There may only be a few days left in December and in 2015, but there’s still time for one last manga giveaway before the year is through. For 2015’s final giveaway, I wanted to be sure to feature one of the many manga series to debut in the last year, so this month you all have the chance to win the first volume of Itokichi’s Merman in My Tub as published by Seven Seas. As always, the giveaway is open worldwide!
Last week I posted my list of manga, comics, and novels that I found to be particularly notable in 2015. And just a few days ago, the Manga Bookshelf crew (myself included) declared our pick of the year. For the last few years I’ve gotten away with picking a single publisher rather than a single manga and in 2015 it was Seven Seas that caught my eye. The publisher has been steadily expanding the number and different types of manga it has to offer—Merman in My Tub was one of eighteen (if I’m counting correctly) new series from Seven Seas to debut in 2015.
So, you may be wondering, how can you win a Merman in My Tub, Volume 1?
1) In the comments below, tell me a little about one of your favorite manga to be released in 2015 (in English or not), whether it be a debut or part of an ongoing series. (Don’t have a favorite, simply mention that.)
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).
There it is! Everyone has one week to submit comments and can earn up to two entries for this giveaway. If needed or desired, entries can also be emailed directly to me at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com, and I will then post the comments here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on January 6, 2016. Good luck, and Happy New Year!
VERY IMPORTANT: Include some way that I can contact you. This can be an e-mail address in the comment form, a link to your website, Twitter username, or whatever. If I can’t figure out how to get a hold of you and you win, I’ll just draw another name.
Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway: Merman in My Tub Giveaway Winner
I’m in complete agreement with Sean. Oima Yoshitoki’s Koe no Katachi (A Silent Voice) was both highly engaging and heartening to see published in English. I can personally relate to Shouko in having been ostracized in high school and forced to briefly change schools, and that obviously struck a chord with me. But even without being able to relate, the themes and characterization are vivid and heartrending. There’s just something about a protagonist who can’t speak (aloud) that screams adorable. A stellar read.
My runner up is Mori Kaoru’s Emma, though obviously that’s not new in English. ;) I don’t need any more manga though; please don’t enter me in the giveaway. :)
..can’t decide on just ONE favorite for the year…. there’s been so much good stuff…
so I’ll just pick latest bought – Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun! It’s 4-koma, it’s comedy, it uses all the shoujo tropes to make hilarious new stories
tweet: https://twitter.com/persoconchii/status/682235369555886081
That’s easy for me So Cute It Hurts by Gō IKEYAMADA it’s the debut for this Mangaka in English. But if it was favorite volume it would be volume 4 as it not only gives a sweet first date but also throws in some dramatic plot twists that I didn’t see coming
It’s hard to choose one specific manga I love that’s been out this year, but I suppose I’ll choose my latest addiction and it’s been Assassination Classroom, something so odd about this manga with a very interesting premise to kill an alien that also is their teacher and for some reason treats his kids with kindness with the teacher code but still threatens to destroy the planet. That and still reading Naruto loving that and Attack on Titan.
I’m really looking forward to The Heroic Legend of Arslan volume 4 from Kodansha Comics. Not a new series, but a strong one. The story is amazingly engaging and thought provoking…in my tiny opinion anyway. XP It’s a fictional ride through the rise, fall, and struggle of not only the protagonists and antagonists; but cultures. Pars is at risk of being completely overtaken by Lusitania and its culture wiped out; parallel to that Arslan himself is at risk. It touches on differing cultural/religious beliefs and how civilizations and their people are drawn into clashes over not only lofty views or beliefs, but also petty ones like revenge. It’s like reading a fictional page out of history as it unfolds. I’ve been reading the chapters as they’re simulpubed(?) via Crunchyroll.com. I’ve been hanging on every chapter and I adore Hiromu Arakawa’s adaption. I would die if the novels the manga was based on were published in English. I’m also looking forward to the second season of the anime next year even though it diverges from the manga. It, in itself, is a strong adaptation as well.
I’m also looking forward to volume 1 of Yowamushi Pedal by Wataru Watanabe and published by Yen Press. I know, I know. Sports manga and anime have had a long and lackluster history lately, but I believe Yowapeda is a strong sports manga. It has a decent balance between characters and sport, dialogue and action, plus has entertaining fantastical depictions of reality. All the characters are strong and well founded. Te plot moves along at a decent pace too. I’ve only watched the anime and if the manga is half as good as the anime then I will not be disappointed. Haikyu is also a very strong sports manga and anime. A shame it doesn’t count since it comes out 2016, but for anybody reading I highly suggest checking it out as well as Yowapeda. Both are amazing sports stories and will keep your attention.
