Moto Hagio heading to SDCC

Moto Hagio's The Heart of Thomas

Ed Sizemore kicks off the weekend with a thoughtful essay on the tragic flaw in To Terra: The belief that humans have unlimited control of the world around them. Sam Kusek compares To Terra to The X-Men, and Kate Dacey rounds up the rest of this week’s Manga Moveable Feast links. All this inspires David Welsh’s latest license request, Song of the Wind and the Trees.

Sadie Mattox contemplates the “manga is a fad” meme that has been making the rounds lately.

Global manga creator Misako Takashima, a.k.a. Misako Rocks!, talks to Mainichi about the differences between creating manga in the U.S. and Japan:

“I was surprised to see editors and others discuss whether it is acceptable to print pictures of a girl wearing a tank top before publishing. It was interesting to learn even that could be a problem in this country,” Takashima said.

Melinda Beasi ponders the question of who is buying manga at Examiner.com.

Job board: Tokyopop is looking for an assistant to the CEO. The description is worth a read—whether it would be endlessly exciting or aggravating depends a lot on your point of view.

News from Japan: Ko Ransom posts the biggest manga print runs for the three biggest publishers in Japan. One Piece #57 tops the list.

Reviews

Susan S. on vol. 10 of The Antique Gift Shop (Manga Jouhou)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 1 of Deka Kyoshi (Kuriousity)
Diana Dang on vol. 1 of Flower in a Storm (Stop, Drop, and Read!)
Ng Suat Tong on Gantz (The Hooded Utilitarian)
Rob McMonigal on vol. 7 of Nana (Panel Patter)
Julie Opipari on vol. 2 of Sarasah (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Kristin on vol. 10 of Vampire Knight (Comic Attack)
Erica Friedman on vol. 20 of Yuri Himeori (part 2) (Okazu)