To mark the fiftieth anniversary of Margaret and Bessatsu Margaret magazines, Shueisha helped organize an exhibit featuring its most popular series, from Riyoko Ikeda’s The Rose of Versailles to Io Sakisaka‘s Blue Spring Ride. Erica Friedman files a report from Tokyo.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee and block off an hour for manga scholar Ryan Holmberg’s essay on the development of gekiga.
Over at the Hooded Utilitarian, Josselin Moneyron profiles Breakdown Press, a London-based company that specializes in alt-manga artists such as Sasaki Maki.
After DMP announced a Kickstarter campaign to fund six previously unlicensed manga by Osamu Tezuka, fans took to social media to voice concerns about the cost. DMP responded with a video explaining why this campaign was more ambitious than previous ones, but reaction was mixed. Alexander Hoffmann offers his own cost analysis.
Scholar Kathryn Hemmann examines the unconscious bias against female manga artists in Helen McCarthy’s A Brief History of Manga.
Tony Yao explores the connection between teen employment and the American manga market.
Aussie otaku take note: the University of Wollongong will be hosting Manga Futures: Institutional & Fan Approaches in Japan and Beyond, a three-day conference focusing on the current state of manga scholarship.
News from Japan: If you just can’t get enough Durarara!!, you’ll be pleased to hear that Sylph magazine will be launching a new spin-off series Durarara!! Relay in November. Also debuting next month: a new installment of Akiko Higashimura’s Princess Jellyfish, and a new Gakuen Heaven series penned by You Higuri.
Reviews: Jason Thompson embraces his inner guitar god with an in-depth essay on Detroit Metal City, while Seth Hahne reviews The Flowers of Evil.
Sakura Eries on vol. 6 of A Bride’s Story (The Fandom Post)
Anna N. on vols. 1-2 of The Clockwork Sky (Manga Report)
Kamen on The Flowers of Evil (trenchkamen)
James on vols. 1-10 of Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (Kotaku)
Rebecca Silverman on In Clothes Called Fat (Anime News Network)
Mad Manga on vols. 2-8 of Knights of Sidonia (Cartoon Geek Corner)
Laura on vols. 1-7 of Midnight Secretary (Heart of Manga)
Khursten Santos on The Night Beyond the Tri-Cornered Window (Otaku Champloo)
Khrusten Santos on Nino no Mori (Otaku Champloo)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 1 of No Game, No Life (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Danica Davidson on vol. 1 of Raqiya (Otaku USA)
Megan R. on vols. 1-6 of Reiko the Zombie Shop (Manga Test Drive)
Matthew Alexander on vol. 7 of Triage X (The Fandom Post)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 7 of Voice Over (Comic Book Bin)