Manga News and Information
September, 2007ICv2 has released the August 2007 top 100 graphic novel sales estimates and the top 300 comics sales estimates based on Diamond Indexes and Publisher Title Data. Also from ICv2 is an analysis of the trends in August based on the graphic novel sales chart. MangaCast points out via this week's PWCW that CMX has licensed two new manga by Yagami Yu (mangaka of Hikkatsu!):
Original Graphic Novel Based on The Dark Crystal scheduled for Holiday 2007 Release Los Angeles, CA (September, 2007) – TOKYOPOP, the #1 publisher of manga in the U.S. and The Jim Henson Company, the worldwide leader in puppetry, animatronics, and family entertainment for more than half a century, are thrilled to announce Legends of The Dark Crystal: The Garthim Wars, the all-new manga prequel to The Dark Crystal, Henson's classic tale of good vs. evil. Written by Barbara Randall Kesel (Meridian), with illustrations by Heidi Arnhold & Max Kim and a special cover painted by Jae-Hwan Kim (Warcraft, War Angels, King of Hell), Legends of The Dark Crystal: The Garthim Wars provides a unique opportunity to further explore this unparalleled world, manga-style! DEATH NOTE AND DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME Based On Popular Anime And Manga Series That Have Taken Japan And North America By Storm San Francisco, CA, September 18, 2007 VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action feature film DEATH NOTE and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, based on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series. The Chemistry Set is pleased to announce that Filipino comicker Andrew Drilon and his series, Kare-Kare Komiks, is joining it's line-up. Previously displayed at Warren Ellis' forum The Engine, Drilon is bringing his unique and emboldened take on comics to a bigger semi-monthly starting September 19th, 2007. "These are wonderful," says Warren Ellis. "I swear, the Pinoy make comics in the same way that the Icelandic make music ... Fucking genius." Oxford and Cambridge, UK, 5 September 2007 - Oxford indie Infinite Ideas will launch self-help books in manga format in a groundbreaking new venture with the UK's leading manga collective Sweatdrop Studios. Set to hit the shelves in April 2008, manga versions of Be creative and Find true love will marry manga images with tried and tested expert ideas in a stunning mixture of art and advice that takes self-improvement to a new level and is guaranteed to win a new generation of readers. Two further titles will follow in June 2008. Heisei Democracy reports that the Queen's Blade series will be getting two manga adaptations, one in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace (10/26) by Minasaki Iku, the other in MediaWorks' Dengeki Black Maoh (9/19) by Astroguy II. Also, volume 6 of Young Animal Island (9/28) will contain a special feature on Kimikiss to promote the upcoming October airing of Kimikiss Pure Rouge. On the 17th of this month, a maid cafe in Thailand called "Akiba" closed permanently after being investigated by Thai officials a few months ago. Thai officials arrested the shop owner and another man for offering pornographic manga books in the shop, and also confiscated 200 volumes of manga. After the incident, the cafe's business experienced a rapid decline. From Newsarama comes an interview with Tokyopop editor Tim Beedle, who talks about the company's exclusive deal with The Jim Henson Company to produce original graphic novels based on fantasy titles like Return to Labyrinth and Legends of The Dark Crystal. Via: MangaBlog San Jose, CA, September, 2007. DrMaster has reacquired the rights to the popular zombies-and-vampires action-comedy, Dark Edge by Yu Aikawa. Volume 7 will be released April 2007, with volume 8 following in July 2008!
The new company (headed by Koike) was created for the education of new creators as well as for the protection and management of intellectual property of Japanese manga. According to the announcement, Koike has become increasingly frustrated with how he couldn't do much to protect his works from being used in foreign movies and other media. Anime news and review website Active Anime has announced a new contest:
MangaNEXT has announced three more guests for this year's event that's taking place from October 5 to October 7:
Osamu Tezuka's longtime manga editor, Nobumichi Akutsu (84), passed away on the 12th due to larynx cancer (some report it as brain cancer). As Tezuka's editor, Nobumichi Akutsu's name was used by Tezuka in some of his works. Akutsu was also the editor for Shueisha's Beet the Vandel Buster. Canned Dogs reports that in the wake of Shinzo Abe's sudden resignation, Japanese Prime Minister hopeful Aso Taro will be visiting Akihabara to give a speech. Also, The Japan Times has published an article on Taro Aso titled "Cabinet veteran Aso more than manga fan," which looks briefly at Aso's past outside of his affiliation with manga. According to DMP's latest blog post, due to licensing issues, future volumes of Robot will most likely not be released (originally announced at AX07):
StarTrek.com is reporting that Tokyopop will hold a series of promotional events from September 13 to October 6 in Southern California to promote its new Star Trek The Manga: "Kakan ni Shinkou". Source: ANN A Chinese company called Cayie has recently released a new brand of Doraemon-themed mooncake for the Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place on 9/25 this year. Not only is the Doraemon mooncake cheap, but it also comes with toys for kids. According to initial statistics, the mooncake is especially popular among females, and over 95% customers bought the product based on its appearance alone. According to theOtaku, Tezuka Productions has announced that it plans to digitize and colorize all of Tezuka's manga. Anime! Anime! has another report, a translation of which can be found here. This month's Sweatdrop podcast is a special event, as each of the four presenters were previously winners of Tokyopop's "Rising Stars of Manga" competition. They talk about how they prepared and planned their comics, and what they went through whilst producing them. They also offer tips and advise for anyone that is entering Rising Stars of Manga or any other short manga competitions. Sweatdrop Studios have been releasing podcasts for a while now, with three previous episodes covering UK events, San Diego Comic Con, and various Sweatdrop Studios members, as well as interviewing UK manga industry personalities such as Helen McCarthy. Plus travel gear for your trip to Japan, contests and reviews in Episode 49! GRIMES, IA, September 14, 2007 - Anime producer and mega-online anime retailer Right Stuf, Inc. is pleased to welcome the webmaster of AnimeCons.com, Patrick Delahanty, to episode 49 of ANIME TODAY! Delahanty - who is also a founder of Anime Boston and the upcoming Providence Anime Conference - helps the podcast expand its convention coverage with an overview of the extensive information found at AnimeCons.com, a discussion of anime convention trends and advice for first-time con-goers. ALC Publishing, the world's only publisher of 100% Yuri will be premiering the newest Yuri manga anthology, "Yuri Monogatari 5," at Yuricon's 2007 "Yurisai" event on September 29, 2007 at the Newark Gateway Hilton. Digital Manga Publishing recently created an account on the popular social networking website MySpace. DMP's MySpace news blog can be found here. Source: Active Anime Viz has announced a new Shojo Beat event -- Macy's Passport 2007 Sweepstakes, where the winners will receive tickets to the Macy's Fashion Inform event taking place on 9/18 in San Francisco and on 9/28 in Los Angeles. Via: theOtaku Anime News Network is currently looking for a new on-air video talent for future video podcasts. TV columnists and critics positions are also available. Anime on DVD is currently looking for new DVD reviewers from the U.K. and the U.S. |
Manga Zombie
Finale: Panelosophy
An ongoing conversation about the philosophy behind manga both in the U.S. and abroad. Manga Ranking
Monthly charts of comparative manga rankings based on aggregate online sales listings from Matt Blind. |
ComiPress teams up with writer Udagawa Takeo and translator John Gallagher to publish an online version of the English-language translation of Manga Zombie.
