Manga Curry no Maki Volume #13 - Sept 3, 2007 Curry IkaChoko Edition

Track (Starts):

Intro: (0:00) (Opening from Doraemon)
MangaBio - Christine Santos (0:47)
Jump Jump (10:28) - Bouncing a Bit Already for Jump Squared
International Manga Talk
Manga in the Philippines (17:00)
Manga Kissa 10 (20:39) - Manga Cafe in Manila
Doraemon in Tagalog (29:00) - How do you translate take-koputaa into Tagalog?
Break: (40:00) - (OP from Sayonara Zetsubo-sensei)
Interview with Philip Brody (41:30) - Jack Talks Tezuka with the Curator of the Exhibit

Curry recipe (on hiatus til next week)! Until then, imagine what curry flavored chocolate covered dried squid would taste like?! Only in Akiba... Fortunately, only in Akiba.


52:09min // 40MB // 64kpbs

Or Send us Email at: MangaCast(at)gmail(dot)com

In this Maki, Christine Santos is joined by Ed Chavez and Jack Tse. Created and published by the MangaCast.

The All-in-One is HERE!! Tell all your friends the All-in-One is here! I actually got my hands on this at SDCC and as fans and Viz's editorial knows I love the book! (I hope no one took pictures of that)

The All-in-One is a manga fan's dream. Start off with a wonderful manga about kids learning to deal with the harsh realities that is an adults' (and yakuza's) world. Then package the entire series in a huge omnibus big enough to use as a weapon if you ever find yourself in Treasure Town. Then they have a cool dust jacket with new art inside. Then they provide the original cover art on the actual cover, followed by a poster and a super clean print produced in Japan....

Hufff, pufff!! I need to catch my breath!

Beautiful! Wonderful! Violent! I want to get my own Black googles and pipe...

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF EDGY MANGA TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE BY TAIYO MATSUMOTO

Acclaimed Series Blends Japanese And Western Art Styles And Offers Gritty And Surrealistic Portrayal of Disaffected Urban Youth

San Francisco, CA
August 1, 2007

– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the highly
anticipated release of an omnibus edition compiling the edgy and controversial manga series TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE, by acclaimed creator Taiyo Matsumoto, on September 25. The manga, which is being offered by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint, is also the inspiration behind the new TEKKONKINKREET anime feature film from Sony Pictures directed by noted visual effects artist and producer Michael Arias (The Abyss, Princess Mononoke, The Animatrix).

TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE bundles all three volumes of the original series along with a color poster insert and 12 special full-color manga pages – the first time these pages will be published in the U.S. An insightful interview with Michael Arias and screenwriter Anthony Weintraub is also featured in the foreword. TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE is rated “M” for Mature Audiences and will retail for $29.95.

TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE presents a gritty depiction of urban and social decay surrounding a pair of outcasts who somehow find hope and redemption. Orphaned on the mean streets of Treasure Town, street kids Black and White must mug, steal and fight to survive but are fiercely loyal to each other. Black is especially quick to avenge any slight against his dim-witted pal White. The result? The citizens of Treasure
Town are afraid of them, the police are afraid of them, and even the local yakuza gangsters are afraid of them! But when a crime boss known as the "Rat" returns to Treasure Town, a confrontation is destined to occur!

Taiyo Matsumoto has won international critical acclaim for his rough and often-unflinching depictions of disaffected youth drawn in an unconventional and surrealist art style he developed after a visit to France and exposure to artists like Moebius. His manga works, including BLUE SPRING and NO. 5 (both published by VIZ Media), offer a unique art style that reflects both Japanese and European influences. Another of Matsumoto’s manga, PING PONG, was made into an award-winning live action
film that is being released domestically by VIZ Pictures.

“Taiyo Matsumoto is one of the most important of a new generation of manga artists that have emerged in the last decade and TEKKONKINKREET: BLACK & WHITE is one of his most powerful works,” states Elizabeth Kawasaki, Editorial Director, VIZ Media. “Matsumoto is unique in his ability to seamlessly blend Japanese and Western art styles and storytelling techniques in such a compelling and visceral manner. We are
excited and privileged to offer a gorgeous omnibus presentation of BLACK & WHITE with never before seen color manga pages. The volume also serves as a wonderful complement to the new TEKKONKINKREET anime feature from Sony. This manga is definitely not a title to miss!”

