Great Gifts For Manga Lovers: Manga in the New York Times Bestseller List

I've been looking for some of the best manga to buy for myself this Christmas and I thought I would make a list for those like me who would like to buy manga for themselves or would like to buy manga as a Christmas gift for a family member or friend. I've compiled ten manga titles in all, each with a synopsis and links to where you can buy it. Check it out:

Great Gifts For Manga Lovers: Manga in the New York Times Bestseller List

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan Characters

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan is full of hot anime guys. The members of the Shinsengumi alone make eight smoking hot specimens of the male species, - the anime kind. Hehe. Here are the main characters of the reverse harem anime Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan:

Chizuru Yukimura
Chizuru is the main protagonist. She came to Kyoto in search of her missing father, a Dutch-educated doctor who, on orders from the Shogunate, developed the "ochimizu", a potion which increases the drinker's healing abilities, speed, and strength but which also has an unfortunate side-effect of turning the drinker into a mindless, vampire-like monster called a rasetsu.

Toshizo Hijikata
Hijikata is the vice-captain of the Shinsengumi and makes most of the Shinsengumi's decisions. He is the one who brought Chizuru back to Shinsengumi headquarters. He has taken on the responsibility for Chizuru's welfare and acts as if he's dismayed at having to do so, but in reality he does care for Chizuru's safety and is often shown protecting her during battles.

Souji Okita
Okita is the First Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi. He is a brilliant swordsman, but he suffers from tuberculosis. He is based on the historical Okita Sōji.

Isami Kondou
Kondou is the commander of the Shinsengumi. He has the trust, respect, and loyalty of his men inspite of being very emotional. He is based on the historical Isami Kondō.

Keisuke Yamanami
Yamanami is the bespectacled scholar captain of the Shinsengumi. In spite of being a ruthless tactician, he is kind and caring albeit a little reserved. He is based on the historical Yamanami Keisuke.

Shinpachi Nagakura
Shinpachi is the Second Division captain of the Shinsengumi. He is usually very cheerful, especially when he is with his comrades. He is very skilled with the sword, but he is also a true alcoholic and womanizer. He is based on the historical Nagakura Shinpachi.

Sanosuke Harada 
Harada is the Tenth Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi. He prefers the spear to the sword, but he is seen carrying both. He is based on the historical Harada Sanosuke.

Heisuke Todo
Heisuke is the youngest member of the Shinsengumi being around the same age as Chizuru. He is based on the historical Tōdō Heisuke.

Hajime Saito
Saito is the leader of the third squad of the Shinsengumi and a master of the left hand sword technique. He is silent and a taciturn but also very loyal, polite, and wise. He often analyzes the situation before attacking to figure out which actions are necessary to complete the mission. He is based on the historical Saitō Hajime.

Chikage Kazama
Kazama is a member of the Bakumatsu, enemies of the Shinsengumi. He is the strongest Oni in the North and is after Chizuru so they can mate and create stronger oni.

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan

I was doing some research on hot anime guys and I discovered a fairly new anime called Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan that seems to be a very promising reverse harem anime. I haven't seen it yet, but as far as I can tell, there are eight main male characters in the anime, all of them beautiful bishonens. Hehe. The story reportedly also has some romance in it - and not between the boys, mind you! The anime has one main female character as well. I wonder which of the characters falls in love with her or she falls in love with. Hmm...

The story is about a girl named Chizuru Yukimura who has come to Kyoto looking for her father, a doctor who has gone missing. During her search for her father, she witnesses a fight between a mindless, vampire-like monster called a rasetsu and the special task force in Kyoto called the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi take Chizuru into custody and decide to keep her close at hand after discovering that she is the daughter of the doctor they are also looking for. And so Chizuru follows the Shinsengumi in their battles to help the shogunate and search for the missing doctor.

I can't wait to watch it. I bet I'm going to fall in love with the characters of Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan. Hehe. Hope it gets dubbed in English soon. Sigh... I know, I know, it will probably be two or more years before an English dubbed version of Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan gets released, but there's no harm in wishful thinking, is there? :)

Hellsing Anime Wallpapers

Oh, I just love Alucard, don't you? ;D Enjoy these Hellsing anime wallpapers that I have collected from different websites and have used on my computer at some point in time. Click on the images to view full size. Full size resolution is 1024x768. To download, right-click and select Save Image.

Quotes From Hanabusa Aido, Vampire Knight

Hanabusa Aido

Vampire Knight naughty boy Hanabusa Aido teases Yuki Cross and the other day class girls like crazy. But I kind of like his charm, actually. Here are some of his more memorable quotes:

To the day class girls waiting outside the night class dorm:
"Good morning, girls! I could hear you loud and clear from the dorm. You're all looking quite cute today!"

Using his hand like a gun and pointing it towards the heart of one of the girls:
"Bang!"

To Luca after she hit his hand with the corner of her notebook:
"Luca, do you wish to die?!"

After two day class girls got excited about seeing him and Cain Akatsuki come out of the school:
"No need for all this fuss. We just came out here because we smelled blood. You're so mean, Yuki. You know, the real reason we came out here tonight... Sigh... You smell so nice."

