MangaBlog

Lori Henderson posts this week’s kid-friendly comics and manga at Good Comics for Kids and sums up this week’s manga news at Manga Xanadu. And she adds Appare Jipangu! to her licensing wish list.

Kate Dacey explains precisely why OneManga.com and sites like it are violating copyright. Free? Yes. Legal? Uh no. You now have no excuse.

The Manga Moveable Feast continues with reviews of Emma by Michelle Smith, Robin Brenner and Eva Volin, and two posts by MMF host Matt Blind.

Melinda Beasi hosts a multi-blogger roundtable on vols. 1 and 2 of Banana Fish at Manga Bookshelf.

David Welsh explains why he loves One Piece. Also, David thinks the manga that didn’t win the Manga Taisho award are as interesting as the one that did.

Tangognat has some suggestions for readers who enjoyed the Twilight manga and are ready for more.

Ryan Sands continues his look at early Japanese manga with some cover art from Mai the Psychic Girl at Same Hat!

Akemi looks at manga creators’ use of themes to build characters at Myth and Manga.

The latest issue of Japanese Book News (warning: PDF) has a nice Moto Hagio primer (page 16), as well as news of a Jiro Taniguchi manga, Mon Année (My Year) to be published in French (page 14). (Via the Ohio State University manga blog.)

John Thomas discusses Blood+ and the Christopher Handley case in the latest Sci-Guys podcast.

Congratulations to All About Manga blogger Daniella Orihuela-Gruber, who has wound up her Tokyopop internship and is now a freelance editor!

Reviews: I take a brief look at Twin Spica in this week’s What Are You Reading? column at Robot 6. Lianne Sentar, who practices biochemistry when she is not adapting manga for Tokyopop, takes a look at three science-oriented manga at Sleep Is For the Weak. Jason Yadao takes a look at a Hawaiian manga anthology at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. EvilOmar takes a look at some new and old manga at About Heroes. And the Manga Recon team is On the Shojo Beat with short takes on some recent releases.

Eduardo Zacarias on vol. 8 of Black Lagoon (Animanga Nation)
Andre on vol. 3 of Cat Paradise (Kuriousity)
Connie on vol. 3 of Cipher (Slightly Biased Manga)
Jaime Samms on Eat or Be Eaten (Kuriousity)
Tangognat on vol. 1 of Four-Eyed Prince (Tangognat)
John Martone on Future Diary (video review) (Anime Vice)
Connie on vol. 3 of Gin Tama (Slightly Biased Manga)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 1 of Hanako and the Terror of Allegory (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Tangognat on vol. 2 of Happy Cafe and vol. 4 of Maid Sama (Tangognat)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 5 of I Hate You More Than Anyone! (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Oyceter on vols. 1-3 of Kimi ni Todoke (Sakura of DOOM)
Connie on vol. 10 of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (Slightly Biased Manga)
Shaenon Garrity on Love Full of Scars (About.com)
Snow Wildsmith on Love Full of Scars (Fujoshi Librarian)
Susan S. on vol. 2 of Ludwig II (Manga Jouhou)
Bill Sherman on vol. 2 of Mikansei No. 1 (Blogcritics)
Tangognat on vol. 2 of Mikansei No. 1 and vol. 4 of Animal Academy (Tangognat)
Emily on Mishounen Produce (Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Blog)
Connie on Moyoco Anno Prints 21 (Slightly Biased Manga)
Melinda Beasi on vol. 2 of Natsume’s Book of Friends (Manga Bookshelf)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 37 of One Piece (I Reads You)
Michelle Smith on vols. 3 and 4 of Otomen (Soliloquy in Blue)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 1 of Portrait of M&N (I Reads You)
Rob McMonigal on vol. 1 of RE:play (Panel Patter)
Julie on vol. 8 of Venus in Love (Manga Maniac Cafe)

Gia Manry looks at the recent shifts in the Japanese and U.S. markets, while Jonathan Clements points out that a drop in manga sales doesn’t necessarily mean the Japanese are reading fewer manga; there’s a robust secondhand market there.

Daniella Orihuela-Gruber continues the conversation on fans looking down on other fans at All About Manga.

Alex Hoffman contrasts the idealism of Oishinbo with the reality of American agriculture at Manga Widget.

Gina Gagliano discusses the Korean and U.S. covers for The Color of Earth at the First Second blog.

Viz will be releasing the sports manga Cross Game, beginning in October.

Reviews: Lori Henderson takes a quick look at Digital’s Harlequin e-manga at Manga Xanadu.

