We’re part of the buy-nothing-on-Black-Friday brigade: I expect to spend today reading manga, babysitting my nieces and nephew, and grazing on the leftovers. Here’s what I could glean from the internets:
It’s Ladies Day at MangaCast, where the girls take over the commentary on this week’s new manga.
It’s time to vote… for the best manga in this year’s Rising Stars of Manga UK and Ireland. View the manga and make your selection for the People’s Choice award.
Deb Aoki of About.com: Manga was one of the lucky folks who saw Takehiko Inoue at Kinokuniya this week, and she has pictures!
Robots Never Sleep is back, after a period of somnolence, with some brief comments on recently acquired Japanese manga.
ANN interviews Slam Dunk creator Takehiko Inoue. Also: Inevitably, an American kid tries the Death Note thing and gets in trouble.
Anime Today interviews the organizers of the New York Anime Festival for their podcast.
German blogger Invaeon has updates on German releases from Carlsen and Tokyopop, plus some new titles due out in the spring. And Deutsche Mangaka has word of a new title by Alexandra Volker.
Also, check out the revamped Papo de Budega, a Brazil-based blog that covers manga and anime and posts in English and Portuguese.
Adults-only note: Simon Jones pulls out the manga from the December Adult Previews.
Reviews: At Anime on DVD, Danielle Van Gorder checks out a new Yen Press offering, vol. 1 of Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, and Matthew Alexander takes a look at vol. 1 of The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls: Revenge of the Hori Clan. Over at Manga Life, Lori Henderson reveals the truth about vol. 4 of Grenadier: It’s all about the fan service. Lori also reviews vol. 4 of Kamen Tentai and vol. 13 of Shaman King, and Robert Murray checks out vol. 11 of Black Cat. Nick takes a quick look at vol. 1 of Shugo Chara! and vol. 1 of XS Hybrid at Hobotaku. Greg McElhatton reviews vols. 1 and 2 of MPD-Psycho at Read About Comics. Jordan Marks checks out Worlds End at Yaoi Suki. At Slightly Biased Manga, Connie reviews vol. 16 of One Piece and vol. 27 of Oh My Goddess. John T looks at vol. 1 of Gyo at Mecha Mecha Media. At Prospero’s Manga, Ferdinand reviews vol. 1 of S.A. and vol. 1 of Love Attack, and Miranda takes a look at the omnibus edition of Saihoshi the Guardian. Julie reviews vol. 1 of Star Project Chiro, vol. 26 of Boys Over Flowers, vol. 2 of Chunchu the Genocide Fiend, and vol. 5 of O-Parts Hunter. At Active Anime, Holly Ellingwood reviews vol. 5 of Princess Princess and vol. 4 of Yurara.
What boggles me about the Death Note kid is this: he’s “suspended pending investigation.” Investigation of *what*?