Over at Robot 6, I interviewed Vertical, Inc., marketing director Ed Chavez about the news that Kodasha and Dai Nippon have bought major shares of his company—and how that will affect their manga catalog.
Erica Friedman looks at the pros and cons of self-publishing manga at Okazu, and she also presents the latest edition of Yuri Network News.
AstroNerdBoy defends Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy against an accusation that he destroyed the manga market by coming up with the brilliant idea of printing manga unflipped.
Tokyopop’s article about how and why manga go on hiatus (now signed by its author, editor Lillian Diaz-Pryzybl) has attracted a bit of comment: Christopher Butcher thinks it’s poor form for Tokyopop to blame the readers, and Lillian herself responds in the comments section. AstroNerdBoy weighs in as well on his blog, pointing out that readers hold back on buying series because they have been burned before.
Michelle Smith and Melinda Beasi look at manga scenes that pack an emotional punch in their latest Let’s Get Visual column at Soliloquy in Blue.
David Welsh and his readers spend Oscar night thinking about which manga could be adapted into Oscar-winning movies.
Congratulations to Tony Yao, whose blog Manga Therapy just reached its one-year anniversary. Tony covers a lot of different topics and always has something interesting to say, so if you’re not already a fan, go check it out!
News from Japan: Fullmetal Alchemist is among the nominees for this year’s Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. And hey, look: A One Piece-themed train!
Reviews: Michelle Smith looks at some recent Tokyopop manga at Soliloquy in Blue.
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 13 of 20th Century Boys (Kuriousity)
Connie on vol. 1 of Amnesia Labyrinth (Slightly Biased Manga)
Theron Martin on vol. 14 of Battle Angel Alita: Last Orderm (ANN)
Eduardo Zacarias on vol. 32 of Bleach (Animanga Nation)
Carlo Santos on vol. 34 of Bleach (ANN)
Lianne Sentar on Butterflies, Flowers (Sleep Is For the Weak)
David Welsh on vols. 1-3 of Gunslinger Girl (The Manga Curmudgeon)
Todd Douglass on vol. 2 of House of Five Leaves (Anime Maki)
Kate Dacey on vols. 1 and 2 of Kamisama Kiss (The Manga Critic)
Connie on vol. 12 of Neon Genesis Evangelion (Slightly Biased Manga)
Bob Muir on Not Love But Delicious Foods Make Me So Happy! (Japanator)
Bill Sherman on vol. 1 of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (Blogcritics)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 37 of Oh! My Goddess (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 4 of Toriko (The Comic Book Bin)
Erica Friedman on Wildrose Re:Mix disk a and disk b (Okazu)
Lori Henderson on the February issue of Yen Plus (Manga Xanadu)
Brigid, thank you very much for your support!