Fall into some new comics or continue with the latest volume of your favorite series.

The Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, Itsuki Nanao
Library Catalog

“After breaking a ‘curse' on the imperial heirs, a palace servant with training in herbal medicine is promoted up the ranks to food taster…and right into the thick of palace intrigue in this lushly illustrated period mystery series!

Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn't long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a ‘curse' afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?!” –Publisher Marketing

Wandering Witch, Volume 1 The Journey of Elaina by Jougi Shiraishi, Itsuki Nanao, Azure
Library Catalog

“A gentle and beguiling tale of a young witch's travels, based on a best-selling light novel series.

Ever since she was a little girl reading books of magic and adventure, Elaina has dreamed of following in the footsteps of her childhood idol, the witch Nique, and living a life of travel. Now a full-fledged witch herself, Elaina sets off on a journey without a destination, wandering far and wide to see the world. With each new place she sees and person she meets, Elaina's world grows a little bit richer.” –Publisher Marketing

Fire Force Omnibus 12 (Vol. 33-34) by Atsushi Ohkubo
Library Catalog
The first book in the series, Fire Force, is available here.

“Dive feet-first into the world of devil-fighting firefighters with this FINAL omnibus edition of the hit manga from the creator of Soul Eater! Blaze past the anime, hundreds of large-sized pages at a time.” –Publisher Marketing

Bocchi the Rock!, Vol. 1 by Aki Hamazi
Library Catalog

“Grades 9 and up. High schooler Hitori Gotoh has dreams of having many friends and being in a famous rock band, but her crippling social anxiety is making both of those goals extremely difficult for her to accomplish. One day, a chance eavesdropping lands Hitori a gig as a guitarist in a band that has suddenly found themselves without one, though she discovers playing with a group is much more challenging than playing alone and uploading videos to the internet. Nicknamed Bocchi, she must learn to be part of a whole and overcome some of her anxieties in order to realize her dreams. This manga is written in yonkoma form: four vertical panels read top to bottom then right to left, which is usually used for slice-of-life manga rather than long-form storytelling. The repetitive layout may become tiresome for some readers, but hopefully Bocchi's sweet story of personal growth will outshine the lack of panel diversity. There are a few instances of fan-service, and the characters work at a club where alcohol is served and discussed. VERDICT Purchase where Komi Can't Communicate or Idol Dreams circulate well.” –Sara Smith, School Library Journal

“In the year 198 of the Age of the Sun, Tokyo is a crowded cosmopolis. But the world's most populous city is threatened by devils that cause people to burst into flame at random! The only ones who can stop it are the Fire Force, a team of specialized firefighters. The young Shinra, blessed with the ability to ignite his feet and travel at the speed of a rocket, wants nothing more than to be a hero, and knows that this is the place for him! But he's not the best at following orders…” –Kodansha Comics

No Rules Tonight: A Graphic Novel by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada
Library Catalog

“While living under a forceful totalitarian regime, a group of university students escape to the mountains for a night of freedom in this piercing graphic novel by Banned Book Club collaborators Kim and Estrada. In winter 1984, a 36-year curfew has come to an end in South Korea, and high school graduate Hyun Sook expects to start college “with more freedom than any teenager had been granted in generations.” Yet things seemingly remain the same, with police limiting acts of self-expression. But Hyun Sook and her friends in the masked folk dance troupe find a loophole that allows them to perform satirical plays that poke fun at politicians. On Christmas Eve, the club retreats to Jiri Mountain, far from parental supervision, societal rules, and political drama. Each teen has their own plan for how to spend this “curfew-free night unlike the others,” including Hyun Sook, who seeks to restart her defunct banned book club but must repel the attentions of a suspected spy. Sleek panels with comedic flourishes add levity and charm to memories, events, and secrets inspired by the author's personal experiences, bringing to life a night of romance, friendship, and change amid societal unrest and adolescent upheaval.” –Publishers Weekly

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley and illustrator Cassio Ribeiro
Library Catalog

