I spoke to Shonen Jump senior editor Joel Enos a couple of days ago about that magazine’s new subscriber-only digital comics. Joel provided some additional details on the program and reassured me that parent company Viz is not contemplating dropping the print edition. Now ANN has confirmed that Viz has licensed Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s and will start serializing it in SJ in January. And he talked a bit more what’s going on here:
When asked about VIZ’s digital and print strategies in general, Enos explained that with Shonen Jump magazine is nearing 10 years old — its first issue was released in December 2002. “It was time for a new look and feel,” he said. “The world of reading, magazines, and manga have changed a lot in the past two to three years.” He stated that Shonen Jump will integrate both digital and print distribution as much as possible rather than shifting focus away from print.
Meanwhile, at Manga Xanadu, Lori Henderson isn’t all that impressed with Viz’s digital news.
Sean Gaffney is first out of the gate with a look at this week’s new manga at A Case Suitable for Treatment, while Lori Henderson has this week’s list of all-ages comics and manga at Good Comics for Kids.
At ANN, Jason Thompson takes a fond look at Immortal Rain, which unfortunately is stuck in licensing limbo at the moment, although you can read the whole series online if you read Japanese. Here’s Jason’s summary:
Apocalypse, love, strong female characters, attractive guys, one of the greatest villains ever, and a 600-year-old reincarnation simulation game named Wakuwaku Samsara (“Exciting Samsara”) – this is what Immortal Rain is all about.
So there’s something for everyone, then.
Melinda Beasi points out three digital comics you shouldn’t miss at Manga Bookshelf, and she also takes a look at fanservice for girls in the nominally shonen manga (Black Butler, Gestalt) of Square Enix’s Monthly GFantasy magazine.
Former Tokyopop editor Tim Beedle has some thoughts on global manga and wonders why it isn’t popular despite the obvious talent of many creators.
David Welsh’s license request this week is Piece, by Sand Chronicles creator Hinako Ashihara.
Danica Davidson will be familiar to many readers of this blog, as I frequently link to her manga reviews. At the freelance writers’ site The WM Freelance Writers Connection, she writes about her work adapting manga for American readers. (Via The Manga Critic.)
Faith Erin Hicks is making fanart of her favorite manga! And posting it at her LJ!
News from Italy: Jiro Taniguchi has won Italy’s highest comics award.
News from Japan: Remember that manga on psychosomatic illnesses we mentioned yesterday? ANN found that the publisher has posted several chapters online. At Same Hat!, Ryan posts the cover of the new Shintaro Kago manga, The Dark Beast Animorphosis, along with the book trailer and some other info—sadly, in Japanese. And a Hokkaido man who illicitly shared some chapters of One Piece via the internet has been arrested.
Reviews
Caddy C on vol. 1 of Afterschool Charisma (A Feminist Otaku)
Kristin on vol. 3 of Black Butler and vol. 1 of Bamboo Blade (Comic Attack)
Julie Opipari on Che Guevara: A Manga Biography (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Nick Smith on vol. 1 of Daniel X (ICv2)
Ed Sizemore on vols. 4-6 of Detroit Metal City (Comics Worth Reading)
Emily on Heroine Shikkaku (Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Page)
James Fleenor on vol. 1 of House of Five Leaves (Anime Sentinel)
Michelle Smith on vols. 1-4 of Maid Sama! (Soliloquy in Blue)
James Fleenor on vol. 4 of Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project (Anime Sentinel)
Clive Owen on vol. 2 of Rosario + Vampire: Season II (Animanga Nation)
Victoria Martin on vol. 1 of The Story of Saiunkoku (Manga Life)
Zack Davisson on vol. 8 of Tactics (Japan Reviewed)
Carlo Santos on vol. 16 of xxxHOLiC (ANN)