After Yuki Cross firmly tells Aido to let go of her while he was drinking blood from her hand:
"Oh, but I want more. May I partake from your neck?"

Referring to the holes left by Zero's fangs on Yuki's neck:
"So Yuki, whose bitemarks are those?"

Vexed at Kaname Kuran's special treatment of Yuki:
"Do you know how annoying this is Yuki? Just what are you to Lord Kaname?!"

To Yuki after he pulled her inside their dorm in front of all the other day class girls:
"They're really jealous of you. It's so... cute."

Grabbing Yuki from behind and hugging her in front of the other day class girls:
"The jealous girls will go mad with envy and bully you from now on, Yuki Cross."

Quotes From Kaname Kuran, Vampire Knight

Kaname Kuran

Vampire Knight pureblood Kaname Kuran, one of the most powerful of vampires, dotes on Yuki Cross like an overprotective father. It's not surprising therefore that most of his memorable quotes have something to do with Yuki:

To Yuki Cross after she brushed off Kaname's show of concern by acting all professional all of a sudden:
"When you act reserved like this, I feel... lonely."

To Zero Kiryu after Zero grabbed Kaname by the arm and brusquely told him to go to class now:
"You're so scary... Mr. Disciplinary Committee."

To the night class as the moon hid behind the clouds:
"The night is made for vampires."

To Ichijo Takuma after he commented about Yuki Cross being interesting and that there wasn't a single girl in the night class like her:
"No... And for someone so used to the dark, she's a rather blinding sight."

Apologizing for Aido's drinking blood from Yuki's hand and trying to suck it from her neck as well:
"I'm sorry he scared you. That was wrong of him, Yuki."

Before killing a level E vampire attacking Yuki:
"You poor creature, ending up like this. However... the person you've chosen to hurt is someone very dear to me."

To Yuki:
"...I'm sorry but I just can't ignore that you got bitten by someone else."

To Yuki after realizing that she let Zero secretly drink her blood:
"When did this happen to us? Just when did you stop talking to me about everything, Yuki?"

To Luca:
"You want me to slap you. You're an odd girl."

Quotes From Zero Kiryu, Vampire Knight

Zero Kiryu

Vampire Knight Disciplinary Committee member Zero Kiryu puts on a bad guy facade but in reality is very deeply in love with Yuki Cross. The contradictory emotions raging within him often show through his words and actions. Here are a few memorable quotes from Zero Kiryu:

To Yuki Cross about her infatuation with Kaname Kuran:
"You're so obvious, it's pathetic."

To Headmaster Cross about their job in the Disciplinary Committee:
"Why are we doing this? Come on, Headmaster. Our job is to work security, not be bodyguards for celebrities!

To Headmaster Cross after the Headmaster rambled about alleviating his guilt by giving the job of keeping the night class's secret to his dear son and daughter:
"I admit I do have certain obligations to you, but I do not remember agreeing to become your son!"

To Lily the horse when Yuki barged into the stable where Zero was taking a nap:
"Easy there, Lily. Calm down. She's a very simple, uncomplicated girl. She's by no means a threat to you even if she tried to be."

To Yuki Cross who was staring at Kaname Kuran from outside the window:
"How's Kaname Kuran tonight? I know he's your hero."

To Aido Hanabusa who was trying to drink blood from Yuki's neck:
"Drinking blood on school grounds is strictly prohibited."

After Kaname somewhat sarcastically asks how he is feeling and tells him to take care:
"Listen, if you want to challenge me, I'll be ready and waiting anytime you want, Kaname."

To the night class when they tried to ambush him:
"Come on then, vampires. Go ahead, I'm in a bad mood anyway."

To Yuki after drinking her blood:
"This being I've become is despicable. Even if I loathe vampires, even if I don't want to hurt anyone, I can't stop myself from lusting for blood."

Dragging Yuki out of the night class dorm:
"Don't let yourself be carried off. Come on."

To Yuki after she tried to sacrifice herself to save Zero:
"Why do you insist on doing this? You don't need to care for me so much. I'm really glad nothing happened to you."

Code Geass Anime Wallpapers

There was a time when I was completely obsessed with Lelouch vi Brittania and Code Geass. Naturally, I collected quite a few Code Geass wallpapers from various websites to use on my own computer. Here are some of my favorites: (All of them are in 1024 x 768 resolution except for the fourth one which is 1152 x 864.)

Click on the images to view full size. Right-click and select Save image to download.

Black Butler (a.k.a Kuroshitsuji) Manga: Where To Buy?

I'm thinking of reading the manga Black Butler (a.k.a. Kuroshitsuji). I spent the weekend looking for volume one of the manga in the major bookstores around my city but sadly I wasn't able to find it. I did find it in Amazon but international shipping fees might cost more than the book itself. (I live in the Philippines.) My most probable course of action now is to avail of the special order service of our local bookstores. I've already emailed my request to National Bookstore. I'll also ask Fully Booked and Power Books and see which store has the lowest price. I hope they don't charge exorbitant fees for special orders.

I wish manga were easier to find. If any of you know of a place to buy affordable manga here in Cebu City, Philippines, please let me know. Thanks. :)