Previews picks and cancellations

For those who like to think ahead, Ed Chavez lists all the manga in the February Previews.

On the other hand… Johanna Draper Carlson lists the titles that Tokyopop has cancelled from Previews. Much is being made of this, and I have an inquiry in to the marketing director, but in the meantime, I want to point out that cancelling a planned release is not the same as canceling the series; the possibility exists, though I admit it’s growing dim, that these will be resolicited in a later Previews. Danielle Leigh and her commenters have more to say at Comics Should Be Good.

Just why is Naruto so popular? NPR does what they do best: They interview an expert.

Matt Blind looks at the 2008 manga rankings and analyzes the numbers a bit at Rocket Bomber.

The Marin Independent Journal, in the heart of foodie country, takes note of Oishinbo.

Deb Aoki posts her readers’ favorite seinen manga at About.com. And the Ani-Gamers bloggers post their three favorite manga of 2008.

News from Japan: ANN reports that Hayate the Combat Butler has sold over 10 million copies in Japan.

Reviews: Ed Sizemore takes an unusually thorough look at the next must-read title from Naoki Urasawa, vol. 1 of Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, at Comics Worth Reading. Ken Haley takes a look at a classic from the 1990s, Spirit of Wonder, at Manga Recon. Lissa Pattillo posts some Manga Quickies at Kuriousity. Evan Krell has a nice review up of vols. 1 and 2 of Mao-Chan at The Gaming Dungeon. At the Daily Yomiuri, Hiroshi Hirai takes a look at Shakariki!, a manga that doesn’t seem to be out in English yet, but that my husband would totally buy if it was—it’s about bicycle racing. Other reviews of note:

Casey Brienza on vol. 1 of Akihabara@DEEP (kethylia)
Greg Hackmann on vols. 1 and 2 of Astro-Boy (Mania.com)
Connie on vol. 3 of Banana Fish (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 2 of Basara (Slightly Biased Manga)
Edward Zacharias on vol. 3 of Black Lagoon (Animanga Nation)
John Thomas on vol. 4 of Blood+ (Comics Village)
Oyceter on vols. 3 and 4 of Bride of the Water God (Sakura of DOOM)
Erica Friedman on vol. 2 of Cream Lemon Escalation (Okazu)
Ikuko Kitagawa on Division Chief Kosaku Shima (The Star of Malaysia)
Snow Wildsmith on vols. 1 and 2 of A Gentleman’s Kiss (Fujoshi Librarian)
Connie on vol. 8 of Golgo 13 (Slightly Biased Manga)
Jason Green on Good-Bye (PLAYBACK:stl)
Connie on vol. 13 of Let Dai (Slightly Biased Manga)
Billy Aguiar on vol. 1 of Martin & John (Prospero’s Manga)
Connie on vol. 1 of Martin & John (Slightly Biased Manga)
Julie on vol. 2 of Nora: The Last Chronicle of Devildom (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Emily on Nousatsu Beat de Utawasete (Emily’s Random Shoujo Manga Page)
Greg McElhatton on Oishinbo: A La Carte (Read About Comics)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 5 of Rosario + Vampire (The Comic Book Bin)
Kris on Shards of Affection (Manic About Manga)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 2 of Slam Dunk (The Comic Book Bin)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 15 of Tail of the Moon (The Comic Book Bin)
Leroy Douresseaux on Tricky Prince (The Comic Book Bin)

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