MangaBlog

The news from San Diego is that Dark Horse will be publishing Devil, by Torajirou Kishi; also, they are showing off art from the CLAMP Okimono Kimono fashion book at their booth. Lori Henderson visited a lot of the manga booths but noted CMX’s near-total absence from the DC area. Lissa Pattillo checked out the offerings at several publishers’ booths but didn’t get into the manga panels. Gia moderated the Best and Worst Manga panel, and she reports out on the results at Anime Vice.

Kate Dacey, who participated in our roundtable on girls’ comics fandoms, contributes a few more thoughts at The Manga Critic. And at Heart of Manga, Laura talks about the difficulties of being a grownup who reads manga.

Michael Bitz writes about an after-school program in which students made manga.

Mystic Sheep Studios kicks of a series on women in comics with an appreciation of Amy Kim Kibuishi. (Via When Fangirls Attack.)

Reviews: At Comics Worth Reading, Johanna Draper Carlson reviews the first chapters on Viz’s Sigikki site. David Welsh does the same for the Shonen Sunday selections at Precocious Curmudgeon. Sesho devotes two podcasts (part 1, part 2) to Shonen Sunday. Sadie Mattox’s review of vol. 1 of 07-Ghost turns into a critique of shonen manga in general, which makes for interesting reading. Other reviews of note:

Lissa Pattillo on vol. 1 of Fairy Tail (Kuriousity)
Lorena Nava Ruggero on vol. 2 of Fullmetal Alchemist (i heart manga)
Julie on Millennium Prime Minister (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Billy Aguiar on vol. 1 of Rasetsu (Prospero’s Manga)
Sam Kusek on vol. 9 of Strawberry 100% (Manga Recon)
Emily on Sukitte lina yo. (Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Page)
Lorena Nava Ruggero on vol. 2 of Swan (i heart manga)
Tangognat on vol. 2 of Tsubasa: Those with Wings and vol. 3 of Phantom Dream (Tangognat)
Shojo Flash on vol. 1 of V.B. Rose (Shojo Flash)
Erica Friedman on vol. 4 of Your and My Secret (Okazu)

Viz’s Shonen Sunday and IKKI sites have gone live, with plenty of free manga for your reading pleasure Thanks to Lorena and Ryan for noticing.

During our roundtable on girls’ fandom, we got into a bit of a rhubarb with Noah Berlatsky and Tom Crippen on the topic of shoujo manga, and Noah posts a thoughtful response at The Hooded Utilitarian, and Tangognat has a different take at her blog.

Also! You should totally order one of these Women Make Comics T-shirts from CafePress. These T-shirts were conceived, discussed, and designed over Twitter one day when a bunch of us got irritated with some horribly misogynistic article—I think it was the pre-SDCC coverage, actually. Anyway, Deb Aoki and Erica Friedman spearheaded the project, and the T-shirts were designed in jig time and are now available for your sartorial pleasure. Profits go to Friends of Lulu, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the Cartoon Art Museum.

SDCC got under way last night, and Tim Sheehy reports on Preview Night at Japanator. Lissa Pattillo checks in as well, and she has photos. Deb Aoki has a manga-lover’s guide to the exhibit hall at About.com. Heidi visits the huddled masses at Camp Twilight.

At The Book Bark!, L. (no, not that one) rejects the theory that Twilight is cannibalizing manga sales and contemplates the value differential between manga and graphic novels.

Kate Dacey’s readers at The Manga Critic have picked the Best Continuing Series of 2009, and it’s Black Jack. Now Kate is celebrating with a little essay contest; the winner gets the first six volumes.

