About.com Manga

Yen Press Announces Manga Adaptation of James Patterson's Daniel X

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:41:10 +0000

Now that their manga / manhwa adapation of James Patterson's Maximum Ride is a confirmed success (Maximum Ride Volume 2 recently debuted in the New York Times Manga Top 10 Bestseller List), Yen Press and Hachette Book Group USA recently announced that they'll next be tackling the graphic novel adaption of another bestselling young adult novel series by Patterson, Daniel X.

Like Maximum Ride, the graphic novel adaptation of Daniel X will be done by a Korean artist -- but while Maximum Ride is illustrated by NaRae Lee, this new series will be illustrated by Seung-hui Kye. In Korea, Kye has 13 manhwa series to his credit, but he is best known to American fans as the creator of Recast, a 6-volume fantasy manhwa series published by TokyoPop.

Yen Press Announces Manga Adaptation of James Patterson's Daniel X originally appeared on About.com Manga on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 01:41:10.

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Shonen Jump Extends Manga Art Contest Entry Dates

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07:25 +0000

Calling all aspiring manga artists! Shonen Jump magazine is looking for entries for their Super Fannies Fan Art Awards. Entries will be later be posted and voted upon by Shonen Jump readers, and winners will be published in the May 2010 issue of Shonen Jump. Best of all, according to Shonen Jump's recent tweet, the deadline for entries has been extended to November 15, 2009.

Artists age 13 and older are encouraged to submit their best renditions of Shonen Jump manga characters in these six categories:

Best Action Scene
Draw a kick-butt fight scene between any Shonen Jump characters from any series.
Best Shonen Jump Shindig
Draw a group of your favorite Shonen Jump manga characters hangin' and having a ball at a party.
Best Character Dancing Pose
Draw your favorite Shonen Jump manga character showing off their flashiest dancefloor moves.
Scariest Character
Draw your favorite Shonen Jump hero, villain or side character looking scary or fierce.
Best Rendition of a Shonen Jump Character From a Non-serialized Manga
"Non-serialized" means Shonen Jump manga that is not featured in the monthly magazine. So this can mean anything from Gin-Tama to Hikaru no Go, Death Note, Eyeshield 21, etc.
Best Character Mash-up
Mix and match characters from various Shonen Jump manga series, even those from stories that aren't featured in monthly Shonen Jump magazine.

Shonen Jump Extends Manga Art Contest Entry Dates originally appeared on About.com Manga on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 00:07:25.

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NY Times Manga Bestsellers: CLAMP Claims Three Spots in Top 10

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:57:04 +0000

Negima, the boy wizard wielded his magic on this week's New York Times Graphic Books list by knocking the latest volume of Naruto off the top of the charts. But perhaps more notably, three new volumes from superstar manga-ka team CLAMP have claimed spots in this week's top 10: two volumes of Tsubasa and the latest volume of xxxHolic.

Also new and notable: the second volume of James Patterson's Maxiumum Ride by NaRae Lee makes its debut in the #5 slot -- a strong showing for this series based on the bestselling young adult adventure novels. And that Death Note light novel I wondered about last week? It's still rackin' up sales to hang in there at #7.

Here's the rest of the New York Times Manga Bestseller list for the week ending October 31, 2009:

NY Times Manga Bestsellers: CLAMP Claims Three Spots in Top 10 originally appeared on About.com Manga on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 17:57:04.

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Digital Manga Announces 24 Yaoi, Shojo Manga at Yaoi-Con 2009

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:09:18 +0000

While there weren't a whole lot of publisher-sponsored panels at Yaoi-Con 2009, the one that generated the most buzz was Digital Manga Publishing's Saturday morning session, where they crammed in announcements of 17 new manga titles, 2 new novels, plus the return of 5 previously announced but delayed titles, and the one announcement that got many fans cheering: the return of a fan favorite, Kizuna by Kodaka Kazuma in deluxe omnibus editions in late 2010, along with the publication of the long-awaited (but never published in the US) last volume of the series.