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About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking
audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and
distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.

A solid way too kick off the manga beat at SDCC, as Viz Media impressed a large crowd with some new anime and manga news.

The big news was Viz's entry into what I call the "Omnibus Wars." Viz will launch their Viz Big line next year with three Shonen Jump classics - Rurouni Kenshin, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. Each issue will be around the same trim size as Vagabond and will feature around 3 volumes worth of content. They will be priced $17.99, feature color plates and have new cover art. From the sounds of things these sound like they will be very similar to the Complete Collections that Shueisha has released for a number of SJ hits.

I wonder if success of this line will maybe give Viz the push to possibly license manga specifically for the Viz Big line. I have personally brought up titles like Urusei Yatsura, Slam Dunk and PatLabor before at cons and Viz has fans within their office. Maybe something like this would make releasing some longer titles easier.

Viz also announced a few new titles for 2008....

Viz Media

ヴァンパイア十字界 by: 木村　有里 Fallen Vampire by: Kimura Yuri SquareEnix/GanGan Comics 9+ vols/shounen

サルヤマっ！ by: 彬　聖子 Monkey High! by: Akira Shouko Shogakukan/Flower Comics 6+ vol/shoujo

Always good to see more shoujo from Shogakukan. Hmm weren't we talking about wanting more manga from this publisher a little while ago. Hmm and isn't this from BetsuComi? Looks like Viz is hearing your requests. You just have to let them know loud and clear!

Oh and...

Yeah its anime but I am a fan of both of these titles so I'll mention it... Viz also confirmed licenses for the NANA and Honey & Clover anime for North American distribution. Both will be added to their Shojo Beat Anime line.

Throw the Book at'em

Jack and the MangaBlog crew have debated issues like scanlations in the past. So how do they feel about people scanning manga before its even published in a magazine? And where would they rate Shojo Beat amongst the most etchi kids manga magazines (or is SB too mature for kids to read)?

This week Brigid and Jack throw the book at them all. ShoComi showing to much T&A... Best be improving sales or else! Scanners giving the manga industry a hit... The cops are on their way. And what about CPM? Jack says stay away... It's like the People's Court this week on the MBC. The only defendant escaping the gas chamber will be Del Rey! Found out why in the latest manga news/views for your iTunes MBC #35!

Defend your views by sending an email to the MangablogCast(AT)gmail(dot)com.

Download the latest edition of the MangaBlogCast here: . Also available in .mp3

This program was written by Brigid Alverson and read/recorded by Jack Tse for the MangaBlog.
Subscribe to the MangaBlog at

We have midterms over here in Indonesia and finals over there in the US, or so I hear. It shouldn't be an excuse from leaving you dry without any shoujo review for a week, but I had to. There are two themes this time: The first three is 'hugged and warm' and the rest is 'cafe'.

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The Secret Message

Original Title:		Keitai ga ochite ita (ケータイが落ちていた)
Author:		AKAISHI Michiyo (赤石路代)
Rated:		For Teen
Licensed in US:		Nope
Publisher:		Indonesia: M&C; Japan: Flower Comics - Shogakukan

( The Secret Message review )

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Love Arrow

Original Title:		プリキュウ
Author:		MOTOMI Kyousuke (最富キョウスケ)
Rated:		Teen
Licensed in US:		Nope
Publisher:		Japan: Flower Comics - Shougakukan; Indonesia: M&C; Malaysia: Gempak Starz

A few days late but I had to share this with you in case you have not passed by ComiPress (posted on April 29). The nominees for this year's Tezuka Award Cultural Prize have been released and this is a diverse list. Nominees were selected from all manga sold in 2006 by manga readers and manga industry representatives. An eight member panel of judges then selected the final eleven titles that have been nominated.

