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Special
Down the Slippery Slope - The Crime of Viewing Manga
© 2009 Lawrence A. Stanley
On March 30, 2004, when Dwight Whorley found the Japanese website of Fractal Underground Studio via Yahoo and clicked on a couple of the thumbnail images, he thought he had found what he was looking for: images that weren't child pornography by the legal definition, but which nonetheless expressed the ideas he wanted to see illustrated: sex between adults and minors. They were cartoon figures, inked in a clumsy style. There was nothing real, and no one was hurt. No one could mistake them for anything other than the cartoons that they were.[1]
Unfortunately for Whorley, he wasn't at home, but in the public resource room at the Virginia Employment Commission, where he was supposed to be looking for a job. A woman saw what he was looking at and informed a supervisor that he was viewing child pornography. Believing the material to be legal, Whorley showed it to the supervisor and was promptly escorted to the door. He didn't even have time to close his e-mail account.[2]
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officials seized twenty emails (containing only words, no images) detailing fantasies of sex with minors. Only one email was sent by Whorley; the rest he received from a third party. Investigators also discovered that he viewed online 15 images of naked children from an Illinois website called "Logical Reality."[3] As if all this weren't enough already, Whorley was still under post-conviction supervision for the crime of downloading child pornography in 1999, a crime for which he served three years and four months in jail.[4] It could easily be predicted that he would be shown no mercy.
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Top 10 Manga Volumes:
1. ↑35 (36) : Naruto 38 - Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2009 [1712.8] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Naruto 35 - Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2009 [1692.4] ::
3. ↓-2 (1) : Naruto 34 - Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2009 [1688.5] ::
4. ↑1 (5) : Naruto 37 - Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2009 [1655.2] ::
5. ↓-2 (3) : Naruto 36 - Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2009 [1568.2] ::
6. ↑80 (86) : Vampire Knight 6 - Viz Shojo Beat, Apr 2009 [1494.9] ::
7. ↓-3 (4) : Naruto 33 - Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2008 [1441.3] ::
8. ↑254 (262) : Rosario+Vampire 6 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Apr 2009 [1391.1] ::
9. ↓-3 (6) : Naruto 32 - Viz Shonen Jump, Nov 2008 [1370.2] ::
10. ↑35 (45) : Bleach 26 - Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2009 [1352.9] ::
Top 10 Manga Series:
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto - Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2003 [100]
2. ↔0 (2) : Bleach - Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2004 [54.6]
3. ↔0 (3) : Fruits Basket - Tokyopop, Feb 2004 [51.52]
4. ↑1 (5) : Vampire Knight - Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2007 [47.26]
5. ↑1 (6) : Rosario+Vampire - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jun 2008 [44.99]
6. ↓-2 (4) : Death Note - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Oct 2005 [43.77]
7. ↑1 (8) : Warriors - HC/Tokyopop, Apr 2007 [31.27]
8. ↓-1 (7) : Chibi Vampire - Tokyopop, Apr 2006 [29.89]
9. ↑2 (11) : Ouran High School Host Club - Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2005 [24.86]
10. ↑8 (18) : High School Debut - Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2008 [23.67]
(commentary & full charts follow)
