Train_Man: Densha Otoko

This is the could-be-true story of your basic never-been-kissed geek who, prompted by an uncharacteristic act of courage and fairy godmothers in the form of an Internet chat community, finally manages to score a date. The real Train_Man's story created a media sensation in Japan, generating a bestselling novel, a blockbuster movie, a hit TV series and multiple manga deals, including three separate English-language treatments. By now, it's the stuff of pop-culture legend: when a drunken old man begins harassing female passengers on a train, Train_Man jumps to their defense, prompting one of the women—the younger, cuter one, natch—to send him a pair of Hermes tea cups by way of thanks. Unsure what to do, our young hero, a self-described "gamer/ anime otaku" who's never had a girlfriend, turns for advice to online buddies who send him notes of encouragement as well as advice on how to dress, where to go and, most importantly, how to screw up enough courage to call the young woman back and ask her out. No surprise that the ending to this particular story is happy, which helps explain its wild popularity. In this () version aimed at young men (seinen), the story's silly sweetness, as conveyed by Hara's efficient, uncluttered drawings, make it a fast, fun read. (Oct.)