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Posts Tagged Shoujo Beat

Tokyopop Webinar: Part One

Tokyopop Webinar

Early this afternoon (or early this evening as in my case), Tokyopop held its first webinar: a live webcam-based session where Tokyopop staff took the time to share some information about upcoming titles and answer a whole lot of questions from the attendees.

Thanks to a quick transit home, I was able to attend this first-of-two sessions and you can read about what was said under the post cut.

As for my impressions of the Webinar as a whole: fantastic idea. It allows the opportunity for a convention-type industry panel but that people around the world can join in on from the comfort of their own homes. It’s a great way to communicate with fans and I give Tokyopop major kudos for putting it into place. Most impressively was the number of questions they were able to answer thanks to the in-order, streamlined method of submission. Very organized and a great opportunity to hit a lot of proverbial birds with one stone (I had all my questions answered so that was snazzy). I certainly hope I can attend the next one as well.

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SDCC’09 Samplers: Part One

SDCC Samplers

Manga publishers came out to San Diego Comic Con with lots of goodies to share this year, and this included manga samplers: handy little books with multiple short previews of their series to allow readers a quick test-read. I went around to each booth and picked up a copy where I could, looking forward to the opportunity to check out some new series to potentially add to my to-read list.

Viz Media took the prize for most offered samplers, handing out some samplers from years past to go with their newer additions. In two post-parts, I’ll be sharing my short impressions of the samplers. What did I think of the series’ snippet, and did it do its job and inspire me to go pick up volume one?

In this first part I sat down with several of Viz’s sampler books, and though I’d read a good portion of the stories featured there, I still came across some titles new to me that I’ll definitely be looking into:

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Review: Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 01)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo


Manga-ka: Taeko Watanabe
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: January 2006

Synopsis: “Into this fierce milieu steps Kamiya Seizaburo, a young would-be warrior who, though lacking in combat experience, possesses a fiery enthusiasm to both aid the Mibu-Roshi in their mission and to avenge his wrongfully murdered family. One of the Mibu-Roshi’s most gifted (and immature) swordsmen, the legendary Okita Soji, agrees to take Seizaburo under his wing. What no one suspects, least of all Soji, is that Seizaburo is actually a girl named Tominaga Sei in disguise!”

A samurai-to-be out for revenge after the murder of his family, Seizaburo may be young and small in size but that won’t stop his determination to become a man strong enough to defeat those in his sights. The greater problem however would be that ‘he’ is actually a ‘she’. Entering a man’s world for justice against those who killed her father and brother, Sei struggles against the pain of her loss, the weight of her lie and the weird assortment of characters she finds herself among.

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Release List: August 2009

With con season well under way, it’s easy to get caught up thinking about all those fantastic series on their way to us in the future. But though the future is full of shiny things, we mustn’t forget the present and fortunately there’s plenty of great stuff coming up in August to keep our reading minds on the now :)

You can check out August 2009’s currently scheduled manga releases under the cut:

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Review: Mixed Vegetables (Vol. 05)

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo


Manga-ka: Ayumi Komura
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “Hayato and Hanayu learn that blood is thicker than water, even in the kitchen. First, Hayato tries to explain to a heartbroken Hanayu why a commitment he made to his ailing grandfather may jeopardize his dream of making pastries for a living. Then Hanayu learns about self-sacrifice firsthand when Patisserie Ashitaba is offered a high-profile pastry project the night before her big exam. Are her sushi dreams more important than keeping the family business afloat? Can Hanayu creat the recipe for happiness?”

After a rocky road of revelations, Hanayu and Hayato have remained friends despite their original relational-intentions. But all is not well, for along with conflicts in their dreams, Hanayu’s of being a sushi chef and Hayato’s of being a patisserie, they still have the feelings of their family to consider as well. And yet the two still have feelings for each other that go beyond friendship too, and along with some vital school exams sneaking up, there’s plenty to consider. This fifth of Mixed Vegetables is all about balance, and whether or not the volume itself achieves this with its blend of humour and romance, readers will still be left hoping Hanayu and Hayato are successful at the task.