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We all know Naruto is going to be all over these charts. So even in the initially posted summaries, let's dig a little deeper this month:
Manga Top 250 Volumes and Top 100 Series for February 2009
Top 25 Manga Volumes:
1. ↑22 (23) : Naruto 34 - Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2009 [1759.8] ::
2. ↑24 (26) : Naruto 35 - Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2009 [1746.1] ::
3. ↑31 (34) : Naruto 36 - Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2009 [1717.4] ::
4. ↓-3 (1) : Naruto 33 - Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2008 [1710.1] ::
5. ↑52 (57) : Naruto 37 - Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2009 [1704] ::
6. ↓-4 (2) : Naruto 32 - Viz Shonen Jump, Nov 2008 [1525.1] ::
7. ↑160 (167) : Rosario+Vampire 5 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Feb 2009 [1516.4] ::
8. ↓-5 (3) : Naruto 31 - Viz Shonen Jump, Sep 2008 [1456.7] ::
9. ↓-5 (4) : Vampire Knight 5 - Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2008 [1433.7] ::
10. ↓-5 (5) : Fruits Basket 21 - Tokyopop, Nov 2008 [1402.9] ::
11. ↓-5 (6) : Bleach 25 - Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2008 [1399.3] ::
12. ↓-1 (11) : Chibi Vampire 12 - Tokyopop, Jan 2009 [1399.3] ::
13. ↓-5 (8) : Naruto 30 - Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2008 [1396] ::
14. ↓-5 (9) : Vampire Knight 2 - Viz Shojo Beat, May 2007 [1352.1] ::
15. ↓-8 (7) : Vampire Knight 3 - Viz Shojo Beat, Oct 2007 [1330.1] ::
16. ↔0 (16) : Vampire Knight 1 - Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2007 [1297.3] ::
17. ↓-4 (13) : Death Note 1 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Oct 2005 [1248.1] ::
18. ↑1 (19) : Vampire Knight 4 - Viz Shojo Beat, Apr 2008 [1248] ::
19. ↓-2 (17) : Rosario+Vampire 4 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Dec 2008 [1243.7] ::
20. ↓-8 (12) : Naruto 29 - Viz Shonen Jump, May 2008 [1220.5] ::
21. ↓-7 (14) : Junjo Romantica 8 - Tokyopop Blu, Jan 2009 [1197.2] ::
22. ↓-12 (10) : Bleach 24 - Viz Shonen Jump, Sep 2008 [1194.6] ::
23. ↓-8 (15) : Bleach Souls: Official Character Book - Viz Shonen Jump, Oct 2008 [1185.2] ::
24. ↑162 (186) : Maximum Ride 1 - Yen Press, Jan 2009 [1174.3] ::
25. ↓-4 (21) : Rosario+Vampire 3 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Oct 2008 [1151.3] ::
Top 10 Manga Series:
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto - Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2003 [100]
2. ↔0 (2) : Bleach - Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2004 [55.14]
3. ↔0 (3) : Fruits Basket - Tokyopop, Feb 2004 [51.06]
4. ↔0 (4) : Death Note - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Oct 2005 [48.09]
5. ↔0 (5) : Vampire Knight - Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2007 [44.99]
6. ↔0 (6) : Rosario+Vampire - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jun 2008 [43.06]
7. ↔0 (7) : Chibi Vampire - Tokyopop, Apr 2006 [34.85]
8. ↑1 (9) : Warriors - HC/Tokyopop, Apr 2007 [29.12]
9. ↓-1 (8) : Fullmetal Alchemist - Viz, Apr 2005 [27.73]
10. ↑5 (15) : Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle - Del Rey, Apr 2004 [25.2]
11. ↓-1 (10) : Ouran High School Host Club - Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2005 [24.94]
12. ↓-1 (11) : Junjo Romantica - Tokyopop Blu, Oct 2007 [23.54]
13. ↑7 (20) : Berserk - Dark Horse, Oct 2003 [22.94]
14. ↓-1 (13) : Kingdom Hearts - Tokyopop, Oct 2005 [22.51]
15. ↑23 (38) : D. Gray-Man - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, May 2006 [19.15]
(commentary & full charts follow)
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Below is a list of various manga and anime related Twitter links. If you have your own manga/anime Twitter you'd like to see listed, just post it in the comment and it will be added to the list!
