This weekend was the first ever Japan Expo in the U.S. and it was a big deal. Several of the major manga publishers were there, and they had announcements to make: Yen Press is licensing two Sword Art Online manga and Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, as well as the Accel World and Sword Art Online light novels. Viz had two new licenses to announce as well: Tomu Ohmi’s Spell of Desire and Arina Tanemura’s Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, which was originally released in North America by CMX; the Viz edition will have a new translation and will use the English title Phantom Thief Jeanne.
Check out ANN’s convention coverage, or if you’re in a hurry, Sean Gaffney’s roundup of the new licenses and what they mean.
Special guest Shaenon Garrity explains what’s so awesome about Cyborg 009 in the latest House of 1000 Manga column at ANN.
Here’s a preview of the French edition of Puella Magi Madoka Magica: A Different Story.
Blogging about blogging: Welcome to Manga Bookshelf, Ash Brown! We’re delighted to have you aboard.
News from Japan: The Matsue City school board has lifted its restrictions on Keiji Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen: Once again, elementary school children can check it out of the school library. Meanwhile, the controversy has spurred sales of the book, and the publisher has gotten messages of support from the public. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya manga series will end next month, as will Code Geass: Renya of the Darkness.
Reviews: Here’s another account of a week’s worth of manga reading from Ash Brown, at Experiments in Manga. Sean, Melinda, and Michelle give their short takes on recent releases in the Bookshelf Briefs column at Manga Bookshelf.
Matthew Warner on vol. 5 of 07-Ghost (The Fandom Post)
Kate O’Neil on vol. 6 of Attack on Titan (The Fandom Post)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 10 of A Devil and Her Love Song (The Comic Book Bin)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 10 of Dorohedoro (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Justin on Helter Skelter: Fashion Unfriendly (Organization Anti-Social Geniuses)
Lesley Aeschliman on vol. 11 of Kamisama Kiss (Blogcritics)
Erica Friedman on Material Candy (Okazu)
Anna N on vols. 1-7 of Red River (Manga Report)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 4 of Umineko When They Cry (A Case Suitable for Treatment)