My fave of the year was Even so, I Will Love You Tenderly, which is a manga I love, I was so happy when the license was announced and counted the days till its release! I believe it’s a simple yet great story filled with very down to earth characters. It always makes me feel butterflies when I read it.
Also I really liked Requiem of the Rose King, can’t wait till the next volume! I normally don’t go for historical manga, but there is so much emotion everywhere ;3;
Tw- https://twitter.com/nozo_chan/status/682261925800087552
Thanks for the giveaway, and you got a new reader :)
Im looking forward to more assassination classroom. I started it not that long ago and read all the way trough. I have grown to love it and can’t wait for more. It’s one of those mangas that you simply get attached to.
my election is owari no seraph, the plot and characters are awesome and the illustrations are nice. but I also like Young Black Jack but I don’t have enough information if is still on going or finished also the manga is not translated in english or spanish (just in chinese) the anime was awesome but had the bad luck to appear at the same time as OPM. I really loved the Merman In My Tub anime, I was willing to watch it each time, each character was funny and cute.
I can’t just pick one ;v;
https://twitter.com/sakurayukishiro/status/682290535151878144
So many to choose from, I think I go with “Idol Dreams” by Arina Tanemura. Runner up is “Of the Red, the Light, and the Ayakashi” by by HaccaWorks* and Nanao
There was bunch of fantastic stuff that came out but if I have to pick one,then its Yowamushi Pedal for me. And why?because first of all,I never ever expected that this manga will ever get licensed for English speaking audience. I was stunned when Yen press announced the license. I have been huge fan since I watched the first season of the anime and I was really itching to own the manga. The characters are great and its very fun read. I also became fan of real life road racing thanks to Yowapeda:,). So yeah,I was pretty damn happy about Yowapeda in English.
Honorable mention…A Silent Voice,Haven’t you heard? I’m Sakamoto,Livingstone
(Rted @busha69)
I agree with the Koe no katachi sentiment. I love how it changes gears placing the bully in place of the bullied as the story progresses, and not saying: “well, bullys are people too, so it doesn’t really matter in the end”. Instead it expands on the actual phenomenon and how much it can hurt people without excusing the behavior at all, on the contrary. You never know the turns life is gonna take.
Pick one 2015 debut? HA! Impossible! I’ll probably put A Silent Voice at the top of that list, but there’s also diabetes inducing So Cute It Hurts, My Hero Academia, Junji Ito goodness, Yukarism, and I’m trying to skim the top of the pile (and not dive back into 2014, lol)
Oops, forgot to describe it a little. The only one that I’m not sure that you’ve read (though you probably have) is the Junji Ito goodness, so let’s go with that one. Fragments of Horror is his standard horror one-shots, but he’s just so good at it that more of the same isn’t a bad thing. And Cat Diary might be the funniest thing I’ve read this year! His horror style purposely mismatching ordinary cat things is simply brilliant, and seeing that cat emerge from the crate looking like a horror monster is simply amazing.
Posted on behalf of Ash Nguyen:
I have been really busy with school and distracted with life that i have not had the chance to read much new series. But one i know and love is the new mini series of Naruto that came out in April called Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring. It is a sequel so it shows the Naruto characters in a time skip when they are the important adults in the village and have made their own families. This sequel focuses on sasuke’s daughter finding her identity.
My favourite manga this year is absolutely Love Stage.
I watched the anime which I loved and I was so happy to see the manga getting an English release.
In my opinion, the story of Love Stage is great, and Eiki Eiki is a fantastic mangaka.
I hope Back Stage will get an English release as well.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustMerell/status/682563233551618049
My favorite of this year was Kaoru Mori’s Emma from Yen Press. Beautiful artwork, of course, and wonderfully researched look at Victorian life. Not sure how I missed the earlier CMX releases, but Yen’s put out some handsome volumes.
There were a lot of titles that I called my favorite after reading a volume. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Yowamushi Pedal, Your Lie in April, Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Noragami and Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches were all favorites at one point. But only one series do I love enough to pre-order ever volume regardless; Master Keaton. I love the stories and the strange, convoluted way that Keaton’s mind works. Him being an archeologist is just icing on the cake. I’m my favorite for 2015 and probably will be for 2016.
1. My favorite manga of 2015 would have to be Assassination Classroom. It’s kind of bizarre, but really entertaining at the same time. It also has a very interesting and unique concept. Overall, I loved reading it! Thanks for the chance!
2. I tweeted about the giveaway as @Bamboopanda27.
My favorite manga of 2015 is Detective Conan/Case Closed. I am lucky I still like reading and rereading it considering it’s a long ongoing serie.
https://twitter.com/Majenta_Dream/status/683962522383196160
I’m somewhat behind in manga reading, but, one of the newer releases that came out last year that I highly enjoyed was The Demon Prince of Momochi House.