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Posts Tagged Manga

Yaoi Submissions, Schedules and a Staggering Zombie

Boys' Love Snippets

Some boys’ love news snippets today with submission closures, convention schedules and an undead publisher still looking to make a return:

Yaoi Press has recently updated their info page to inform propestive creators that their submissions are currently closed. This is a uncommon state for Yaoi Press which has spent the majority of its time open to new stories by writers and artists. The page does however offer up an honest and open look at why their submissions are currently closed and assurance that they still have previously submitted works on file.

Word has been circulating for a while about Digital Manga’s big yaoi title announcement, promising many happy fans, and that they’ll be making said-announcement at the upcoming Yaoi Con. Today Digital Manga has posted their Yaoi Con schedule including their industry panel and signing times for special guest, Makoto Tateno (see art above).

Digital Manga has also sent out a press release about signed and framed Makoto Tateno artwork which will be available for sale both at Yaoi Con and on their online shop, Akadot.

And lastly, in an odder turn of events, DramaQueen has updated its online shop to showcase what they’re calling a “Rebirth Sale”, offering up several of their back issue books for cheaper prices along with a message that suggests they’re still working on the comeback that they’ve promised for so long. Hmm… sounds sort of familiar.

I won’t beat the proverbial horse on this one but suffice to say DramaQueen hasn’t done anything to win readers’ sympathy or support in the past two years but I suppose it’ll still be interesting to see if they ever do release another book. Still, as much as I’m all for supporting the industry, it’s my honest opinion that shoppers should stay away from ordering through DramaQueen’s online website. The risk is simply too high that prospective buyers will only join the line of people still waiting for DQ to pay their dues.


Review: Mr. Flower Groom

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Lily Hoshino
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “The honeymoon’s not quite over yet… The Souda family tradition of marrying off its younger sons to male clan members leaves no generation untouched! Childhood friends Ritsu and Kouichirou may have taken their first, tentative steps into married life in Mr. Flower Bride, but now they have to wrangle with past loves, new misunderstandings… and each other (!!) to get to matrimonial bliss!”

A sequel to Mr. Flower Bride, Mr. Flower Groom follows the series’ newly wed couple – Ritsu and Kouchirou. They may still have their insecurities to deal with but it’s evident there’s more than just tradition binding the two together. But even with positive premise memories from the last book, are the characters themselves compelling enough to leave us fervent for this follow-up?

Read more…


Old Favourites Return For New Digital Manga Titles on Amazon

New From Digital Manga in April 2010

Amazon.ca brings us a handful of new boys’ love titles this Tuesday from yaoi-behemoth, Digital Manga. All these titles are from artists that readers will likely recognize from previous releases.

Drunken Love – Haruka Minami
(801Media, artist of My Paranoid Next Door Neighbour)

Mamiya Doll House – Kazuhiko Mishima
(June, artist of You Make My Head Spin)

Intense Rain – Shinri Fuwa
(June, artist of A Gentleman’s Kiss)

Alice the 101st – Chigusa Kawai
(June, artist of La Esperanca)

How To Control A Sidebar – Makoto Tateno
(June, spin-off of How To Capture A Martini, artist of Yellow and Steal Moon)

As with all Amazon listings, no series or releases are official until confirmed by the publishers themselves. While Digital Manga cannot confirm the licensing of these series, they did let me know that their big Yaoi Con license announcement is still under wraps and awaiting the eager ears of convention attendees. In the meantime there’s been lots of speculation on forums and blogs on what the title(s) will be, including potential license rescues from the yet-to-be-officially-bankrupt DramaQueen to the recently confirmed shutdown BeBeautiful.

For now fingers crossed we have these titles to look forward to, a great array of returning artists for some new works. I know I for one am really excited for another Chigusa Kawai title after a great finale to her previously June-released series, La Esperanca.

And remember boys’ love fans still have plenty to look forward to during Yaoi Con at the end of the month! Any titles you’ve got your hopes on?


Kodansha Comics’ Second Sign of Life, Sets Up Base in NYC

Kodansha Comics - Soon Coming To A Shelf Near You

With the swiftly approaching release date for Kodansha’s first English-foray as Kodansha Comics, Publishers Weekly has official word that they’ve set up camp in their New York City headquarters (popular manga publisher base it seems) and are preparing to get the ball rolling on their upcoming releases.

While confirming their release plans (or re-re-release plans) for Akira and Ghost in the Shell, the article also establishes that Kodansha is not looking to hold a publishing-monopoly on their properties, one possible theory that arose after Kodansha recently put a halt to their license renewals with Tokyopop. Del Rey is still releasing a number of Kodansha series and their parent company Random House will act as Kodansha Comics’ distributer.

Representatives of Kodansha Comics also acknowledged that they will be focusing on older titles for now, instead of publishing any new/original content. While this spells promising news for those looking for shiny new editions of popular classics, it also bolsters the hopes of those of us looking for some resurrections of series long since out of print and eager to see a crisp unflipped edition. Yes even at risk of sounding repetitive: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, please. Or Codename Sailor V? They seem safer bets at least than my crossed fingers for the rest of Kilala Princess. Those are the titles that call to me loudest but with such a huge library behind them, there’s no end to the wish lists that will likely surface from many manga readers.

While there’s no website or further information from Kodansha Comics themselves as of yet, we’ll hopefully see some later in the month with the first volume of Akira and Ghost in the Shell scheduled for release next week.

