Tokyopop CEO Stu Levy says that the Borders bankruptcy is behind the latest round of layoffs:
The facts are simple. Borders—our biggest customer—went bankrupt, owed us a lot money, which they didn’t pay us, and as a result we are in a very challenging situation, and have had to react quickly to the situation. We did need to let a few people go—and it’s horrible for everyone involved to ever have to let people go.
Daniella Orihuela-Gruber has some further thoughts on this, wondering who she would support, manga publishers or Borders. At Kuriousity, Lissa Pattillo takes a broader look at Tokyopop’s problems, including the fact that the gaming company Blizzard has ended its relationship with Tokyopop, which that Tokyopop’s licensed Warcraft manga will be coming to an end as well. And Lori Henderson expresses concern that the leadership just doesn’t care about the books she loves.
Diamond Bookshelf chats with legendary Dark Horse editor Carl Horn.
Erica Friedman brings us the latest round of Yuri Network News at Okazu.
David Welsh takes a look at the March Previews and finds a lot to like there, but he also asks the readers to help him choose between three iffy series.
Melinda Beasi reviews the Viz iPad app at Manga Bookshelf.
Viz has confirmed that Inubaka is on hiatus.
Christopher Butcher is salivating over the newly announced Tank Tankuro manga from PressPop.
Tomo Kimura shows off an alternate cover for the Japanese edition of Black Butler.
Chrono Crusade creator Daisuke Moriyama is coming to Sakura-con.
Reviews
Johanna Draper Carlson on Age Called Blue (Comics Worth Reading)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 5 of Arata: The Legend (The Comic Book Bin)
Connie on vol. 4 of Black Butler (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 14 of Blade of the Immortal (Slightly Biased Manga)
Kristin on vol. 6 of Butterflies, Flowers (Comic Attack)
David Welsh on vols. 1-3 of Dorohedoro (The Manga Curmudgeon)
Angela Eastman on Dragon Girl (Suite 101)
Anna on vol. 2 of Dragon Girl (Manga Report)
A Library Girl on vol. 10 of Emma (A Library Girl’s Familiar Diversions)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 18 of Excel Saga (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Nicola on vol. 2 of Genkaku Picasso (Back to Books)
Connie on vol. 22 of Hikaru No Go (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 1 of Lives (Slightly Biased Manga)
Anna on vol. 8 of Rasetsu and vol. 6 of Butterflies, Flowers (Manga Report)
Alex Hoffman on vols. 1 and 2 of The Story of Saiunkoku (Manga Widget)
Nicola on vol. 4 of Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee (Back to Books)
Connie on vol. 3 of Yurara (Slightly Biased Manga)