MangaBlog

Ed Chavez updates his big list of discontinued manga at the MangaCast, and he notes some trends: manhwa and seinen titles are more likely to get the ax (or just fade away without an announcement) but on the brighter side, some dropped titles are being picked up by other publishers. Meanwhile, some guy at the ADV booth at ACEN tells Gia that yes, they are still publishing manga, and no, they don’t have a release date for vol. 6 of Yotsuba&! yet. Nonetheless, Ed puts Cromartie High School, Gunslinger Girl, and Yotsuba&! on his dead manga list.

David Welsh lists some manga collections he’d like to see at Precocious Curmudgeon; commenters chime in with more.

A helpful reader has provided an English transcript of the French interview with Suehiro Maruo posted recently at Same Hat.

Otaku USA editor Patrick Macias and contributing writer Matt Alt take a trip to the Mandarake complex in Akihabara, and they record the experience, plus some other adventures, in podcast form.

Canned Dogs has an account of Takehiko Inoue’s reasons for moving to Evening magazine and starting Vagabond after Slam Dunk ran its course.

Tiamat’s Disciple is not impressed with Viz’s UK launch, and neither are his commenters.

The Viet Nam News reports on some resistance to unflipped manga in that country.

News from Japan: ANN reports that the Hakushaku to Yosei (The Count and the Fairy) light novels, already slated to be made into anime, will have a manga incarnation as well. The fantasy series is set in Victorian England and will run in Margaret magazine. Helen McCarthy looks at anime and manga museums in Japan at Suite 101. And here’s another destination to add to your list: Tokyo Character Street, an underground street of shops featuring anime and manga characters. (Cover image from Hakushaku to Yosei swiped from ANN.)

Reviews: Johanna Draper Carlson gives vol. 17 of Kindaichi Case Files the thumbs-up at Comics Worth Reading, and she also enjoys vol. 9 of Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs. Mangamaniac Julie checks out Renai Sousa: Love Control at the MangaCast. Katherine Dacey reviews two upcoming one-shots, Haridama: Magic Cram School and The Reformed, at Manga Recon. Connie reads Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms at Slightly Biased Manga. At Active Anime, Scott Campbell reviews vol. 3 of Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation and vol. 21 of Berserk, and Holly Ellingwood reads Haridama: Magic Cram School and the light novel Maid Machinegun. Michelle gives an A- to vol. 17 of Tsubasa at Soliloquy in Blue. Tiamat’s Disciple takes a walk on the prose side with a look at the Rurouni Kenshin light novel Voyage to the Moon World. Carl Kimlinger reads vol. 19 of Fruits Basket, Carlo Santos pans vol. 1 of Short Sunzen, and Theron Martin reviews vols. 4 and 5 of Kashimashi ~Girl Meets Girl~ at ANN. David Welsh has a thoughtful review of Disappearance Diary at Precocious Curmudgeon. Salimbol reviews vol. 16 of Wallflower and vol. 6 of Vampire Knight. At the Dublin (California) Library, Sharibet reviews XXXHolic. Lissa Pattillo kicks off a week of mystery manga with a look at vol. 1 of Kamen Tantei at Kuri-ousity.

Confidential to QC and Cat: Hotmail is bouncing my e-mails to you for some reason. If you have another e-mail address I can use, please send it along and I’ll re-send my replies to you.

Gia is working hard at ACEN, where despite a lack of internets (boo!) she is posting regularly. It’s mostly about anime, but she has a few scooplets: Yaoi Press announced a new Dany&Dany title, Anima, Viz and ADV were no-shows for their panels, and there’s a rumor that Iris Print has closed up shop, although it’s only a rumor—Gia has a few links. (Anima cover lifted from Dany&Dany’s website.)

One of those links is to Boys Next Door, which has been around for a while but apparently just got a shiny new blog. Take a peek!

I think I missed this when it first appeared, but PWCW’s Ed Chavez talked to Aurora Garcia and Diana Fernandez, the duo known as Kosen, about the manga industry in Spain and their new title Daemonium, which is being published by Tokyopop. (Via The Yaoi Review.) Over at the MangaCast, Ed has the unedited audio of his conversation with the duo.

