Bad news for BLU manga fans: Digital was supposed to keep the Tokyopop yaoi books available on their eManga site until May 20, but they were told last week that the titles had to be pulled down within 24 hours so they were gone without warning. My understanding is that anyone who has already purchased a BLU book will still be able to read it on the site, but the books are no longer available for new buyers.
Kate Dacey, The Manga Critic, extols Book-Off as a great place to find, cheap pre-owned manga.
Erica Friedman brings us the latest yuri news as well as news of a Yuricon art contest at Okazu.
Kristy Valenti files her con report on Sakura-Con at comiXology; while the con is growing and getting better organized, there was only little American manga presence, although it’s interesting that Amazon staffers were handing out free prose novels to the attendees.
At Manga Widget, Alex Hoffman is thinking about some Tokyopop and CMX licenses he would like to see rescued, starting with Stolen Hearts.
Michael Buntag discusses an interesting early look at manga from a foreign perspective: Manga-Jutsu, a 1997 short story by French artist François Boucq.
Three Steps Over Japan posts some photos of a little Moyashimon extra, drawings that show up only when you flex the edges of the pages.
Reviews: Be sure to check out David Welsh and Kate Dacey’s joint review of Lychee Light Club at The Manga Curmudgeon. The Manga Bookshelf reviewers give their quick takes on some recent releases. I reread two Natsume Ono manga this week and posted some thoughts as part of Robot 6’s What Are You Reading? column.
Oyceter on vols. 1-8 of One Piece (Sakura of DOOM)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 2 of Oresama Teacher (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
James Fleenor on vol. 1 of Pavane for a Dead Girl (Anime Sentinel)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 5 of Urusei Yatsura (A Case Suitable for Treatment)