From Macworld comes an article that looks at how Japanese visual novels are not doing as well in the U.S. as Japanese manga:

Hirameki International is popular in its native Japan - it's one of many companies that publishes "visual novels," - a sort of modern-day alternative to "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. The company is having a tough time finding an American audience, however, primarily because of retailer resistance.

Source: ActiveAnime

The new comic release list for April 25th 2007 from ComicList, compiled by MangaCast.

On the USA Today Booklist Top 150 (PDF) for the week ending April 22nd, Tokyopop's Fruits Basket volume 16 ranks at #38.

ICv2 has release its latest analysis on Q1 2007 manga and anime sales according to both Bookscan (bookstores) and Diamond (comics stores). Taken from the Top 50 Manga Properties, the top 10 ranked manga are:

1. Naruto
2. Bleach
3. Kingdom Hearts
4. Fruits Basket
5. Death Note
6. Full Metal Alchemist
7. Vampire Knight
8. Absolute Boyfriend
9. Loveless
10. Tsubasa

For more information, see MangaBlog's analysis on ICv2's report.

ANN reports that Light novel author Mugen, best known for Midnight Magic, Maison de Galaxie, and Ash Maoh Fukkatsu!, passed away on April 19th at the age of 47 due to heart disease:

His seven-volume Midnight Magic series won the first Jump Novel/Non-Fiction Award for Special Recognition. His other works included the hit nine-volume series Maison de Galaxie, Ash Maoh Fukkatsu!, and Makai Saiyuuki. He devoted himself to writing after a traffic accident in his youth left him in a wheelchair. His Maison de Galaxie illustrator and game character designer K??ji Iwasaki had died of a stroke on February 21 at the age of 28.

Manga top 10 according to Tohan.

1. Mahou Sensei Negima!, Volume 18
2. Air Gear, Volume 17
3. Hayate the Combat Butler, Volume 11
4. Kekkaishi, Volume 16
5. V. B. Rose, Volume 9
6. Inuyasha, Volume 49
7. Get Backers, Volume 39
8. Sayonara Setsubo-sensei
9. Ace of Diamond, Volume 5
10. Pride, Volume 7

ANN reports that a new book titled Hokusai: First Manga Master will be released by Amulet Books in June. The book will take a look at the origins of manga: "The influence that the 19th-century master Katsushika Hokusai exerted on the development of modern Japanese comics."

MangaBlog's Brigid sits down with Bettina Kurkoski, creator of Tokyopop's My Cat Loki. In the interview, Bettina talks about how she came into contact with manga, as well as how My Cat Loki was made.

According ICv2, Yaoi Press will be launching a new comic book line in October with the release of a new bi-monthly series titled Yaoi Candy and a one-shot titled Offered to a Demon. MangaBlog also adds that Yaoi Press plans to make their titles available online at Netcomics.

From MangaCast comes the news that FanFare has announced a new manga license during Anime Boston:

- Summit of the Gods by Yumemakura Baku/Taniguchi Jiro