Lots of links today!
A new month means a new issue of Sequential Tart, and this issue features an interview with librarian and manga fan extraordinaire Robin Brenner, the proprietress of No Flying, No Tights. Robin talks about her work as a member of the committee that’s putting together the American Library Association’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens list and talks about the place of graphic novels in libraries. Inexplicably, she fails to pimp her upcoming book, Understanding Japanese Manga and Anime, due out soon from Libraries Unlimited.
In a totally different direction, Love Manga’s David Taylor interviews Simon Jones, the philosophical pornographer. Jones’ blog at Icarus Comics is worthwhile reading even if you’ll never buy ero-manga (although that would break his heart). (NSFK)
Dirk Deppey reads the scanlations so you don’t have to, and at Journalista, he’s linking (scroll down) to scanlations that may appeal to his audience (i.e. grownups).
Japanese culture watch: Pata links to a Japan Times article on government attempts to help NEETs—men who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training.
Livejournaler deconcentrate has some warm words for Colleen Doran’s new how-to book on shoujo manga, but the discussion gets more complicated in the comics. (Via When Fangirls Attack.)
David Welsh meditates on Dirk Deppey’s review of Nodame Cantabile.
Reviewage: At Comics Worth Reading, Johanna questions the entire premise of Peach Girl: Sae’s Story: Why focus on such an unlikeable character? Comics-and-More devotes Manga Monday to Hikaru no Go and The Red Snake: Hino Horro #1. Livejournaler jlg1 gives Mitsukazu Mihara’s Beautiful People a mixed review. Blogcritics reads Death Note. Active Anime likes volume 3 of Kage Tora. PopCultureShock checks out Banya The Explosive Delivery Man, a new series from Dark Horse, and the lede says it all:
If you like your manhwa with a healthy dose of pow! and splat!, then Banya The Explosive Delivery Man is for you.