11th Annual Tezuka Award Nominees

	大奥 Oooku by: よしながふみ (Yoshinaga Fumi) Hakusensha/Jets Comics 2 vols/Seinen	皇国の守護者 Koukoku no Shugosha by： 伊藤　悠/佐藤　大輔 (Itou Yuu/Satou Daisuke) Shueisha/Super Jump Comics 4+ vols/Seinen
DEATH　NOTE by： 小畑　健/大場　つぐみ (Obata Takeshi/Ooba Tsugumi) Shueisha/Shonen Jump Comics 12 vols/Shounen	団地ともお Danchi Tomoo by： 小田　扉 (Ota Bira) Shogakukan/Big Comics 9+ vols/Seinen	大阪ハムレット　 Osaka Hamlet by: 森下裕美 (Morishita Hiromi) Futabasha/Action Comics 2 vols/Seinen
へうげもの Hyugemono by： 山田芳裕 (Yamada Yoshihiro) Kodansha/Morning KC 4+ Vols/Seinen	もやしもん Moyashimon by： 石川雅之 (Ishigawa Masayuki) Kodansha/Evening KC 4+ vols/Seinen	舞姫(テレプシコーラ) Maihime (Telepushikora) by: 山岸凉子 (Yamagishiri Ryoko) Media Factory/MF Comics 10 vols/Seinen

Judges:
Aramata Hiroshi = author/columnist
Ishikawa Jun = mangaka/columnist
Oshiguchi Takashi = manga specialty store owner
Kayama Rika = Professor of Psychiatry at Tezukayama Gakuin University
Kure Tomofusa = President of the Japan Society for Studies in Cartoon and Comics/Critic
Hagio Moto = mangaka
Fujimoto Yukari = editor/critic (author of the Soul of Shoujo Manga)
Morikami Tomohiko = Critic/Lecturer Kobe Shoin Women's University Graduate School

Outside of the Grand Prize, the judges will also select winners for:
Best New Title
Best Narrow Title (for 4-panel and 1-panel manga)
Special Winner

Is it too early for to ask Viz, Vertical and FanFare to pick up these titles fast? Death Note is already here and I am sure the only thing holding Ohoku back is how to market Yoshinaga as seinen/josei (I am sure that is why her other cooking manga haven't been announced yet). Maihime looks like an Aurora Pub title. But I am sure Del Rey wouldn't pick up Hyugemono or Moyashimon. Those titles are way too obscure for Random House to take a chance on. I would love to see a Tezuka's Choice line some day, but honestly who would try to sell Osaka Hamlet out here and who would read it?

Past winners include:
#10: Disappearance Diary (by: Aduma Hideo)
#9: PLUTO (by: Urusawa Naoki/Tezuka Osamu)
#8: Helter Skelter (by: Okasaki Kyoko)
#7: Ki-iro no Hon (by: Takano Fumiko)
#6: Vagabond (by: Inoue Takehiro)
#5: Onmyouji (by: Yumemakura Baku/Okano Reiko)
#4: Saiyuu Yoen-den (by: Morohoshi Daijirou)
#3: MONSTER (by: Urusawa Naoki)
#2: Times of Botchan (by: Taniguchi Jiro)
#1: Doraemon (Fujiko F. Fujio)

The Manga Draft returns with our first audio draft. Funny thing this was recorded a week or so before the first ManDora so the content might be in a slightly different format from Jarred set up in his written Drafts.

This installment takes a look at a series that title that might be completely new to the majority of manga readers. To manga editors and publishers however, this is a manga that is near and dear to their hearts. Actually you could say this should be considered a manga editor's bible. This is a series that takes readers to the core of the manga industry. Beyond the printing and distribution, past even the creative process, this manga focuses on the heart and soul of manga editorial. Who picks the manga you read! Why is manga marketed the way it is! And how creators and editors come up with the stories that you love! All of this is revealed in KING of EDITORS.

Download the latest edition of the Manga Draft here: .

This program was produced by Erin F. and features Erin and Ed Chavez for the MangaCast.
Subscribe to the MangaCast at

( ( Click to read the full draft report ) )

The Bottom Line
Upside - Otaku themes are doing well right now and it doesn't get more otaku than manga about manga making. Whoever releases this will likely get plenty of publicity from the publishing world because of the subject matter. Pats on the back all around. And if publisher V doesn't want to risk a 16 volume run they could take a ride on the 4 volume omnibus release instead! Seinen readers love big books (we can curl them when we are not reading them).