Reviews

Edward Zacharias on vol. 27 of Bleach (Animanga Nation)
Melinda Beasi on vol. 1 of Broken Blade (There it is, Plain as Daylight)
Scott Campbell on vol. 1 of Children of the Sea (Active Anime)
Tiamat’s Disciple on vol. 5 of Croquis Pop (Tiamat’s Manga Reviews)
Lorena Nava Ruggero on vol. 3 of Emma (i heart manga)
Rachel Bentham on vol. 2 of Hot Gimmick (VIZBIG edition) (Active Anime)
Oyceter on vols. 7-10 of Love*Com (Sakura of DOOM)
Emily on Reimei no Arcana (Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Blog)
Holly Ellingwood on A Strange and Mystifying Story (Active Anime)
Tiamat’s Disciple on Toxic Planet (Tiamat’s Manga Reviews)
Julie on vol. 1 of Very! Very! Sweet (Manga Maniac Cafe)

After a year of being fairly quiet, Tokyopop seems to be making a bit of a comeback. They have a booth at SDCC, a couple of panels, and some giveaways. Details after the cut.

TOKYOPOP San Diego Comic-Con Booth #2400

Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and anti-social behavior are among the many symptoms associated with what we like to call Pre Con Syndrome, more commonly known as P.C.S. We know you’ve been suffering all year long waiting for the con of all cons to come along providing temporary relief for several days before the symptoms return. Through blood, sweat, and tears, we at TOKYOPOP have come up with the perfect 4-day treatment plan guaranteed to alleviate all symptoms of P.C.S. and to ensure maximum enjoyability.

The treatment plan consists of show exclusives, giveaways, as well as what we like to call…Get ready for it now…

Special Events!!!

To ensure maximum effectiveness, we encourage you to take part in as much of the treatment plan as possible!

Side effects may include strong body odor, insomnia, fits of unexplained excitement, and screaming.

Panels

See TOKYOPOP Staff on the following panels!

Thursday, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Room 6BCF
World of Warcraft: Epic Loot- Get your game on outside of Azeroth! Join a panel of Blizzard Entertainment decision makers along with their proud licensed partners for an all-out discussion/unveiling of World of Warcraft-inspired product awesomeness. Includes TOKYOPOP Marketing Manager Kasia Piekarz!

Saturday, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Room 24A
Women In Manga-Newsflash! Women read manga! We all know that teenage girls have been driving much of the manga boom, but did you know that women are making massive contributions to fandom, the industry, and beyond? Features TOKYOPOP Senior Editor Lillian Diaz-Przybyl!

Friday, 3:45 – 5:00 pm, Hall H
Can’t wait for next year’s Priest movie? Check out the star and director at the Legion and District 9 panel! Sony Pictures Entertainment: Legion and District 9- Sony Pictures Entertainment and Screen Gems introduce two great new movie projects exclusively to Comic-Con attendees!

TOKYOPOP Giveaways

Exclusive SDCC posters: Fruits Basket, TWO Domo Posters, Warcraft, How to Make a Manga with Princess Ai
-Fruits Basket DVDs and Fan Books
-Princess Ai: Roses & Tattoos sticker book
-Bizenghast: Falling into Fear sticker book
-First 25 people to buy a book each day get a free SDCC 2009 TOKYOPOP T-Shirt!!

Ongoing Booth Events

– Buy August releases in advance, including: D.N. Angel Vol. 12, Bizenghast Vol. 6, Trinity Blood Vol. 11, Tsubasa: Those with Wings Vol. 2, Phantom Dream Vol. 3, and more!
-Contribute to the Fruits Basket Scrapbook
-Color Me Domo
-Share your manga love for the TOKYOPOP SDCC 2009 video hosted by none other than Rui!
-Geek out with TOKYOPOP staff about your favorite manga, find new favorites, and make new friends!

In-Booth Events Schedule

Note the special rules for the Spin n’ Win Prize Giveaway!

