The fourtieth comic: #742 Mushishi
In the quest to read a number of manga series that need to be covered so the anime can be started, we read Mushishi. Not sure what to expect beforehand, I was drawn into this world of Japanese spirits. It combines ideas from folklore with its own mythology and lore and creates these short stories - five per volume - set in this world. There are a handful of two parters and a few details carry over, but for the most part these stand alone - we, like the main character Ginko, wander into people's life, see them deal with their problems and leave again. It's a powerful formula and with stories that don't always have a happy end, it's a good mix that somehow feels grounded.
The fourty-fourth book: #1002 Aesop's Fables - Aesopus
Staying in the world of spirits, Aesop's fables are nice little stories of talking animals and gods, designed to teach you lessons - just as you'd expect. They make for amusing little stories with some good morals - although some are more dubious - but that's time and personal opinion. They're all quick reads and a fun diversion for that and it's clear several of them have made it into more common parlance.