Publishers Weekly reports that DC Comics is switching its book trade distribution from Warner Books/Hachette to Random House Publisher Services:

DC Comics is switching its book trade distribution to Random House Publisher Services after more than 20 years using Warner Books/Hachette for bookstore distribution. The switch will take place in spring 2008. DC will continue to use Diamond Comics Distributors to distribute to the comics shop market. The change teams one of the largest publishers of comics and graphic novels in the world with the book industry's largest and most far-reaching distribution service.

A round up of the new comic release list and views for the week of September 6th 2007:

• ComicList: Manga for 09/06/2007
• MangaCast - New Manga List ~ for Sept 6, 2007
• Comicsnob - Watch List: manga et al. for the week of September 2nd
• theOtaku - New Manga Releases
• Precocious Curmudgeon - Upcoming 9/6
• Japanator - Releases for the week of 9/03/07

In the latest issue of PWCW, Kai-Ming Cha interviews Vertical's editorial director, Ioannis Mentzas, about Tezuka, his manga MW (pronounced "Moo"), and more.

Also from Kai-Ming Cha is an interview with Maki Murakami, creator of the BL manga Gravitation.

Finally, Laurel Maury looks at the rise of female graphic novel creators in "Women SVA Grads Quickly Rise."

September comics top 10 in the U.S. according to PWCW.

1. Bleach, Volume 20
2. Fruits Basket, Volume 17
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
4. Naruto, Volume 15
5. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 1
6. Absolute Boyfriend, Volume 4
7. Full Metal Alchemist, Volume 14
8. Hellsing, Volume 8
9. Kingdom Hearts II, Volume 1
10. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Volume 14

Hottest Anime Release Of The Year To Feature Notable Cast Of Veteran Voice Talent

San Francisco, CA, September 4, 2007 - Following on the heels of the announcement of the release of the DEATH NOTE anime series on DVD, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has provided more details on the cast for the English dub.

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From ICv2 comes a 4 part interview (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) with DC President and Publisher Paul Levitz, who talks about the industry, the market, DC's future, CMX, Minx and MMORPGs.

Also, MangaBlog's Brigid Alverson interviews Mark Crilley, creator of Akiko and Miki Falls.

ANS points out an Amazon.com has listed Osamu Tezuka's Dororo manga under Vertical. According to the listing, Dororo will be released next April.

Edit: Publishers Weekly has confirmed the license.

Via: Giapet.net

From Asahi Shimbun comes an article titled "Cashing in on Over-the-Counter Culture," which looks at the history of VIZ Media and its co-chairman Seiji Horibuchi.

From AoD's Matthew Alexander comes an interview with Eijiro Shimada, Editor-in-Chief of Morning and its sister magazine Morning 2, and Yukari Shiina of world-manga.com (specialized in non-Japanese manga), who talk about Kodansha's 2nd Morning International Manga Competition (M.I.M.C.).

theOtaku announced that their myOtaku blogs have become 100% ad free:

On behalf of our 60,000+ myOtaku bloggers, thanks to: Fullmetal Alchemist, Mushi-shi, Witchblade, School Rumble, Tenchi Muyo, and Glass Fleet. It's rare for advertisers to actually sponsor the taking away of advertising and is a much appreciated gesture.

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