I talked to Kevin Hamric, director of publishing, marketing, and sales for Viz Media, about his company’s digital program and the logistics of simultaneous U.S./Japan publication of Shonen Jump. Lori Henderson responds by calling on Viz to offer digital manga on 10″ Android tablets.
Viz has been busy lately. Last week, they announced two new box sets, the full run of Bakuman (vols. 1-20 plus the mini-comic Otter #11 and a poster) and the first 23 volumes of One Piece. If you like your manga all in one place these are the products for you; both will be out next fall. Another fall release is an updated My Neighbor Totoro artbook and a new novel, marking the 25th anniversary of Hayao Miyazake’s film.
Reset your bookmarks: Erica Friedman has moved Okazu to its own domain! Go pay her a visit in the new digs, and savor the design by Kuriousity’s Lissa Pattillo. While you’re there, check out her most recent Yuri Network News post.
The Manga Bookshelf bloggers discuss their Pick of the Week.
At Heart of Manga, Laura looks forward to the new shoujo volumes coming in March.
Reviews: Check out the latest round of Bookshelf Briefs at Manga Bookshelf.
Kristin on vols. 1 and 2 of 07-Ghost (Comic Attack)
Anna on vol. 1 of Alice in the Country of Joker: Circus and Liar’s Game (Manga Report)
L.B. Bryant on vol. 1 of Barrage (ICv2)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 1 of Barrage (I Reads You)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 8 of Cross Game (Comics Worth Reading)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 2 of Demon Love Spell (The Comic Book Bin)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 8 of Dorohedoro (The Comic Book Bin)
Lori Henderson on vols. 3 and 4 of Durarara!! (Manga Xanadu)
Sean Gaffney on Emerald and Other Stories (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Erica Friedman on vol. 17 of Hayate x Blade (Okazu)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 21 of Hayate the Combat Butler (The Comic Book Bin)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 21 of Hayate the Combat Butler (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Connie on Message to Adolf, Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms, and Barefoot Gen (Comics Should Be Good)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 14 of Otomen (The Comic Book Bin)
Serdar Yegulalp on vols. 2 and 3 of Paradise Kiss (Genji Press)
Anna on vol. 30 of Skip Beat (Manga Report)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 3 of Strobe Edge (Comics Worth Reading)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 11 of Tenjho Tenge (Full Contact Edition) (The Comic Book Bin)
Ken Haley on vol. 2 of Trigun (Comics Should Be Good)