The Daily Yomiuri has an article that explores the dramatization of the manga Saito-san by Yua Oda. Also, Nichi Bei Times looks at the popularity of manga in France in "Manga Gaining Rapid Popularity in France."

From the Los Angeles Times comes an article titled "The rise of Japan cool," which looks at various Japan-related topics, and comes with an interview with Tokyopop's Stu Levy:

In contrast, Northridge-born Stuart Levy has no problem selling his products to anyone who will buy them. The chief executive of Tokyopop, Levy has made millions licensing and creating anime and manga books and DVDs for America's new breed of comic hipsters.

Source: MangaBlog

ANN reports that four manga series are coming to an end in Japan:

• Emma by Kaoru Mori in the February issue (1/12) of Enterbrain's Monthly Comic Beam.
• Karin by Yuna Kagesaki in the February issue (1/9) of Fujimi Shobo's Dragon AGE.
• Idolmaster Xenoglossia by Mairi Kurosaki in the March issue (1/26) of Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Comp Ace.
• Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans by Tatsu Mizuki in the March issue (1/21) of MediaWorks' Monthly Dengeki Daioh

From Manly Manga and More... comes the German Manga Top 15 for December 2007 based on charts released by Egmont Manga & Anime (EMA) and Carlsen, below is the top 5 manga on the list:

1. Love Mode (8)
2. Detective Conan (53)
3. Inuyasha (48)
4. Naruto (27)
5. One Piece (45)

ICv2 is reporting that a Batman manga, drawn by Jiro Kuwata during the Batman craze in Japan in 1966, will be released in September 2008:

the world has collectors to thank for this volume documenting a little known example of cross-cultural fertilization, which will be available from Pantheon in September of 2008.

Via: MangaBlog

A manga adaptation of singer Eikichi Yazawa's autobiography Nariagari, titled Nariagari: Yazawa Eikichi Monogatari (??????????????? ??????????????????) (drawn by Sho Kitagawa), began in Kadokawa Shoten's Comic Charge No.3 (1/15).

Also, Tohru Fujisawa, mangaka of Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO), will begin a new series titled Anhapi-! (Unhappy!) (???????????????!) in Comic Charge No.5 (2/19).

Two new one-shots Ginga -Nagareboshi Gin- Special Chapter (Part 1) (?????????????????? ?????? ????????? (??????)) by Yoshihiro Takahashi and Metaborika (???????????????) by Yuzuki Hikaru, will appear in Shueisha's Business Jump No.5 (2/1).

Two new series, Alice no 100???c (????????????100???c) by Chizuna Nakajima (mangaka of Iinari! Aibration) and Yakuza Girl ~Blade Shikake no Hanayome~ (?????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????) by Okuma Yu-go, will begin serialization in the April issue of Akita Shoten's Champion RED (2/19).

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Cloverfield Clues reports that the first chapter of Cloverfield: Kishin by Yoshiki Togawa, a tie-in manga created to promote the upcoming movie, has been posted online by Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Shonen Ace.

Source: ANN and Wired

The Comics Reporter points out that the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has released its 2008 list of great graphic novels for teens:

• Top Ten List
• Full List of 43 Titles

ANN has an analysis of manga found in the list.

A round up of the new comic release list and views for the week of January 16th 2008:

• ComicList: ComicList for 01/16/2008
• MangaCast: New Manga List ~ Jan 16, 2008
• Manga Recon: Weekly Recon, 1/16/08
• theOtaku: New Manga Releases
• Precocious Curmudgeon: Upcoming 1/16/2008

Top 10 manga (1/16) according to Tohan:

1. Worst (19)
2. Detective Conan (60)
3. Hanma Baki (11)
4. To-LOVE-Ru (7)
5. Pyuu to Fuku! Jaguar (14)
6. Hanma Baki 10.5 Gaiden Pick
7. Hayate the Combat Butler (14)
8. Mx0 (7)
9. Eensy-Weensy Monster (2)
10. Nodame Cantabile (19)

Additional Rankings:

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