Bad boys and good comics

The MangaCast team takes a hard look at this week’s new manga, and Ed has the 411 on three new titles from DMP.

The first wave of nominations for the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is up, and manga is well represented. I like the range of the list, which includes both Pet Shop of Horrors Tokyo and Japan Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan, two books that are great (as in “awesome!” rather than “an epic for the ages”) in very different ways. If you feel something is missing, nominate it yourself! (H/T: Robin Brenner.)

Feministe has an interesting essay on unrealistic body images in BL comics (and a rather, er, interesting video game). (Via Journalista.)

At du9, Xavier Guilbert writes (in French) about the Salon du Livre, which included a “Manga Village” as well as a space devoted to BDs.

At Comics-and-More, Dave Ferraro discusses where he gets his comics, and he has a tip for manga fans: You’ll may get your books faster if you pre-order them.

I meant to mention this earlier: Matt Thorn dropped in on comments the other day to pimp his student’s new title, Seduce Me After the Show, due out in April from Deux. Looks yummy!

Sarah Walters provides an overview of manga for first-timers, tied to the exhibit “How Manga Took Over the World” in Manchester, UK.

Brave Story is coming to an end in Japan.

Milk and cookies with a side of weird: The Mandarake chain is opening a mother cafe in Osaka. (Warning: Swallow your coffee before reading the comment thread, or severe damage to your equipment may result.)

Congrats to blogger Matthew J. Brady on the birth of his daughter, Magnolia Rose. And yes, she is a beautiful baby!

Reviews: Ken Haley checks out vol. 1 of .hack//G.U.+, a title that sounds like it’s coughing up a hairball, at PopCultureShock’s Manga Recon blog. Michelle reads vol. 9 of Ouran High School Host Club at Soliloquy in Blue. Julie is more irritated than entertained by Voices of Love at the Manga Maniac Cafe. Erica Friedman discovers an awesome new josei/action yuri manga, Gunjou; too bad it’s in Japanese. Lissa Pattillo reviews Love Share at Manga Jouhou. At Anime on DVD, Sakura Eries checks out Deja Vu: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and vol. 14 of Fullmetal Alchemist, Briana Lawrence looks at Laugh Under the Sun, and Chris Beveridge raises his hand for Please Miss Yuri. Ed Sizemore reads vol. 1 of Minima, a book that takes a while to reach its stride, at Comics Worth Reading. Dave White critiques vols. 1-3 of My Heavenly Hockey Club, with emphasis on the art, at 741.5 Comics. At Active Anime, Rachek Bentham reviews vol. 10 of Yakitate!! Japan, Holly Ellingwood takes on vol. 2 of The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls, and Scott Campbell stares right back at vol. 3 of Dragon Eye. Jog reviews vol. 3 of Mushishi. Leroy Douresseaux reviews vol. 1 of Crayon Shinchan at The Comic Book Bin.

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Comments

  1. Gah. I should not have followed that link about the mother cafe. Ruined my morning, it did. I might as well go across the street and grab a bacon cheeseburger, because evidently there is no God.

  2. Dangit. *wipes stains off shiny computer screen* Remind me never to read a comment thread ever again.

  3. Goodbye brave story!