HARUKANARU SORA EH (TO THE DISTANT SKY) Negishi Yasuo (story editor) and Saitou Muneo (art) Overview:This is the first part of a short series on a true story: Japan's struggle to launch a successful space program. Fukuyama Gorou, Katou Kenichirou, and Godai Tomifumi fought for years to launch, in 1994, Japan's first large rocket. Their story actually began in the fifties, with young Godai's dream of someday sending up a real rocket into space. He teams up with the others to pursue a common goal. But dogged by failure, and thwarted over and over again by the United States' refusal to share rocket technology, the trio at last determine they must prove to the US that Japan is capable of entering the large rocket field on its own.
	RECCA NO HONOO Anzai Nobuyuki Overview: Recca is a fire-wielding high school freshman ninja. He and his friends, who are aligned with the four elements, are in a long-running deadly tournament. This issue: Recca is still struggling to regain mastery of his fire dragons. Meanwhile, Fuuko has been poisoned by her opponents' main weapon, a set of sharp claws. The poison is a rare and virulent substance, which might only be cured by a special magical healing tool—which her opponents claim not to have. Fuuko, apparently doomed, seems barely able to defend herself. But she has an unexpected trump card: she has stolen one of the claws, and she uses it to poison one of her opponents.
	SHONEN SUNDAY ©1997 SHOGAKUKAN ¥220