Downside - Salaryman manga has not made it over yet and this series possibly isn't the best place to start. Even with the Ashita no Joe moments and the male nudity there is not enough action or hard-boiled drama in this manga for your modern day seinen reader. Sorry no anime tie-in for this and I don't see the live action drama coming anytime soon either. Essentially, this is the manga version of Animation Runner Kuromi... Did that DVD sell well here? And that was only a couple episodes long

Outlook - Once again the Manga Draft is confronted with another Shogakukan property, which firmly places the fate of this series in the hands of our friends at Viz Media. Back in the PULP days this would have been an ideal follow up to Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga. In this new era of mangadom however, I have to wonder how easy it would be to market and sell what essentially is an otaku version of a salaryman title. The Ninja Consultants recommended this title for nomination because Carl Gustav Horn had recommended the property but given the subject matter I don't think DH would take on this property either (not enough swords or Yamasaki Housui). A boutique publisher could easily take this title on and handle it well in an omnibus format. Possibly a bit too pop for FanFare (not so much for Spanish Ponent Mon though) but this could be an interesting pick up Vertical. Either way Jack Tse would end up becoming a manga editor before you'd see this series on bookshelves at Borders.

Projected Draft Position: Free Agent

NOTE: The images above were scanned from the Shogakukan bunkobon version.

If you are interested in a scout report of a certain title, feel free to send an email for the Manga Draft to samacast(AT)gmail(DOT)com or post your suggestions here!

Previous Manga Draft Reports:
Detroit Metal City
Shin Angyo Onshi

Been a little while since we talked awards here, but ComiPress has the word on the finalists for the Japanese National Science Fiction Convention's Seiun Awards.

29th Annual Seiun Comic Award

DEATH NOTE by: 小畑健/大場つぐみ （Obata Takeshi/Oba Tsugumi) Publisher: Shueisha 12 vols	武装錬金 Buso Renkin by: 和月伸宏 (Watsuki Nobuhiro) Publisher: Shueisha 10 vols	からくりサーカス KaraKuri Circus by:藤田和日郎 (Fujida Kazuhiro) Publisher： Shogakukan 43 vols
妖精国の騎士 Knights of Elfenhiem by: 中山星香 (Nakayama Seika) Publisher: Akita Shoten 54 vols	and	ヨコハマ買い出し紀行 Yokohama Shopping Log by： 芦奈野ひとし (Ashinano Hitoshi) Publisher: Shogakukan 14 vol

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The Seiun Awards honor the best in Japanese SciFi with categories in Art, Fiction, Film and Non-fiction along with manga. They also have international award for fiction. The awards will be handed out at World Science Fiction Convention's Nippon 2007 (aka WORLDCON 2007) this summer in Yokohama.

Agent "Z" is at it again. Our sleuth has scoured the nets for new title info and even if she missed on the Tekkon Kinkriito I am still humbled by her ability to find this stuff. This time round "Z" has found another shoujo title from the Simon & Schuster listings but this is for 2008!! Futuristic!! Fantastic!

High School Debut is a rare Margaret title from Viz. Most of their shoujo seems to come from Ribbon, Flower and Hana to Yume. Margaret titles like Maria-sama ga Miteiru and Flower tend to be a little more mature and are often a lot shorter (unless its Hana yori Dango). Agent Z said this one is going to be POP. I trust her judgment, which means I will likely be giving this one a taste next year (sometime around Jan 08).

The other book was dropped in the latest PWCW. MangaCast management found out about it a little while ago. I was told while walking through Viz's San Francisco office a few weeks back that the All in One is going to be huge! Apparently its going to come in an oversized B5 format like their sexy looking Sexy Voice & Robo. I imagine the 600+ page book could be considered a lethal weapon once completed... And it's already blood red! Oh, Viz, I knew you guys still had it in you!

Viz Media

鉄コン筋クリート　All in One by: 松本大洋 Tekkon Kinkriito All in One by: Matsumoto Taiyou Shogakukan/Big Comics 1 vol/seinen

校デビュー by： 河原　和音 High School Debut by: Kawara Kazune Shueisha/Margaret Comics 8+ vols/shoujo

So I haven't been around lately... Shoot me!

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival has been draining my life force for the last week and I still have until Sunday to go. If you haven't had a chance, go see a movie now. There is anime or as I like to call it "Manga on FILM" to be watched in the form of the Girl Who Leaped through Time. The film has character designs by mangaka Sadamoto Yoshiyuki (Evangelion).

