In the latest issue of PWCW, MangaBlog's Brigid Alverson talks with writer Christine Feehan about her first manga Dark Hunger, which is currently being published by Berkley Books.

From Kai-Ming Cha and Heidi MacDonald comes an interview with Takehiko Inoue during his appearance in New York City.

Also, Kai-Ming Cha interviews John McGeary, show manager of the New York Anime Festival, while Calvin Reid interviews Milton Griepp, CEO of ICv2 (go here for an ICv2 article on how Fruits Basket is topping the BookScan list of graphic novels for the week ending November 18th).

The Japanese search engine goo has posted its top 50 most searched mangaka names in 2007:

1. Hirohiko Araki (荒木飛呂彦)
2. Natsuki Takaya (高屋奈月)
3. Arina Tanemura (種村有菜)
4. CLAMP (CLAMP)
5. Yutsuko Chusonji (中尊寺ゆつこ)
6. Saibara Rieko (西原理恵子)
7. Minekura Kazuya (峰倉かずや)
8. Yukari Ichijou (一条ゆかり)
9. Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎駿)
10. Mayu Shinjo (新條まゆ)

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Mangaka Keiichiro Oki has passed away on November 19th. Keiichiro Oki is mostly known for his pachinko and pachisuro manga.

According to (Ms.) Tomo Kimura's Translation Notes, mangaka Ai Yazawa has recovered from her illness, and as a result, Nana will resume serialization in Shueisha's Cookie magazine:

NANA has resumed with the issue of Cookie that just went on sale. There was a message from Yazawa-sensei on the mobile NANA site that she's fully recovered now, so I guess we’ll be able to read the series every month.

Via: MangaBlog

From Active Anime comes an interview with BL manga author Hinako Takanaga, writer of Little Butterfly.

Also, Yomiuri Online has published an article titled "Rolling with the Punch / Lupin III Auteur Explores World of Technology, Manga," where it talks with Monkey Punch, creator of Lupin III.

Finally, Times Online has interviewed Moyoco Anno, mangaka of Hataraki Man.

Via: ANN

ANN is reporting that the Belgian police has reached an dead end in the investigation of the recent "Death Note" murder:

The Belgian press have nicknamed the case "Mangamoord" ("Manga Murder" in Dutch), although the police officials emphasize that they cannot rule conclusively that the case was indeed murder. They also note that they have found no further connection between the manga and the case, despite the two notes. The circumstances of the real-life case were not similar to those of any fictional portrayal of death in the manga series.

A round up of the new comic release list and views for the week of November 28th 2007:

• ComicList: ComicList for 11/29/2007
• MangaCast: New Manga Release List ~ Nov 28, 2007
• Manga Recon: Weekly Recon, 11/28/07
• Precocious Curmudgeon: Upcoming 11/29/2007

Top 10 manga (11/28) according to Tohan:

1. Kimi ni Todoke (5)
2. Nodame Cantabile (19)
3. Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE (21)
4. Gantz (22)
5. Air Gear (19)
6. Pride (8)
7. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (16)
8. Fairy Tail (7)
9. Koukoku no Shugosha (24)
10. Beck (31)

Additional Rankings:

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From The Ninja Consultant comes a podcast interview with Jason Thompson. Also, TheoFantastique interviews Japanese popular culture scholar Andrea Levi.

Via: MangaBlog

From Daily Yomiuri Online comes an article titled "Firms launch New Manga in Shrinking Market," which looks at how Shueisha and Kadokawa Shoten are launching new manga magazines in a "declining magazine market":

While Japan's domestic comic magazine market is gradually shrinking, two major publishers have recently inaugurated monthly comic compilations--Shueisha Inc's Jump SQ. (Square) for boys and Kadokawa Shoten's Kerokero A (Ace) for children. Can they keep young readers from moving away from the magazines and find a foothold in the shrinking market?