Manga News and Information
JapanOhzora Shuppan will be launching a new BL novel (light novel) label in September called Citrus Novels (シトラスノベルズ). BL novels to be published under this label include: Both novels are authored by Ioka Noeru and illustrated by Enoki, and will be released on September 27th. (Note that the obi strip around both novels also mentions the start of the new BL label) Also, according to Ultimatum Tidbits, Ohzora Shuppans josei manga magazine Bessatsu Harlequin will be relaunched under the title marie. Yoshida Sensha, mangaka of Utsurun Desu. and Young Bandit, has married Risa Itou, mangaka of Hey Pitan! and Oruchuban Ebichu. According to Yoshida, the two have known each other since their debut as mangaka. The relationship grew between the two after they met again in 2004. Also, both were previously divorced, and this marks the second marriage for both manga artist. Earlier in July, Kanon Akamatsu, the cosplaying wife of Love Hina and Negima creator Ken Akamatsu, launched a new "Official Kanon Website" at kanon00.com. Various photos (including cosplay) are posted on the site. The site also links to Kanon Akamatsu's blog, where she talks about her experience with otaku, manga and Ken Akamatsu (The blog was opened in 2006, and managed to attract over 30,000 visitors a few months after its launch). Koukoku no Shugosha (Imperial Guards) by Daisuke Sato (author) and Yu Ito (artist) will end in the October issue of Ultra Jump (9/19). Koukoku no Shugosha, based on a novel of the same name, began serialization in July 2004 and was one of the finalists in the 11th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award.
Comic Yoshimoto has updated its website with an official letter regarding the magazine's suspension. Japan's first free cosplay magazine, CosPick, was launched on August 17th. Kill Time Communication is launching a new manga magazine on October 29 called Comic Valkyrie Hard, which will be a special issue of Comic Valkyrie. Top 10 manga (9/19) according to Tohan:
Additional Rankings: Heisei Democracy reports that the Queen's Blade series will be getting two manga adaptations, one in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace (10/26) by Minasaki Iku, the other in MediaWorks' Dengeki Black Maoh (9/19) by Astroguy II. Also, volume 6 of Young Animal Island (9/28) will contain a special feature on Kimikiss to promote the upcoming October airing of Kimikiss Pure Rouge.
The new company (headed by Koike) was created for the education of new creators as well as for the protection and management of intellectual property of Japanese manga. According to the announcement, Koike has become increasingly frustrated with how he couldn't do much to protect his works from being used in foreign movies and other media. Osamu Tezuka's longtime manga editor, Nobumichi Akutsu (84), passed away on the 12th due to larynx cancer (some report it as brain cancer). As Tezuka's editor, Nobumichi Akutsu's name was used by Tezuka in some of his works. Akutsu was also the editor for Shueisha's Beet the Vandel Buster. Canned Dogs reports that in the wake of Shinzo Abe's sudden resignation, Japanese Prime Minister hopeful Aso Taro will be visiting Akihabara to give a speech. Also, The Japan Times has published an article on Taro Aso titled "Cabinet veteran Aso more than manga fan," which looks briefly at Aso's past outside of his affiliation with manga. |
Manga Zombie
Finale: Panelosophy
An ongoing conversation about the philosophy behind manga both in the U.S. and abroad. Manga Ranking
Monthly charts of comparative manga rankings based on aggregate online sales listings from Matt Blind. |
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ComiPress teams up with writer Udagawa Takeo and translator John Gallagher to publish an online version of the English-language translation of Manga Zombie.