“Grades 9-12. Neesha Sparks is an honors student being put into remedial classes due to misconceptions of her disability until she speaks up. New state, new home, and new school will not crush her activist spirit, as she knows you have to get loud to be heard. Enter fellow new girl Gabby Graciana, a chatty surfer who misses the ocean. As they navigate the first day together, Neesha, who is Black, learns a not-so-secret secret about Puerto Rican Mexican Gabby: she's an otaku! Together they start a book club for manga classic Super Navigator Nozomi, and as they locate volume after volume, love blossoms and Gabby has to make a choice–a new romance with Neesha or a boyfriend back home? Whitley offers a nuanced queer romance highlighting the complexity of finding love where you didn't expect it while also navigating unwelcoming spaces. The book's depiction of Gabby's Latine cultural touchstones and trauma resulting from a deadly hurricane are particularly thoughtfully done. Ribeiro terrifically transitions from a North American comic art-style to a manga-art style for pages of Super Navigator Nozomi; lifelike colors and clean gutters transform to monochrome illustrations surrounded by explosive sound effects in a celebration of all things love and manga. A perfect choice for teens who swoon over shojo.” –Booklist

Black Clover 35 by YūkiTabata
Library Catalog
The first book in the series, Black Clover, is available here.

“In a world of magic, Asta, a boy with anti-magic powers, will do whatever it takes to become the Wizard King! Asta is a young boy who dreams of becoming the greatest mage in the kingdom. Only one problem–he can't use any magic! Luckily for Asta, he receives the incredibly rare five-leaf clover grimoire that gives him the power of anti-magic. Can someone who can't use magic really become the Wizard King? One thing's for sure–Asta will never give up!

With Ichika and the others in trouble, Asta arrives to save the day. Has he mastered his new Zetten technique, and will it work against Lucius's Paladins? Meanwhile, Lucius launches his final attack on the Clover Kingdom. Can the Magic Knights prevent the end of the world?” –Viz Media

The Fox Maidens by author and illustrator Robin Ha
Library Catalog

“Grades 8-12. Award-winning Korean American graphic artist Ha (Almost American Girl, 2020) returns to her birth country with a story set four centuries ago, in the rigidly striated society of Hanyang (now Seoul). Kai, however, is a singular outlier, trained to be a warrior by her revered father, General Song, who was elevated to the top class of yangban after killing Gumiho, the powerful nine-tailed fox able to shape-shift into a beautiful woman. The Gumiho link continues to haunt the Song family, fed by rumors that Kai's mother is Gumiho's daughter, which explains Kai's prowess that far surpasses her older half brothers' abilities. When a long-ago clan war reignites, Kai becomes a target, and her survival demands she confront her inevitable legacy. ‘When I first conceived of this graphic novel about Gumiho, I thought it would be a fun, action-packed, fantastical thriller, full of cool scenes for me to draw,' Ha writes in her can't-miss author's note. She's succeeded stupendously, her panels gorgeously fluid with motion, saturated colors, and empathic emotions. ‘What I've actually made is a book about generational trauma,' she elucidates, highlighting ‘Korean women . . . [who] live with the heavy burden of generational trauma caused by the patriarchy and war . . . Korea was built on the backs of Korean women who sacrificed their entire lives for their country.' Ha's magnificent storytelling reclaims, reveals, and honors their strength.” –Booklist

Oshi No Ko, Vol. 1 by Aka Akasaka
Library Catalog
The first book in the series, Oshi No Ko, is available here.

“Grades 9-12. This whirlwind regeneration story begins with fans of an idol being reborn as her children, but it takes readers through many plot twists in what Akasaka describes as the prologue to the main story. Ai is a 16-year-old idol (a popular, wholesome pop-music singer) who finds herself pregnant with twins. The truth would ruin her reputation, so she births them in secret and juggles a double life as an idol and a parent. Her twin children remember their past lives, but they only use their advanced language and reasoning skills in moments of self-interest. Akasaka blends several popular manga tropes here but keeps them fresh. Firstly, the reincarnation story supplants the reborn into our world, rather than starting them over in another world. Akasaka also peppers the narrative with comedy and lighthearted shojo elements, but at heart, this story is dark and occasionally tragic. Akasaka breaks every chapter with a documentary-style interview set in the future, and these tantalizing little peeks hint at bigger things to come. This first volume spans the first several years of the children's lives and sets up a tonally very different main story. These twists and turns are sure to keep readers glued to this story. Yokoyari's dazzling, vivid illustrations deftly use breakaway panels and varying layouts to build tension and emphasize key moments. This series promises to be full of heartbreak and intrigue that will hook readers for years to come.” –Booklist