David Welsh checks the latest Previews and finds two new arty manga to get excited about. And he wants you to help him choose between two manga, a yaoi manga or one about life in a maid cafe.
Erica Friedman brings us up to date on the world of yuri with the latest edition of Yuri Network News. Erica also has an interesting post on why light novels are such a tough sell outside Japan.
Niko Silvester profiles manga creator Moto Hagio at Mania.com, and Rob McMonigal continues his appreciation of Rumiko Takahashi with essays on Takahashi’s attitude toward men and a look at her silly side.
Lori Henderson continues her celebration of the Year of the Rabbit with a look at manga that feature rabbit girls.
Same Hat reproduces a vintage 1988 essay by “script polisher” James Hudnall on the process of translating and adapting manga.
Seven Seas has a preview up of Toradora!, the first volume of which debuts in March.
Here’s another reason to go to the Toronto Comic Arts Festival: Alt-manga creator Usamaru Furuya (Lychee Light Club, No Longer Human) will be there.
News from Japan: Barefoot Gen manga-ka Keiji Nakazawa is on the mend after a lengthy hospitalization for lung cancer. Khursten notes that Shueisha has launched a boys love manga magazine, BL-ink.
Reviews: Wolfen Moondaughter takes a look at a stack of recent yaoi (and yaoi-ish) manga at Sequential Tart. Todd Douglas pens some brief manhwa reviews at Anime Maki.
Rob McMonigal on vol. 3 of 20th Century Boys (Panel Patter)
Crystal White on vol. 11 of Black God (Japanator)
Rob McMonigal on A Drunken Dream and Other Stories (Panel Patter)
Kris Kosaka on Hagakure: Code of the Samurai (Japan Times Online)
Rob McMonigal on vol. 4 of Jormungand (Panel Patter)
Animemiz on Natsume’s Book of Friends (Anime Diet)
Rob McMonigal on vol. 4 of Nightschool (Panel Patter)
Rob McMonigal on vols. 4 and 5 of One Piece (Panel Patter)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 9 of Otomen (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Kristina Pino on vol. 4 of Pandora Hearts (Japanator)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 8 of Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo (ANN)
Alex Hoffman on vols. 1 and 2 of Saturn Apartments (Manga Widget)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 4 of Seiho Boys High School! (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Connie on vol. 2 of Spiral (Slightly Biased Manga)
Johanna Draper Carlson on The Story of Lee (Comics Worth Reading)
Rob McMonigal on vol. 1 of Time and Again (Panel Patter)