School has been kicking our butts but we pulled through with nearly a whole month of stuff (and three to pick from instead of one). A lot of promising stuff has been released, so let's talk about them a bit before going into the main course.
Bigheart's Picks
My first pick is Penguindrum since it's the most interesting show on my radar since I just finished watching Revolutionary Girl Utena. It's about a terminally ill gal that had her death reversed with a penguin hat and ends up helping her friends find a mysterious penguin drum in order to stay alive. The second is Ni No Kuni, which piqued my interest after hearing about it from my friends. The story sounds dark, but the gameplay looks very good. I hope to play it soon. My third will be the R.O.D. Artbook just because I like looking at pictures of Yomiko and Michelle the artwork of the franchise altogether.
Takashichea's Picks
My first pick would be Ultimo. It's a brilliant combination of Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei's style. I caught up to the series. Without spoiling y'all, I recommend this manga series if you enjoy mechs and time travel with a bit of bizarre humor. Then, my second pick would be Nagato Yuki-chan no Shoushitsu. Even though I haven't tried Haruhi Suzumiya or this spin-off, the romance premise plus the whole vanishing in the title makes it sound interesting. The third pick would be Toriko, another Shonen series I haven't tried. I want to see why people think it's the one that nabs the Holy Shonen Trinity title.
Now let's see what you all decide about any of this. What will you pick?
Anime Series
| Image | Title (Format) | Company | SRP | Amazon.com | RightStuf.com | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Blood-C (Full Series DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack [Original and Limited Edition]) | FUNimation | Original: $64.98 Limited Ed.: $69.98 | Original: $55.23 Limited Ed.: $49.99 | Original: $48.74 Limited Ed.: $41.99 | 1/22/2013 |
 | Bodacious Space Pirates (Part 1, DVD and Blu-Ray) | Sentai Filmworks | BD: $69.98 DVD: $59.98 | BD: $51.99 DVD: $44.99 | BD: $41.99 DVD: $35.99 | 1/7/2013 |
 | Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl (Full Series DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack, Premium Edition) | NIS America | $69.99 | $68.98 | $51.99 | 1/7/2013 |
 | Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl (Full Series, DVD) | Media Blasters | $29.99 | $12.99 | $22.49 | 1/7/2013 |
 | Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion (Director's Cut of the Full Series, DVD and Blu-Ray) | Sentai Filmworks | BD: $39.98 DVD: $29.98 | BD: $34.99 DVD: $24.99 | BD: $23.99 DVD: $17.99 | 1/1/2013 |
 | Maria Watches Over Us(Season 3, DVD) | Nozomi Entertainment | $29.99 | N/A | $22.49 | 1/8/2013 |
 | Mawaru Penguindrum (Part 1, Blu-Ray and DVD) | Sentai Filmworks | BD: $69.98 DVD: $59.98 | BD: $59.48 DVD: $49.99 | BD: $41.99 DVD: $35.99 | 12/31/2012 |
 | Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt (Full Series, Blu-Ray) | FUNimation | $69.98 | $59.99 | $41.99 | 1/15/2013 |
 | Persona 4: The Animation (Part 2, DVD and Blu-Ray) | Sentai Filmworks | BD: $59.98 DVD: $59.98 | BD: $39.99 DVD: $39.99 | BD: $35.99 DVD: $35.99 | 1/15/2013 |
 | Pokemon Black and White(Volume 2, DVD) | Viz Media | $19.99 | $14.99 | $17.99 | 1/21/2013 |
 | Qwaser of Stigmata (Part 1, DVD) | Sentai Filmworks | $49.98 | $42.48 | $29.99 | 12/31/2012 |
 | Saiyuki Gaiden (Full Series, DVD) | Sentai Filmworks | $49.98 | $36.99 | $29.99 | 1/22/2013 |
 | Shakugan no Shana S (Full OVA, DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack) | FUNimation | $34.98 | $22.98 | $20.99 | 1/22/2013 |
 | Shakugan no Shana: The Movie(DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack) | FUNimation | $34.98 | $28.19 | $20.99 | 1/22/2013 |
 | Toriko (Part 1, DVD) | FUNimation | $39.98 | $24.99 | $23.99 | 1/8/2013 |
Manga Releases
| Image | Name & Volume | Publisher | SRP | Amazon.com | RightStuf.com | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 21 Century Boys Vol. 1 | Viz Media | $12.99 | $7.55 | $9.74 | 01/15/13 |
