Aldnoah.Zero, Vol. 1 Olympus Knights (story); Pinakes (art); Sheldon Drzka (translation); Brndn Blakeslee, Lys Blakeslee (lettering) Yen Press, Dec 2015 Disclaimer: Yen Press provided a complimentary review copy upon which this article is based. After the first few pages, I wanted to call Aldnoah.Zero a space opera. After another few pages, I wanted to call it a…
Shinbun Saturday: Your Manga Could Be the Next Shounen Jump Plus Hit
Viz Manga publishing Naruto epilogue in 2016 Print versions will make their way into the hands of North American readers on January 5, though the epilogue volume is already available on the Viz Media website app. Set after the conclusion of Naruto, the epilogue will feature Naruto’s son, and Sasuke’s daughter takes center stage as…
Shinbun Saturday: Film Adaptations and New Licenses on the December Horizon
Aozora Yell live action adaptation out in August 2016 Fans of the manga won’t have to wait long to see their favourite characters again, with the film announcement coming on the heels of Aozora Yell‘s final compiled volume. The last issue was released in October 2015, wrapping up Tsubasa’s story, and more details on the…
Shinbun Saturday: Farewell to a Beloved Manga Creator
Influential mangaka passes away Beloved mangaka Shigeru Mizuki passed away earlier this week at the age of 93. His manga GeGeGe no Kitaro is credited with encouraging Japan’s love of yokai. Mizuki kept working and producing new manga until his death. May all comic creators aspire to be as industrious as he was! Chinese nationals…
Shinbun Saturday: ’90s Manga Classic Takes the Stage
’90s manga Fushigi Yuugi gets stage musical adaptation The official website for the production based on Yuu Watase’s manga launched earlier this week. The role of heroine Miaka will be played by Reina Tanaka, a former member of girl group Morning Musume. This is the third time the manga has received a stage play. Hiromu…
Manga to (Yo-Kai) Watch Out For
Whether you’re a fan of video games, television, or comics, odds are you’ve heard buzz surrounding Yo-Kai Watch, the latest Japanese franchise to take off around the globe. At the very least, you’ve probably seen some clickbait-y links hailing it as “the next Pokémon.” Curious about the next generation of mon adventures? Desensitized to the…
Shinbun Saturday: Online Piracy Crackdown
Two Chinese nationals arrested for uploading manga Two Chinese men were arrested and charged with copyright violation for allegedly uploading pages from Shounen Jump. The Japanese deliveryman, Takehisa Hidaka, has also been arrested for providing the manga magazine without legal permission to three other Chinese nationals before this incident. While that charge involved the upload…
Monthy Girls’ Nozaki-Kun & Comedic Violence
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun Vol. 1 Izumi Tsubaki (C) Publisher: Yen Press Release Date: November 17, 2015 Disclaimer: This advance copy has been supplied by the publisher
Shinbun Saturday: Dark Horse to Republish Kenji Tsuruta Fantasy Series
Dark Horse acquires Wandering Island for North American publication The publisher hopes to tap into the wide popularity of Kenji Tsuruta’s previous series Spirit of Wonder with this new title. Fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service may find their interest peaked by Mikura Amelia’s story, as she sets out in her seaplane to find the mysterious…
Shinbun Saturday: Industry Spotlights Manga Creators in New Publications
Shounen Jump and Ichijinsha highlight manga creators in new magazines Jump Ryu! is set to launch in January 2016, with a bi-monthly release schedule, supplementing Shounen Jump. The magazine will feature a different manga writer and/or artist in every issue–including a peek at their workspaces–with the cover of that issue drawn by the artists themselves….
Shinbun Saturday: Manga Faces Bans and Criticism
Increasing pressure on Japan to ban manga featuring sexualizd portrayals of minors Earlier this week, a UN special envoy called for Japan to ban manga featuring sexualized images of children. The request comes after a new law criminalizing possession of child pornography came into effect this past summer. Under the law, manga containing pedophiliac content…
Shinbun Saturday: Osamu Tezuka Biography Comes to North American Shores
Stone Bridge Press to publish Osamu Tezuka biography Earlier this week, Stone Bridge Press announced that they would be releasing The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime, a manga-style biography next summer. At over 900 pages long, the book covers the entirety of Tezuka’s career–including his early successes. It’s a nice way…