ICv2’s latest Insider’s Guide is out, and it includes the news that graphic novel sales were down in the first half of 2009, although with this important caveat:
The Bookscan figures do not include graphic novels racked in Kids and YA departments in bookstores, which probably means that the decline is less than 8% over-all.
Yes, that seems like an important omission. ICv2 also posts charts of the top manga, shonen manga, and shoujo manga properties of the second quarter of 2009. Shojo Flash does a bit of analysis.
Kai-Ming Cha reports that no one seemed too down about the economy at SDCC, and in fact the manga booths were bustling. Of course, it’s possible to read between the lines and make a list of who wasn’t there. Kai-Ming also talks to Ultimo creator Hiroyuki Takei, and Anne Ishii chats up IKKI editor Hideki Egami for PWCW.
Translator twins Alethea and Athena Nibley write about cover copy and Comic-Con in their latest column at Manga Life.
Melinda Beasi is moved to tears by a passage in the lastest volume of Pluto.
David Welsh notes that the last volume of Parasyte is out this week.
At Heart of Manga, Laura explains Japanese secondary schools, often a source of confusion for new manga readers.
News from Japan: ANN has an update on Shuho Sato’s online publishing project; he just put up 500 pages, including big chunks of Say Hello to Black Jack and The New Say Hello to Black Jack, online for free. ANN also has the latest Japanese comics rankings.
Reviews
Matthew J. Brady on vols. 2 and 3 of 20th Century Boys (Warren Peace Sings the Blues)
Dan Polley on vol. 1 of Ballad of a Shinigami (Comics Village)
Michelle Smith on vol. 28 of Bleach (Soliloquy in Blue)
Julie on vol. 10 of Crimson Hero (Manga Maniac Cafe)
David Rasmussen on vol. 1 of Dogs: Bullets and Carnage (Manga Life)
Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 1 of Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You (Manga Life)
Carlo Santos on vol. 12 of Oh My Goddess! (ANN)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 7 of One Thousand and One Nights (Kuriousity)
Clive Owen on vol. 6 of Rosario + Vampire (Animanga Nation)
Michael May on Samurai 7 (Robot 6)
Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane on vol. 18 of Skip Beat! (Manga Life)
Lorena Nava Ruggero on vol. 3 of Swan (i heart manga)
David Welsh on Tea for Two (Precocious Curmudgeon)