I don't know if you have noticed this but I don't review shounen much here. Outside of the occasional IWJ! and Kekkaishi review, I tend to almost specialize in seinen. Sorry about that...

Today we look at two shounen titles. And they come from two sides of the Pacific ocean. One is a western and one is a fantasy-adventure. Guess which is from Japan and which is from North America...

---

魔砲使い黒姫
by: 片倉・狼組・政憲

Kurohime #1
by: Katakura Masanori

Rated: 16+
Price: $7.99
Viz/Shueisha/Shounen/action/western-fantasy

Young hero in training Zero wanders the wild west as a gunslinger. Why? Years ago he was rescued by a beautiful sharp-shooting witch named Kurohime. The princess of darkness, with her unique sense of justice, protected him as a child voluntarily and now he wishes to find her to pay his respects.
Well fate brings the two together in Kurohime. But the gods have switched the roles. Zero has to "protect" Kurohime now.

---

Undertown #1
by: Jim Pascoe & Jake Myler

ウンダータウン　#1
by:　ジム　パスコー　&　ジェイク　マイラー

Rated: 13+
Price: $9.99
TOKYOPOP/shounen/adventure

Like many kids, Sama is having a little trouble with his parents. Dad is always on his case and recently literally dad blew a gasket. Feeling sorry for his father, Sama decides to do a man's job and take responsibility for his family. He decides to embark on a journey to find a cure for his father. This journey takes him to Undertown. A mythical place where teddy bears come from. But once there he finds himself in the middle of a war. A war between furries and bugs!!

What side do humans fall under? And will Sama ever get back home?

Listen to MP3 Review Here:
As always, be aware that the review might contain spoilers.

This review was read by Ed Chavez for the MangaCast.
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email us at mangacast[at]gmail(dot)com
Next episode: Variante, Disgaea 2, Coyote Ragtime Show, Ohikkoshi

Manga on Film! GAHH!! At times I enjoy it so much its enough to drive me mad. I used to go to the Tokyo International Film Fest and volunteer just to get free opportunities to watch manga on the silver screens of Bunkamura and Roppongi Hills but with YaoiCon and winter comic events... ARGH!!! So damn jealous!!

Any whozzle!! Viz Pictures lead by Viz's Prez Seiji are some of the few studios that are really working that manga on film angle. Ping Pong, Densha Otoko, Uzumaki are just a few titles they have worked on over the years. Now they are coming on strong with some SJ live action in the form of two Noto Desu... I mean Death Note films scheduled for DVD release in 2008, with screenings across the States and Canada to be announced in the coming weeks. Personally I wonder how a tokusatsu director will handle this... I am hoping the shinigami scenes kick, nothing beats a actors in full body rubber suits, but that's just me.

Oh and has anyone noticed that Matsuyama Kenichi has been in a number of Viz Pictures titles... Taste of Tea, Linda Linda Linda, the Death Note-s... He was also in NANA...

Hmmm if there's a screening in SF... I guess I better set up another MANGACAST MOVIE MAYHEM night!! Maybe this year we won't get ripped off at CoCo Bang!! Small soju my ass! That was HUUUUGED!

VIZ PICTURES LICENSES THEATRICAL AND DVD RIGHTS TO LIVE ACTION DEATH NOTE FILMS

DEATH NOTE AND DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME Based On Popular Anime And Manga Series That Have Taken Japan And North America By Storm

San Francisco, CA
September 18, 2007

-VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ
Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action feature film DEATH NOTE and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, based on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series.

VIZ Pictures will open DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME in a series of special screenings at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2007, September 20-27, and at the 2007 Vancouver Asian Film Festival, November 1-4. Theater information follows at the end of this release and future screenings will continue throughout 2008. VIZ Pictures also plans to release DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME on DVD in the summer of 2008.

“We are extremely proud to announce the license of DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME,” says Seiji Horibuchi President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Both films were smash hits in Japan upon their initial release and the established popularity of the manga in the United States, combined with the highly anticipated debut of the anime series, will prime audiences for the excitement and tension that the live feature films bring to the story.”

