From ANN comes an interview with Takehiko Inoue (creator of Slam Dunk and Vagabond), who appeared during a special in-store event at the new Kinokuniya Bookstore in New York City to paint a special mural.

Also, in the latest issue of PWCW, MangaBlog's Brigid Alverson talks with Tokyopop's Lillian Diaz-Przybyl about the titles that TP picked up from ADV Manga.

The following manga appeared on the USA Today Booklist Top 150 (PDF) for the week ending November 18th:

• #67 - Fruits Basket, Volume 18 - Tokyopop - (Last week: #0)
• #77 - Naruto, Volume 24 - Viz - (Last week: #57)
• #103 - Naruto, Volume 22 - Viz - (Last week: #65)
• #107 - Naruto, Volume 23 - Viz - (Last week: #67)

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From Icarus Publishing's blog comes a preview (NSFW) of the adult manga coming out in February 2008, based on Diamond Previews for December (Shipping in February 08).

From ICv2 comes an analysis of Diamond Comic Distributors' October sales:

[..] the bottom half of those lists shows surprising strength against year ago numbers. This is true in both comic and graphic novel numbers for October 2007 vs. October 2006.

Also, MangaBlog provides its own look at the data, as well as a list of manga from the Top 100 Graphic Novels chart.

Three-Disc Set Includes Engraved Tin, Soundtrack and Host Of Extras And Will Receive Dynamic Multimedia Retail Promotion

San Francisco, CA, November 19, 2007 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that it has teamed with Trans World Entertainment Corporation, one of the largest specialty music and video retailers in the United States, to launch a special holiday retail campaign utilizing web, print, broadcast and related multimedia to promote the release of a new three-disc Deluxe Edition of NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW.

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Best Selling Manga About Wheelchair Basketball To Be Released Domestically In 2008

NEW YORK, NY, November 20, 2007 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced the upcoming 2008 release of Takehiko Inoue's basketball manga comic, REAL, last night at a special in-store event attended by the acclaimed artist/creator to inaugurate the new Kinokuniya Bookstore in Bryant Park, New York City. Inoue is also the creator of the mega-hit masterpieces SLAM DUNK and VAGABOND. Event attendees got a sneak peek at original wall art in the Kinokuniya store illustrated by the artist featuring some of his best-known characters.

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NEW YORK, NY (November 12, 2007) - Yen Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA that is dedicated to graphic novels, will publish its first BL (Boys Love) romances that feature adult males starting in Fall 2008. Obtained from the Japanese publisher Houbunsha and created by the talented Lily Hoshino, additional BL titles will be published throughout 2009. "We are pleased to support this market that has such a dedicated fan base." said Kurt Hassler, Co-Publishing Director for Yen Press.

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In "Meeting Mangaka, part one," Del Rey Manga's Dallas Middaugh talks about his experience meeting with various mangaka, including Rumiko Takahashi:

I've met three mangaka in my manga career. (Honestly, it could be more, but my memory fails me some days.)

Also available is a preview of Del Rey's upcoming manga Aventura by Shin Midorikawa.

Los Angeles, CA (November 7, 2007) - Boysenberry Books, the boys' love branch of Broccoli Books, is proud to announce that they have acquired the license and publishing rights for Cigarette Kisses by Nase Yamato.

Originally known in Japan as Kuchibiru no Yukue, Cigarette Kisses is a standalone boys' love graphic novel that is filled with intense drama within a steamy love triangle.

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Los Angeles, CA (November 7, 2007) ??? Boysenberry Books, the new boys' love imprint from Broccoli Books, has a new website, http://www.boysenberrybooks.com, launching today. The website will contain constant updates about upcoming boys love titles. Also contained within the site is information on released books and their authors.

"This launch reflects on the popularity of boys' love within the manga industry. After attending Yaoi Con, we have reconfirmed that boys' love is a permanent genre in North America," states Shizuki Yamashita, Director of Operations of Broccoli International and managing editor of Boysenberry Books. "We wanted to create a place so our fans can have an easily accessible way of getting information about our boys' love titles."

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