Bookscan, which tracks sales of books and graphic novels in bookstores, released the top 20 graphic novels of 2008, and while that Watchman thing topped the list, there were 9 volumes of Naruto in the top 20. Also on the list were three volumes of Death Note, two of Vampire Knight, two of Fruits Basket (the sole Tokyopop title on the list), and one of Bleach. And the first volumes of Naruto, Death Note, and Vampire Knight all made the list, which indicates that people are still jumping into the series (and also that buyers can still find those first volumes in the bookstores).
Ed Chavez posts his 2008 report card for Dark Horse, and this year they made the honor roll!
The MangaCast crew pick their favorites from this week’s new releases.
Lissa Pattillo posts some tidbits of yaoi news at Kuriousity, including the possiblity of more Yaoi Generation licenses.
At Manga Xanadu, Lori Henderson notes that some Tokyopop global manga are available on the Sony e-Reader, and she has some ideas as to how Tokyopop could do this a bit better.
News from Japan: Ed Chavez updates us on the Japanese manga scene in his most recent MangaScope column, and he also puts in the good word for his columns on unlicensed manga at the Otaku USA website.
Reviews: David Welsh devotes his most recent Flipped column to the new cooking manga Oishinbo. Connie has quite a mix going at Slightly Biased Manga, with reviews of vol. 1 of Banana Fish, vol. 1 of 20th Century Boys, vol. 11 of Monster, and vols. 9 and 10 of After School Nightmare. Mangamaniac Julie checks out Where Has Love Gone? at MangaCast and takes a look at vol. 2 of Rosario + Vampire and vol. 2 of Tea for Two at the Manga Maniac Cafe. Lissa Pattillo reads vol. 2 of Red Angel, vol. 2 of Croquis Pop, vol. 2 of Loveholic, and vol. 4 of Sundome at Kuriousity.
17 out of 20 of the best-selling graphic novels in 2008 were Japanese manga. I am really happy to hear that.