DEATH NOTE is based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The live-action film, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known as a director of popular monster film “Gamera” series, was released in 2006 and mirrors the manga’s story of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his one noble goal. Both Light and L believe themselves to be on the side of justice, and the two match wits trying to show exactly which of them is "good" and which of them is "evil."

The film’s sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, was a hit in Japan, staying #1 for four straight weeks. While it closely followed major plot elements from the original manga series, several new key story differences were also introduced. Both films star Takeshi Kaga, who is widely known by North American audiences as the flamboyant host of TV’s Iron Chef.

DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME will screen at:
Sept. 20-27: Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest 2007
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
1120 South Lamar, Austin, TX
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.fantasticfest.com

*DEATH NOTE will screen at:
Nov. 1-4: Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.vaff.org/
*Note this will only be a screening of DEATH NOTE

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. HULA GIRLS is the fifth VIZ Pictures title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, LINDA LINDA LINDA, THE TASTE OF TEA, and PING PONG. 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.

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.

Jack is on special assignment right now but before he left he provided me with a podcast. And not your ordinary Jack-cast either. This one does not involve Del Rey!!

Holy be-jeezus the world might be coming to an end or something!! Actually Jack does review Princess Resurrection so there is some sense of sanity left for you to cling on to. But I will warn you some day, some day, he will do it and I will not be there to protect you from it.

いちご100% (1)
by: 河下水希

Strawberry 100% #1
by: Kawashita Mizuki

Rated: 16+
Price: $7.99
Shueisha/Shounen/bishojo

I really don't know what to say about Ichigo 100%. Its a title that I am honestly happy to see in English but not one I would personally recommend. I am glad Viz is releasing cause it goes back to an old Viz staple the romance comedy. More importantly this is also a bishojo title - harem style, lots of fanservice and a very quirky theme.

Film is what brings a few of these characters together. Main character Junpei catches a glimpse of a girl's panties and falls in love. He also finds inspiration for a film in that beautiful shot. Now he has to find the girl with the ichigo panties. In her he will find happiness and a future but will he find her? And is he looking in the right places?

銀魂 (1)
by: 空知英秋

Gin Tama #1
by: Sorachi Hideaki

Rated: 16+
Price: $7.99
Shueisha/shounen/action

I have heard Gin Tama described as "samurai" vs "aliens". I have also heard this described as a Shonen Sunday version of the Shinengumi set in Edo-Japan (but published in Shonen Jump). Whatever it is Gin Tama is one of the better SJ titles to come around in a while. It is a romp from the start and it never takes itself very seriously. The art for this title is impressive for a comedy (standard for SJ but not so much for their comedy titles). And its cast is so crazy I'd almost suggest they'd take a chill pill if they weren't so entertaining.

If only Naruto was half as good as this...

Listen to MP3 Review Here:
As always, be aware that the review might contain spoilers.

This review was read by Jack Tse for the MangaCast.
Subscribe to the MangaCast at

email us at mangacast(at)gmail(dot)com
Next episode: Alive, Mail, Hanami,

If you haven't heard the most beloved manga title of all time SLAM DUNK has been licensed for release in the US. Viz Media will be publishing a preview of the classic in Shonen Jump Magazine's December issue (on sale November 6th), but before they do they have a couple things to get you through the "pre-season".

First Viz has made a Slam Dunk page on their site. Please go to http://www.shonenjump.com/dunk for the latest in Sakuragi Hanamich and Rukawa news. Second Viz has posted part of an interview with Slam Dunk (and Vagabond) creator Inoue Takehiko on their SJ site.

One of the Biggest Manga of All Time Makes its Debut in SHONEN JUMP magazine this November!

As announced at Comic-Con 2007, Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest manga in history — and now it's going to join the full line of English-language SHONEN JUMP titles, along with Naruto, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Rurouni Kenshin, Death Note and all your other favorites!

