The Apothecary Diaries Hits Volume 22
Today's biggest release is The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Palace Puzzle Notebook (薬屋のひとりごと～猫猫の後宮謎解き手帳～) volume 22, the Shogakukan manga adaptation drawn by Minoji Kurata and based on Natsu Hyuuga's original light novel series. A special edition bundled with masking tape ships alongside the standard release. The series remains one of the best-selling manga in Japan, and its anime adaptation aired its second season earlier this year.
Araki, Nisio Isin, and Demizu Team Up for a B.T. Revival
Also notable on the list is Marou Shinshi B.T. (魔老紳士ビーティー), a collected volume bringing together Shueisha's Cool Shock B.T. sequel material. The original Cool Shock B.T. was Hirohiko Araki's serialized debut in Weekly Shonen Jump back in 1983, following a boy who uses magic and psychological tricks. Marou Shinshi B.T. picks up 60 years later with an elderly B.T. living as a gentleman, featuring a story by Nisio Isin (the Monogatari series) and art by Posuka Demizu (The Promised Neverland). The one-shot first ran in Shueisha's Ultra Jump magazine in October 2021.
More Highlights From the Shueisha Lineup
Shueisha dominates the list with over 30 titles. Sui Ishida's Choujin X reaches volume 16, continuing the Tokyo Ghoul creator's ongoing supernatural series. Aka Akasaka's post-Oshi no Ko project Marchen Crown hits volume 4, co-created with Aoi Kujira and Ajichika. Bug Ego volume 4, written by ONE (One-Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100) with art by Kiyoto Shitara, also ships today.
Kingdom fans can pick up the second BOX set from Yasuhisa Hara's long-running historical epic, packaging the Bayou Defense and Sanyo Campaign arcs together.
Shogakukan and Other Publishers Round Out the Week
Shogakukan's lineup features Rumiko Takahashi's MAO at volume 29 and Kenjiro Hata's Fly Me to the Moon (Tonikaku Kawaii) at volume 36. Takashi Shiina, best known for GS Mikami, launches a new series with Tetsu no Mabito volume 1. Mitsuharu Yanagimoto's shogi manga Ryu to Ichigo reaches volume 27.
KADOKAWA contributes five titles, including travel essay manga and comedy series. Smaller publishers like Ichijinsha, Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, and Suisei-sha fill out the list with romance, isekai, and slice-of-life volumes.
Looking Ahead
The full June 18 release list on Japanese entertainment news site Comic Natalie runs to over 90 volumes. For international readers, The Apothecary Diaries is published in English by Square Enix Manga (the Nekokurage adaptation) and Yen Press (the light novel), though this particular Minoji Kurata manga version does not currently have an English release. Choujin X is available in English through Viz Media and on Manga Plus. Kingdom is published in English by Viz as well. No English edition has been announced for the Marou Shinshi B.T. volume.