(Credit for the news goes to the many on-the-ball bloggers of Twitter)


Review: Red River (Vol. 25)

Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Chie Shinohara
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: April 2009

Synopsis: “Charged with treason, Nakia is interrogated by the Hittite council of ministers. Nakia denies her guilt and, despite being confined, uses her magic to free her henchman Urhi, who is then suspected of launching a campaign of murderous retaliation against Kail and Yuri. Nakia, however, seems to have made one mistake that could undo all her schemes–overlooking the devastating effect all the intrigue and treachery has had on Juda, her son and intended heir to the Hittite throne!”

Red River is a series that manages to mix political intrigue with shoujo romance. The characters all strike a nice balance between being idealistic reformers and shrewd politicians. As in any good shoujo manga, the relationships between the characters are always at the forefront of the action. The series is at its best when it pits the strong bonds between the cast against what’s best for the Hittite Empire, making the characters choose between helping their friends or helping the country. Luckily, that is exactly what volume 25 of Red River does.

Read more…


Review: Cowa!

Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Akira Toriyama
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: July 2008

Synopsis: “Paifu, a half-vampire half-were-koala, is always getting into trouble with his best buddy, José the ghost. But when the Monster Flu sweeps through town, the fun and games are over. If the monsters don’t get the medicine soon, everyone will die! With all the adults sick, it’s up to the kids to save the day! Paifu and José are off on a big adventure, but will they get the medicine in time… or will they become victims themselves?!”

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the creator of the ultra-violent Dragon Ball Z can also do cute and funny. What’s really surprising is how well he does it. Cowa! Is basically Yotsuba&! If the kids were monsters, and if that doesn’t sound great than I don’t know what else to tell you.

Read more…


Review: breath (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

No listing currently available

Manga-ka: Chifumi Ochi
Publisher: Yaoi Generation
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “Yanagi and Arata’s encounter started off as a simple pick-up at a bar, but Arata – who balks at homosexual sex – upsets Yangai to the point of being blackmailed into a sex-slave relationship. It is Arata’s charming and innocent personality, however, that breaks through Yanagai’s resolve and deeper feelings begin to form between them. Just then, Yanagi’s sex friend and Arata’s younger twin brother, Takashi, notices Arata’s strange behaviour…”

One old boyfriend, an inquisitive brother and a relationship that begins to teeter between romantic and purely physical are boys’ love staples awaiting readers in this second volume of breath. Yannagi, still laid back and ready to go, may seem more apt to push forward but a sharp blast from his past puts a damper on his enthusiasm and begins a renewal of old concerns, levelling out the proverbial playing field of emotion between him and Arata.

Read more…


NYAF 2009: Viz Media

NYAF 2009 - Viz Media

Wrapping up the manga-centric news of this past weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Sunday saw Viz Media staff take the panel stand with some fun new announcements.

New Licenses:

Gente ~Ristorante no Hitobito~ by Natsume Ono
What’s the Answer by Tondabayashi
Grand Guignol Orchestra by Kaori Yuki
Nice to Meet You, Kamisama by Julietta Suzuki
Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi
What’s the Answer? (Creator unknown)
Bob and His Funky Crew (Creator unknown)

The previously announced series Bakuman (by the same creators as Death Note which premiere in the May 2010 issue of Shonen Jump, and before that in February Shonen Jump readers will get to read the first chapter of Toriko with its first volume due out in June. A reminder also that the big One Piece speed-up will begin in January which will see a whopping 4 volumes a month until June. A big yikes to fans’ wallets but a yay to their eager eyes!

For Rumiko Takahashi fans, Rin-Ne volume one comes out on October 20th and Inu-Yasha anime fans can look forward to a simulcast of the upcoming Inu-Yasha anime finale. I have to admit, as much Rumiko Takahashi’s tendacy to overstretch her series gets a tad on my nerves, I still have a big soft spot for her stories and I think an anime adaptation of Inu-Yasha‘s finale is pretty neat and all the more spiffy that we’ll get to watch it so soon.


Review: The Quest For The Missing Girl

Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Jiro Taniguchi
Publisher: Ponent Mon
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: December 2008

Synopsis: “Mountaineer Shiga made a promise to his best friend following his tragic death in the Himalayas. Twelve years later and he is called upon to honor that promise. When 15 year old high school student, Megumi, fails to arrive home one evening from school her mother calls on her dead husband´s best friend for help. Shiga abandons his refuge in the mountains and descends to the city to look for the girl. With the police investigation at a standstill, Shiga has to go it alone. But the metropolis can be a much more hostile and dangerous ground than the mountains. What has happened to the youngster and will Shiga find her before it is too late?”

The Quest for the Missing Girl is as straight-forward as its title. There are no real twists or turns in the story and the characters never do anything unexpected. If you’ve already guessed that the climax will involve Shiga’s mountain climbing skills, go have a cookie.

Read more…


Review: Time Guardian (Vol. 02)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Daimuro Kishi
Manga-ka: Tamao Ichinose
Publisher: CMX Manga
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: June 2007

Synopsis: “Is the Time Shop closing for good?! In this eries finale, Miu tries to stop two former sweethearts from trading in their memories in order to forget their past relationship. Then Mr. Kusaka announces he’s selling all the Time Shop’s assets and closing up for good. Can Miu and Ginzo change his mind?”

A romantic entanglement becomes Time Guardian Miu’s first big job of volume two, taking her on an emotional journey as go between for two struggling lovers. But their waffling relationship proves only the tip of the book’s real iceberg as Miu is thrown for a loop when she learns what all the memories the shops’ been collecting are really for, then finds herself traveling to another world to see that the Time Shop isn’t closed for good.

Read more…


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