Other titles that got the crowd cheering included No Touching at All by Kou Yoneda, Seven Days: Monday -Thursday by Venio Tachibana and Rihito Takarai, Maiden Rose by Fusanosuke Inariya, The Tyrant Falls in Love by Hinako Takanaga (creator of Little Butterfly), and Bloody Kiss Tonight, a new vampire manga one-shot by Yaoi-Con special guest, Makoto Tateno.

While those were the ones that got the biggest crowd reactions, the rest of the list of new releases for 2010 is full of interesting and noteworthy attractions for shojo manga and yaoi manga fans. Check out previews of the covers and story summaries for these new Doki Doki, June Manga, Digital Manga Publishing and 801 Media titles to look out for in 2010: Read more...

Digital Manga Announces 24 Yaoi, Shojo Manga at Yaoi-Con 2009 originally appeared on About.com Manga on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 11:09:18.

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Digital Manga Adds New Harlequin Graphic Novels to eManga

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:19:11 +0000

With the Yaoi-Con crowd pumped up for new announcements of boys love manga, one tidbit of news that got a bit lost in the shuffle was Digital Manga Publishing's announcement that they'd be adding over 20 new Harlequin Manga titles at their eManga.com online manga rental website beginning in November / December 2009.

These josei manga titles are graphic novel adaptations of previously published Harlequin novels done by Japanese manga artists for the Japanese edition of Harlequin magazine, published by Ohzora Publications, the parent company of Aurora Publishing. While Harlequin manga have been previously published by both Harlequin and Dark Horse between 2006 - 2007, the titles announced at Yaoi-Con look like new offerings that are part of eManga's deal with Softbank Creative.

Digital Manga Adds New Harlequin Graphic Novels to eManga originally appeared on About.com Manga on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 02:19:11.

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Anime Q & A: Tsuneo Goda Reveals Domo's Secrets... Kinda

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:35:47 +0000

If you've been anywhere near an anime convention, a Target store, a 7-11 or a comics shop, you've likely seen a raging brown... something screaming back at you, as a plush toy, a figurine, from a video clip or even a Slurpee cup. That critter is Domo -- and Domo is worldwide phenomenon that was created in Japan and has since made new friends all over the world.

The creator behind the ongoing "Domo-Nation" of America is Tsuneo Goda, a quiet but mischievous animator and director of the stop-motion Domo video shorts. Recently, Goda-san was TokyoPop's special guest on TokyoPop Insider, their semi-monthly online webcast.

With the original Domo doll in tow, Goda-san answered questions from TokyoPop Senior Editor Lillian Diaz-Pryzbyl and questions from fans who had gathered online last Thursday.

Find out what Domo's "Dad" had to say about how Domo was created, his experiences in the U.S. (including trying his first Slurpee), and his explanation about what Domo really is in this transcript of TokyoPop's Q & A with Tsuneo Goda.

Anime Q & A: Tsuneo Goda Reveals Domo's Secrets... Kinda originally appeared on About.com Manga on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 01:35:47.

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Readers' Choice: 36 Essential Yaoi / Boys Love Manga

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:33:14 +0000

In honor of the boys love / yaoi manga insanity that was Yaoi-Con 2009, I asked a bunch of manga fans, connoisseurs and critics on Twitter: What are your picks for essential yaoi manga reading? What titles would you recommend to friends? Which manga give the phrase "graphic novels" new meaning?

I got responses from 29 tweeters, and the result is this list of 36 essential yaoi / boys love manga. Titles from #1 - 17 got 2 or more comments / votes, so they're listed by popularity. #18 - 36 got one recommendation each, so they're listed alphabetically.

Topping the list was Future Lovers by Saika Kunieda from Deux Press, a sweet and funny two volume series about two teachers, one straight-laced, one flamboyant. Despite being very different, the pair fall in love and learn how to make it last despite their fears and the resistance of their families.

