Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 1


Yukito Kishiro - 1990
    When he rebuilds her body, Alita's only clue to her past surfaces-her deadly fighting instincts! And now she is determine to find out the truth about who she once was...

Neon Genesis Evangelion: 3-in-1 Edition, Vol. 1


Yoshiyuki Sadamoto - 2012
    Each volume contains three of the original graphic novels and includes pages of stunning, full-color art. Once Shinji didn't care about anything; then he found people to fight for--only to learn that he couldn't protect them, or keep those he let into his heart from going away. As mankind tilts on the brink of the apocalyptic Third Impact, human feelings are fault lines leading to destruction and just maybe, redemption and rebirth. Reads R to L (Japanese style) for teen plus audiences.

Naruto, Vol. 1: Uzumaki Naruto


Masashi Kishimoto - 1999
    His wild antics amuse his teammates, but Naruto is completely serious about one thing: becoming the world's greatest ninja! UZUMAKI NARUTO Twelve years ago the Village Hidden in the Leaves was attacked by a fearsome threat. A nine-tailed fox spirit claimed the life of the village leader, the Hokage, and many others. Today, the village is at peace, and a troublemaking kid named Naruto is struggling to graduate from Ninja Academy. His goal may be to become Hokage, but his true destiny will be much more complicated. The adventure begins now!

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Vol. 1


Nagaru Tanigawa - 2006
    From the very first day of school, his classmate-the beautiful but eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya-makes it very clear that her only desire is to meet aliens, time travelers, and psychics! A chance conversation between the two inspires Haruhi to form the SOS Brigade, a school club created for the sole purpose of gathering together such supernatural beings. The initial members consist of the mute bookworm Yuki Nagato, the timid but voluptuous Miharu Asahina, and the polite and ever-smiling Itsuki Koizumi. By the end of this first volume, Kyon quickly finds out that these seemingly "helpless victims" of Haruhi's are actually members of secret organizations-both futuristic and alien-with the single aim of keeping watch over Haruhi Suzumiya as she is the pinnacle of some major calamity on the horizon...

.hack// Legend of the Twilight, Vol. 1


Tatsuya Hamazaki - 2003
    Twins Rena and Shugo are two middle-school students who enter 'The World' as level one game characters. When Shugo's character dies, he is transported to another level where he is entrusted to bear the Twilight Bracelet by the mysterious Aura. Shugo must find out who Aura is and why she gave him this powerful weapon to protect his sister from the peculiar characters in 'The World'.

FLCL, Volume 1


Gainax - 2000
    His father's a perv and his grandfather a nut. His brother left to seek riches playing baseball in America, and now the brother's ex-girlfriend won't leave Naota alone. Then, from beyond the stars drops an impish defender sent forth to stop alien robots from destroying the Earth. Where do the alien robots come from? Well, from Naota's forehead for starters. From the twisted mind that brought us End of Evangelion comes this bizarre tale of adolescence in a futuristic, fantastical world.

Full Metal Panic! Volume 1


Shouji Gatou - 1998
    Popular high school student Kaname Chidori is believed by a group of terrorists to have special powers, and even if she doesn't want it, Sosuke Sagara of Mithril is going to protect her and the mysterious documents entrusted to them.

Zombie Powder: The Man With the Black Hand


Tite Kubo - 2000
    Soon, Elwood is caught up in Gamma's quest for the most precious objects in the world, the Rings that might give new life to Elwood's sister...or make Gamma even harder to kill than he is already. But to get eternal life, they'll have to put their own lives on the line...and look down the barrel of the gun of the only man who is Gamma's equal...

Yu Yu Hakusho, Volume 1: Goodbye, Material World!


Yoshihiro Togashi - 1990
    by ending it. When he died saving a little kid from a speeding car, the afterlife didn't know what to do with him, so it gave him a second chance at life. Now, Yusuke is a ghost with a mission, performing good deeds at the behest of Botan, the spirit guide of the dead, and Koenma, her pacifier-sucking boss from the "other side." But what strange things await him on the borderline between life and death?

Trinity Blood, Vol. 1


Kiyo Kyujyo - 2004
    When she crosses paths with Abel Nightroad, a priest sent from the Vatican to combat the local order of vampires, the two form a holy alliance to battle the most evil of threats: Gyula, the leader of the vampires. In this gorgeous, gothic-action series--part of the super-popular Trinity Blood franchise--the very survival of the human race is at stake!

Seraph of the End, Vol. 1


Takaya Kagami - 2013
    Yuichiro escapes from captivity and joins the Japanese Imperial Demon Army. But before he's allowed to fight vampires, he has to complete his first, terrifying mission-- make new friends with his fellow aspiring monster slayers!Yuichiro and his friends are kept as vampire fodder in a creepy institution masquerading as an orphanage. One day, Yuichiro's dreams of fighting back are realized when the orphans stage a daring escape. But things go horribly wrong, and his dream is kept alive at a cruel price.

D.N.Angel, Vol. 1


Yukiru Sugisaki - 1997
    Daisuke Niwa is an ordinary middle school student who has inherited an interesting family condition, where the sight of the girl he adores transforms him into a phantom thief.

Azumanga Daioh, Vol. 1


Kiyohiko Azuma - 2000
    Teacher Yukari Tanizaki is oblivious, immature, emotional and one of the people shaping young minds. Her students face difficulties in school that most never imagined. For example, as one pupil starts to ask a question, Miss Yukari cuts him off, stating she won't talk about her bra size. Another group of students are ready for their lessons, but instead of learning about social studies or science, they learn how Miss Yukari spent her weekend. Maybe that's not so bad, considering Miss Yukari's not the brightest bulb in the bunch and has her students correcting her on many technical points. Her students aren't sure how to react, but their bewilderment is half the charm of this manga. Like the 1980s TV series Head of the Class, Azu has an eclectic mix of pupils ranging from child geniuses to sports enthusiasts to tough girls; each possessing much more than meets the eye. The precocious child genius may be great at academic subjects, but she still draws like a little girl and has the emotions of a kid. The unemotional tough teen melts for tiny animals and longs to have a pet of her own, even if all of the creatures she comes in contact with seem to hate her. The art is simple and minimalistic, but adequately conveys the thought and emotion behind each strip. Azuma's cast has depth, dimension and character, and their story heartily entertains.

Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D, Volume 01


Saiko Takaki - 2007
    From the darkness of fallout, mutants and a race of vampires known as the Nobility have spawned. They rule the weak with no remorse. Once bitten by a Nobility, one is cursed to become a member of the undead. Villagers cower in fear, hoping and praying for a savior to rid them of their undying nightmare. All they have to battle this danger is a different kind of danger -- a Vampire Hunter.

Parasyte, Volume 7


Hitoshi Iwaaki - 1993
    He's an ordinary high school student whose body has been invaded by an alien parasite. And he alone knows a terrible secret: The aliens are plotting the destruction of humankind. Now Shinichi is the target - for both the government and the alien invaders - in a hunt that will lead to a terrifying, bloody showdown....