Julie Opipari on vol. 2 of Black Bird (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Matthew Brady on vols. 3 and 4 of Black Jack (Warren Peace Sings the Blues)
Carlo Santos on vol. 30 of Bleach (ANN)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 17 of Gin Tama (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Danielle Leigh on vols. 5 and 6 of Higurashi When They Cry (Comics Should Be Good)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 15 of Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs (Comics Worth Reading)
Rob on vols. 1-7 of Lament of the Lamb (Panel Patter)
Rob on vol. 4 of Nana (Panel Patter)
Billy Aguiar on Only One Wish (Prospero’s Manga)
Diana Dang on Only One Wish (Stop, Drop, and Read!)
Todd Douglass on vol. 1 of Red Hot Chili Samurai (Anime Maki)
Sarah Boslaugh on vol. 1 of The Reformed (PLAYBACK:stl)
Eric Robinson on vol. 1 of Tena on S-String (Manga Jouhou)
Chris Sims on Twilight: The Graphic Novel (Comics Alliance)

ICv2 has a new publication out detailing manga trends, and the editors predict that the number of manga releases will be down 13% this year from 2009, bringing the total number of volumes published to less than 1,000 for the first time since 2004. This paragraph says it all:

While most manga publishers told ICv2 that they plan to publish about the same or slightly fewer volumes (Yen Press, which continues to expand its list, is the major exception), a number of publishers such as Aurora, Go Comi, and Dr. Master have either pulled out or drastically curtailed their publishing efforts.

Also, ICv2 lists the top 25 manga properties and the top 10 shoujo and shonen properties. These lists include all channels—presumably that means comics stores, bookstores, and online—so they present a fuller picture of the manga market than we usually see. With that in mind, two things jumped out at me. One is that Death Note continues to be in the top ten long after the series ended. The other is the complete absence of Viz Signature series, despite their critical acclaim. In fact, with the exception of the Yen Press titles, that top 25 list could be from two or three years ago. If it is a true reflection of sales figures, then it indicates that the overall manga market is younger and more stable than the online discourse would indicate. (Because, quickly now, how many bloggers are reading Shugo Chara? And how many are reading Children of the Sea? The proportions seem to be reversed in the real world.)

A good reporter goes to primary sources, and that’s exactly what Gia Manry did when she started wondering what effect the Handley case would have on U.S. publishers: She went out and asked a bunch of them. Among those weighing in are Ed Chavez of Vertical, Peter Payne of JList, Simon Jones of Icarus, and Michelle Mauk of DMP. Gia also got a copy of Sakura-Con’s instructions to exhibitors. Good stuff, and well worth a read.

Pot, meet kettle: Melinda Beasi comments on the irony of anime and manga fans hatin’ on Twilight fans. Can’t we all just enjoy our obsessions without pissing on the lawn next door? It’s good stuff, and be sure to check the lengthy comment thread as well. Gia Manry follows up at Anime Vice, pointing out that everyone looks down on someone (although for some reason furries are always at the bottom of these charts).

Moving to a higher level, Fumi Yoshinaga’s Ooku has won the Tiptree Award, and Shaenon Garrity explains why that’s awesome.

Tokyopop senior editor Lillian Diaz-Przybyl talks about her likes and dislikes at Graphic Novel Reporter.

One thing I think we can all agree on is that 1960s eye candy is delightful. At Fanboy.com, Michael Pinto presents some vintage shoujo manga by Eico Hanamura for your viewing pleasure.

Christopher Butcher checks out some early Osamu Tezuka manga as well as other, pre-Tezuka works at the Osamu Tezuka Museum.

David Welsh is giving away a free copy of vol. 1 of Bunny Drop to readers of Manga Curmudgeon. Don’t be put off by the name; this is a great book. I read it over the weekend and was planning to review it, but David and Deb Aoki beat me to it. So go, enter!

News from Japan: One Piece has set another sales record, and ANN has the latest Japanese comics rankings.

Reviews: Kristin looks at some of Digital’s Harlequin manga in her Bento Bako Lite column at Comic Attack.

Zack Davisson on vol. 1 of Alice in the Country of Hearts (Manga Life)
Laura on vol. 1 of Cactus’s Secret (Heart of Manga)
Snow Wildsmith on vol. 1 of Dinosaur King (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Deb Aoki on vol. 1 of Dorohedoro (About.com)
Danica Davidson on Haru Hana: The Complete Collection (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Snow Wildsmith on vol. 2 of Hero Tales (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Connie on vol. 6 of I Hate You More Than Anyone (Slightly Biased Manga)
Katherine Farmar on Kiss Your Hair (Comics Village)
Danica Davidson on vols. 1-4 of Lucky Star (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 7 of The Magic Touch (Kuriousity)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 5 of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Scott VonSchilling on vol. 1 of My Darling! Miss Bancho (The Anime Almanac)
Snow Wildsmith on Oishinbo: Japanese Cuisine (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 36 of One Piece (The Comic Book Bin)
Julie on The Sheikh’s Contract Bride (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 6 of St. Dragon Girl (Manga Life)
Connie on vol. 1 of Ultimo (Slightly Biased Manga)
Kris on Unsophisticated and Rude (Manic About Manga)

Things seem to have been quiet at Seven Seas lately, but this latest announcement looks like a return to their original mission statement: Cheery global manga with a hint of fanservice. Well, maybe more than a hint. Seven Seas has done some very nice global titles, and Shiei, who is illustrating this latest offering, is an accomplished artist with a nice, clean style.

