As if there weren’t enough reasons to read Shojo Beat, the April issue will have an interview with manga artist Keiko Takemiya. Interestingly, none of her work is available in English (according to the press release), although I’m sure the ink is dry on a contract somewhere in the Viz offices. And you might as well write that check for a subscription, because it looks like it’s going to get better:
As an extension of her desire to nurture the next generation of artists, Takemiya will also begin offering instructional techniques and advice to SHOJO BEAT readers and hopeful manga artists, beginning in the June issue. This instruction will be augmented by additional artistic instruction from Hiroyuki Iizuka and Yuu Watase, another shôjo superstar and the creator of popular titles like ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND, FUSHIGI YÛGI: GENBU KAIDEN and CERES (all published by VIZ Media). Their Drawing with Yuu series launches in July.