Xavier Guilbert has two articles about George Akiyama’s work at du9: The first, a review of Ashura, is in English, and the second, about Zeni Gaba, is in French.

The MangaCast crew also looks at last week’s new manga, with recommendations and commentary, as always.

Some Dark Horse musings at Sporadic Sequential, where John Jakala wonders whether he should read Gantz (the readers help out in comments) and what ever happened to XS Hybrid.

Oigue Maniax discusses how the stories of manga convey complex meanings with clear storytelling.

Muslimah Media Watch, a blog that covers the way Muslim women are viewed in popular culture, has a very interesting post on the work of Asia Alfasi, a British manga artist, and the way she and her characters are covered in the media. (Via When Fangirls Attack; image lifted from the link and presumably copyright (c) Asia Alfasi.)

At The Anime Blog, Rachel discusses whether the Japanese notice global manga—and why it doesn’t matter. Global manga creators with thin skins should avoid the comments on this post.

Anime Diet takes on the thorny question of which is better: anime or manga.

Congratulations to Erica Friedman on reaching 1,000 posts and 1,000,000 visitors at Okazu! Erica also has this week’s yuri news.

Sonia Leong writes about Manga Life, her how-to manga series, on her LJ.

Life Imitates Manga: Dan Pink notices a new product that is very like one mentioned in his manga, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need.

Reviews: Johanna finds much to criticize about The Reformed and Ed Sizemore compares two Mother Teresa manga at Comics Worth Reading. Erica Friedman deconstructs vol. 4 of Eternal Alice Rondo at Okazu. At Active Anime, Scott Campbell reviews vol. 7 of Suzuka and vol. 3 of Galaxy Angel II, Davey C. Jones reads vol. 14 of YuYu Hakusho, and Holly Ellingwood checks out vol. 3 of Kedamono Damono, vol. 1 of Red Angel, vol. 1 of Dragon Sister, and Red. Lissa Pattillo reads vol. 7 of +Anima at Kuri-ousity. Snow Wildsmith checks out Star at Manga Jouhou. Darren Pangan reviews Mx0, which I don’t believe is licensed in English, at Anime2Manga. Michelle enjoys vols. 9 and 10 of Boys Over Flowers at Soliloquy in Blue. Julie takes a look at vol. 7 of After School Nightmare, vol. 13 of Kekkaishi, and vol. 1 of Kiss All the Boys at the Manga Maniac Cafe. At Manga Xanadu, Lori Henderson has mini-reviews of several different volumes and her daughter Jenny gives her take on vol. 6 of Dragon Drive. The Anime on DVD reviewers take a look at Viz’s UK titles, while Sakura Eries reads vol. 6 of School Rumble and Julie Rosato checks out Love Control. At PopCultureShock’s Manga Recon blog, Ken Haley reviews vol. 1 of Hellgate: London, Phil Guie checks out vols. 1 and 2 of Junk: Record of the Last Hero, and Katherine Dacey reads Voiceful. Tiamat’s Disciple finds that vols. 1-3 of Suki are that rare CLAMP manga that he doesn’t like. Huamulan03 links to a series of reviews at the Sunny Side Up Anime Blog. Ferdinand finds vol. 1 of Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl Adventure to be pretty good despite being a kids’ comic written to a formula. Connie reviews vol. 1 of Dororo, vol. 2 of Battle Royale (ultimate edition), and vol. 19 of Eyeshield 21 at Slightly Biased Manga. Ed Chavez has an audio review of two from Tezuka, vol. 1 of Dororo and Apollo’s Song at the MangaCast. Thomas Pfeiffer turns the manga spotlight on xxxHolic at About Heroes. Oyceter explains why vol. 5 of Wild Adapter is her favorite volume so far. The Animanachronism looks at SelfMadeHero’s manga Hamlet, among other adaptations. Prizm looks at vol. 1 of Blood+ at The Star of Malaysia.

Patrick Macias interviews Stan Lee for The Japan Times about his foray into manga at the age of 85.

Vol. 29 of Naruto rises from number 57 to 44 on this week’s USA Today best-seller list.