The manga tells the story of one of the most unlikely basketball success stories ever, Hanamichi Sakuragi. As the manga begins he's been turned down by 50 — no, make that 51! — girls in a row. With his eyes on impressing yet another potential date, he stumbles into basketball practice with little sense of what the game is about. He takes to the game begrudgingly at best — is this the making of a champion, or a fast break to another heartache?

VIZ Media and SHONEN JUMP are working on the English edition of Takehiko Inoue's Slam Dunk directly with the creator himself, in order to launch for a new generation of readers. We had a chance to interview him recently. Here's an excerpt — and look to future issues of SHONEN JUMP for more one-on-one with Inoue-sensei!

SHONEN JUMP TALKS WITH MANGA GREAT
TAKEHIKO INOUE

FanFare made the long long trip from England to San Diego and they had a fine time. Stephen made the rounds on the floor picking up posters and books and he even had a chance to take home an Eisner or two. Sadly Japan was passed on and the Walking Man was robbed!! ROBBED!!

I got to pass by the FanFare booth with my AoD colleague Matt, where Stephen gave us a sneak peak at his newest license...

FanFare

神々の山嶺 by： 谷口　ジロー／夢枕　獏 Summit of the Gods by: Yumemakura Baku/Taniguchi Jiro Shueisha Business Jump Comics 5 vols/seinen

The book is stunning and superficially it is very different from anything that FanFare has released before. Each volume is around 270 pages and the specs he is considering is a big A5 (think Sexy Voice and Robo). Much larger than their other books and many more pages but the same content quality that you'd expect from award winners Taniguchi Jiro and Yamemakura Baku.

This is the tale of a salaryman and his quest to overcome the mountains. Honestly I don't know if there is a manlier manga ever published in English. The male condition will be tested as he has to overcome the stigmas of "man's identity = his work and family." However being a man (and I know I am going to hear it from the otome and fujoshi) but how much of a man one can be is determined by what we can conquer. Conquering a mountain, something that cannot be moved and never backs down, is possibly the hardest thing a man can do on his own.

I'll be giving up the MangaCast to climb Fuji-san.... When the MangaCast comes of age.

This five volume manly manga will join the following properties FanFare will be releasing over the next year ...

The Ice Wanderer - Jiro Taniguchi (978-84-96427-33-4)
AWABI - Kan Takahama (978-84-96427-34-1)
Disappearance Diary - Hideo Aduma (978-84-96427-42-6)
KOREA AS VIEWED BY 12 CREATORS (978-84-96427-48-8)
The Quest for the Missing Girl - Jiro Taniguchi (978-84-96427-47-1)

Sned in your pre-orders to your Diamond friendly comic shop or go to Amazon and pre-order there.

Viz panels in the past tended to be nothing but PowerPoint with about 10min of Q&A. The Shonen Jump panel was possibly the loosest I have ever seen the group and the attitude and content drew applause from the Narutards and the wotaku in the crowd.

More manly man Naruto starting in December is a good thing for 99.1% percent of you. BLEACH joining SJ this October (November Issue) will be a big boost. And a preview of the most beloved manga of all time pushed me over the brink that even I have signed up to the SJ. I want to have that issue bronzed by XMas!!

SLAM DUNK!!! Just the hint of the manga made grown women in the audience cry. SLAM DUNK!!! Made manly men dance like the little girls in Nakayoshi! You will buy this book. You will enjoy the book and you will want to buy them all!! There are no other options.

Viz

SLAM DUNK by: 井上　雄彦 Slam Dunk by: Inoue Takehiko Shueisha/Jump Comics 32 vol/shounen

As much as I love the old covers, I wanted to show the Complete Collection art for Slam Dunk. Clearly a Slam Dunk for fans of Inoue's art and looking at Sakuragi Hanamichi shove that sphere through that hoop should make this a slam dunk for all of you.

Darn you Simon! SimonSays too much sometimes. And this time the distributor reveals what could be some big news for the Big V. Given how the company went all out to announce the acquisition of the Blue Dragon license at Cannes, I am sure they would have wanted to give the manga version of the property some good play at SDCC later this month. And I am sure they would have wanted to announce their newest title from Tanemura Arina with her present at the con. More josei (from SquareEnix of all places)is a good thing, even if they won't market it that way. And why do I feel Monkey High is much more than it seems.

