A bunch of new manga hits stores today, and atop the list (at least for SHONEN JUMP fans and followers of The Prince of Tennis anime) is Prince of Tennis volume 37. Visit the VIZ store to get a copy for a discount, and check out our other major releases while you're over there...

Volume Synopsis:
Seishun's semifinal matches against Shitenhoji continue, and now it's Kaoru and Momo's turn in No. 2 Doubles. Their opponents, Koharu Konjiki and Yuji Hitoji, are highly skilled players but have a style that's a little...unusual. Next, two power players step onto the court for No. 2 Singles: Taka and Gin Ishida, the originator of Taka's Hadokyu shot. In this match of Hadokyu vs. Hadokyu, it's the last player standing who'll win!

We launched another update of the vizanime.com site over this past weekend, with improvements in user comment displays, and a new poll function. Stay tuned because we're going to have fun with this new poll system over the next few months. And if you haven't caught up with the One Piece anime, our most recent addition to the site, now's the perfect time as episodes 1-114 are now up, and we continue with the current Impel Down storyline with episode 448 this week. This month also brings some exciting series into the fold, so stay tuned for those as well...

One thing you gotta love about anime is how even the bad guys get their own back-stories -- and in the latest two episodes of The Prince of Tennis, we get some major insight into the past of Akutsu, Ryoma's latest (and perhaps toughest) opponent. Interestingly enough, it all comes back to one central question: Is tennis a sport worth playing if you don't find any challenge in it? For Akutsu, the answer is a resounding no, but Ryoma might convince him otherwise...

It's also very fitting that episode 46 is called "samurai spirit," for what else can true samurai spirit be but the desire to push yourself to your mental and physical limits? We may have exchanged swords for tennis racquets, but warrior philosophies never change...

Catch these episodes and the rest of the series in the Prince of Tennis section.

Episode 45: A Devil on the Court
Provoked by Ryoma’s taunts, Akutsu begins to take their match seriously and unleash his true strength. Akutsu’s power and speed amaze the crowd, while Ryoma counters with his special shots….

Episode 46: Samurai Spirit
Ryoma brings out his best shots to challenge Akutsu’s raw power. In spite of the spectators’ worries, the violent battle continues to rage. Will Ryoma find the strength within to help him defeat his most challenging enemy?

What happens when your dunk smash is used against you by a wily opponent? Go on the offensive, of course! But when our favorite trickster Momo clashes against Yamabuki Junior High's Sengoku in this week's fresh episodes of The Prince of Tennis, his patented Jackknife shot might have an Achilles heel -- or to be more precise, a sprained right foot! But that match is just a prelude to Ryoma's face-off against the thuggish Akutsu. The last time the two of them met up, Ryoma got a fistful of rocks in his face for his trouble -- will he get off the court alive this time?

Catch the latest episodes in the Prince of Tennis section.

Episode 43: Lucky Sengoku
Sengoku counters Momoshiro’s signature dunk smash and the match slowly starts shifting in his favor. Momoshiro perseveres but his left foot starts to spasm due to the intensity of the match.

Episode 44: Jackknife
Finally Ryoma’s match starts with Akutsu from Yamabuki Junior High. With all the trouble Ryoma encountered with Akutsu a few days ago, everyone is worried for his safety!

It's championship time in this week's fresh episodes of The Prince of Tennis! The Seigaku team is raring to go, but the focus this week is crazy happenings on and off the court. First, how does a stray cat running out into the middle of an intersection affect a high school tennis match? We're about to find out! Then Ryoma's grizzled dad tries to pretend he's a member of the PTA (as if that's going to convince anyone). And what's with everyone on the Ginka Junior High team coming down with a "stomachache" at the same time? Should we also mention Oishi's teddy bear (aw, cute...) and the fake heart attack? Forget the real games, the mind games have already begun!

Catch these episodes and more in the Prince of Tennis section.

Episode 41: Trouble
The second half of the Metropolitan Matches begins! Fudomine Junior High plays badly due to circumstances beyond their control and forfeits. Ginka Junior High also forfeits and Seigaku advances to the next match to play Yamabuki Junior High!

Episode 42: Oishi is Targeted
Kikumaru and Oishi start their doubles match against Yamabuki Junior High’s Higashikata and Minami. Oishi confronts the same pair that he was unable to beat in last year’s match. And finally Momoshiro’s match with Sengoku starts!