Thursday:
· 10-11 am: Play Dai Hin Min
· 12 pm: Spin n’ Win Prize Giveaway*
· 3-4 pm: Play Dai Hin Min
· 4-6 pm: Spin N’ Win Prize Giveaway*

Friday:
· 10-11 am: Play Dai Hin Min
· 12 pm: Spin N’ Win Prize Giveaway*
· 3-4 pm: Play Dai Hin Min
· 4-6 pm: Princess Ai Karaoke
· 6 pm: Spin N’ Win Prize Giveaway*

Saturday:
· 10-11 am: Play Dai Hin Min
· 12 pm: Spin N’ Win Prize Giveaway*
· 2 pm: Pocky Contest Winner Announcement-150 entries, one lucky person will win $1,000! See the finalists now!
· 3-4 pm: Play Dai Hin Min
· 4-6 pm: Princess Ai Karaoke
· 6 pm: Spin N’ Win Prize Giveaway-including TOKYOPOP Skateboards!!!!!!*

Sunday:
· 10-11 am: Play Dai Hin Min
· 12 pm: Spin N’ Win Prize Giveaway
· 3-4 pm: Play Dai Hin Min

*Extra effort gets you extra spins! Any Joe Schmo gets one chance to spin, but if you show up with any of the below, you’ll get more chances to win!
1) Receipt from the SDCC 2009 TOKYOPOP Store
2) Cosplay
3) Contribution to the Fruits Basket Scrapbook
4) Completed Color Me Domo Postcard

Check out www.TOKYOPOP.com/SDCC2009 for photos, videos, and more!

Up-to-the minute updates at www.twitter.com/TOKYOPOP

My in-box is overflowing with press releases, so I’m going to try to post a few. I do this for two reasons—to organize a lot of information in one place, and more importantly, to hear what you have to say about it. So feel free to comment away, or send in bulletins from the floor about the events listed here.

Read on for the Viz schedule:

VIZ MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2009 COMIC-CON

Array Of Notable Personal Appearances, Events And Activities
In Booth 2813
Showcase ULTIMO And New Imprint SHONEN SUNDAY
AND SIGIKKI.COM

San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting lineup of personal appearances, events and activities for 2009 Comic-Con International taking place July 22-26 at the convention center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2813.

Eagerly anticipated by excited fans will be an in-person appearance by Stan Lee and Mr. Hiroyuki Takei, creators of the historical collaborative project ULTIMO, in the VIZ Media booth for a signing session on Friday, July 24th at 2:15pm. VIZ Media will also welcome Mr. Lee and Takei-sensei, along with his editor, Mr. Takanori Asada, as part of the SHONEN JUMP Panel on Friday July 24th at 10:30am in Room#10. Panel attendees will receive an ULTIMO poster and SHONEN JUMP Magazine sampler featuring ULTIMO, while supplies last. ULTIMO is currently serialized in SHONEN JUMP Magazine, and is rated ‘T’ for Teens.

Also making an appearance will be Mr. Hideki Egami, Editor-in-Chief of Monthly IKKI magazine in Japan, at the IKKI Panel on Saturday, July 25th at 12:00pm in Room #3. In partnership with the VIZ SIGNATURE line of graphic novels, IKKI, home of some of the most innovative, bold and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga, is bringing the works of some of its top creators to the English-language audience via a groundbreaking online monthly manga magazine at www.sigikki.com, launched May 2009. Each month new chapters of featured series will be offered for viewing online in their entirety, for free; the first series featured was CHILDREN OF THE SEA by Daisuke Igarashi.

VIZ Media will be highlighting the new SHONEN SUNDAY imprint at the VIZ Media Anime and Manga Panel on Friday, July 24th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm in Room #32AB. An exclusive double-sided RIN-NE poster and SHONEN SUNDAY release calendar will be available for free while supplies last. The annual VIZ MEDIA collectible canvas convention bag for 2009 will also feature RIN-NE on one side, NARUTO Shippuden on the other.

A variety of fun games and activities will be featured in the VIZ Media booth this year. Those who show up dressed in NARUTO garb at the allotted time (fans can check VIZ Media’s activity board for times) may be chosen to participate in the daily NARUTO Trivia Game. Everyone wins a prize at the VIZ Media Treasure Trove, close your eyes and grab a coin from the VIZ Media treasure chest to see if you are a lucky winner. Fans can try their luck at the NARUTO Shippuden claw catcher game. Shojo fans can stop at the VAMPIRE KNIGHT photo opportunity area to take one-of-a-kind photos with their favorite characters.