Anywho, if Simon & Schulster is correct expect these books by Q1 2008.

Viz Media

イ・オ・ン by: 種村　有菜 I.O.N by: Tanemura Arina Shueisha/Ribbon Comics 1 vols/shoujo	ｓｗｉｔｃｈ　 by: ｎａｋｅｄ　ａｐｅ switch by: naked ape SquareEnix/GFantasy Comics 11+ vols/seinen	BLUE　DRAGON by: 小畑　健 & 鷹野　常雄 Ral Grad by: Takano Tsuneo Shueisha/Jump Comics 2+ vols/shounen
妖精標本 by: 由貴香織里 Fairy Cube by: Yuki Kaori Hakusensha/Hana to Yume 3 vols/shoujo	GUN　BLAZE　WEST by： 和月　伸宏 Gun Blaze West by: Watsuki Nobuhiro Shueisha/Jump Comics 3 vols/shounen	夢喰見聞 by: 真柴真 Nightmare Inspector by: Mashiba Shin SquareEnix/Stencil Comics 9 vols/josei

Back in the Bay Area and I have around 10 hours of audio to splice... GAH!!!

Before I head into the "studio" let me give you part two of the new title round up... Oh and I'll do the 801/June books tomorrow. 20 BL titles have to be processed with care you know.

DrMaster

メトロ・サヴァイブ by: 藤澤勇希 Metro Survive by: Fujisawa Yuuki Akita Shoten/Play Comics 2 vols/seinen

Phantom the Comic by: 鈴木康士 Phantom by: Suzuki Yasushi doujinshi/online 1 vols/seinen

More from Suzuki Yasushi! There wasn't a large crowd at the Suzuki panel on Sunday but the few dozen that were there did get to see a number of slides featuring some of the most stunning art this side of Amano (Yes David even better than naked ape... And maybe as good as Inoue, Jarred). This latest from Suzuki is actually a web manga Suzuki made as a short some time ago. The story will be fleshed out and released as a one-shot next year.

Their second title is impressive in a different way. Metro Survive is the type of manga that Dark Horse should be releasing. A very cool seinen action drama about Japan after a major earthquake devastates the nation. Released in Akita Shoten's version of IKKI, Play Magazine, this title has some sexy art and a short tight story that could bring in new readers to DrMaster. I really hope they market this right, because this title would appeal to the small number of sophisticated manga readers out there. You know the 10 people read Old Boy, MONSTER, EDEN, Phoenix and Hard Boiled Angel... Luckily this title is only two vols long.

TOKYOPOP

アジアンビート by: 水月博士 Asian Beat by: Mizuki Hakase Shinshokan/Wings Comics 1 vols/Josei

獣王星 by： 樹なつみ Juuousei by: Itsuki Natsumi Hakusensha/Jets Comics 5 vols/seinen

鏡子的另一邊 by: 咎井淳 Other Side of the Mirror by: Jo Chen Tong Li Comics 2 vols/josei

．ｈａｃｋ／／ＸＸＸＸ by: 松山洋 .hack//XXXX by: Matsuyama You Kadokawa/Comics Ace 2 vols/shounen

The LDP only had a crowd of 40 or so at the TP panel on Monday. Apparently the panel wasn't listed on some schedules but we had it on ours since mid-June... Even with a small audience and after their PR department confirmed 38 new titles a few weeks back, as you can see Lillian still had new stuff to share. Seriously how deep is TP's bag of licenses??

Juuousei was a last-minute announcement that was released because of the recent anime license. The seinen title that is huge with the fujoshi might even get its schedule pushed up to coincide with the DVD release. Another Mizuki Hakase title was licensed. Asian Beat has a yanki style cover and has me seriously considering this "josei" one-shot. Oh and the LDP also noted that Mizuki Hakase's Demon Ororon will have a ultimate collection reprint. Ride the Shojo Omnibus baby!!

