Publishers asked to identify diversity within ranks in Lee & Low survey Diversity issues have sparked conversations within the book community, both online and off, but Lee & Low has brought action to the discussion. The diversity survey hopes to set a benchmark for where the publishing industry is at with regards to gender-based, racial,…
Playing Off Nostalgia and First Love in Fuku Mizutani’s Love at Fourteen
Love at Fourteen, Vol. 1 and 2 Fuka Mizutani Yen Press 2015 I don’t know about you, but my middle school years weren’t half as dream-like as Love at Fourteen envisions. Fuka Mizutani takes a simple love story between two middle-schoolers and splits it into interludes, operating under the assumption that the reader will go along…
4 Takes on Zodiac Starforce #1
Zodiac Starforce #1 Kevin Panetta (script), Paulina Ganucheau (art & letters), Savanna Ganucheau (color assists) Dark Horse August 26, 2015 Review copy provided by Dark Horse comics Disclaimer: This review may contain spoilers and is based on an advanced review copy of Zodiac Starforce #1 from Dark Horse. Ever since we heard about Zodiac Starforce—a magical girl…
Shinbun Saturday: Science Fiction Manga Beginnings and Endings
Naruto writer to possibly delve into science-fiction for next project Masahi Kishimoto discussed his post-Naruto career with a Japanese magazine, briefly mentioning his tentative plans to work on a science-fiction themed manga. While nothing is completely set in stone– It hasn’t all been worked out, and I haven’t showed my editor yet, but I’ve already…
The Thursday Book Beat: Testing the Impact of Bechdel’s Fun Home
Margaret Atwood column: hair today, everywhere but the National Post tomorrow? A tongue-in-cheek column written by Atwood about the hair escapades of some Canadian politicians was pulled from the newspaper’s website a few hours after publication. An edited version of the column appeared on the website that night, with some of Atwood’s more striking remarks…
Shinbun Saturday: Reflections on History in Manga
Manga artist’s rendition of war experiences on exhibit Shigeru Mizuki’s manga Soin Gyokusai Seyo! (Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths) and Rabaul Senki (Memories of Rabaul) explored the experience of war through semi-fictional characters, but a recent exhibit at Chofu City Culture Hall brings his personal memories of World War II to a new audience. Mizuki’s work is placed in…
The Thursday Book Beat: Gondor Calls for Aid to Bring Minas Tirith Forth from Middle-earth
Amazon takes a hit from New York Times piece on its employees’ work conditions Is anyone really that surprised? The multimillion-dollar corporation has made a name for itself through tough negotiations with publishers, all in the name of “customer service.” Journalists at the Times spoke with former and current white-collar employees, many of whom described…
Shinbun Saturday: New Life for a Fan Favorite
Fan favorite gets manga adaptation Good news for Baccano! fans! We may never get a second season of the anime, but we are getting a manga adaptation later this year. Based on the light novels by Ryohgo Narita, Baccano! tells the story about a group of alchemists and an elixir that grants immortality against a…
Shinbun Saturday: A Campaign to Bring a Classic WWII Manga to Schools
Last Gasp Books launches Barefoot Gen Kickstarter Earlier this week, Last Gasp Books launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a hardcover edition of Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nazakawa. The aim is to raise $36,000 in order to print 4,000 copies to be distributed to schools and libraries. Based on the mangaka’s real-life experiences, the classic…
Shinbun Saturday: Eluding Government Bans and Facing IP Laws
Classic science fiction manga coming to North America Move over, Udon Entertainment. Classic manga fans were granted a boon this past week at Otakon with Kodansha announcing their licensing of 1978 series Queen Emeraldas. The series follows Hiroshi Umino as he sneaks onto a spaceship to escape from Earth. It will mark Queen Emeraldas’ first…
The Thursday Book Beat: Reading Rainbow’s Bringing Back Your Books on Netflix
Reading Rainbow Volume 1 to delight new readers on Netflix Be honest: you totally started singing the song. Millions of kids learned to love books over the show’s 23-year history, including yours truly, and Netflix will be bringing it back for a new generation. Some of my favorite books as a kid were ones that…
My Left or Your Right? The Newbie Friendliness of Manga
Picture, if you will, a fresh-faced fan walking into a comic book store on Free Comic Book Day. She picks up a haul of titles that look interesting. Hey, it’s free! Perfect opportunity to try something new out, right? Included in that haul is a sampler put out by a North American manga publisher. How awesome!…