Ichigo Channel

Here is something I just stumbled upon the other day. I find the plot summary interesting...from Anime News Network:

Plot Summary: Ken will do anything to become an idol, his sister Ichiko will do anything to help her brother...even pretend to be a boy to form the new male idol trio called TRIJET. The third member, Kanzaki, turns out to be the same boy who almost kissed ichiko only days before, it’s a good thing he doesn’t recognize her in her boy form, as she cannot tell anyone about her true identity. When she bumps into Kanzaki again in her girl form, she tells him her name is Ichigo. Having no idea that she's really the TRIJET member, Number one, whom he detests, or Ichiko, the girl he almost kissed. Kanzaki begins to fall for...Ichigo. Things are getting complicated.

I found a scan and have read the first chapter. The scan wasn't very good. The translation was iffy. Still even with faded art and distracting english words I will still read the next few chapters and see if I like it. I am hoping I am just unnerved by the bad scan. I am grateful I have anything at all so I am not complaining. I have to really try hard to not be distracted though. Really it is the plot summary that is keeping me going. The very end of the first chapter got interesting. It was a little jumbled at first and a little hard to follow. I think this has potential though. I haven't heard or seen anything about this becoming an anime yet.

Mei-chan no Shitsuji

Here is a synopsis:

Mei Shinonome always has this dream. When she was younger and lost her way in a dark forest, she sang her favourite song, "Mei-chan's Butler", to build up her courage. Suddenly she was lifted up by a man who said he was her butler. Now she can't remember what he looks like, but remembers his shimmering brooch and long slender fingers. Kento Shibata is a pretty boy who, along with everyone else in the class, doesn't believe Mei's dream was once real. Emiri Enari has a crush on Kento and looks down on Mei as her father is a noodle chef. How will Mei find the butler from her dreams and will she get everyone to believe her?

I am not sure who to credit this with since I have seen it on everything I have seen for this. Now I'll add my two cents. I have only read the first 6 chapters of the first volume so far. The art could be a bit better but Mei is always cutely drawn. Of course she has a butler..there wouldn't be a manga if she didn't. Kento reveals his crush on Mei but pretty boy or not he can't compare to the butler, who happens to be his big brother! I'm not riveted waiting for the next chapter. Still, I like it and find the butler interesting. She now has people after her. I had no idea butlers also had bodyguard in their job descriptions. I will keep reading this for a while. I have been getting the scans from SMM scanlations

http://s15.invisionfree.com/Shoujo_Manga_Maniac

Shinobi Life

Who wants their own personal ninja bodyguard? I do! I do! I am in the mood for unconditional devotion and having someone around who can protect me and would die in order to do so. Still, Beni isn't sure if this is a good thing or not. Especially when she realizes Kagetora has somehow come through time and was her ancestor's personal ninja who just she happens to share her name with. In fact at first she thinks he is a co-playing stalker. Kagetora of course is confused and at first thinks she is the original Beni. His "Beni-Hime-Sama". Beni's home life is not good. She even suspects her father in her mothers death. He keeps hiring bodyguards for her but they all keep disappearing...until Kagetora is mistaken for her bodyguard. Beni keeps getting kidnapped which she attributes to her father's dirty dealings. He is also quite cruel. Maybe things will begin to change with Kagetora by her side? What is the real truth behind her mother's death? What does a real ninja think about thong underwear?

Hush

Quickie description... Gyu Hwa Lee looks like a guy, but she has feelings just like any other girl. She's currently in love with Korean pop idol Kang Un Ryu. After a tragic accident Kang Un ends up transferring to Gyu Hwa's high school. The only problem is he has to keep his identity a secret so he's cross-dressing as a girl. Gyu Hwa discovers Kang Un's secret and winds up helping him. Will she ever be able to win over his heart? This is  Korean manhwa that's funny and tearful by the author Ji Un Yoon (Yun)who also did Cynical Orange. You can gets scans at Condensation. Other groups scanning are HMR and VNManga XD Team.

Megane Ouji/Glasses Prince

Sachiko confesses her love to her glasses prince and is totally rejected. She has no time to recover however since she has to move from her grandmother's home to live with her mother who she hasn't seen in years. When she gets there who answers the door.....her glasses prince, Masuda senpai! Now she is living with him and he isn't a prince at all. He has a double life. How will Sachi handle all these new changes and stress? 

There are currently 2 volumes and it isn't licenced yet. You can gets scans at Nagaraboshi. I added the link on the right. I don't think the series will be a long one. It seemed to be moving fairly quickly. Still, Sachi is funny and honest. Glasses prince has some serious issues but seems kind underneath it all. We'll have to see how it progresses.

Fall in Love like a Comic

Rena has a double life. She is a normal high school girl but she is also a mangaka. She has a popular comic and she likes to write love scenes. She accidentally bumps into Tomoya the school idol and drops her latest manuscript. She tries to keep being a mangaka a secret in fear of being found out and being kicked out of school because of her sexy drawings. Fearing the worst she goes back to school and finds that Tomoya has her work and he threatens to tell everyone. She tells him the truth then asks him if he would be her boyfriend to help her out. She has never had a boyfriend before and feels her work is missing something...first hand experience. He shockingly agrees. He has turned everyone else down. Why does he agree and what does he have in mind? 

There is only one book so far with another one being planned. This isn't anything groundbreaking but it is funny to see how hard she works and how happy it makes her. You wonder if all mangaka are like that? Also, I liked the frame of Tomoya's face when she tells him he is just like a shoujo manga hero. I can't quite tell if he was in pain with hurt feelings or is it disgust...maybe something smelled really really bad. Whatever the case, she totally missed it. It's cute and classic. It was previewed in Shojo Beat if you don't want to buy the whole book.

Bride of the Water God

The book hails from Korea by Yoon Mikyung/Mi-kyung Yun ( I am not sure of the proper spelling). It is licenced and is being published by Dark Horse comics. This is romance no question. There is a seriousness to it however that from as much as I have read so far could be explored some more. The art is beautiful. At first I thought some of the people were a bit too distracting and less impressive than the backgrounds. That seemed to work itself out or maybe I just got used to it. There are funny moments and the art reflects that.

Soah is a local girl made into a "bride" aka sacrifice for the water god to stop a draught. Instead of dying she is rescued by Habaek the water god and is now in a magical world. Her new husband is a little boy and not what she was expecting at all. Gods however are never what they seem and it is something Soah needs to figure out. There are other Gods and intrigues and she may son have to pick sides. I won't spoil it for you. I know have been looking forward to this for a while. I started reading it in scanlations and had to wait seemingly forever before the book finally came out in the USA. Even if you don't want to read it look at the art at least. The feudal Korea/magical world look of it is nicely done.