I just received good news!

Viz Media has picked up the rights to publish the remaining volumes of Loveless by Yun Kouga.

I’m super excited and give so much Thanks for Viz Media for picking up the series.

Volume 9′s release is scheduled for June 2012 and Volume 10 for October 2012.

I know we’ve heard about “scheduled” releases. TokyoPop had promised us Volume 9 several years again but as we all know they failed in delivering on the goods because they decided to close the North American branch (enough of the painful past – let’s move onto a brighter future).

I’m looking forward to seeing how the story and Viz Media turns out next year.

For you Inuyashua fans, Viz Media also picked up the rights to Inuyasha: The Final Act DVD/Blu Ray.

If you are interested in learning more about Viz Media’s newly acquired projects visit Viz Media Adds Loveless, Jiu Jiu Manga

Tokoyopop is now apart of GeekChicDaily. You can learn more about it here A Welcome Letter From TOKYOPOP Founder Stu Levy

Have you heard? TokyoPop is no longer in business. What does that mean for my beloved Loveless and Vassalord series . . .  It means I have to completely move into the arena of online scans.

If you haven’t heard the word about TokyoPop you can just Google it and you’ll pull up several sites talking about it and what may happen.

For me, it is what it is. If the owner has decided to move on then so shall I! I will move on and support the sites that provide us with translated versions of our beloved manga. Is it right or legal? At this point, I don’t care. I faithfully followed the so called “rule” I tried supporting the artist and not do anything “illegal” and where did that get me . . . with an unfinished manga collection.

So, I give up  trying to be the good manga girl. I’m heading over to read the online scans and so far I’m liking what see.

They say that big corporation don’t care about their customers it’s about $$$. I don’t know what the case maybe with TokyoPop and at this moment I can really care less. I have several manga I want to complete and enjoy and that is where I will be placing my attention and possibly my money.

If the anime business continues to tie our hands like this we will continue to go outside their recommended lines to get what we so desire.

As my favorite, TV financial adviser Suze Orman says: “it’s people first, then money, then things” Businesses always put money first. If they followed Suze’s advice, with people first, they would probably have a lot more devoted and loyal customers which would ultimately lead to more money.

Okay, I am through with my rant. On to read the next volume of Loveless #9.

Take care!

This weekend I was doing some window shopping on Amazon (adding things to my wishlist) and I came upon Loveless Vol 8  manga and someone had commented that Volume 9 was released in Japan on November 21, 2009. They suspected that it would take about  6 month before we get to have a copy in our hands to hold and enjoy :-(

6 months? No, I don’t want to wait that long. I know, I’ve waited this long 6 months probably won’t make much of a difference but it’s the waiting that’s killing me. Ugh!

Oh, well. I’ll focus on the good – It’s a great possibility that Loveless Volume 9 will be out sometime in April. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Seen in Volume 5, Volume 6, Volume 7

Beloved (really? I don’t love him)

What can you say about a guy who fakes his own murder, puts his brother through hell (emotionally), emotionally and physically abuses his Fighter Unit, and is an all around mean/bad guy? Well, that’s Seimei Aoyagi for ya.

Is he powerful? Yes

Is he mean? Yes

Is he manipulative? Yes

Is he a good brother? Ritsuka seems to think he is or thought he was. I think not!

Is he a good sacrifice? No, he treated my Soubi just horribly. He doesn’t deserve Soubi or Ritsuka

Nisei- Fighter Unit. He became Seimei’s new Fighter Unit. He too is a bad, bad person. He is manipulative, mean, strong, and just like Seimei an all around bad guy

Seimei and Nisei

Fearless: ones who are NOT afraid of anything

Seen: Volume 5

Mei: Fighter Unit, maybe the same age as Ritsuka. She is actually a girl despite her boyish appearance. She is very new to being a fighter unit so her word spells are weak. When she “tries” to fight Soubi it’s really too cute. She tries to attack with her word spell (word spells require the fighter to picture an image in their mind and make it a reality) When she calls forth “Mister Duck” a chain of rubber duckies appear to attack Soubi and Ritsuka. Unfortunately for her and Mimuro, the only thing threatening about the ducks are that they are too adorable.

Mei also has sort of a problem with Mimuro. She really likes Mimuro but he seems to be interested in boys (like Nisei and possible Ritsuka) but after she confronts him about it she learns the truth.