On the Global, OEL, Manga Ai tip, TP will be releasing Undertown by Jim Pascoe, We Shadows by Sonny Straight, Dark Moon Diary by Che Olson</b> and Harper Collins' Vampire Kisses with art from REM.

TP's manga revolution has taken them to Japan, Canada, Korea, Germany and other places in between. Now it will land in Taiwan with a title from Jo Chen the Other Side of the Mirror.

Additional news has INVU continuing past volume 4. The series is now published by a new company in Korea. And TP has confirmed that Shin Pet Shop of Horrors is delayed... What? Why? Well don't forget that Asahi Sonorama folded a few weeks back. So the license needs to be negotiated again. (See TP knows the deal...)

BoyBoy by Kitty

星陵最恐物語リターンズ by: 龍川　和ト Scandalous Seiryou Univ 2　 by: Tatsugawa Kazuto Libre/Super BeBoy Comics 1 vol/BL

MediaBlasters have confirmed a title I was curious about Seiryou Returns. I am pretty sure they will pick up the option on the third volume of that trilogy sometime soon.

Dark Horse

ＢＬＯＯＤ＋　 by: 桂明日香 BLOOD+ by: Katsura Asuka Kadokawa/Comic Ace 5+/shounen	ＢＬＯＯＤ＋Ａ　 by: スエカネクミコ BLOOD+ A by: Suekane Kumiko Kadokawa/Beans Ace 2 vol/seinen	低俗霊ＤＡＹＤＲＥＡＭ by: 奥瀬サキ Ghost Talkers DAYDREAM by: Okuse Saki Kadokawa/Comic Ace 9 vols/shounen
ＢＬＯＯＤ＋夜行城市 by: 如月弘鷹 BLOOD+ Yakou Joshi by: Kisaragi Hirotaka Kadokawa/Ciel 1 vol/BL	GANTZ by: 奥　浩哉 GANTZ by: Oku Hiroya Shueisha/Young Jump 21+ vols/seinen	からぁ怒 by:小池一夫 & 叶 精作 Color of Rage by: Koike Kazuo/Kanou Seisaku Koike Shoin/King Series 1 vol/seinen
ロシアン・ローズ by:　漲月かりの BLOOD+ Russian Rose by: Karino Kadokawa/Beans Bunko 2 vols/novel	ＢＬＯＯＤ＋ by: 池端亮 BLOOD+ by: Ike Ryo Kadokawa/Sneaker Bunko 4 vols/novel	風の名はアムネジア by：菊池秀行 Wind Named Amnesia by: Kikuchi Hideyuki Asahi/Sonorama Bunko 1 vol/novel

Ummm, does Dark Horse realize they just went into the BL market?! Manly Manga for Manly Men has a new meaning now. Seriously Gombos, either you are a genius or clueless but either way BLOOD+ was going to do well and now it will definitely do better than EDEN.

Speaking of which... GANTZ has made a number of fanboys very happy over the weekend. I honestly would love to know how many though. GANTZ is a hyper-violence title that will definitely be 18+ and shrinkwrapped that will cater to a part of the market that I am not sure really has any strength or cohesiveness (the seinen market). On top of that this is a 21+ volume series which undoubtedly means sales will not be great by the time we get to the halfway mark. Personally GANTZ isn't my cup of tea in the first place. Character designs are not very clean and I am not a fan of the costume or mechanical designs either. The game is quite exhilarating but honestly I don't see the overall appeal. This is going to be a niche manga, even if DH doesn't see it that way, mainly because its content limits its market reach to a small part of the market that struggles to sustain titles of any sort. (HELLSING being a rare exception but that title has crossover appeal)

SiJones beat me in the guess where Vulgar Ghost is going office pool. I thought CMX (just because they have had a number of Kadokawa shounen lately) but Simon said DH and honestly considering the style... Yeah, its DH all the way. The type of title they are going for is still quality but I can see a funny pattern developing and this one is based on aesthetics not narrative (can you figure it out... hmmm).