Giveaways in the booth will include free manga samplers, SHONEN JUMP magazine samplers featuring ULTIMO, posters and activity sheets from the VIZ Kids lineup of titles, and much more, while supplies last. Back again this year – the VIZ Media Bling, a fan favorite. The VIZ Media Prize Patrol will be awarding prizes to fans around the convention center caught wearing the colorful VIZ Media beads.

VIZ Media has partnered with several leading game manufacturers to preview anime-related interactive video games throughout the show. On Friday, SEGA will showcase the upcoming BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom for Nintendo DS. Saturday will bring an advance look at NARUTO Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising for the Sony Playstation Portable from Namco/Bandai Games America. Finally, TOMY will demo NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution III for the Nintendo Wii.

The VIZ Media retail area will once again be a popular destination for fans. The forthcoming NARUTO Shippuden: KAKASHI CHRONICLES anime special will be highlighted with the advance availability of themed merchandise including T-shirts, tote bags and patches. Other pre-street offerings will include selections from the newly announced SHONEN SUNDAY imprint, INUYASHA Vol. 39; SHONEN JUMP MAGAZINE September 2009 issue and ROSARIO+VAMPIRE Vol. 8; from VIZ Signature: 20TH CENTURY BOYS Vol. 4 and PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA Vol. 4; from Shojo Beat: VAMPIRE KNIGHT Vol. 7 and BLACK BIRD Vol. 1; from VIZ Kids: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA Vol. 6 and POKEMON ADVENTURES Vol. 2; from Studio Ghibli Library: THE ART OF PONYO, PONYO FILM COMIC Vol. 1, and STARTING POINT 1976-1996.

Finally, VIZ Media is proud to have 4 titles nominated for 5 awards at the 2009 Will Eisner Industry Awards, considered the Oscars of the comic book industry. NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER is nominated in two categories, Best Continuing Series and Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan. COWA!, by the renowned Akira Toriyama (also the creator of DRAGON BALL and DRAGON BALL Z), is a contender for Best Publication for Kids. Finally, CAT EYED BOY, created by Kazuo Umezu, and SOLANIN, created by Inio Asano, are also up for consideration for Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Japan. The awards ceremony will be held on Friday, July 24th at 8:30PM at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel, Indigo Ballroom.

“This year’s Comic-Con International promises to be a bigger and better show than in previous years, and we are excited to be a part of the festivities,” says Evelyn Dubocq, Sr. Director, Public Relations. “There is something for everyone with our full line up of fun activities, discussions, in-person appearances and product exclusives from VIZ Media. Each day of this year’s show will be a truly memorable event for new as well as veteran fans!”

– more –
For more information and live Twitter updates on the VIZ Media happenings at Comic-Con, please visit http://www.viz.com/sdcc09/ or follow VIZ¬_Media on TWITTER.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.
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This week is the anniversary of the first moon landing, so it seems appropriate that PWCW chose to run my interview with Brian Fies, the creator of Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? Also at PWCW, Kate Fitzsimons talks to Pancha Diaz, the editor of Fumi Yoshinaga’s Ooku, and Ada Price and Erin Finnegan report on all the action at Otakon.

At Manga Recon, Grant Goodman checks in from Otakon as well.

While you’re at it, check out my latest Unbound column for Robot 6: Six things a webcomics fan should do at SDCC.

Japanator lists this week’s new releases. David Welsh looks over the list and is well pleased. Lori Henderson, on the other hand, is having trouble ordering from Previews because Diamond is dropping so many titles.

Japanese Shonen Jump has added two titles, Kagijin and Anedoki, to its lineup of online comics in English. Annoyingly, their comics reader software requires a Windows XP or Vista operating system, so I can’t use it. Does no one in Japan have a Mac?

Pop Culture Zoo interviews Yokaiden creator Nina Matsumoto.

Peter Rowe takes a look at cooking manga at the San Diego Union-Tribune. And LA Weekly jumps off the Twilight bandwagon with a list of other vampire manga and anime worth checking out.

