2009 Readers Poll: Best New Shonen Manga

Author and Artist: Jun Mochizuki
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Pandora Hearts Vol. 1

Rich and slightly spoiled, Oz Vessalius is a boy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and almost anything else he could ever desire. But something goes horribly wrong at his coming-of-age ceremony, and Oz is sent to the Abyss, a prison designed to inflict soul-crushing punishment to its inmates. How did things go so, so wrong, and is there even a glimmer of hope that Oz might escape this strange and horrible fate?

Author and Artist: Atsushi Ohkubo
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Soul Eater Vol. 1

Maka Albarn is a weapons-maker in training -- but the weapons she's crafting are more than just swords or spears: she's trying to make a soul-reaping scythe worthy of Death himself. To accomplish this, her smart-alecky scythe Soul Eater must consume the souls of 99 humans and one witch. But with several fellow weapons meisters trying to accomplish the same thing, Maka's got her work cut out for her.

Author and Artist: Yuhki Kamatani
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Nabari no Ou Vol. 1

Miharu Rokujou seems like an average high school boy, but sealed in his body is one of the most powerful and sought-after ninja secret arts. With great power comes great responsibility, and frankly, Miharu could care less about that kind of thing. Despite all the efforts of his fellow ninjas and teachers, Miharu isn't the slightest bit interested in honing his ninjutsu skills -- but he may have to shake off his ennui soon, because a major war is brewing between rival ninja clans, largely over him and his hidden powers.

Author and Artist: Hiroyuki Asada
Publisher: Shonen Jump / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Tegami Bachi Vol. 1

In a land of perpetual darkness where telephones or email are non-existent and travel is extremely dangerous, people depend on Letter Bees to convey their messages. After being delivered by a Letter Bee when he was a child, Lag Seeing is determined to become a Letter Bee himself, so he can find his long-lost mother.

Author: Darren Shan
Artist: Takahiro Arai
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Cirque du Freak Vol. 1

Like many young boys, Darren and Steve are fascinated by monsters and creepy creatures. While they both enjoy safe, middle-class lives, the two boys crave a taste of a world of darkness and danger that they've only seen in horror movies. Their wishes come true when the bizarre Cirque du Freak comes to town. After viewing the show, Darren and Steve are plunged into a macabre world where their choices have life-changing (and life-threatening) consequences.

Author and Artist: Kagami Yoshimizu
Publisher: Bandai Entertainment
Compare prices for Lucky Star Vol. 1

Although she's actually quite bright and athletic, Konata is an unapologetic slacker who'd rather play games and watch anime than actually do anything generally considered to be "productive." Fortunately, she's surrounded by her gal pals Kagami, Tsukasa and Miyuki, as they while away their days making otaku observations and pondering mini-mysteries like how to eat a chocolate coronet.

Author and Artist: Sakae Esuno
Publisher: TokyoPop
Compare prices for Future Diary Vol. 1

Yukiteru is an antisocial high school student who'd rather sit on the sidelines observing people than actually connect with them. That is, until his obsession with texting to his cell phone diary puts him in the middle of high-stakes game of cosmic proportions. Deus Ex Machina, an omnipotent god turns Yukiteru's phone into a real-time ticker that reveals the events of the future. Deux then introduces him to 10 other players with "future diaries" who will be competing against him to be the next "King of Time and Space."

Author and Artist: Rumiko Takahashi
Publisher: Shonen Sunday / VIZ Media
Compare prices for Rin-Ne Vol. 1

Since childhood, Sakura Mamiya can see ghosts -- but even she thinks it's odd that her red-haired classmate Rinne Rokudo seems to have similar abilities. Soon enough she discovers that Rinne isn't a ghost, but has a part-time job that has him constantly hustling to make ends meet by sending pesky spirits to the great beyond.

Author: Jin Zhou Huang
Artist: Hiromu Arakawa
Publisher: Yen Press
Compare prices for Hero Tales Vol. 1

Legends tell of seven celestial heroes with powers matching the stars of the Big Dipper -- but you'd never guess that headstrong and stubborn Taitou would be one of them. Now that he's finally earned the right to have a coming-of-age ceremony, Taitou is given an ancient sword that comes with a caveat: it can only be unsheathed by a hero. Needless to say, Taitou can't pull it out of its sheath -- or at least he's not able to before his sword gets stolen. Now he's really got to prove that he's got the heart and strength of a hero to get his weapon back.

Author: Ken Akamatsu
Artist: Takuya Fujiyama
Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Compare prices for Negima!? Neo Vol. 1

Ken Akamatsu's wacky comedy about a boy wizard assigned to teach a classroom of teenage girls gets turned slightly on its head with this manga remix. The story kicks off a year after Negi Springfield has arrived at Mahora Academy, revolves around the disappearance of the Star Crystal, a magical artifact of great power.