Mimuro: Sacrifice. He doesn’t want to use any defensive tactics while fighting (they are Fearless after all) He tries to guide Mei into the next attack but she doesn’t listen to him. She prefers to defend (but she’s still a work in progress)

Mei and Mimuro

Seen: Volume 3 and Volume 4

Koya Sakagami – Fighter Unit has dark hair, wears glasses, and fake ears. She’s the serious one between the two. The only sacrifice she wants and loves is Yamato

Nakano Yamato – Sacrifice. Doesn’t want to be a burden to Koya. When she isn’t “being” a sacrifice she is quite friendly and bubbly

When I first met these girls they were a pair of bad ass Zeros. They had one objective and that was to destroy Soubi (they did a pretty good job at it) but like most of the pairs I’ve encountered by the end of the volume I couldn’t resist liking them. Their story is so sweet: Koya and Yamato really love one another even to the point of performing a “Romeo and Juliet” moment but at the last minute decide to live their lives together (away from the sacrifice, the fighter unit, and Nagisa) Way to go girls! I hope you 2 live happily ever after together.

Pro: They are Zeros and therefore cannot feel pain. They know and implore a powerful Exchange of the Sacrifice spell. When the spell is cast the bond between the initiating Zeros (Sakagami/Yamato) is broken. The initiating Fighter Unit then bonds with the opposing sacrifice. So when the opposing Fighter Unit (Natsuo) cast his spell it bounces and ends up confining his own sacrifice (Yoji). This spell only works with Zeros but it’s very effective.

Con: Nagisa is their teacher. She makes many threats that she will dispose of Nakano Yamato if Yamato becomes a burden. Nagisa’s pressure, stresses and worries Koya greatly (she becomes sick to her stomach and vomits). Another problem surrounding the pair deals with Yamato. She is hiding something from Koya that she fears will cause Koya added stress and worry.

Koya Sakagami and Nakano Yamato - Zero

Loveless, Volume 2

Seen: Volume 2, Volume 3 (will be updated)

Natsuo – fighter unit. Dark hair and has an eye patch over the right eye

Yoji – sacrifice. Long hair

These are 2 powerful fighter unit and sacrifice pair. The strongest and most dangerous pair we have encountered so far (it’s only been 2 volumes but still). I immediately didn’t like these two for several reasons:

1. They’re after Ritsuka (I instantly don’t pairs when they’re after my Ritsuka)

2. The first thing they do is kill an innocent dog (such mean, cruel people)

3. They possess Hitomi with the intentions of using her so they could rid themselves of their ears (tsk, tsk little boys)

But I will also quickly add that my feelings for these particular Zeros definitely changed as I progressed throughout the volumes. They soon became one of my favorite pairs (besides Soubi and Ritsuka, of course)

Weakness: They are Zeros and as such they do not feel pain therefore they are unable to feel when their bodies have reached their limits (who knew feeling pain can be a good thing?)

Yoji and Natsuo

Loveless, Volume 2

Seen Volume 2

Kinka – fighter unit (male)

Gin – sacrifice

Together they are Sleepless – ones who do not sleep. Can’t really say much about them. They quickly entered volume 2, were defeated by Soubi and therefore had to surrender the envelope containing important information to Ritsuka, and BAM that’s all the time they get.

They were an alright pair but obviously they did not have the skills to defeat the all powerful Soubi, maybe some time in the distant future they may become a tenth as powerful as Soubi is alone – maybe.

Kinka and Gin

Seen: Volume 1 – Current Volume

Loveless, Volume 1

Soubi Agatsuma – fighter unit to both Beloved and Loveless. He is by far the most powerful fighter unit I have encountered so far in the manga series

Ritsuka Ayogai – Loveless sacrifice. He doesn’t have as much knowledge or skills as the other sacrifices but for all that he lacks he makes up for by using his intellect, intuition, and empathy for others to survive and get to the truth about his brother and Septimal Moon (I Love You Ristuka!)

Ritsuka and Soubi

Seen: Volume 1

Breathless: An Intensity that Will Take Your Breath Away

Ai – fighter unit. She seems to be the quiet one of the pair. She’s not as fast or as strong as she needs to be to defeat Soubi but with her sacrifice by her side she’s able to summon powerful spells to restrict Ritsuka, for a while at least

Midori – sacrifice. He’s the stronger one of the two and since he is Ai’s sacrifice he gives her strength with his encouraging words and with his strategies on how to best defeat Soubi

Ai and Midori Breathless