Two new artbooks from Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk, Vagabond) were released on October 23rd. The two artbooks, "WATER" and "Sumi," contain artwork from Takehiko's latest manga Vagabond. "WATER" is a collection of colored artworks, and "Sumi" is a collection of monochrome pictures. Each artbook contains different artworks.

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Manga top 10 according to Tohan.

1. Nodame Cantabilevol.16
2. Bleach vol.24
3. Death Note - How to Read vol.13
4. Hataraki Man vol.3
5. Eyeshield 21 vol.21
6. Dr. Koto Shinryojo vol.20
7. Hanma Baki vol.4
8. Vampire Knight vol.4
9. Nana vol.16
10. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! vol.12

ICv2 has made a list of the 10 most powerful people in American manga publishing:

1. Kurt Hassler, Graphic Novel Buyer, Borders Group
2. Hidemi Fukuhara, Chief Executive Officer, Viz Media
3. Stuart Levy, Founder, CEO, Chief Creative Officer Tokyopop
4. Dallas Middaugh, Associate Publisher of Manga, Del Rey
5. Jim Killen, Graphic Novel Buyer, Barnes & Noble
6. Mike Richardson, CEO & Publisher, Dark Horse
7. Mike Kiley, Publisher, Tokyopop
8. Yumi Hoashi, EIC & VP of Magazine Division, Viz Media

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The new comic release list from ComicList, compiled by LoveManga.

The Brazilian theater exhibition of Saint Seiya: The Heaven Chapter: Overture will begin on November 2nd. The anime will premiere on October 23th with its main voice actors making an appearance. The exhibition theaters has has attracted great attention in Brazil. Playarte Filmes, the distributor of the film, will make also a press presentation. Saint Seiya is currently the most popular anime in Brazil.

A new wine manga titled Sommelier by Matsui Katsunori, who usually goes by the pen name Kiyu, will start in Business Jump No. 23 (11/1).

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MangaZenkan.com, a online manga store known for its unique business of selling complete sets of old manga series, recently announced that they have sold more than 20,000 manga since they opened months ago.

MangaZenkan.com, supported by TORICO, launched on August 1st earlier this year. The online manga store sells only complete sets of used manga, meeting the demands of those who "want to read 'that' manga in one sitting," those who "want to read 'that' good old comic once again," and those who "want to spend all day of a holiday on reading 'that' masterpiece at home."

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The official website of Shonen Gahosha's new magazine, Monthly Young King, has opened at www.shonengahosha.jp/monthlyyk/. The first issue of the magazine will be released on October 19th.

Together with Shonen Gahosha's other magazine, bi-weekly Young King, there are now two Young King magazines, one bi-weekly and the other monthly.

Earlier this week JBC Publishing has released the Rurouni Kenshin novel titled Voyage to the Moon World (Samurai X - Cr??nicas de um Samurai na Era Meiji Volume 1 - Brazilian title). The story, inspired by Nobuhiro Watsuki's manga, was written by Kaoru Shizuka. The novel has 176 pages and costs $13.90 (approximately $6.50 USD).

Japan E-book Initiative (EBI), Kyocera Communication (KCCS), and Singapore Kyocera Communication Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (KCAP) announced last month a partnership to distribute manga digitally overseas starting 9/19. KCCS and KCAP will be responsible for financial matters, advertising, and customer service. EBI will be in charge the software and the content.

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