The UK’s 2007 Eagle Awards have been announced, and Death Note was voted Favourite Manga. (Via ComiPress.)

Thinking about becoming a translator? Fruits Basket translators Alethea and Athena Nibley explain how to break into the biz at Manga Life.

Same Hat posts a video of a French interview with Suehiro Maruo. Yes, it’s in French, but there are glimpses of his studio and other interesting items.

Tangognat looks at the evolution of Boys Over Flowers.

The Sunny Side Up Anime Blog reports that manga prices are going up in Indonesia, but at aot $1.49 a volume, it’s still way cheaper than in the U.S.

News from Japan: ANN reports that Crimson Hero and Chocolate Underground are both ending their runs in Bessatsu Margaret. ComiPress has word of several new manga adaptations of light novels.

Reviews: Katherine Dacey hands a severe drubbing to vol. 1 of Color of Rage, on the grounds of anachronism not just in the details but in the overall concept. Lori Henderson enjoys vol. 3 of Phantom at Manga Xanadu. At Anime on DVD, Briana Lawrence reads Sugar Milk and Patricia Beard reviews vol. 7 of ES: Eternal Sabbath. Mely has eight things to say about vol. 17 of Tsubasa at coffeeandink; there may be some spoilers here for other CLAMP series as well. Tiamat’s Disciple takes a look at vol. 1 of Iono-sama Fanatics, vols. 1-3 of Sword of the Dark Ones, and vol. 1 of Rose Hip Rose. Lissa Pattillo checks out vol. 6 of Welcome to the NHK at Kuri-ousity. Julie is on the mend and ready to review vol. 7 of D. Gray-Man at the Manga Maniac Cafe. Ferdinand finds vol. 3 of Winter Demon pretty good, for a porn series, at Prospero’s Manga. Connie reads vol. 11 of The Law of Ueki at Slightly Biased Manga. New reviews up at Manga Life: Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 11 of Tail of the Moon and vol. 2 of Honey and Clover, Barb Lien-Cooper on The Complete Guide to Manga, and David Rasmussen on vol. 1 of The World of Narue.

Japanese culture: It’s everywhere. Even in your superhero comics:

This is from the sketchbooks for DC’s Final Crisis, which is some really big superhero comics event that launches this month. Opinions, anyone?

It seems to be awards season in Japan; the latest are the 32nd annual Kodansha Manga Awards, which were announced yesterday. Shugo Chara! got the nod for best children’s manga; none of the others are licensed yet, but they are: Saikyō! Toritsu Aoizaka Kōkō Yakyūbu (Best Shonen Manga), Kimi ni Todoke (Best Shojo Manga), and Moyashimon (Best General Manga). Moyashimon is also known as Tales of Agriculture, and here is Wikipedia’s summary:

The series follows Tadayasu Sawaki, a first-year college student at an agricultural university, who has a unique ability to see and communicate with bacteria and other micro-organisms.

Yes, please! Del Rey, phone home. Ed has more comments at the MangaCast. (The image is, I believe, the cover of vol. 5 of Moyashimon, gently lifted from the Kodansha website.)

Here’s a find: Erica Friedman recommends Manga Gunkan, the blog of translator Anastasia Moreno, which is written in English and Japanese. Well worth a click!

Gia is going to Anime Central this week, and she’s taking questions for the panels—which will include one by the elusive ADV.

This blog post is titled “My issues with manga,” but it’s really more about issues with fandom and popular attitudes toward manga than manga itself. I look forward to part 2. (Via When Fangirls Attack.)

Tokyopop’s new direction: In his latest Flipped column, David Welsh talks to Tokyopop’s Bryce Coleman about their new line of color graphic novels from around the world.

News from Japan: ANN has the dope on three new manga serials launching in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine, by the creators of Inugami, Suzuka, and Samurai Deeper Kyo. And sports manga creator Tetsuya Chiba has a one-shot scheduled to run in Big Comic this month.

Not manga, but a good read: Ten mistakes you probably will make in Japan. (Via Japanator.)

