From Otaku USA comes an interview (in podcast) with Stan Lee on his latest project ULTIMO.

Also, Okazu has an interview with Erin Subramanian, translator of the yuri scanlation group Lililicious.

Dynamic Musical Duo Attends the Nation's Largest Anime/Manga Convention

Anaheim, California (April 15, 2008) ‹Anime Expo® 2008 is proud to announce the attendance of Jyukai-the musical duo consisting of Manami (vocals) and Dewa Yoshiaki (composition) to this year¹s Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3-6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.

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According to MangaBlog, Word Balloons, a new group blog aimed at comics for children has been recently launched:

Recently, I became aware of a hole in the blogosphere: Nobody seemed to be blogging regularly about children's comics. I mentioned this to a couple of like-minded folks, and the next thing I knew, Word Balloons was born. [...] Word Balloons will go beyond manga to cover kids' comics in all their glory, including classy graphic novels, cheap and garish floppies, and even webcomics.

The nominees for the 2008 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are up, and several manga can be found on the list:

Best Short Story
- Book by Yuichi Yokoyama
- Town of Evening Calm by Fumiyo Kouno

Best Continuing Series
- Naoki Urasawa's Monster by Naoki Urasawa

Best Publication for Kids
- Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma

MangaBlog has the full list, and The Beat has a full report of the award.

Special Two-Night Event Will be Shown in Select Theatres Nationwide

San Francisco, CA, April 14, 2008 - VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it will team with NCM FATHOM, the entertainment division of National CineMedia, to present a special two-night multi-city debut at over 300 theatres across the United States for the live-action special event DEATH NOTE on May 20 and 21, at 7:30 pm. local time.

This special two-night event includes a specially produced 20-minute feature on how the manga translates to live action as well as the first-ever interview with Director Shusuke Kaneko.

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Do you have a website? Join the DLSite Affiliate Program and start earning DLSite Points today!!

HERNDON, VA - April 14, 2008 - DLSite.com today announced their recently added affiliate program. If you own a website, start earning some points and get some free products from DLSite.com!

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In the latest installment of the Ninja Consultant podcast, "Show #58 - Manga Zombie and a Manga Panel at MoCCA", the NC crews introduce Udagawa Takeo's Manga Zombie and read its preface. Check it out!

From Active Anime comes an interview with Megumi Uhde, founder of the new fan run convention Zuiichi that takes place on August 3rd:

[AA] What is Zuiichi?
[MU] Zuiichi means "elite" or "foremost" in Japanese. The event focuses on all of the best things in fandom, and with the venue and cuisine, we thought it appropriate. The focus for this year's Zuiichi is trifold - Anime, Lolita and other Japanese fashion, and Joss Whedon. As we grow, we'll incorporate more of the random fandom into the Dreamland fold.

Plus the Tokyo International Anime Fair, Kawaii Kon & Sakura-Con, contests & more in episode 64!

GRIMES, IA, April 11, 2008 – Anime producer and mega-online anime retailer Right Stuf, Inc. is pleased to welcome Gonzalo Ferreyra - the vice president of sales, publishing and home video for VIZ Media – to episode 64 of ANIME TODAY.

In this new interview, Ferreyra discusses how anime and manga are interconnected, plus the challenges and opportunities that arise when both anime and manga components of a series are available in the same market.

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Gardena, CA, April 11, 2008 - Now in the US for the first time in its complete form, DMP is proud to present Tatsuo Yoshida's masterwork. Painstakingly restored and collected into a hardcover, 2-volume set in celebration of Speed Racer's 40th anniversary, Speed Racer Mach Go Go Go introduces these beloved characters to readers new and old. Join Speed Racer, Racer X, Trixie, Spritle and Chim Chim in this face-paced thriller of action and intrigue.

Included in this special edition set is an introduction by the voice of Speed Racer, Peter Fernandez! Peter Fernandez will be on hand at the DMP booth at New York Comic Con to autograph what critics are calling one of the best archival collections published to date.

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