Oh and lookie here I have more Manga on Film news to share with you from Viz... This one is from a classic and a name MM4MM fans should know well - Mastumoto Taiyo. No its not Tekkon Kinkreet that's going to be coming later this year (I hope). We have some SAMA in the form of "Ping Pong"!!!

Lucky bastards Jarred and Erin will be able to enjoy the films in their hometowns. While I will have to decide on Seattle or Chicago to experience this manga. GRUMBLE GRUMBLE

Have fun... Back to the film booth...

VIZ PICTURES ANNOUNCES SPECIAL NORTH AMERICAN SCREENINGS OF PING PONG

Humorous And Insightful Film Explores The Nature Of Friendship, Competition and Table Tennis

San Francisco, CA
March 21, 2007

– VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC, the leading U.S. publisher of Japanese animation and comics that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, continues to expand its catalog of acclaimed titles set for special North American theatrical screenings with the release of PING PONG, the comedic sports film by director Fumihiko Sori.

PING PONG centers on two friends devoted to the sport of table tennis, and is based on a popular 5-volume comic by bestselling artist Taiyo Matsumoto, who also produced acclaimed youth-driven manga titles like BLACK & WHITE, NO.5, BLUE SPRING (all published in North America by VIZ Media). PING PONG follows two friends, their two mentors, and three players they face at various high school tournaments. It explores the different motivations and philosophies towards the sport of table tennis and wonderfully portrays the excitement and subtleties of the sport. Director Sori, who also notably worked as an effects supervisor for the movie, TITANIC, went to great lengths to preserve the visual style of the manga in the film, which ultimately was nominated for eight Japanese Academy Awards in 2003. Actor Shido Nakamura also won the 'Newcomer of the Year' award for his performance as Dragon, a rival of the two main characters.

Best friends “Peco” Hoshino and “Smile” Tsukimoto have been playing ping pong since they were little kids. While the unique and brazen Peco plays to win and loves the sport, the quiet and introverted Smile thinks of it as just a way to kill time with friends, and only plays because he idolizes Peco. While Smile is the more talented player, he frequently and intentionally loses to Peco out of a misguided sense of friendship. However, after Peco is badly beaten by his rival, Dragon, in an important inter-high school tournament he suddenly quits the game leaving Smile to become the newest ping pong celebrity. He begins training hard for the next championship, waiting for the return of his hero and best friend, whom he is destined to meet in one last match.

“We are excited to continue to develop the VIZ Pictures catalog with the latest release of PING PONG,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO for VIZ Pictures. “The film is a moving and uplifting story laced with many heartwarming and comedic moments and is an insightful and realistic exploration of both the positive and negative aspects of competition. Ultimately a unique film about friendship, we look forward to North American audiences discovering this acclaimed title.”

PING PONG is set to screen in the following cities:

New York
Press Screening: March 22 (Thurs), 2007 1:30pm
General Opening: April 6– April 12, 2007
THE IMAGINASIAN
239 East 59th St.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 869-4288

Chicago
General Opening: April 27 -May 3, 2007
FACETS CINEMATHEQUE
1517 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-4114

Seattle
General Opening: May 25– May 31, 2007
GRAND ILLUSION CINEMA
1403 NE 50th St
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 523-3935

About VIZ Pictures, Inc. -

Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii (cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each film release from a J-pop fan's point of view. THE TASTE OF TEA is the third VIZ Pictures title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO and LINDA LINDA LINDA, the company will continue to offer the most entertaining live action motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.

© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc

I remember tossing this idea around with my GF a few months ago. What about a manga calendar? Either monthly or daily with manga images. It would be filled with little manga tidbits like when Comiket is happening and the anniversaries for different magazines. I could even give each month a crazy theme. Sports manga would obviously happen in October, since Sports Day is on the second Monday of that month. Ero-manga and BL would get February for obvious reasons.

Months like March and July would have problems. However considering the amount seifuku manga I have laying around I might as well dub this Uniform Manga Month.

I got another Bashamichi manga. This one called "Sumire's Diary" is drawn by the Tennen Doumei. It does not have the eros element that the previous one had but it still has the fanservice... You know that restaurant uniform fanservice. I would say this is more like a manga manual describing the job of a Bashamichi waitress. The artists here broke down the business by parts listing of the menu, brands used by the chain and little details about table arrangement.



