I’m reading DMP’s luscious two-volume set of Speed Racer right now, so I was intrigued to find this interview with Peter Fernandez, who was heavily involved in the American adaptation of the anime and wrote the intro for the new books. Jog’s review of the box set puts it into its historical context.
ICv2 talks to Barry Levine, who is launching a new company, Radical Publishing, that plans on releasing some manga in the next year or so. Even after reading the interview, I’m a little unclear on their focus, but it looks like they are releasing a manga version of one of their titles in Asia, and they plan a Radical Manga imprint.
The Daily Yomiuri has an article on two manga that take traditional Japanese arts as part of their settings: Hana Yorimo Hana no Gotoku, which is about noh theater, and Kabukumon, which features kabuki. (Via ANN.)
At the Del Rey blog, Dallas Middaugh talks about the joy of panels.
Tiamat’s Disciple wonders if digital distribution can rescue out-of-print (or no-longer-profitable) manga.
Manga Life seems to relaunching, at least in terms of content, under the leadership of Dr. Park Cooper. He’s broadening the scope of the site and looking for new writers (no pay, but the occasional comp copy). Also: Fruits Basket translators Alethea and Athena Nibley write about their first trip to Japan.
Xavier Guilbert writes about Cat-Eyed Boy at du9. (In French.)
German blog Manly Manga and More has the new German licenses for fall and winter.
News from Japan: ANN has the Japanese comics rankings (Naruto is on top—who knew?) and reports that the latest issue of Comic Dragon AGE has a Luminous Arc 2 Will manga (based on a game) and a Karin (Chibi Vampire) one-shot by Yuna Kagesaki. And some Hokkaido University grad students are launching their own quarterly manga magazine and plan to post new manga on the web every month to encourage new creators.
Reviews: If you are looking for good yaoi reviews, go check out the Journal of the Lincoln Heights Literary Society, where the reviewers are going through books at a feverish pace. Katherine Farmar looks at the manhwa short story collection Deja-Vu at the Forbidden Planet blog. At Anime on DVD, John Zakrzewski checks out the art book Amano: The Collected Art of Vampire Hunter D, Patricia Beard reads vol. 5 of ES: Eternal Sabbath, and Danielle Van Gorder reviews the yaoi short story collection Seduce Me After the Show. Michelle reviews vol. 33 of InuYasha and vol. 7 of Boys Over Flowers at Soliloquy in Blue. Lissa Pattillo checks out vol. 5 of The Good Witch of the West at Kuri-ousity. At Manga Life, Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane reviews vol. 14 of Monster, David Rasmussen checks out vol. 4 of My Sassy Girl, and Barb Lien-Cooper reads vol. 9 of High School Girls. Tom Baker discusses Fullmetal Alchemist at the Daily Yomiuri. Rachel Bentham reviews Loving Gaze, Happiness Recommended, and vol. 11 of Yakitate!! Japan, and Holly Ellingwood checks out vol. 8 of Chibi Vampire at Active Anime. Tiamat’s Disciple posts “thoughts and impressions” on vols. 5-10 of Tail of the Moon. Julie enjoys vol. 10 of Nana at the Manga Maniac Cafe. At Okazu, Erica Friedman veers from melodrama to comedy with reviews of vol. 4 of Confidential Confessions and vol. 1 of Pretty Face. Greg McElhatton calls vol. 1 of Le Chevalier d’Eon “a very solid horror comic” at Read About Comics. Ferdinand finds vol. 1 of Foxy Lady a turnoff and isn’t too enthusiastic about vol. 1 of White Night Melody either at Prospero’s Manga. Snow Wildsmith checks out World’s End at Manga Jouhou. Ed Chavez podcasts his thoughts on vol. 9 of High School Girls and vol. 6 of Gunslinger Girls at the MangaCast. Tom picks out the best qualities of Death Note at Freaky Trigger. Evil Omar posts brief manga reviews at About Heroes. NotHayama pans vol. 1 of Gun Blaze West at Sleep Is For the Weak. She Who Has Hope appreciates After School Nightmare, while salimbol is less enthusiastic about vols. 8-10 of Buso Renkin. (Via When Fangirls Attack.)