Reuters reports that Beijing is banning and seizing horror books to "protect the 'physical and mental health' of its youngsters." Among the books seized was Death Note, which appeared on China's national TV last week.

The new comic release list for May 16th 2007 from ComicList, compiled by MangaCast.

In an article titled "Total Minx: 'The Plain Janes'", Express looks at DC Comics' new graphic novel imprint Minx and Cecil Castellucci, author of the line's first release "The Plain Janes":

For the line's first release, DC turned to popular novelist Cecil Castellucci, author of three young adult novels. (Her latest, a punk rock YA novel called "Beige," came out last week.)

The people behind the free anime newspaper Janime have started a new publication called POPJNEO, while the podcast Anime Today reports that Otaku USA issue 1 is in the process of hitting the presses.

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According to the latest post on Champion Red Ichigo's news page, the new follow-up project to the manga My-HiME and My-Otome will be a new series titled Vita Sexualis, created by the "My-HiME Trio" (Yoshino Hiroyuki, Higuchi Tatsuhito, Sato Kenetsu) and Eeji Komatsu (Maburaho, Junk Force).

From the Mainichi Daily News comes an interview with Barefoot Gen creator Keiji Nakazawa, who talks about his work and how he came to create Barefoot Gen.

VIZ Media celebrates the second anniversary of SHOJO BEAT Magazine with a special summer issues and gala party. Special Issue to Feature Rare Excerpt from Osamu Tezuka Shojo Classic PRINCESS KNIGHT

San Francisco, CA, May 14, 2007 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will mark the two year anniversary of SHOJO BEAT™ magazine with a special July 2007 issue containing an exclusive 23-page excerpt from manga titan Osamu Tezuka's groundbreaking series, PRINCESS KNIGHT!

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Tokyopop's Stu Levy has posted a sneak preview of Tokyopop.com's upcoming 2.0 design:

A few weeks from now we will go live with a 2.0 BETA for all of you to try. The profile section has a really cool design that I couldn't sneak out yet so waddle in anticipation for that one...

DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 2007

FROM: L
Lead Investigator
Special Investigation Headquarters for
Criminal Victim Mass Murder Case

TO: Citizens of the United States

RE: SEARCH FOR KIRA

Our original investigation into the perpetrator behind the recent murder of criminals has been focused on the Kanto region of Japan. While we were able to concentrate our efforts there due to localized television broadcasts, we have reason to believe that Kira is now located in the United States.

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MangaCast translates the weekly Doujinshi ranking (05/12) in Japan according to Toranoana, and the weekly BL Doujinshi ranking (05/12) in Japan according to Toranoana's BL specialty store Princess Side.

Publishing Ivrea, one of the biggest publisher of Japanese comics in Argentina, has announced its plans to release Korean manhwa in 2007. While no other details have been disclosed by Ivrea, some launch titles that were announced inclde: Archlord (the first launch title), Cafe Occult, Forest of the Gray City and Baljak and Nabi.

Source: Papo de Budega

The question of "Is enjoying Japanese manga and anime an unpatriotic act?" has been a great point of debate in China. The topic has caused many problems, and many young Chinese people are torn between their anti-Japan feelings and their love for Japanese manga.

One college student once posted on a Chinese bulletin board: "I don't want to be unpatriotic, but I can't help but watch Japanese anime. What should I do? Please give me some advice, I'm really under a lot of stress."

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Conrad Publishing will be releasing Akira Toriyama's Kajika this month in Brazil. The format of the manga will be 14 x 20.2 cm, 200 pages a volume. Conrad has previously released other Toriyama manga such as Neko Majin, Marusaku, Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball.

Source: Papo de Budega

Active Anime has released more information on its $500 giveaway event. The grand prize include manga, DVD, as well as a copy of Manga Studio EX Version 3 ($299) from eFrontier. The official rules can be found here.

One other event announced is the Avril Lavign's Make 5 Wishes Giveaway, where copies of Del Rey's Make 5 Wishes signed Avril Lavigne will be given out randomly to Active Anime members.

Also, a new Chat Room Service has been launched on Active Anime.

After over 10 years of serialization (began in 1990), Mineko Ohkami's fantasy manga Dragon Knights finally came to an end in the June issue of Shinkosha's manga magazine Wings.

A second manga series, Ran Amanogawa's manga Kamiinu X Blood, also ended in the same issue of Wings.

On May 10th, China Central Television (CCTV), one of the largest television network in China, reported a story on a recent Death Note incident in Nanning City, Guangxi, where adults discovered among elementary school students a popular game that involves "cursing and predicting the death of others through the use of a death notebook."

The report claims that Death Note is not healthy for young children, and encourages parents to protect their children from it.

Source: Yahoo! Japan

Currently a majority of the original Chinese manga are composed of 4-panel comics and short stories. To promote original story-oriented manga, Zhejiang Gongshang University's Japanese Anime and Manga Cultural Research Group has organized the 1st Story-Oriented Original Manga Competition.

The competition, supported by Shueisha and many Chinese anime news websites and media, accepts any original manga between 10-45 pages long. The deadline is September 9th, winners will be announced in October.

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In an article titled "Korean Otaku Turn Aprons Up at 'Moe' Warm, Fuzzy Feelings," Mainichi Daily looks at the differences between Japanese otaku and Korean otaku, and how the concept of "Moe" does is almost non-existent in Korea's otaku culture:

"There's still a concept close to moe in Korean otaku culture. There's a word 'haakku,' which means to get excited, or feel good. But this word doesn't really apply to the gaming or cosplay worlds here, yet it does apply to kinky stuff, [...] In Korea, Lolicon is outlawed and maid cafes were a flop."

According to ICv2, Viz Media will be releasing several new art books this fall:

• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Watercolor Images
• The Art of Angel Sanctuary 2
• The Art of Naruto: Uzumaki
• The Art of Fullmetal Alchemist 2
• The Cat Returns Picture Book

HERNDON, VA - May 11, 2007- DLSite.com today announced the release of realistic 3D Japanese animation, "BOKUKANO - Me and my Girlfriend" English version.

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The winners of the 36th Japanese Cartoonists' Association Award (Nihon Mangaka Kyokai Awards) have been announced:

Grand Prize

- The Divine Comedy by Nobuhisa Nozoe (illustration); Kazuhiro Iwata (adaptation); Kyojin Onishi (story) [ Gentosha ]

Reason: To honor the 10 years it took to complete the story. The work leaves the same impression to those from the army and young people who don't know anything about war. The manga's adventure-filled plot and overflowing expression had a large impact on the manga field.

- Tama-chan and Chibi-maru by Shigehisa Sunagawa [ Hoshinowa ]

Reason: Ever since the story was serialized in the newspaper, I laugh whenever cat appears in the story. This time Sunagawa created a story about cats.

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According to a press release from Capcom, the video game publisher will team up with manga publisher Gakken to create a manga titled The Secrets of Video Games, an educational manga about video games.

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Tokyopop has posted an interview with Anike Hage, a global manga artist from Germany and creator of Gothic Sports.

Source: Deutsche Mangaka

Kazuhiko Shimamoto, creator of The Skull Man, will be starting a new series called Aoi Honoo (Blue Flame) in issue 24 of Shogakukan's Young Sunday, on sale May 17th.

Also, a new series titled Kurohatsubutsukan Supuringarudo from Kazuhiro Fujita will begin serialization in issue 23 of Kodansha's Weekly Morning, on sale May 10th.

From Pink Raygun comes an interview with Camilla D'Errico, artist of Del Rey's Make 5 Wishes,a manga that features Avril Lavigne as one of its characters.

Via: When Fangirls Attack