 | Afterschool Charisma Vol. 7 | Viz Media | $12.99 | $8.41 | $9.74 | 01/15/13 |
 | Jormungand Vol. 10 | Viz Media | $12.99 | $8.53 | $7.49 | 01/15/13 |
 | Flowers of Evil Vol. 4 | Vertical | $10.95 | $7.31 | $8.21 | 01/15/13 |
 | Heart of Thomas Vol. 1 | Fantagraphics | $39.99 | $25.35 | $29.99 | 01/18/13 |
 | A Bride's Story Vol. 4 | Yen Press | $16.99 | $10.72 | $12.74 | 01/22/13 |
 | Black Butler Vol. 12 | Yen Press | $11.99 | $9.05 | $8.99 | 01/22/13 |
 | Black God Vol. 18 | Yen Press | $12.99 | $9.55 | $9.74 | 01/22/13 |
 | Bloody Monday Vol. 9 | Kodansha | $10.99 | $8.43 | $8.24 | 01/22/13 |
 | Genshiken Omnibus 3 | Kodansha Comics | $19.99 | $11.26 | $14.99 | 01/22/13 |
 | Miles Edgeworth Vol. 4 | Kodansha Comics | $10.99 | $6.95 | $8.24 | 01/22/13 |
 | Soul Eater Vol. 12 | Yen Press | $11.99 | $7.89 | $8.99 | 01/22/13 |
 | Nagato Yuki-Chan no ShoushitsuVol. 3 | Yen Press | $11.99 | $9.59 | $8.99 | 01/22/13 |
 | Limit Vol. 3 | Vertical | $10.95 | $8.22 | $8.21 | 01/22/13 |
Note: The Heart of Thomas was said to be released on January 5, but it was changed to January 18.
Video Games
| Image | Name | Console(s) | Company | SRP | Amazon.com | GameStop.com | Download Station | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Corpse Party: Book of Shadows | Playstation Portable (PSN) Playstation Vita (PSN) | 5pb XSEED Games | N/A | N/A | N/A | PSPN/PSVN: $19.99 | 1/15/2013 |
 | DmC: Devil May Cry | Playstation 3 Xbox 360 PC | Capcom | $59.99 | $59.99 | $59.99 | N/A | 1/15/2013 |
 | Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch | Playstation 3 | Namco Bandai Level-5 Studio Ghibli | $59.99 | $59.96 | $59.99 | N/A | 1/22/2013 |
Other Merchandise
| Image | Name | Item Type | Publisher/Company | SRP | Amazon.com | RightStuf.com | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Read or Die (R.O.D.): Official Archive | Artbook | Udon Entertainment | $39.99 | $21.49 | $29.99 | 1/2/2013 |
 | Shining Hearts: Collection of Visual Materials | Artbook | Udon Entertainment | $39.99 | $24.99 | $29.99 | 1/9/2013 |
Please look out for part 2, where the week of 1/29/13 will be covered!
Sources: GiantBomb.com / RightStuf.com / Amazon.com / GameStop.com
Bigheart711: The anime fan beneath the blue roses! -- Twitter: @MasterMenos ~ Taka (takashichea), your friendly neighborhood wiki editor. -- Twitter: @Takashichea
I'm looking forward to picking up Ni No Kuni someday (when the price lowers). Even though the demo was pretty bad, I saw some potential for a good game. So far, the reviews are also looking good for Ni No Kuni and that warrants, for me at least, a look.
My excitement for Fire Emblem this coming week knows no bounds. All the reviews I have read have been overwhelmingly positive.
I'm interested in Bodacious Space Pirates to see why it got 7th place in Anime Vice's Top 20 Anime of 2012.
Otherwise, Mardock Scramble looks nice.
Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl hmm this wasnt half bad . mad house animation to.Maybe when its cheeper.
DmC Devil May Cry oddly getn high marks an pc version in reviews is one to play .yet http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/6765-DMC-Devil-May-Cry
@AgentJ:
BigHeart711 and I were about to put Fire Emblem Awakening for next week.
@Acura_Max:
I'm the same way when buying video games. I would love to try this one out.
@AURON570:
I'm curious, too. Well, I better try Bodacious Space Pirates.
On this list, I need to read Jormungand. I heard it's like Black Lagoon.
Excellent work and as always its amazing what you can accomplish. There are a few of these I might check out just have to look into them a little more.
Blood-C is very bloody I don't think I have ever seen a more bloody anime in fact don't get me wrong im sure they exist I just haven't seen them. =) It was still good and if you like to be surprised with some crazy twists than its definitely a good one although the twists don't come in tell a little later in the series.
Nothing for me this week but I like the new banner!