News
Manga Top 250 Volumes and Top 100 Series for January 2009
- By Matt Blind
Top 10 Manga Volumes:
1. ↑272 (273) : Naruto 33 - Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2008 [1767.2] ::
2. ↑168 (170) : Naruto 32 - Viz Shonen Jump, Nov 2008 [1673.2] ::
3. ↑51 (54) : Naruto 31 - Viz Shonen Jump, Sep 2008 [1648.1] ::
4. ↑75 (79) : Vampire Knight 5 - Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2008 [1598.7] ::
5. ↑146 (151) : Fruits Basket 21 - Tokyopop, Nov 2008 [1551.5] ::
6. ↑392 (398) : Bleach 25 - Viz Shonen Jump, Dec 2008 [1536.8] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Vampire Knight 3 - Viz Shojo Beat, Oct 2007 [1463.4] ::
8. ↑13 (21) : Naruto 30 - Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2008 [1459.4] ::
9. ↓-3 (6) : Vampire Knight 2 - Viz Shojo Beat, May 2007 [1411.8] ::
10. ↑86 (96) : Bleach 24 - Viz Shonen Jump, Sep 2008 [1406.2] ::
Top 10 Manga Series:
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto - Viz Shonen Jump, Jul 2003 [100]
2. ↔0 (2) : Bleach - Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2004 [63.94]
3. ↔0 (3) : Fruits Basket - Tokyopop, Feb 2004 [59.95]
4. ↔0 (4) : Death Note - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Oct 2005 [55.72]
5. ↔0 (5) : Vampire Knight - Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2007 [48.88]
6. ↔0 (6) : Rosario+Vampire - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jun 2008 [40.14]
7. ↑4 (11) : Chibi Vampire - Tokyopop, Apr 2006 [37.47]
8. ↓-1 (7) : Fullmetal Alchemist - Viz, Apr 2005 [32.89]
9. ↓-1 (8) : Warriors - HC/Tokyopop, Apr 2007 [32.36]
10. ↔0 (10) : Ouran High School Host Club - Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2005 [28.1]
(commentary & full charts follow)
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Panelosophy - Recession Special
by Chloe Ferguson
Banks are failing, the government is buying up assets and Americans everywhere are seeing their homes and businesses foreclosed upon in record numbers. Naturally, such dire events should accordingly trigger a series of reactions in the everyman: shock, dismay, anger/fistshaking and, of course, one nagging question: what is the economic fate of the American market for Japanese comic books?! Thankfully, I come armed with soapbox and Bookscan numbers in hand to answer that very question. Sit back and/or continue stuffing your mattress with dollar bills; it's time to take a look at a post-recession manga landscape.
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Top 100 and Midlist 100 Volumes of 2008
- By Matt Blind
[sigh] Naruto, Death Note, Fruits Basket, Vampire Knight, and Bleach.
Well, at least you kids know what you like.
What's the midlist, you ask? Well, since a chart showing just the very top volumes is awfully repetitive, and not very illuminating, I'll exclude volumes from the top five series (listed above) and re-run and re-number the chart for a Midlist ranking. First up, though:
Top 100 Manga Volumes of 2008
1. Death Note 1 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Oct 2005 [21636.9] ::
2. Death Note 2 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Nov 2005 [21578.4] ::
3. Naruto 28 - Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2008 [20971.2] ::
4. Death Note 3 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jan 2006 [20778.5] ::
5. Vampire Knight 1 - Viz Shojo Beat, Jan 2007 [20640.8] ::
6. Vampire Knight 2 - Viz Shojo Beat, May 2007 [20504.1] ::
7. Vampire Knight 3 - Viz Shojo Beat, Oct 2007 [20413.2] ::
8. Death Note 4 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Mar 2006 [19818.2] ::
9. Death Note 6 - Viz Shonen Jump Advanced, Jul 2006 [19484.5] ::
10. Naruto 29 - Viz Shonen Jump, May 2008 [19440.4] ::
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Top 300 Series of 2008
- By Matt Blind
My 2008 rankings are based on 37 weeks of data (about 70% of the year) starting in late February and running (with minimal gaps) to the end of November, with a couple of charts right at the end to round out the year.
Full weekly charts have been posted (and continue to post) under the rankings category at Rocketbomber.com.
Top 300 Series, 2008
Publishers' Scorecard
[Note: 801 Media & DMP June could be considered to be over-represented since each one-shot manga and novel counts as a single series. It would be more representative to look at some of their authors and mangaka as constituting a single series -- but I'm not doing that.]
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Panelosophy - 2008 Year-end Special
by Chloe Ferguson
With 2009 bearing down upon us, the imminent end of the year brings signals a time of resolutions, sparkling wine and, of course, exhaustive, year-end cumulative lists. Here to oblige you with a look back at this year's headlines-in-manga-publishing is this month's Panelosophy.
January 2008
- Viz was quick out the gate around this time last year with new omnibuses and aggressive marketing of their licenses
- Newtype USA announced plans to shutter operations and begin publishing a new magazine, PiQ. Fans, subscribers' reactions are mixed. At the other end of the magazine spectrum, Otaku USA entered its first full year.
- Iris Print and their planned OEL BL magazine hit the skids as funding runs out. Conversely, Yaoi Magazine (published by S.A.Payne) begins putting out issues.
- Del Rey begins soliciting submissions from would-be OEL creators.
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Manga News and Information
ComiPress teams up with writer Udagawa Takeo and translator John Gallagher to publish an online version of the English-language translation of Manga Zombie.
