In other news…

Gia reports that Aurora’s LuvLuv comics will be running on the Netcomics site. (Image is of Love for Dessert, a fairly typical LuvLuv offering.)

Yaoi-Con seems to have gotten a lot less coverage than NYAF, but Broccoli’s Shizuki Yamashita has a two-part con report at Industry Babble (day 1, day 2) and Satsuki has more at One Potato Two (day 1, day 2, day 3).

Matt Thorn looks at manga readership in Japan and follows up with pie charts. Mmm, pie charts.

Casey, Bamboo, and Robin chat with longtime fan Natalie Baan about the way cons used to be at ANN.

At The Comics Reporter, David Welsh points out that manga girls can be as realistic as anyone in Minx, although the fact that he includes Ichigo, the gender-bender hero/heroine of After School Nightmare, shows manga’s greater flexibility in the definition of “girl.”

LJ’er Octopedingenue asks which manga pass the Bechdel test:

1. It has to have at least two women in it,

2. Who talk to each other,

3. About something other than a man.

… and invites the rest of the world to make suggetsions and comments. A blog has blossomed from this, although it’s really just a list of titles at the moment, waiting for comments from readers. Your duty is clear.

Of course, all yuri passes the Bechdel test. At Okazu, Erica Friedman catches us upon the yuri news of the week.

LJ’er sei_kun outlines the shoujo manga formula.

The MangaCasters have some catching up to do; they list their preferred manga from the weeks of Sept. 9, Sept. 16, and Sept. 23. Japanator posts the Sept. 29 list, and Manga Recon has the Oct. 1 releases but no recs yet.

Speaking of Manga Recon, reviewer Sam Kusek introduces himself with a nice essay on his life as an otaku so far. But there’s hope for him yet—he just moved out of his parents’ house.

Translator John Thomas examines the challenges of his trade at Mecha Mecha Media. And congratulations to John on his 200th post!

ANN notes that not a single manga won a Harvey award. Given that only two were nominated, that’s not surprising, and imagine the outrage that would have ensued if the Witchblade manga had won.

Lori Henderson has thoughts on digital distribution, in reaction to the NYAF State of the Industry Panel, at Manga Xanadu.

New blog alert: Let’s Fall Asleep, which supports a “virtual seminar” on josei manga. It’s brand new but already full of interesting discussions about josei manga and its possible place in libraries. It’s also well written and features lots of illustrations so go, check it out.

John Jakala muses about which manga bear up best under repeated readings at Sporadic Sequential.

At the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Jason Yadao looks at two manga for dog lovers, Guru Guru Pon-Chan and Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs.

Brandon Graham is looking at some older manga and drawing some comics of his own, and he shares it all on his LJ. (May be NSFW.)

Rica Takashima, creator of the cheerful yuri manga Rica ‘tte Kanji!? will be a guest at MangaNEXT.

News from Germany: Jonathan has the October manga releases at Manly Manga and More.

News from Japan: Emma creator Kaoru Mori has a new manga in the works. It’s a historical manga (surprise!) set on the Silk Road and will debut in the first issue of Enterbrain’s new Fellows! magazine. Mainichi reports that manga-ka Kenshi Hirokane will rename a firm in his manga President Kosaku Shima after the real-life counterpart, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., did the same. And Oricon has done another survey, this one asking readers aged 14-19 which manga they think are most interesting. The winners are One Piece and Slam Dunk, with Dragonball and Death Note tied for third place.

Also, this Times article about a fire in a video store is not only quite dramatic, it brings in some social commentary on the tendency to use manga cafes as flophouses.

Reviews: Carlo Santos kicks things off with his latest Right Turn Only!! column at ANN. And there are some new reviews up, too: Casey Brienza on vols. 1 and 2 of Ichigenme… The First Class is Civil Law, and Carlo again on vol. 12 of xxxHOLiC and vol. 3 of Gun Blaze West. Dave Ferraro takes a look at vol. 1 of S.S. Astro at Comics-and-More. Warning to reviewers: It is impossible not to compare this to Azumanga Daioh. Ferdinand really enjoys vol. 1 of Astral Project at Prospero’s Manga. Mangamaniac Julie reviews vol. 1 of A Gentleman’s Kiss at the MangaCast and at the Manga Maniac Cafe, she checks out vol. 1 of Bound Beauty, vol. 3 of The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls: Revenge of the Hori Clan, and vol. 1 of Rosario + Vampire. Lissa Pattillo reads Wanted, vol. 2 of Forest of Gray City, and Manic Love at Kuriousity. Lori Henderson reviews vol. 2 of Metro Survive and Charles Tan weighs in on vol. 2 of Cat-Eyed Boy at Comics Village. At Manga Recon, Michelle Smith reviews vols. 1-2 of DVD and the staff pitches in on the weekly Manga Minis. Tiamat’s Disciple has posts on vol. 2 of You’re So Cool, vol. 6 of Chocolat, vol. 3 of Sundome, vol. 5 of One Thousand and One Nights, vol. 4 of Moon Boy, and vol. 2 of Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro. Emily takes a peek at Konya, Kimi ni Ai ni Iku at Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Page. Sesho posts an audio review of Vampire Knight at Sesho’s Anime and Manga Reviews. At Animanga Nation, Faith McAdams reads vol. 5 of High School Debut, Edward Zacharias looks at vol. 1 of Death Note (Collector’s Edition), and Sophie Stevens weighs in on vol. 3 of Honey and Clover. Watch out for spoilers in Oyceter’s review of vols. 4-10 of Ouran High School Host Club at Sakura of DOOM. Lori Henderson looks at vol. 2 of King of Cards at Manga Xanadu. Ed Sizemore critiques vols. 1 and 2 of Time Stranger Kyoko at Comics Worth Reading. Fresh reviews at Manga Life: David Rasmussen on vol. 9 of Reborn!, Park Cooper on vol. 7 of Muhyo and Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation and vol. 2 of The Record of a Fallen Vampire, and Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 4 of Wild Ones. Tangognat checks out vol. 1 of S.A. (Special A). James Fleenor posts his impression of vol. 1 of Black Lagoon at Anime Sentinel. Connie reviews Seduce Me After the Show, vol. 2 of Kiichi and the Magic Books, vol. 24 of Case Closed, Cowa!, and vol. 5 of Le Chevalier d’Eon at Slightly Biased Manga. Snow Wildsmith reads Love Bus Stop and D.M. Evans checks out vol. 2 of Zombie Loan at Manga Jouhou.

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Comments

  1. I didn’t compare SS Astro to Azumanga Daioh, true they have similar setting in a school, but the focus is totaly different i found. Other than the setting and the fact they’re both 4-koma, i wouldn’t say they had a lot else in common. But that’s just me :)

    I didn’t rea;;y like 4-koma manga until recently. In fact i would never have bought any if left to myself. I only ended up reviewing them because i was sent some to review, and so far i’m regretting not getting into them earlier since i love all the titles ive read now.