Holiday Review #15: THE OTHER WORLD'S BOOKS DEPEND ON THE BEAN COUNTER

 Mind you, not all the isekai fantasy manga that came out this year was dire.  Yen Press managed to find a real gem, as well as the first instance of BL isekai I've seen since Kyo Kara Maoh.

THE OTHER WORLD'S BOOKS DEPEND ON THE BEAN COUNTER (Isekai no Sata wa Shachiku Shidai), based on the light novels by Yatsuki Wakatsu and character designs by Kikka Ohashi with art by Kazuki Irodori.  First published in 2020 and first published in North America in 2022.

PLOT:

Seiichiro Kondou was just another salaryman, working long hours at an accounting firm, wondering how his twenties got away from him.  Then he stumbles across a young woman getting sucked into a strange portal, and in his attempt to save her gets transported alongside her to the fantastical realm of the Romany kingdom.  It seems this young girl is the maiden destined to save them, but the prince and his counselors have no idea what to do with Kondou.  He decides to make himself useful by joining the royal accountants, but his efficiency begins to make him enemies and a bad reaction to a magic potion leads to a close encounter with the stern royal captain Aresh Indolark.

Holiday Review #14: MY [REPAIR] SKILL BECAME A VERSATILE CHEAT, SO I THINK I'LL OPEN A WEAPON SHOP

 The ongoing tsunami of fantasy light novel manga adaptations continued into 2022, although it started to take on a different quality.  Amidst the slave harems and the demon kings was a more low-key strain of stories.  These were about guys who wanted to leave the adventurer lifestyle behind, settle down, maybe start a business.

MY [REPAIR] SKILL BECAME A VERSATILE CHEAT, SO I THINK I'LL OPEN A WEAPON SHOP ("Shuufuku" Skill ga Bannou Cheat-ka shita node, Bukiya demo Hirakouka to Omoimasu), based on the light novel by Ginga Hoshikawa and character designs by Nemusuke, with art by Yukimi Enoki.  First published in 2019 and first published in North America in 2022.

PLOT:

Luke has wanted to be an adventurer since he was a child, but he has no luck.  He's useless with weapons and his only magical skill is the ability to repair items.  Abandoned by his latest party and left to die, he's forced to find innovative new ways to use his skill just so he can get out.  In the process he strengthens his sword so much that he's able to slay a dragon, saving the samurai swordswoman Sakura and her companion Sylvia.  They vow to help him in return, and together they create a second-hand weapon shop where Luke can put his skill to the best possible use.

Holiday Review #13: TALES OF THE KINGDOM

 Mostly I'm just glad that this year brought us yet another beautiful and subtly queer manga from Asumiko Nakamura.

TALES OF THE KINGDOM (Okoku Monogatari), by Asumiko Nakamura.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2022.

PLOT:

This collection features two stories.  The first is of two twins, Adalte and Adolte: one a prince, the other a prisoner.  The two finally meet as young men, escape and find a degree of modest happiness until insecurity forces them apart.  The second is of Shao, a servant from a far-away land.  He is a man held captive not just by his terms of service but by his undying love for his royal master.

Holiday Review #12: TO STRIP THE FLESH

Yet again, if you want trans (particularly transmasc) representation in comics, manga remains the best place to find it and this year brought another fine example.

TO STRIP THE FLESH (Toda Oto Tanpenshu Niku wo Hagu), by Oto Toda.  First published in 2020 and first published in North America in 2022.

PLOT:

Chiaki has known he was trans since he was a kid, but for years he felt beholden to his late mother's wishes and his dad's misunderstandings.  The only way he and his dad can connect is through working on his dad's hunting Youtube channel, even if it's only to do the butchering while the livestream ogles his chest.  It's only when Chiaki's dad is diagnosed with cancer that Chiaki finally takes action and the two of them are forced to reflect and reconnect.

Holiday Review #11: THE TITAN'S BRIDE

BL manga also continued to thrive, and you could only imagine my surprise when THIS got licensed.

THE TITAN'S BRIDE (Kyojinzoku no Hanayome), by ITKZ.  First published in 2019 and first published in North America in 2022.

PLOT:

Koichi Mizuki was just enjoying some quality time to himself in his bedroom, but without warning he found himself transported to a world of giants.  It turns out that Caius, the prince of this realm, brought him here as his prophesied bride.  Caius is charmed by Mizuki and eager at every turn to savor his body, even if Mizuki isn't entirely convinced at first.  Alas, an accidental poisoning and a dangerous journey will put their nascent relationship to the test.