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Japanese Comic Ranking, October 12-18

ANN 15th Anniversary - Win A Trip to Japan!
ANN is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and we want to give someone the chance to win a trip to Japan! 2013-08-22

ANNCast - Super Manga Pals Forever
The Super Manga Pals reunite! Deb Aoki rejoins the table along with ANN staff critic Rebecca Silverman for a discussion of what we've been reading and your Twitter questions! 2013-08-23

Japan Expo USA 2013
We're at Japan Expo: First Impact! Check back this weekend for panel reports.
Available Now: Yen Press - Viz Media 2013-08-23

Answerman - Macross One, Fans Zero
Justin tries to shed some light on the whole Macross mess, but fails. Also, why do we never see Southeast Asian English dubs? And why wasn't Eureka Seven license rescued? 2013-08-23

Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Special Guest Edition: Cyborg 009
Shaenon tackles one of the most widely-recognized (and soon-to-be reimagined) sci-fi manga series. 2013-08-22

Anime News Nina! - 2013-08-21
The ravages of age are harder on anime fans. 2013-08-21

The X Button - Ultra Violence
This week brings talk of Ultra Street Fighter IV! But we find time for Persona 4 Arena, Rime, and a really busy lineup of releases. 2013-08-21

Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II Blu-Ray
There are reasons to watch this movie: fine individual scenes, fun cameos, interesting alterations. They're exceedingly small charms, though, for a film that squanders so many large ones. 2013-08-21

Pile of Shame - Yagami-kun's Family Affairs
This week, a slapstick comedy OAV from 1990 that's all about incest. 2013-08-20

Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine BD+DVD
It seems an odd thing to say that one of the darkest, grittiest, most libidinous interpretations of Lupin's world is the most feminine, but like Fujiko, the contradiction begets the intrigue. 2013-08-20

Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club Episodes 1-6 Streaming
Free! proves that it has the right elements to succeed as both a sports series and a school-life series, but it hasn't put those elements to full use yet.

Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II Blu-Ray
There are reasons to watch this movie: fine individual scenes, fun cameos, interesting alterations. They're exceedingly small charms, though, for a film that squanders so many large ones.

Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine BD+DVD
It seems an odd thing to say that one of the darkest, grittiest, most libidinous interpretations of Lupin's world is the most feminine, but like Fujiko, the contradiction begets the intrigue.

Tales of Xillia
Xillia attempts to cut out the tedium and the small annoyances we've come to associate with Tales, but it's left nothing in their place.

Blue Morning GN 1
As it continues, Blue Morning has the potential to really develop into an involving, interesting story with some weighty emotional ground. If Katsuragi grows as a character into someone we can like or at least sympathize with, then this story could go places.

Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee GN 14
One of the few times that the series shifts into full-on, mainstream shonen battle mode. This volume has plenty of exciting and awe-inspiring moments, but it lacks any major surprises.

Lovely Complex Sub.DVD
There may be more intelligent, better-written, and more important romances out there, but for sheer joy in the watching, Lovely Complex is king. (Or queen, if you prefer).

Appleseed XIII BD+DVD
The first series version of Masamune Shirow's renowned manga deserves credit for its ambitious use of CG, symbolism, and allusions to Greek mythology, but it wields its symbolism like a blunt weapon and its episodes vary too widely in quality.

Dragon Ball [3-in-1 Edition] GN 1
Akira Toriyama's talents are clear to see, with the ever-growing roster of characters, a joyful sense of adventure, and visuals that are cuddly and cute yet action-packed.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic GN 1
It is clear that this series is only just getting started. There are some pacing and story issues that look as though they will even out as the tale continues on, and overall Magi's first volume has a lot of promise.

Blue Drop Sub.DVD Complete Collection
An amnesiac girl enrolls in an all-girl boarding school where she meets and forms a tumultuous relationship with a secretly alien beauty in this sci fi-themed yuri series. Despite its gimmicky foundation, this nearly-overlooked gem is elegant in execution as it focuses more on developing its characters and relationships.