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Kuriousity at SDCC: Viz Media Manga & Anime

Viz Media's Shonen Sunday

It’s Viz again today as a full room is present to hear the news at Viz Media’s Manga & Anime panel. As with the previous panel, I’ll share the big updates here and then update later with the complete panel information later this evening.

The panel opened up with information on the previously announced Shonen Sunday. Viz staff shared some information about Shonen Sunday’s history (had no idea it’d been around in Japan since 1939!) before showcasing the current titles available in the new imprint:

Rin-Ne – Rumiko Takahashi
Kekkaishi – Yellow Tanabe
Arata: The Legend – Yu Watase
Maoh: Juvenille Remix – Kotaro Isaka & Megumi Osuga
Hyde & Closer – Haro Aso

The new titles which have not yet been released by Viz, will be available in book form in 2010 but are currently being released per chapter (for free!) over at the spiffily launched ShonenSunday.com.

You can read lots more under the cut:

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Kuriousity at SDCC: Shonen Jump

Shonen Jump at SDCC09

Viz Media’s Shonen Jump panel is happening as I type here at San Diego Comic Con. My first industry panel so forgive that I only have time to share so much right away ;) This post will be updated with a full overview of the panel later this afternoon. Edit: Post updated! See under the cut for the rest of the panel information.

The big announcements of the panel were two new licenses:

Toriko by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro
Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2008
Toriko a “gourmet hunter” knows that “food tastes better when you have to gather it with blood, sweat and tears.”

Bakuman by Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba
Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2008
“The mystery behind manga-making revealed!”

The first guest of the panel is Hiroyuki Takei, creator of Shaman King and artist of the currently running Ultimo. Second guest is Stan Lee, the King of American comics himself (creator of such popular series as the X-Men and Spiderman). Excuse me while I try to catch my breath and get back to you!

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PR: Viz Media Highlights for 2009 Comic-Con

VIZ MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2009 COMIC-CON

Array Of Notable Personal Appearances, Events And Activities

In Booth 2813

Showcase ULTIMO And New Imprint SHONEN SUNDAY

AND SIGIKKI.COM

San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2009 (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting lineup of personal appearances, events and activities for 2009 Comic-Con International taking place July 22-26 at the convention center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2813.

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Review: Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden (Vol. 08)


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

Synopsis: “Takiko helps Uruki grieve for the loss of a loved one- a loss she knows only too well. But now that the Qudong army knows how to fight Celestial power, Takiko and the Celestial Warriors have no time to lose. As they prepare to rescue Teg, Uruki learns the truth about the prophecy: to summon Genbu, the Priestess will have to sacrifice her life. Refusing to let another death happen, Uruki vows to send Takiko back to the safety of her own world… by any means necessary.”

Remaining safe to say, the anguish of Soren’s death gave the series its greatest emotional crescendo to date in the previous volume. While the passing of Uruki’s dearest friend and protector proved to be a tear-jerker, here in volume eight, Yu Watase, to her credit, manages to muster even more touching sympathies for him and all those affected during an emotionally rousing funeral. Keep your tissues handy for this one!

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Review: Otomen (Vol. 01)


Manga-ka: Aya Kanno
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: February 2009

Synopsis: “Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things – sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo comics. But in a world where boys are expected to act manly, Asuka must hide his beloved hobbies and play the part of a masculine jock instead. Ryo Miyakozuka, on the other handm is a girl who can’t sew or bake a cake to save her life. Asuka finds himself drawn to Ryo, but she likes only the manliest of men! Can Asuka ever show his true self to anyone, much less to the girl he’s falling for?”

Otomen is a book that I had to pick up after reading so many good things about it. It feels like forever since I’ve sat down for a true, honest-to-goodness shoujo manga and I was really starting to miss it. Until reading it, all I knew was that it was about a manly man who was actually a girly man, and it comes with high recommendations. With some favourable memories of Aya Kanno’s Blank Slate, and an uncertainty of how this more comedic sounding plot would be handled, I jumped into Otomen curious and finished this first volume in love.

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