I don't know what it is really, but a manga like this that has very little real entertainment value to most people just works for me. I truly find it fascinating that there are people out there that use doujinshi like a once a season 36page blog. And in case you were not aware there is a usually a small faction of biographical doujin circles at major events like this. Always a good place to start if you want to clean your palate of that thick ero after taste I usually feel settles in by 12:00pm.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

How do I follow that up and stay within the parameters of uniform manga...

How about a parade of uniformed manga mascots!

Pipo-kun the Metropolitan Police Dept's Official Manga Mascot

Kyuta-kun is the Mascot for the Fire Dept. Dial 119 for his services in Tokyo.

Who can forget the mascot single-handedly spreading peace worldwide one volume at a time... Prince Pickles.

Even US Army has their own Yellow/Flag Ribbon Wearing Manga Mascot!

No offense to manga mascots, I think they do their job well. And heck, librarians always tell me start them when they are young, so this team of manga ambassadors are pulling in readers in ways only Doraemon and Sazae-chan can imagine. But I think my allegiance will always be with actual tankoubon. Give me a nice looking character in uniform on a manga cover and you will have one happy MangaCast editor!!

Asami art by: Aruga Teruto written by: Kondou Masayuki

UmiSaru by: Satou Shuubou

Zipang by: Kawaguchi Kaiji

CROWS by: Takahashi Hiroshi

Pepo vs Asami.... No contest. No contest! Pepo-kun has an antenna and he helps fight crime, but no one looks better in a traffic sash than Asami!

I might give a push to Kyuta because he wears the uniform well. And I saw the UmiSaru live action dorama... BAD!! I'd still read the manga if Viz released it, but stay away from the TV series.

Just looking at the cover of Zipang makes me cry man tears!! Nothing is more MM4MM than that! Sorry, Prince Pickles. (read the prince's raw manga here)

And I tossed in the last one, because that's the MangaCast is saving their pennies to buy ourselves that uniform right there. Purchase your's here. And if you are like Jarred, I can get you those threads if you need them.

Nuevo manga equals new stuff. MangaCast reader pharmchick has shared word on a pair of licenses from Viz Media announced in the April edtion of Shojo Beat magazine. Two new shoujo titles be coming from the Big V this fall including Shogakukan Award winner Sand Chronicles by .

pharmchick also noted that SB editor Megan Bates confirmed that the Sand Chronicles will run in the magazine and three new titles along with a few new short stories will be announced before year's end.

Viz Media

まんがみたいな恋したいっ！ by： 八神千歳 Fall in Love Like a Comic by: Yagami Chitose Shogakukan/Flower Comics shoujo/1 vol

砂時計 by： 芦原妃名子 Sand Chronicles by: Ashihara Hinako Shogakukan/Flower Comics shoujo/10 vols

I am very interested in the Sand Chronicles. While I haven't read it, I have heard good things about this drama. But now that I know that title is coming why do I want to see Derby Queen brought over even more?

Manga Mitai sounds like the type of romance some of the MangaCast lurkers want to have. Yeah, you know who I am talking about. I have you all on my gmail rolodex ^_^ and some of you are guys!! My mom says nothing good comes out of a manga romance...

Viz, Viz, Viz.... I have to agree with Jarred VIZ spells just plain lazy.

I asked Viz why they decided to go back and repackage Gyo and Uzumaki to toss them into Sig. And the answer was the current horror trends. Then why not pick up a horror title from IKKI? Too much commitment? Too much risk? Why isn't Portus in Sig?? No seriously that doesn't make sense. It that not the right type of horror? Not classical looking enough because it was published in 2006?

Oh and as you will hear later... They are listening to people about omnibus releases. (Good thing). They will be bringing Urusei Yatsura back to the Green Light meeting (licensing table) for consideration again. (heard that a few times but good to see them write it down again)

Other news from Viz... BLEACH will have a full color chapter in May's edition of Shonen Jump. And Brave Story will be a huge 900pgs!!!! $19.99 pre-order now!

Viz Media

ポルタス by: 阿部　潤 Portus by: Abe Jun Shogakukan/Young Sunday seinen/1 vol

Audio coming later