Jonathan Clements updates us on the difficulties of bringing anime and manga into Canada. In case you were wondering why the Christopher Handley case mattered, this started with a very similar case (and the attendant burst of bad and inaccurate publicity).

Noah Berlatsky checks out some cool samurai battle prints at The Hooded Utilitarian.

News from Japan: ANN reports that Kei Kusonoki and Akihito Yoshitomi have new series in the works.

Reviews: Kate Dacey has short takes on Black Bird, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and Ludwig II at The Manga Critic. Danielle Leigh posts brief reviews of new and upcoming shoujo manga at Comics Should Be Good. At Manga Life, Barb Lien-Cooper looks back at the manga of April, 2005. Other reviews of note:

Billy Aguiar on Battlestar Galactica: Echoes of New Caprica (Prospero’s Manga)
Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 1 of Black Bird (Manga Life)
David Goodwin on vol. 1 of Blade of the Immortal (Eastern Standard)
Michelle Smith on vols. 27 and 28 of Boys Over Flowers (Soliloquy in Blue)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 1 of Buddha (Kuriousity)
Erica Friedman on Butterfly 69 (Okazu)
David Welsh on Dogs Prelude Vol. 0 (Precocious Curmudgeon)
Connie on vols. 1 and 2 of Fake (Slightly Biased Manga)
Oyceter on vols. 19-22 and 23 of Fruits Basket (Sakura of DOOM)
Connie on vols. 22 and 23 of Fruits Basket (Slightly Biased Manga)
Kris on vol. 1 of Gakuen Prince (Manic About Manga)
Lorena Nava Ruggero on vol. 1 of Goong (i heart manga)
Katherine Farmar on vol. 1 of I Shall Never Return (Comics Village)
Connie on vol. 2 of Jyu-Oh-Sei (Slightly Biased Manga)
Dave Ferraro on Kitchen Princess (Comics-and-More)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 1 of Millennium Prime Minister (Comics Worth Reading)
Connie on vol. 3 of Mixed Vegetables (Slightly Biased Manga)
Sesho on vol. 35 of Naruto (Sesho’s Anime and Manga Reviews)
Julie on vol. 2 of NG Life (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 1 of Nightschool (Kuriousity)
Johanna Draper Carlson on Oishinbo a la Carte: Fish, Sushi and Sashimi (Comics Worth Reading)
Michelle Smith on vol. 12 of One Piece (Soliloquy in Blue)
Julie on vols. 3 and 4 of Pearl Pink (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Lori Henderson on vol. 1 of Pixie (Good Comics for Kids)
Connie on vol. 4 of Record of a Fallen Vampire (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on Say Please (Slightly Biased Manga)
Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 5 of We Were There (Manga Life)
Ana on vol. 1 of Wicked Lovely Desert Tales (The Book Smugglers)

I hosted a lively roundtable at Robot 6 this week, in which the Good Comics for Kids crew (including librarians, moms, and an actual teenager) discussed why genres that cater to girls (Twilight, shoujo manga) don’t get much respect—and how that can change. Over at Manga Widget, Alex Hoffman gets it: He doesn’t like Twilight (fair enough) but he thinks it’s OK that other people do. If you haven’t read it (and even if you have) check out this handy and very funny webcomic synopsis.

Deb Aoki lists 20 things that manga fans must see at San Diego Comic-Con. David Welsh makes his selections in this week’s Flipped column.

Erin Finnegan summarizes the Otakon Wins and Fails.

Reviews: The Manga Recon team posts another set of Manga Minis this morning for your reading pleasure. At The Eastern Standard, David Goodwin looks at an untranslated Kazuo Umezu manga, Fourteen.
Laura on The Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross (Heart of Manga)
Melinda Beasi on vol. 11 of High School Debut (There it is, Plain as Daylight)
Shojo Flash on vol. 1 of The Lapis Lazuli Crown (Shojo Flash)
Lorena Nava Ruggero on vol. 2 of Monster (i heart manga)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 5 of Sand Chronicles (Comics Worth Reading)