Ansehelm's
Book Shelf!
A small but ever growing collection of manga, guides, and illustration books
Books are ordered by author last name for manga and by series for guides/illustration books!
click on books for more info on them!
Fullmetal Alchemist
by Hiromu Arakawa
Ah, a classic. One of the first series I obsessed over and the first manga I ever owned. Still absolutely adore this series! I also own one of the light novels, but have not read it yet.
Owned Volumes: 1-27 (complete box set)
Read Volumes: Completed
Alchemists are knowledgeable and naturally talented individuals who can manipulate and modify matter due to their art. Yet despite the wide range of possibilities, alchemy is not as all-powerful as most would believe. Human transmutation is strictly forbidden, and whoever attempts it risks severe consequences. Even so, siblings Edward and Alphonse Elric decide to ignore this great taboo and bring their mother back to life. Unfortunately, not only do they fail in resurrecting her, they also pay an extremely high price for their arrogance: Edward loses his left leg and Alphonse his entire body. Furthermore, Edward also gives up his right arm in order to seal his brother's soul into a suit of armor.
Years later, the young alchemists travel across the country looking for the Philosopher's Stone, in the hopes of recovering their old bodies with its power. However, their quest for the fated stone also leads them to unravel far darker secrets than they could ever imagine.
From My Anime List
Fullmetal Alchemist The Complete 4-Panel Comics
by Hiromu Arakawa
The sillies!!
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: Completed
This complete collection offers the beloved four-panel comic strips from the graphic novel series and bonus strips from the anime DVDs of Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, as well as rare strips from Japan!
From My Anime List
Chainsaw Man
by Tatsuki Fujimoto
I recently got into this mangaka. He has another series (Fire Punch) and a few one shots. I haven't read Fire Punch yet but I have read a couple of his one shots and even wrote a review for one of them (Goodbye, Eri). Chainsaw Man is very good and the Anime has some great music and animation!
Owned Volumes: 1-12
Read Volumes: 11
Denji has a simple dream—to live a happy and peaceful life, spending time with a girl he likes. This is a far cry from reality, however, as Denji is forced by the yakuza into killing devils in order to pay off his crushing debts. Using his pet devil Pochita as a weapon, he is ready to do anything for a bit of cash.
Unfortunately, he has outlived his usefulness and is murdered by a devil in contract with the yakuza. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Pochita merges with Denji's dead body and grants him the powers of a chainsaw devil. Now able to transform parts of his body into chainsaws, a revived Denji uses his new abilities to quickly and brutally dispatch his enemies. Catching the eye of the official devil hunters who arrive at the scene, he is offered work at the Public Safety Bureau as one of them. Now with the means to face even the toughest of enemies, Denji will stop at nothing to achieve his simple teenage dreams.
From My Anime List
Demon Slayer
by Koyoharu Gotouge
I haven't read much yet, but it's pretty good! I decided to pick up the first volume for my collection, despite reading the series at the library I work at.
Owned Volumes: 1
Read Volumes: 4
Ever since the death of his father, the burden of supporting the family has fallen upon Tanjirou Kamado's shoulders. Though living impoverished on a remote mountain, the Kamado family are able to enjoy a relatively peaceful and happy life. One day, Tanjirou decides to go down to the local village to make a little money selling charcoal. On his way back, night falls, forcing Tanjirou to take shelter in the house of a strange man, who warns him of the existence of flesh-eating demons that lurk in the woods at night.
When he finally arrives back home the next day, he is met with a horrifying sight—his whole family has been slaughtered. Worse still, the sole survivor is his sister Nezuko, who has been turned into a bloodthirsty demon. Consumed by rage and hatred, Tanjirou swears to avenge his family and stay by his only remaining sibling. Alongside the mysterious group calling themselves the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjirou will do whatever it takes to slay the demons and protect the remnants of his beloved sister's humanity.
From My Anime List
Delicious In Dungeon
by Ryoko Kui
A well written and beautifully illustrated series. I have been reading it online and I'm almost finished with it. I also own the Adventurer's Guide book, I just haven't taken a picture of the spine yet.
Owned Volumes: 1-2
Read Volumes: ???
After the Golden Kingdom is sunk underground by an insane magician, its king emerges, promising all of his treasure to any who defeat the magician, before crumbling to dust. Guilds are spurred on by this promise, traversing the labyrinthine dungeon in search of the magician. Laios, the leader of one such guild, encounters a dragon that wipes out his party and devours his sister Falin. Despite having lost the entirety of their supplies and belongings, Laios along with Marcille, an elven healer, and Chilchuck, a halfling thief, immediately reenter the dungeon, determined to save Falin.
Time being of the essence, Laios suggests the taboo of eating the monsters of the dungeon as a means of gathering supplies. Upon the preparation of their first meal in the dungeon, they are stopped by an onlooking dwarf named Senshi. An enthusiast of monster cooking, he helps them prepare their monster ingredients for safe consumption. After learning of Laios' circumstances, Senshi expresses his desire to cook a dragon and joins their guild, thus beginning their food-filled foray into the dungeon together.
From My Anime List
Magi
by Shinobu Ohtaka
A favorite series of mine! unfortunately, it's difficult to find well-priced volumes so I only have a couple books so far.
Owned Volumes: 1, 3, 7, 13
Read Volumes: 36
Fourteen years ago, mysterious buildings called "Dungeons" started to rise in various places around the world. Within these dungeons, powerful beings called djinns rule over. When a person successfully conquers the dungeon, the djinn offers their immense strength in the form of Metal Vessels, recognizing him or her as a worthy king candidate. Adventurers from many empires and kingdoms venture into the dungeons in search of their bountiful treasures and the power of djinns. However, to travel through them is not an easy task, and only Magi—legendary magicians who choose kings and develop countries—can guide people through.
After being trapped in a room for most of his life, a young Magi named Aladdin finally sets out on a journey to explore the world along with his friend, a djinn named Ugo, who he can summon from his flute. Through a series of fateful encounters, Aladdin meets new various friends and allies, and together they begin an adventure that will change the fate of the world.
From My Anime List
Dragon Quest
Encyclopedia of Monsters
Illustrations and information on various monsters from the Dragon Quest series. It's in Japanese. I really need to study more so I can actually read this.
Delicious In Dungeon
Adventurer's Bible
Illustrations and bonus comics by Ryoko Kui. Kui's art is gorgeous as always!
Dragon Quest
Illustrations
Illustrations from most of the Dragon Quest games. I believe it stops off at DQ X. Most (if not all) of the illustrations are by Akira Toriyama, the mangaka behind Dragon Ball.