Over at MTV Geek, I celebrated the 100th birthday of bluesman Robert Johnson with a look at Me and the Devil Blues, and I also checked out the seven manga that have been nominated for Eisner Awards. David Welsh also handicaps the Eisners at The Manga Curmudgeon.
Digital is now making their manga available for the Kobo e-reader, along with the Kindle, the Nook, and their own eManga site.
Publishers Weekly has an exclusive preview of the new CLAMP manga, Gate 7.
At The Comics Journal, Ryan Holmberg continues his series on gekiga manga with a look at Saitō Takao and his studio.
This month’s Manga Moveable Feast is all about Cross Game, and The Panelists is hosting. Derik Badman kicks it off with an introduction to the series, Alex Hoffman explains why the characters are not tsundere, David Tai posts an appreciation of Cross Game at A Case Suitable for Treatment, and Kristin reviews vols. 2 and 3 at Comic Attack. Check back at The Panelists for more updates all week long.
May is Mental Health Month, and Manga Therapy blogger Tony Yao is inviting all bloggers to contribute their thoughts on anime and manga characters who have dealt with mental illness. He kicks it off with an example (warning: Spoilers!) of two characters dealing with depression in Rurouni Kenshin.
Erica Friedman brings us the latest edition of Yuri Network News at Okazu, and she discusses censorship of manga and anime, by the Tokyo government and the makers of hardware, on the Otaku in Review podcast.
What are the classic manga everyone should read? Molly McIsaac has a good list at iFanboy.com.
Rob McMonigal continues his year of Rumiko Takahashi posts with a look at humor and breaking the fourth wall in vols. 18-20 of Ranma 1/2.
David Welsh asks his readers to name their favorite sports manga.
Publishers take note: Michelle Smith has a guest license request at The Manga Curmudgeon: Crazy for You, by Karuho Shiina (Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You). At Manga Widget, Alex Hoffman wants to see someone rescue The Secret Notes of Lady Kanoko, which was published by Tokyopop until its recent demise.
Speaking of which, Daniella Orihuela-Gruber reports in on her shopping spree at the Tokyopop garage sale.
News from Japan: Gakuen Prince will come to an end in the July issue of Bessatsu Friend, and a new series by Girl Got Game manga-ka Shizuru Seino begins in the June issue. Shin Takahashi (SaiKano) is launching a new series, Yuki ni Tsubasa (Wings in the Snow), in the July 16 issue of Young Magazine. Two more new series are starting in different issues of Young Magazine: Green Blood, a western, by Masasumi Kakizaki, and Mascara, a romantic comedy, by Nobuto Hagio.
Reviews: Lori Henderson and Alex Hoffman discuss vol. 1 of Oresama Teacher at Manga Village. Michelle Smith and Melinda Beasi take a look at some recent yaoi releases in their latest BL Bookrack feature at Manga Bookshelf.
Connie on vol. 14 of 20th Century Boys (Slightly Biased Manga)
Michelle Smith on vol. 1 of Arisa (Soliloquy in Blue)
Erica Friedman on Avare Senki (Okazu)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 4 of Bakuman (Kuriousity)
Kristin on vols. 4 and 5 of Black Butler (Comic Attack)
Connie on vol. 20 of Blade of the Immortal (Slightly Biased Manga)
Greg McElhatton on vol. 3 of Bunny Drop (Read About Comics)
Connie on vols. 5 and 6 of Butterflies, Flowers (Slightly Biased Manga)
Danica Davidson on vol. 2 of Cat Eyed Boy (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Jennifer LeBlanc on vol. 2 of Close the Last Door (The Yaoi Review)
Erica Friedman on vol. 3 of Comic Yuri Hime (Okazu)
Connie on vol. 4 of Demon Sacred (Slightly Biased Manga)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 3 of Genkaku Picasso (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
TSOTE on vol. 6 of Geobreeders (Three Steps Over Japan)
Kate Dacey on Ginga Legend Weed (The Manga Critic)
Connie on vol. 4 of Itazura na Kiss (Slightly Biased Manga)
Erica Friedman on vol. 7 of Jormungand (Okazu)
Rob McMonigal on vol. 3 of Karakuri Odette (Panel Patter)
Connie on vol. 1 of Mister Mistress (Slightly Biased Manga)
Kate Dacey on vol. 1 of Moon and Blood (The Manga Critic)
Diana Dang on vol. 2 of Nightschool (Stop, Drop, and Read!)
Shannon Fay on vol. 1 of Oresama Teacher (Kuriousity)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 10 of Otomen (The Comic Book Bin)
Sophie Stevens on vol. 1 of Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura (Animanga Nation)
Katherine H. on Sakura No Sono (Okazu)
Connie on vols. 1 and 2 of Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 5 of Seiho Boys’ High School (Slightly Biased Manga)
Michelle Smith on vols. 1-9 of Shugo Chara! (Soliloquy in Blue)
Lori Henderson on vol. 11 of Slam Dunk (Manga Village)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 3 of The Story of Saiunkoku (The Comic Book Bin)
Erica Friedman on vol. 14 of Yukan Club (Okazu)
Actually the MMF is being hosted at The Panelists… despite the manga widgets ambiguously worded post…
Well, that explains why I couldn’t find the archive post. Fixed, and thanks for the correction, Derik! Sorry about the mixup.
The archive post is here:
http://thepanelists.org/2011/05/manga-moveable-feast-cross-game/
Though so far I haven’t gotten to adding anything to it.
I definitely didn’t mean for you to assume I was hosting – sorry Brigid! Apologies too to Derik, since he has done a great job with his hosting duties thusfar.
I am contributing a whole week’s worth of content to the MMF, though – that is quite true.