Had the best time getting these manga and manhwa in Leipzig!
From March 16 till March 23 I found myself in Leipzig. The first two days I had lots of breathing room to do my own thing. On Thursday LMB (Leipziger Buchmesse/Leipzig Book Fair) and MCC (Manga Comic Con) started. I attended the events for work. But who am I kidding? I also LOVE going myself.
Whenever I wasn’t working, so basically me running in between meetings, I had time to explore the fair and con myself. Especially on Thursday I really wanted to make sure I had the time to go by all the comic publishers. Since for these kinds of events they pull out all the stops. Like merch, extra fun goodies with certain purchases, etc. And stuff like that goes fast. So I knew I had to be there on time.
Please know that, since this is an English blog, I will post my purchases with their English description if available. However, I bought all of them in German. The first reason why I buy most of my comics in German is because for language studying purposes. But even after I am already at a certain level with German I kept on going, because German translated comics are mostly a lot cheaper than the English translated ones.
Manga
How I Met My Soulmate, Vol. 1 – Anashin
Yuuki is a 20-year-old college sophomore who has wished for one thing since moving to Tokyo: to find her soulmate. Growing a bit desperate after a long drought, she goes along with a friend to a club for the first time. Her friend thrives, but it’s chaotic and loud…just not Yuuki’s scene. Then, when Yuuki begins to despair that she’ll ever find a real, adult relationship, she meets Iori, a man with bleached hair and a slightly scary demeanor…but first impressions don’t always tell the whole story. Could destiny still have more cards to play?
This is the only comic I actually bought before MCC. I got this one at Thalia in the city centre when exploring Leipzig. “How I Met My Soulmate” has been on my radar ever since 2023 and for no reason I hadn’t picked it up earlier.
The Eccentric Doctor of the Moon Flower Kingdom, Vol. 1 – Tohru Himuka
In the faraway lands of the Moon Flower Kingdom, people have long relied on healing methods shrouded in superstition with dubious results. When the young Prince Keiun goes in search of more reliable remedies, his party is attacked by mysterious assailants, and he ends up witnessing a never-before-seen lifesaving procedure that shocks him to the core. Even more surprising, the one who performs this medical feat is a beautiful, yet slightly odd, teenage girl named Koyou! Just who is this girl, and why is the prince being targeted by assassins? Shadowy conspiracies, medical intrigue, and romance abound in this beautifully illustrated shojo manga!
When I was at the gorgeous Altraverse booth, they built some kind of store at the con, an employee who saw me looking at every shelf struck up a conversation with me. We talked about so many comics and based on my interest she picked a few manga and manhwa I might like. This being one of them!
Tamon’s B-Side, Vol. 1 – Yuki Shiwasu
Tamon is an insecure mess in real life, and what’s worse, he’s threatening to quit! Utage refuses to let anyone stand in Tamon’s way—least of all himself. What’s a fangirl to do but roll up her sleeves and support her favorite singer with everything she’s got?
The employee at Altraverse recommended this comic to me since I asked for something a little bit lighter and fun. This is a fan favourite I heard a lot about but never picked up, but this felt like the right time to do so.
Kingdom, Vol. 1 and 2 – Yasuhisa Hara
Xin’s quest begins when his friend Piao, another war orphan who shares his dream of becoming a great general, is taken away by a mysterious minister to the capital, and Xin is left to work and train on his own. But one fateful night, Piao returns bloodied and on the brink of death, with his dying words being for Xin to carry on their dreams and meet a certain person in a nearby village. Xin rushes to fulfill Piao’s final request, only to meet a boy who looks exactly like Piao. But this is no ordinary boy—it’s the king of Qin, Ying Zheng! And assassins are hot on his tail!
Last year I loved the Tokyopop (Germany) panel, this year I liked it just as much. They discussed many new upcoming comics they will publish in 2026. “Kingdom”, however, is their big title. 20 years ago the comic got published and reached over 120 million copies worldwide, but never got translated to German. Well, that was until now.
At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get it, although I do like to read works that shaped certain landscapes, in this case the comic world. And with a starter pack that contained the first two comics, two prints, poster and came with a tote bag for 10 euros I knew I had to get it. A publisher who puts that much work into a title must be a grand work of art.
Manhwa
Unholy Blood, Vol. 1 – Lina Lim
All pureblood vampire Hayan Park wanted was a normal life. But the emergence of murderous vampire-human hybrids ten years ago transformed the world into a dangerous place―forcing her to lie low, desperate to keep her secret hidden. When a beloved professor of hers is murdered, though, and a local police captain aims his suspicion at Hayan, things start getting personal. Using her true powers may be the only way to protect those around her…and her own life!
This manhwa has been on my radar before and the employee at Altraverse mentioned that she worked on the German edition. Back then she was in a big reading slump, but this one got her right out of it. Ever since then she eagerly awaits for new volumes.
Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 1 – SUOL, Gwon Gyeoeul (Original Creator)
Playing Daughter of the Duke Love Project as the easy mode heroine, Ivonne, makes charming the male characters a breeze. But once you switch to hard mode and step into the shoes of Penelope, the misunderstood villain, it’s nearly impossible to even stay alive! So imagine the shock of suddenly waking up in Penelope’s body―you know right away that your life is on the line. With love interests who will kill you if their affection meters drop too low and the inability to speak without choosing from pre-selected dialogue, it quickly becomes clear that Penelope’s chances have been rigged from the start―and this villain might just be destined to die!
Last one with the employee at Altraverse! We talked about this one, cause I always liked the concept but I wasn’t sure. She immediately went: probably because this one is everywhere, right? Yes, that was it! We shared our concerns when things get overhyped. In the end I decided to get this one, just because my curiosity finally got the best of me.
The Perks of Being a Villainess, Vol. 1 – Mindo (Adaption), Yoteh (Art), Mango Kim (Story)
Dohee, einst ein schwächliches Mauerblümchen, erwacht nach ihrem Tod als Deborah Seymour, der berüchtigten Schurkin eines Romans. Ein Leben in Reichtum und Dekadenz erscheint greifbar – doch Deborah droht das Schicksal, in ein Kloster verbannt zu werden! Entschlossen, ein erneutes tragisches Ende zu verhindern, nutzt sie ihren Verstand und Status, um das Blatt zu wenden. Kann sie sich den Herausforderungen ihres neuen Daseins stellen und ihren eigenen Weg finden?
The only comic in this haul that doesn’t already have an English translation. To be honest, I have no idea why I am so attracted to this comic. I already noticed this one when I was at Thalia. And even at the con I still gravitated towards it. So by Sunday, I just decided to get it.
Conclusion
I must say, this is a very genre diverse haul! I got action, romance, fantasy and history. So whatever mood I find myself in in the upcoming weeks, I have a comic that covers my needs. MCC was amazing to learn about both older and newly published works. The best of all? Being surrounded with other geeky fans (including the employees) and chatting about it.
Love,
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