Sugisaki Yukiru 杉崎ゆきる

Sotsugyou M [Graduation M]
卒業Ｍ
original concept by Arisugawa Kei
serialized on Asuka,
5 volumes @ Y390
[ 01:9605| 02:9611| 03:9704| 04:9707| 05:9712]

The history of how this series came to be is rather complicated. It all started with "Sotsugyou" (Graduation), which is a CD Rom dating simulation game that became hugely popular. It was targeted at males and the purpose was to date the five graduating highschool girls in it. The game spawned OAV series, manga... But in response to this, "Sotsugyou M" was created, which was a group of five male alter-egos for a radio drama "Sotsugyou crossworlds" broadcasted in 1995. They became popular, the concept was extended, and "Sotsugyou M" became a series on its own (anime OAV, drama, novels).
Amongst all the spin-off, two independent manga series were created of which this is the first (the other is drawn by Nishiomi Kyouko). The setting of this manga series is an all boys boarding school and centers around the lives of five boys in their graduating year. This is a warmhearted series about friendship, joy, love, pain in the lives of people passing into adulthood. This manga version is very lighthearted, episodic of nature and puts less emphasis on character development.
APG:(OAV)

D.N.Angel
Ｄ・Ｎ・ＡＮＧＥＬ
serialized on Asuka, 1997-present
9 volumes Y400
[ 01:9711| 02:9812| 03:9908| 04:0007| 05:0102| 06:0202| 07:0210| 08:0303| 09:0307]

Very cute manga about a kind-hearted 14 year-old boy, Daisuke, whose life is changed by the appearance of the mysterious thief Dark whose personality resides within Daisuke. Dark causes havoc by taking over Daisuke's body and transforming into his original form. There is also a cute bunny-like creature named With, who can change form into either Daisuke or Dark. The twin sisters, Risa and Riku, are classmates of Daisuke's and add to the confusion as various crushes form between the characters.

APG:

D.N.Angel Illustrations Feder
artbook
published by Kadokawa,
1 volume @ Y1300
[ 01:____]

Vinyl Softcover, 80 pages.

Brain Powerd
ブレンパワード
serialized on Shounen Ace,
4 volumes @ Y540
[ 01:9806| 02:9901| 03:9909| 04:0102]

Based on the anime with the same name. An evangelion-lookalike (even according to the creators). The world has been devastated by floods and climatic changes. In this world, a new force emerges, hidden on the bottom of the ocean: Orphan. This organisation operates on a mysterious goal. They search organic discs, which give birth to antibodies (robots), with their robotic mechs (Grand Chers). There's of course opposition against this organisation. This opposition has as a goal to save mankind from the catastrophes which they think came forth by the emergence of Orphan. This team of fighters pilot Brain Powerds - which are antibodies that are not under control of Orphan. The anime was bland in respect to the Evangelion series it imitated, but the manga is somewhat better.

APG:

TRA:(F)Generation Comics(E)
Click to buy English translated volume 1 at Amazon.
Click to buy English translated volume 2 at Amazon.
Click to buy English translated volume 3 at Amazon.
Click to buy English translated volume 4 at Amazon.

Neutral
artbook
published by Kadokawa,
1 volume @ Y1900
[ 01:____]

Newtype Illustrated Collection. Softcover, 96 pages, 64 color.

Megami Kouhosei [The Candidate for Goddess]
女神候補生
serialized on Gum Comics,
4 volumes @ Y800
[ 01:9710| 02:9807| 03:9905| 04:0001]

Mankind faces a lethal threat, in the form of an alien life form, called Victim. These monsters have destroyed all but one of the planets that mankind has colonized. In order to protect this last planet and its colonies the Goddesses are developed. These are giant robots piloted by young talented people. Their EX capabilities enable them to synchronize with the Ingrids (name of the Goddesses). We follow the arrival of Zero Enna, a young boy with an attitude, on GOA, the Academy in which Candidates for pilots are trained. Every pilot has a partner, who is a repairer for the robot he/she pilots. Together with his partner (Kizuna), Zero paves his way to success.

Does this sound familiar? If you've read/seen Evangelion, you'll know where Megami Kouhosei got some of its ideas.

APG:(OAVs)(12)

TRA:(E)
Click to buy English translated volume 1 at Amazon.
Click to buy English translated volume 2 at Amazon.
Click to buy English translated volume 3 at Amazon.