Their latest book brings together two series, Vampire Cheerleaders and Paranormal Mystery Squad. Both are written by Adam Arnold and illustrated by Shiei. This is the team that produced Aoi House, a global manga that never took itself too seriously, and this sounds like a fun outing as well. Read on for the details, plus a pretty groan-worthy pun.

SEVEN SEAS BRINGS ON THE FANG SERVICE WITH “VAMPIRE CHEERLEADERS”

(LOS ANGELES, March 17, 2010) – Seven Seas is pleased to announce two all-new supernatural manga tales, Vampire Cheerleaders and Paranormal Mystery Squad, written by Adam Arnold and illustrated by Shiei, the creative team behind fan favorite series Aoi House.

Both original series are set to double-feature in Vampire Cheerleaders: Fang Service, a campy horror manga which leads off with the aforementioned bloodsucking teen comedy Vampire Cheerleaders, followed by Paranormal Mystery Squad, a ghostbusting spin-off directly from the pages of Aoi House.

In Vampire Cheerleaders, the Bakertown High School cheerleading squad has a secret: behind all their pretty makeup and short skirts are five hungry vampires who sure know how to show their school spirit! When one of their own turns up missing, the vampire cheerleaders have no other choice but to induct one of the eleventh grade girls from B Squad into their vixenous ranks. Siring new recruit Heather Hartley may be the easy part, but keeping her from turning into a vamp-gone-wild and draining the entire football team on the eve of the big homecoming game is another matter!

In Paranormal Mystery Squad, goth girl Stephanie Kane, her bratty sister Katie, and best friend Charlotte have a good thing going. They’ve made a name for themselves traveling the country in their trusty Winnebago hunting down cryptids and all manner of supernatural beasties. That is, until the organization known as PETM (People for the Ethical Treatment of Monsters) slaps them with a boatload of new regulations and places a court-appointed PETM liaison on their all-girl team: the enigmatic, albeit slightly anemic, J.C. Summerfield. When things go awry during the team’s next case, it’s Stephanie’s kid sister Katie who finds herself in the hairiest situation of her life… literally!

The first volume, Vampire Cheerleaders: Fang Service, is set for a January 2011 release with the second volume, Vampire Cheerleaders: High Stakes, following later in the year. An ongoing webcomic preview and other promotions are scheduled for later in 2010.

About Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is devoted to producing original manga, comics, graphic novels, and youth literature, and bringing the best in Japanese licenses to North American audiences. Among the company’s current line-up are such original manga properties as Amazing Agent Luna, Aoi House, Destiny’s Hand, Hollow Fields, and It Takes A Wizard; the stunning vampire manga from Japan, Dance in the Vampire Bund, which is now a hit anime series; and Rachel Roberts’ best-selling YA novel series Avalon: Web of Magic. Seven Seas’ web site, www.gomanga.com, is a daily stop for thousands of visitors eager to read manga online and contribute to an ever-growing forum community. Seven Seas Entertainment is currently partnered with Tor/Macmillan and have collaborated on several series such as Afro Samurai, Hayate X Blade, Inukami!, and the Wicked City novel series by Hideyuki Kikuchi.

Pluto was hands down my favorite manga of 2009, so I’m bummed that the series is drawing to a close. On the other hand, eight volumes is a nice length; longer series tend to either sag in the middle or go off onto new story arcs. Anyway, this frees up more time for me to catch up with 20th Century Boys, so it’s all good. Read on for the details.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE EXCITING FINALE TO PLUTO: URASAWA × TEZUKA MANGA SERIES

VIZ Media will be releasing the much anticipated final volume (Volume 8) of NAOKI URASAWA’S manga masterpiece PLUTO: URASAWA × TEZUKA on April 6th

PLUTO: URASAWA × TEZUKA is a modern reinterpretation of the work by the master of Manga, Osamu Tezuka. In an ideal world where man and robots coexist, someone or something is after the seven great robots of the world. Interpol assigns robot detective Gesicht to this most strange and complex case – and he eventually discovers that he is one of the targets!