I am totally offended by the latest Koike license! Why? Well I think either Simon, Gombos or Horn decided to pick this one up to spite me. Last year at SDCC I asked Koike about his golf manga and the possibility of those coming over. The man clammed up and rejected the notion. Well, DH did the next best thing by licensing a manga from Koike's personal golf artist Kanou Seisaku!! Oh you freaks!! Just license a golf title already. Pick up a short one or something but this is going too far.

Go! Comi

神様家族 by: たぱり　 Kamisama Kazoku by: Tapari Media Factory/MF Comics 3 vols/seinen

賢者は眠る by: 竹内　未来 Wise Man Sleeps by: Takeuchi Mick Akita Shoten/Princess Comics 2 vols/shoujo

天使の柩 by: 氷栗優 Angel's Coffin by: Higuri Yuu Akita Shoten/Princess Comics 1 vol/shoujo

電脳ビリーバーズ by: 海月　志穂子 CY-Believers by: Mizuki Shioko Akita Shoten/Princess Comics 3+ vols/shoujo

New titles from many of Go! Comi's launch artists. David Wise personally came up to me to tease me about my grammar... and more shounen. More shounen is always a good thing, even if it this might be a harem manga (more love for the MangaCast's Jack I guess). All in all G!C's library is filling out nicely and they keep to test out the more mature areas of shoujo with most of their new acquisitions. If I ever see a pub go on a limb and bring out the Teen Love genre, I would think G!C would be the first.

Seven Seas

神様の腕の中　 by: ねこ田　米蔵 In God's Arms by: Nekoda Yonezo BiBLOS/BeBoy Comics 3 vols/BL

ダンス　イン　ザ　ヴァンパイアバンド by: 環　望 Dance in the VampireBund by: Tamaki Nozomu Media Factory/MF Comics 3 vols/seinen

ゼロの使い魔 by: ヤマグチノボル Zero no Tsukaima by: Yamaguchi Noboru Media Factory/Bunko J 11+ vols/novel

陰からマモル！ by: 阿智太郎 Kage kara Mamoru by: Achi Tarou Media Factory/Bunko J 9+ vols/novels

DH has BL and now so does Seven Seas. Dance in the VampireBund is recommended by ComiPress, so that means I should be checking that one out.

The two light novel pick ups are extremely intriguing. Here is why. 7S has built up a nice novel catalog over the last year plus, with some name brands in their as well. Will that mean future manga licenses of Shinigami Ballad, Zero Tsukaima, Gun Princess..? Licensing is a funny deal but these novel licenses ought to get their foot in the door with licensors and with fans out there.

Strawberry

ｖｏｉｃｅｆｕｌ by: ナヲコ　 voiceful by: Nawoko Ichijinsha/YuriHime Comics 1 vol/yuri

初恋姉妹 by: 東雲　水生 First Love Sisters by: Shinonome Mizuo Ichijinsha/YuriHime Comics 2+ vols/yuri

Yuri!! With Strawberry launching at AX we should soon see what the market is like for Yuri in the States. The potential is there for Strawberry. If it can capture the ladies it should do fine; if it can also get the stupid fan boys then it will be a big success. I got to pick up the Last Uniform over the weekend. Too cute for words. Kinda in that ToriKoro vein but with romance instead of comedy at the core.

Not often that I can find a manga title that is not in Jason Thompson's Complete Guide but I just ran into one that has been around for a few months now... But I will give Jason a pass here since it hasn't been collected into a GN yet (but then again neither was Baki the Grappler nor Nemuri Kyojiro.)

In the relatively new culture magazine Monocle a brand new manga title from Yasaka Takanori (creator of Shuiesha's Anim.) is a title called Kita Koga. Each issue of Monocle features a pullout chapter of KK printed in right to left format inside the back cover of the mag. So far the insert has come with color plates and has had a decent enough sounding translation.

Now the manga is the big news here. But then again the vehicle is just as big. In Maki Side Dishes of old Jarred and I long wished for regular magazines to add licensed manga to help convert more readers to the virtues of the Manga Revolution. Yeah, global titles are cool but there are plenty more sports manga waiting for Golf Digest, Sports Illustrated and ESPN the Magazine. Imagine seeing Tezuka Award Winner Maihime in a magazine like TIME or Variety. Well some random mag that just started in Feb is doing it and from the looks of things they are doing it right.

