With Halloween right around the corner, you’d think that enterprising manga publishers would be flooding the market with ghoulish delights. Alas, this week’s list features only two seasonally appropriate titles: volume two of Bloody Kiss (Tokyopop), a rom-com about a law student who inherits a house inhabited by two attractive vampires — really, are there any other kind? — and volume six of Petshop of Horrors: Tokyo (Tokyo), a fine example of what John Jakala calls comeuppance theater. In my review of volume one, I praised Matsuri Hino for using this careful-what-you-wish-for formula in surprising and emotionally resonant ways:

… the basic premise of Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo is a familiar one. Count D, a rather androgynous, ageless figure, operates a pet store. You won’t mistake his emporium for PETCO or PetSmart, however–the animals he sells are, in fact, demons, demi-gods, and shape-shifters who assume various guises, from dogs to kirins… The count selects a pet for each customer, choosing an animal that will help its owner realize a long-repressed dream… Of course, Count D’s services don’t come cheap, and his clientele pays dearly for their wishes. And it’s here, in the denouements of each story, that Matsuri Akino distinguishes herself from hundreds of other storytellers working in this genre. Akino’s characters and their plights elicit pathos; though we want the characters to find happiness, we can see that their own wishes are sometimes selfish or unwise. The sacrifices they make truly reflect what’s at stake in their situations, whether it’s a young mother who fears her murderous ex-husband or a low-level yakuza soldier who falls in love with the head honcho’s moll.

If you’re not in the mood for vampires or demonic pet stores, try one of this week’s debuts: Kurashina Sensei’s Passion (DMP), a comedy about a hot young teacher at an all-boys’ boarding school; Liberty Liberty (BLU Manga), a one-shot about a young man who rescues a mysterious stranger from a trash heap (no, I’m not making this up); and Mikansei (Tokyopop), a time-traveling adventure about a 23rd century gal who finds her true calling as a member of a 21st century pop band. And if you’re one of the folks who feared that Tokyopop had canceled Aria, you’ll be happy to see volume five arriving in stores this week. Don’t forget to actually buy a copy — publishers need to know that their most vocal critics are willing to put their money where their mouths are.

NEW SERIES/ANTHOLOGIES

• Kurashina Sensei’s Passion, Vol. 1 (DMP)
• Liberty Liberty (BLU Manga)
• Mikansei, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)

CONTINUING SERIES

• Apothecarius Argentum, Vol. 8 (CMX)
• Aria, Vol. 5 (Tokyopop)
• Bloody Kiss, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
• Dragon Ball Z VIZBIG Edition, Vol. 5 (VIZ)
• Game X Rush, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
• Gestalt, Vol. 3 (VIZ)
• I Hate You More Than Anyone, Vol. 8 (CMX)
• INVU, Vol. 5 (Tokyopop)
• Kyo Kara MAOH, Vol. 4 (Tokyopop)
• Ludwig II, Vol. 2 (DMP)
• NG Life, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
• Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo, Vol. 6 (Tokyopop)
• Phantom Dream, Vol. 4 (Tokyopop)
• Queen of Ragtonia, Vol. 2 (Aurora)
• Shinobi Life, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
• Togainu no Chi, Vol. 4 (Tokyopop)
• Tsubasa: Those With Wings, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
• Zone-00, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)