Audry Taylor kicked off the panel with the new manga announcements, although she admits they got scooped by the sharp-eyed folks at Anime on DVD, who spotted the Amazon listings a few weeks ago. (And Ed posted the covers at MangaCast.) Still, she gamely presented the latest lineup, which includes two series by the creators of earlier Go!Comi titles.
Three in Love, by Mizuki Shioko, the creator of Crossroad. Just what it sounds like, but with Mizuki as the creator, it has to be good.
Kurogane Communication: A teenage girl is the last human left on earth, but she has plenty of robot company.
Bogle: A high school girl moonlights as a cat thief, stealing only from those who deserve it.
Son of the Hanging Sky: Set in an alternate world, this one is reminiscent of Native American folklore.
Yddgrasil: A fantasy about a boy and a girl playing a strange MMO that mixes reality with the game.
Ultimate Venus, by Takako Shigematsu, creator of Tenshi Ja Nai. This is sort of a Pygmalion story, with a hot guy setting out to civilize an unruly girl. “She’s a stubborn girl,” Audry explained, adding, “People are constantly kidnapping her, and they are often hot young men.”
Aimee Major Steinberger, creator of Japan Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan, was there in full Trinity Blood regalia to narrate a slide show of her adventures, alternating sketches with photos of the real thing. Check the Go!Comi website for more drawings and photos.
Wendy Pini, creator of the Masque of the Red Death webcomic, was also there, in deep colors reminiscent of her art in that comic. Masque has a Flash interface that is more cinematic than most webcomics, and it’s possible that Go!Comi will ultimately release it as a DVD as well as a print manga. The first print volume is due out in summer 2008.
Other coverage: Deb Aoki at About.com