Hello fellow Manga readers,
at the beginning of this month, I promised that September would be a huge month for pre-orders. We had some great entries that kicked off this FOC madness like Land of the Lustrous or Mushishi!
But that is nothing compared to what I will present to you now.
Without further ado, let us look at the amazing manga FOC’s for the end of September!
Me on my way to announce this week's manga FOC's!
Kingdom Vol. 1
Kingdom GN Vol 01 *PRE-ORDER*
€12,74
€14,99
FEB257593 (W) Yasuhisa Hara Xin's quest begins when his friend Piao, another war orphan who shares his dream of becoming a great general, is taken away by a mysterious minister to the capital, and Xin is left to work and… read more
I cannot believe that I am typing this...
We are finally getting one of the most anticipated manga releases of all time - Kingdom!
Ever since this series started in 2006, it became a core title in Weekly Shonen Jump for Japanese audiences, allowing it to grow into one of the longest series in manga history, spanning 76 volumes so far - with no end in sight yet.
But why is it so popular in Japan, and why is it so highly anticipated? Let’s take a quick look at the story!
The story is set in the year 245 BC and takes place during one of the most pivotal moments in Chinese history: the Warring States Period. During this time, the large Qin state began attacking and invading the other Chinese states to fulfill the goal of a unified China. Reforms across all social and political spheres, along with new forms of tactics and warfare, characterized this period.
Our main character, Xin, and his best friend, Piao, are regular servants in a poor village of the Qin state. They always dreamed of becoming legendary generals and bringing their homeland to victory.
One day, it seems that this dream may become possible for one of them when Piao is summoned to the king’s palace. However, when Piao returns mortally wounded, he urges Xin to travel to a specific village.
Arriving there, Xin meets the king of Qin, Ying Zheng, who looks identical to Piao.
It is revealed that Piao acted as a body double for the king and was killed in an attack orchestrated by the king’s half-brother, Cheng Jiao, who is fighting for the throne. Now, Ying Zheng needs Xin to join his army.
At first, Xin refuses, but he quickly realizes that this may be his chance to fulfill his dream and avenge his best friend. Soon, Xin and Ying Zheng discover that Xin may be no ordinary soldier, but someone capable of much more thanks to his wit and instinct for warfare.
Not only is the story a classic underdog tale, which we all love in our favorite Shonen, but it is also praised for its historical accuracy, clever depiction of warfare tactics, and its dynamic portrayal of action and battles. The series, although a Shonen, feels more like a blend between Shonen and Seinen. Think Vinland Saga and Vagabond mixed with Death Note and Naruto - that is how I would describe the feeling of reading this.
But if this short introduction is not enough for you to get a sense of what I truly mean, be sure to check out my full-length article on our Beyond-The-Panels-Blog, where I fully nerded out about this new series! :P
Real Vol. 16
Real GN Vol 16 *PRE-ORDER*
€14,44
€16,99
AUG251027 (W) Takehiko Inoue People who want to change their circumstances always have to struggle to achieve their goals. Progress is anything but direct-it proceeds forward and back, via gains and setbacks alike. The key is to keep moving forward,… read more
Another exciting entry for this week’s manga FOC is from a series that sure takes its time to progress: Real is getting another volume!
If you’ve been following the mangaka Takehiko Inoue for a while now, you will know that over the last decade he hasn’t been the most consistent author in the manga sphere...
His legendary series Vagabond has been on hiatus for 10 years, and some fans have given up hope that he will ever finish it. This is sad, of course, but I am still happy that he found joy in his other ongoing story: Real!
However, this doesn’t mean that following Real is always smooth-sailing either. It has been 4 years since we got volume 15, and for the last three years most of the volumes were out of print.
I was so thankful when VIZ suddenly reprinted all of the Real volumes (and Vagabond 37) a year ago so I could finish my collection without having to overpay! But now, I am ready for the series to continue and see what this new volume of one of my favorite series of all time may bring.
Real is a manga that explores themes of disability, the indomitable human spirit, and human connection through wheelchair basketball.
The story follows three main characters with different tragic fates:
Tomomi Nomiya, a former troublemaker now facing guilt after a tragic accident caused by himself, which he wants to overcome by doing good.
Kiyoharu Togawa, a former passionate athlete whose leg amputation ended his track dreams but led him to wheelchair basketball.
And finally, Hisashi Takahashi, a former popular student and rising basketball star adjusting to a new life after paralysis from an accident.
Their lives ultimately connect as all three confront their own personal failures, painful insecurities, and flickering hopes. They struggle and find new meanings for their lives in the world of wheelchair basketball, which can be harsh but also uplifting.
And yes, I know that not everyone enjoys sports manga. But this is unlike any sports story you will ever read. It focuses much more on the struggles, the growth, and the philosophy of the characters, who face challenges that are often overlooked in our society. Within my own personal manga bubble, this story sparked a lot of conversations about disabilities and how valuable literature like this can be for people to educate themselves on the struggles those with disabilities may face.
Definitely a must-read, which I also talked about a bit more in my Takehiko Inoue article on our Beyond-The-Panels-Blog. Check it out!
Grand Metal Organs
Grand Metal Organs Vol. 1 *PRE-ORDER*
€10,49
€13,99
See what happens when evolution pits humans against one another and changes them into something monstrous in this action-packed, horror-filled manga!In a world where electricity equals power, Enlil is an outcast—born without the gift. But his dream of joining the… read more
Enlil is a powerless - an outcast born without any abilities in a world where electricity equals power. And although this should hold him back, Enlil still dreams of joining the Electrical Police Department. After finally getting the chance to fulfill his dream despite his status, he is betrayed by his hero and uncovers a terrifying truth about the society he lives in: the powerless aren’t just outcasts, they are erased.
However, filled with rage and a dark, unnatural power, Enlil returns to the world that betrayed him - but not as a hero... no... as a nightmare that will shake everything to its core!
This action-packed and horror-driven manga will not only bring you wild body horror but will also raise philosophical questions about society and how we treat each other
And while I am not the biggest horror fan, this one really hooked me and will be a must-have for me to follow! Since this series is still a hidden tip within a small corner of the manga community, now is the perfect time to be among the first to introduce others to a great new story!
September was definitely a manga month!
September's FOCs were so incredibly good that I wish I could have just written a whole novel on all the new books you can pre-order right now.
I mean, there is so much more on FOC right now: Hell’s Paradise is getting an amazing box set; Climber, Jujutsu Kaisen, Record of Ragnarok, Insomniacs After School, Blue Box, Blue Lock and Kagurabachi are getting new volumes. And of course, My Hero Academia is ending with its final volume! AND SO MUCH MORE!
You can check out every FOC this week, right here. All of our pre-orders run until Saturday at 4pm.
If you have any doubts or questions, you can message us, and we will gladly help you out.
But if you cannot wait and need some new manga right now, you can always check out our Beyond The Panels-Blog, where I already talked about a lot of different Manga that you can get right away! :D
This way, you have the perfect mix of stuff to look forward to and enjoy right now - isn't that just amazing! :P
See you soon,
Daniel
