News roundup

Kate Dacey’s Manga Recon rounds up the week’s releases and pens a few brief reviews in the latest Weekly Recon. Japanator lists the new manga releases as well.

David Welsh’s open offer to interview former Tokyopop employees hit a snag when he learned that Tokyopop made everyone sign non-disclosure agreements as a condition of receiving their severance pay. Former editor Peter Ahlstrom, who has always been ready to discuss his work on forums and in blog comments, read the fine print and answered David’s questions, giving an interesting look at the life of an editor (Seven books a month? Mercy!) as well as a generous peek at his own background.

Meanwhile, the deathwatch for individual titles continues. Translator Andrew Cunningham reveals that Gosick, Missing, and the Chibi Vampire novels have been cut.

And Queenie Chan updates readers on the The Dreaming fanfic contest, as well as her other recent projects.

Christopher Butcher has more on the mysterious Cthulhu, who set the blogosphere abuzz with his assertion on Comics212 that Kodansha plans to launch a U.S. arm and cut out its licensees. Chris reveals that Cthulhu didn’t respond to his followup e-mail, which is a bit suspicious, and he does a bit of detective work on his own. By the end of the day, he’s still not 100% convinced one way or the other. Neither is Heidi MacDonald, who keeps hearing rumors about Kodansha entering the American market.

Kids like manga. Kids don’t like Shakespeare. The Baltimore Sun takes a look at what kids think when you combine them. Predictably, they find a couple of adults who just hate the idea. This is excellent, of course, as it makes the books more attractive to the kids. Nice marketing ploy!

At Okazu, Erica Friedman rounds up the week’s yuri news and reports on MoCCA.

A Zogby survey reveals that 11 percent of the people they talked to would read an e-book. ICv2 has an interesting analysis of this otherwise unremarkable fact. Also: They calculate that even with InuYasha ending shortly, American fans can expect about 20 more volumes.

News from Japan: I didn’t really think this was a manga story, but since everyone else is posting it: Some disturbed guy stabbed seven people in Akihabara. Save yourself some time and go directly to Japanator, which has a comprehensive account of what happened. Canned Dogs has a bit more on the otaku angles of the story. Also: The husband-and-wife team who created He Is My Master have divorced, and former wife Tsubaki Aku is no longer interested in continuing the project. At least that’s what husband Mattsu has posted on 2chan. MangaCast has the weekly manga rankings from Taiyosha. Chibi Vampire (Karin) creator Yuna Kagesaki has a new manga in the works. And here’s the job from hell: Sensual Phrase creator Mayu Shinjo explains why she left her job at Shogakukan’s Shoujo Comic (Sho-Comi) magazine: Her editors were jerks.

Reviews: John Jakala thinks the young-looking main character makes Honey and Clover a bit creepy, at Sporadic Sequential. Carlo Santos looks at some totally creepy manga in his latest Right Turn Only!! column. Ed Chavez has an audio review up of the first volumes of Minima, Zombie Loan, and Fairy Tail at the MangaCast. Matthew Brady enjoys vol. 1 of One Pound Gospel at Warren Peace Sings the Blues. Tiamat’s Disciple takes a look at vol. 4 of Heavenly Executioner Chiwoo. Ferdinand checks out vol. 1 of Kitchi and the Magic Books at Prospero’s Manga, and he critiques After School Sex Club for its lack of plot (imagine that!) in his adult review blog, Prospero’s Manga – Mature. At Okazu, Erica Friedman reads Shiroi Bara no Otome, a josei take on the Maria-sama ga Miteru theme, and likes it more than she expected to. Ken Haley reviews vols. 14 and 15 of Black Cat, and Phil Guie checks out vol. 1 of Gimmick! at PopCultureShock’s Manga Recon blog. Deb Aoki is looking at this year’s Eisner nominees, including the odd and artsy New Engineering. Andrew Wheeler checks out two manhwa titles from Yen Press, vol. 1 of Croquis Pop and 11th Cat Special, at ComicMix. (Thanks, Journalista!) New posts at Active Anime: Holly Ellingwood on vol. 15 of The Wallflower, Davey C. Jones on vol. 10 of O-Parts Hunter and vol. 1 of Gimmick! Michelle looks at vol. 12 of Hikaru no Go and vols. 5 and 6 of Love*Com at Soliloquy in Blue. Dave Ferraro reads vol. 1 of Monkey High! at Comics-and-More. Erin Jones reads vol. 1 of Aqua and Danielle Van Gorder reviews vol. 12 of Nodame Cantabile. Lissa Pattillo reads all of Chobits at Kuri-ousity. Julie looks at vol. 9 of Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs at the Manga Maniac cafe. Sakura Kiss reviews Seduce Me After the Show at The Yaoi Review.