The revolution will not be televised! It will be in Mags everywhere! YOU WATCH!! Bwhahahahaha!

MONOCLE

KITA KOGA by：八坂　考訓 Kita Koga by: Yasaka Takanori Shueisha 1+ vols/seinen

More manga from Viz to review... Hey, they release a lot of manga! Today we look at some SAMA in the form of volleyball manga and then there is a bishojo title from MediaWorks. Either way fanservice for me... Moe??


灼眼のシャナ (1)
by: 笹倉綾人 & 高橋弥七郎

Shakugan no Shana #1
by: Sasakura Ayato & Takahashi Yashichiro

Rated: 16+
Price: $9.99
MediaWorks/Seinen/action

Long hair, sailor suit, fiery red eyes and a big big sword... That's Shana in a nutshell. As you might imagine she is also a girl that is unapproachable by most. And that is true for good reason. Shana is the Haze Flame, a slayer of inter-dimensional demons. She does her job with very little regard for humanity, as main character Yuji finds out after Shana sliced him in two.
What makes Shana even more dangerous is how she is still the source of heat for those guys around her. Yeah, she might not give any of them the time of day, but watching her eat a melon bread... That put the moe in moeru!!

紅色HERO (3)
by: 高梨 みつば

Crimson Hero #3
by: Takanashi Mitsuba

Rated: 13+
Price: $8.99
Shueisha/Shoujo/sports

The Benino High School girls volleyball team will soon make their club debut and even though the team was only formed a few days prior to this match confidence is high for Nobara and team. On the court they are a tight unit. They might not have the skill just yet to make it far in a major tournament, but there is no doubt that their dreams have been realized just by playing in this practice match.
The rub here is... Will they be able to play their match? With all the pressures of school, work and team on her shoulders Nobara doesn't have time to worry about family troubles she cannot control. At the same time, she cannot let down that team either. Her sister is a teammate she will never lose and supporting her sister is as important as any game.

Listen to MP3 Review Here:
As always, be aware that the review might contain spoilers.

This review was read by Ed Chavez for the MangaCast.
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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)

Manga news out of Boston has been non-existent. And I was not expecting manga news from APE as that is an indie publisher/doujinshi con.

Luckily Brigid and her MangaBlog got a scoop that made the ManCas' week (and its only Monday!) Manly manga is on the way people and it comes from one of the MangaCast's favorite boutique pubs FanFare. Manga super-powers that you have never heard of collaborated to bring you what I believe is only the second climbing manga that was ever print in the West. Summit of the Gods or Kamigami no Itadaki takes on what I believe is this podcast's raison d'etre - the challenges of man! Why do people dare climb something as deadly as Everest?! Because its there!! Why would Taniguchi Jiro (Walking Man/Hotel Harbour View) and Yumemakura Baku (OnmyouJi) release a manga like this in salaryman magazine Business Jump? Because they could!! And why does Jarred want to read this so bad he has left for the week to scale Mt Rainier? Because simply buying the manga wouldn't be payment enough!

FanFare

神々の山嶺 by： 谷口　ジロー／夢枕　獏 Summit of the Gods by: Yumemakura Baku/Taniguchi Jiro Shueisha Business Jump Comics 5 vols/seinen

This five volume manly manga will join the following properties FanFare will be releasing over the next year ...

The Ice Wanderer - Jiro Taniguchi (978-84-96427-33-4)
AWABI - Kan Takahama (978-84-96427-34-1)
Disappearance Diary - Hideo Aduma (978-84-96427-42-6)
KOREA AS VIEWED BY 12 CREATORS (978-84-96427-48-8)
The Quest for the Missing Girl - Jiro Taniguchi (978-84-96427-47-1)

Spread the word. Go to your local comic shop or book store and place an order with the ISBNs listed above. The more they get ordered the easier it would be to find copies.