Readers' Choice: 36 Essential Yaoi / Boys Love Manga originally appeared on About.com Manga on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 19:33:14.

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NY Times Manga Bestsellers: Soul Eater, Death Note Light Novel Hit Top 10

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:56:56 +0000

For the third week in a row, the latest New York Times Graphic Books list finds the latest volumes of Naruto and Rosario + Vampire clinging steadfastly to the number 1 and 2 slots respectively. But there are some notable newcomers this week.

With its witches, pumpkins and death gods, it seems only fitting that the first volume of Soul Eater debuted in the #3 slot just in time for Halloween.

But this week's eyebrow-raiser moment was the inclusion of Death Note: L Change the World, the first light novel (a mostly prose novel interspersed with manga-style illustrations) to hit this top 10 list. Has the New York Times list been counting light novels all along, and this is just the only one to sell at this level, or is this a case where the NY Times didn't know how to classify this not-quite typical prose offering, not-really-a-graphic-novel?

While you ponder that point, here's the rest of the New York Times Manga Bestseller list for the week ending October 24, 2009:

NY Times Manga Bestsellers: Soul Eater, Death Note Light Novel Hit Top 10 originally appeared on About.com Manga on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 00:56:56.

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This Weekend: Manga Fans' Guide to Yaoi-Con 2009

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:05:42 +0000

This weekend, while the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area party people go in search of tricks, treats and Halloween merriment, boys love fans from all over the U.S. will be converging on the San Mateo Marriott Hotel to experience the 9th annual Yaoi-Con. Billed as "a celebration of male beauty and passion in anime and manga," Yaoi-Con promises a weekend of fun for girls/boys who love stories about boys who love boys.

Registration opens on Friday, October 30 at 1:00 pm. The swap meet starts at 3:00 pm and the opening ceremonies kick things off at 7:30 pm. The dealers room is open from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 31 and 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 1. Panels are scheduled from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am - 7:00 pm on Sunday.

One thing worth noting is that Yaoi-Con is an event that's strictly for fans age 18 and over. So if you're thinking of attending, leave your kids at home and bring your ID. Why? Boys love manga / anime runs the gamut from sweet teen romances to steamy erotica with extremely explicit sex scenes. Trust me, when a con has panels with titles like "Flogging 101" and "JAM-IT-IN: A Guide to Writing Gay Sex," the 18 and over thing is a good idea.

Although as previously announced, Guest of Honor Haruka Minami will not be in attendance, special guests Makoto Tateno and Kano Miyamoto will be signing their numerous graphic novels for fans on both Saturday and Sunday. Special guest artist Jo Chen (The Other Side of the Mirror, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will also be on hand in the dealers room all weekend.

Yaoi-Con has an ecclectic array of panels, from the fascinating to the utterly absurd -- but here's a list of events especially for manga fans:

This Weekend: Manga Fans' Guide to Yaoi-Con 2009 originally appeared on About.com Manga on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 16:05:42.

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Beyond Astro Boy: 15 Essential Tezuka Manga

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:14:24 +0000

Now that Astro Boy has hit the theaters, a new generation has been introduced to Osamu Tezuka's atomic-powered robot boy. But lest you think that the Godfather of Manga only created comics for kids, guess again.

In a career that spanned over 40 years, Tezuka-sensei drew almost 150,000 pages of manga. At one point, he was drawing almost 25 pages a day, for up to three concurrent series. He drew shonen manga for teen boys, shojo manga for teen girls and complex seinen manga stories for grown-ups. He drew comedies, action stories, dramas and stories about history, politics, medicine, sex, and religon. It's almost mind-blowing when you realize how much creativity he crammed in before dying at age 60 in 1989.

Tezuka-sensei created over 700 series and stand-alone stories in his career, but to date, only 15 have been released in English. Discover the must-reads, the rarities and the titles that are just for diehard fans in this list of manga by Osamu Tezuka.

Beyond Astro Boy: 15 Essential Tezuka Manga originally appeared on About.com Manga on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 02:14:24.

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