In the final volume Atom is back, and the fate of the earth is in his hands! Now that Atom has all the answers to the unsolved mysteries around Pluto, Bora and more, he’s prepared to put everything on the line. With the memory of his fallen brethren – Gesicht, Mont Blanc, North No. 2, Brando, Hercules and Epsilon – etched deeply into his heart, Atom is headed for one last battle to save the world!

Naoki Urasawa’s career as a manga artist spans more than twenty years and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1960, Urasawa debuted with BETA! in 1983 and hasn’t stopped his impressive output since. Well-versed in a variety of genres, Urasawa’s oeuvre encompasses a multitude of different subjects, such as a romantic comedy (Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl), a suspenseful human drama about a former mercenary (Pineapple ARMY; story by Kazuya Kudo), a captivating psychological suspense story (Monster), a sci-fi adventure manga (20th Century Boys) and a modern reinterpretation of the work of Osamu Tezuka (Pluto: Urasawa × Tezuka; co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki, supervised by Macoto Tezka, and with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions). Many of his books have spawned popular animated and live-action TV programs and films, and 2008 saw the theatrical release of the first of three live-action Japanese films based on 20th Century Boys.

No stranger to accolades and awards, Urasawa is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award, a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, and has received the Kodansha Manga Award. Similarly, MONSTER has been nominated three times for the Eisner Award in America. Urasawa has also become involved in the world of academia. In 2008 he accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he teaches courses in, of course, manga.

PLUTO: URASAWA × TEZUKA is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and has a MSRP $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 Canada. For more information on this and other titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.com.

PLUTO © Naoki URASAWA/Studio Nuts, Takashi NAGASAKI and Tezuka Productions
Original Japanese edition published by Shogakukan
Based on “Astro Boy” written by Osamu TEZUKA.

Kate Dacey, Gia Manry, and David Welsh look at this week’s new releases.

At PWCW, Kai-Ming Cha talks to Matt Thorn about the new line of manga from Fantagraphics, which Thorn will be editing and “curating.” Also, Ada Price talks to comics retailers about sales in the past year; they observe that manga buyers seem to be getting older, and that series like (wait for it) Akira are selling well. It looks like Naoki Urasawa and Osamu Tezuka titles are strong sellers as well. Of course, that’s partly a reflection of the comics-shop demographic; one of the things that surprised me in Brian Hibbs’s BookScan analysis this year was the complete absence of any Viz Signature titles on the BookScan top 750 sellers. Maybe everyone was buying them at their LCS.

At The Beat, Heidi has a preview of the Twilight graphic novel. At Anime Vice, Gia Manry summarizes a raging moe-vs-Twilight discussion on Twitter, and the conversation continues in the comments thread. Meanwhile, the grownups at USA Today take a look at the challenges of making a graphic novel of a popular property. (Last link via the Icarus blog.) And Lissa Pattillo turns in the first review at Kuriousity.

Snow Wildsmith spots some signs of life at DramaQueen, which has updated their forum and apparently has a new book, The Summit, which is at the printer’s right now! Developing…

Beth Wagner looks at some early Japanese sequential art at Myth and Manga.

Leave it to Lori Henderson to find some manga that tie in with St. Patrick’s Day.

News from Japan: ANN reports that manga sales are down in Japan by 6.6%, the largest year-to-year decrease since folks started keeping track. This year’s Manga Taisho award goes to Thermae Romae, a gag manga about public baths, apparently.

David Brothers discusses suspended expectations in One Piece at 4thletter!

Reviews: Carlo Santos takes on Black Butler, Lucky Star, and a handful of other manga in his latest Right Turn Only!! column at ANN.

Deb Aoki on vol. 1 of Arata: The Legend (About.com)
Rob on vol. 3 of Basara (Panel Patter)
Bill Sherman on Blood Honey (Blogcritics)
Sam Kusek on vol. 1 of Bokurano: Ours (Manga Recon)
Tiamat’s Disciple on L’Etoile Solitaire (Tiamat’s Manga Reviews)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 10 of Gakuen Alice (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Billy Aguiar on Haru Hana: The Complete Collection (Prospero’s Manga)
Emily on Hitsuji ga Ippiki (Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Page)
Tiamat’s Disciple on vol. 1 of In the Walnut (Tiamat’s Manga Reviews)
Kristin on vols. 1 and 2 of Ouran High School Host Club (Comic Attack)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 1 of Reversible (The Comic Book Bin)
David Welsh on Ristorante Paradiso (The Manga Curmudgeon)
Julie on vol. 2 of Sumomomo, Momomo (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 1 of Taimashin: The Red Spider Exorcist (Kuriousity)
Susan S. on vol. 3 of Very! Very! Sweet (Manga Jouhou)
Rob on vol. 2 of Yotsuba&! (Panel Patter)