the best-selling Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMPORG), World of Warcraft. It tells the story of Thassarian, a warrior who becomes a Death Knight under the control of the Lich King, and his journey to be freed from the king's grasp.

Author: Mathieu Mariolle
Artist: Aurore
Publisher: TokyoPop
Compare prices for Pixie Vol. 1

Following one of his many of adventures, Pixie heads to the kingdom of Somnanbulia in the company of young prince Ael. But when they cross the Elvynn road, they accidentally cross over into other dimensions! Follow their adventures as they meet strange creatures who seem to know something special about Pixie's friend Ael...

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Artist: Claudia Campos
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Compare prices for The Dark Hunters Vol. 1

Kyrian is a warrior nobleman who gained the gift and curse of immortality when he became one of the Dark Hunters: a breed of supernatural assassins who are charged with finding and destroying the evil and undead. But a twist of fate introduces him to Amanda Devereaux, an attractive accountant who is being hunted by one of the most powerful vampires on Earth.

Author: Antony Johnson
Artist: Wilson Tortosa
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Compare prices for Wolverine: Prodigal Son Vol. 1

Logan is a teenage rebel with a real good reason for having a real bad attitude. Stuck in a martial arts school in the icy wilds of Canada, he's bored, restless, yearning. There's a whole world out there, and Logan is frustrated because he can't be a part of the action. But soon enough, trouble comes knocking on Logan’s door and it may be more than he can handle.