Reviews: Let’s start right up with Carlo Santos’ latest Right Turn Only!! column at ANN, where he gives the pros and cons on Dororo, Gun Blaze West, Kannazuki no Miko, and lotsa other stuff. And there are some new reviews up at Manga Village: Charles Tan on vol. 1 of Gyo, Dan Polle on vol. 1 of Toto! The Wonderful Adventure, Sabrina on vol. 1 of Black Cat, and Lori Henderson on vol. 3 of Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation. At the Manga Maniac Cafe, Julie is under the weather but still manages to pen several micro reviews. Lissa Pattillo reads vol. 5 of Black Sun, Silver Moon at Kuri-ousity. Holly Ellingwood reviews vol. 2 of Short Sunzen and vol. 15 of Sgt. Frog, and Scott Campbell checks out vol. 1 of Rose Hip Rose and vol. 13 of Kekkaishi at Active Anime. Erica Friedman takes a look at vol. 2 of Strawberry Panic at Okazu. Ferdinand has an update on vol. 4 of Kashimashi at Prospero’s Manga. Connie takes a look at vol. 1 of Fairy Tail at Slightly Biased Manga. Eva reviews vols. 1 and 2 of The Guin Saga (light novels) at MangaCast.

Let’s start off with a question for you: MangaBlog reader David Hearst recently asked me to recommend some manga. Here’s what he likes:

I’ve found that I really enjoy “slice of life” stories like Yotsubato and Azumanga Daioh. I just started reading Aria today and am enjoying it for it’s simplicity.

I suggested Emma, Tokyo Is My Garden, The Walking Man, Antique Bakery, and Cafe Kichijoji de. Readers, do you have any other ideas?

Along the same lines, The Comic Book Bin has a new reviewer, Andy Doan, who freely confesses that vol. 26 of Iron Wok Jan, the book he is reviewing, is the first manga he has ever read. He proposes to critique it as he would any other graphic novel, which I think is a legitimate approach, as it’s pretty much the one I use myself. However, after reading the review I strongly suspect he picked the wrong book to start with. So, again, can anyone recommend some starter manga that are free of the conventions that bug newcomers (i.e. characters that look the same, endless recaps of what just happened)?

OK, on to the news. Over at Comicsnob, Matt Blind looks at Japanese sales figures, with the help of Google translation, and concludes that manga sales are down to $4.5 billion, still a respectable figure, even as it gains significance as a diplomatic tool. Click for some interesting meandering. Matt also provides us with online sales numbers for last week and his manga watch list for the week to come.

Katherine Dacey presents the week’s new releases and short takes on a few likely titles in her Weekly Recon at PopCultureShock’s Manga Recon blog.

And at The Yaoi Review, Sakura Kiss looks at some May releases.

Lissa Pattillo is making her plans for summer reviews; she plans to review some older series and she welcomes guest reviews from fellow Canadians.

There’s a preview up at MySpace of a new Tokyopop global title, Bad Kitty!

At the MangaCast, Ed looks at the weekly manga sales rankings from Taiyosha, doujinshi rankings from Toranoana, and has a group discussion on a mysterious message from a reader.

Reviews: Over at Good Comics for Kids, Kate Dacey reviews Spy Goddess: The Chase for the Chalice. Dave White reviews vols. 1-6 of Skip Beat, with plenty of scans and some insightful comments about the art. Matthew Brady critiques vol. 7 of Monster at Warren Peace Sings the Blues. Michelle reads vol. 2 of 7SEEDS (in Japanese) at Soliloquy in Blue. Julie reviews vol. 5 of Nosatsu Junkie at the Manga Maniac Cafe. At Okazu, Erica Friedman goes for the less than profound with a look at vol. 2 of Battle Club. Julie Rosato checks out vol. 1 of Nephilim, Greg Hackmann reviews vol. 1 of The Third, and Sakura Eries takes a quick look at vol. 8 of School Rumble at Anime on DVD. Dave Ferraro reviews vol. 1 of Dororo at Comics-and-More. Tiamat’s Disciple takes a look at vols. 1-5 of Rose Hip Zero and vols. 1-7 of Enchanter. Deb Aoki reviews vol. 1 of Kieli at About.com