New manga, manga news, and more

The big news of the weekend is that Tokyopop is releasing Hetalia: Axis Powers digitally, via Zinio, before the print edition comes out—and at a lower price ($5.99) than the print version ($12.99). At All About Manga, freelance editor Daniella Orihuela-Gruber (who worked on Hetalia) gives five reasons why she thinks you should try it.

At Good Comics for Kids, the bloggers discussed Twin Spica for this month’s online book club, Lori Henderson has the latest list of all-ages comics and manga, and everyone shares what’s keeping them up at night for The Reading Pile.

Kate Dacey, David Welsh, and Sean Gaffney look at this week’s new manga.

For those who have been away from the computer a lot (like me!), Lori Henderson has the past week’s manga news, and Erica Friedman wraps up the week’s yuri news at Okazu. Melinda Beasi catches us up on news and reviews of Korean comics in the latest edition of Manhwa Monday at Manga Bookshelf.

Gottsu-Iiyan presents part 3 of his translation of a joint interview with Takehiko Inoue and Eiichiro Oda at The Eastern Edge.

At The Manga Critic, Kate Dacey looks at an oddity from the past, Lycanthrope Leo, a Viz manga that she describes as “a horror story with a plot that might best be described as Teen Wolf meets The Island of Dr. Moreau with a dash of WTF?!” Kate also reveals the winning nominee for the Manga Hall of Shame, and as the winning submission came from Erica Friedman, who really knows how to take down a comic, it’s well worth a click.

David Welsh’s latest license request: More Minoru Toyoda, please!

PC World reviews the Manga Browser app for Android phones and finds it wanting, chiefly because it draws its content from online databases, such as OneManga.com, that have a bad habit of disappearing.

News from Japan: The Australian takes a long look at Professor Munakata at the British Museum, a series running in Big Comic that is the joint work of museum staff and a Japanese creator. The first issue of the new magazine Jump SQ.19 will be available free on the iPad starting this week. Manga-ka Eri Takenashi is resuming work on Kannagi after a lengthy hiatus due to poor health. Bandai recently licensed the series for U.S. publication. Black Butler manga-ka Yana Toboso denounced manga and anime piracy on her blog. And Canned Dogs rounds up photos of Comiket (day 1, days 2 and 3).

Reviews: Melinda Beasi checks out some recent Shojo Beat releases at Manga Bookshelf.

James Fleenor on Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth (Anime Sentinel)
Nick Smith on vol. 1 of Bakuman (ICv2)
Zack Davisson on vol. 7 of Bizenghast (Japan Reviewed)
Jaime Samms on vol. 2 of Can’t Win With You (Kuriousity)
Lissa Pattillo on Crimson Cross (ANN)
Dave Ferraro on vol. 1 of The Dawn of Love (Comics-and-More)
Diana Dang on vol. 1 of Deadman Wonderland (Stop, Drop, and Read!)
Connie on vol. 17 of D.Gray-Man (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 1 of Diamond Girl (Slightly Biased Manga)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 2 of Dorohedoro (The Comic Book Bin)
Kelakagandy on A Drunken Dream and Other Stories (kelakagandy’s ramblings)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 1 of Flower in a Storm (Comics Worth Reading)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 1 of Gente (The Comic Book Bin)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 1 of Gente (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Zack Davisson on vol. 3 of Happy Cafe (Manga Life)
Ken Haley on vol. 7 of Higurashi When They Cry (Sequential Ink)
Connie on vol. 17 of Hoshin Engi (Slightly Biased Manga)
Erica Friedman on Issho ni Kaero (Okazu)
Connie on vol. 5 of Kiichi and the Magic Books (Slightly Biased Manga)
AstroNerdBoy on vol. 4 of Kitchen Princess (AstroNerdBoy’s Anime and Manga Blog)
Connie on vol. 1 of Laon (Slightly Biased Manga)
Erica Friedman on Love Flicker (Okazu)
Sophie Stevens on vol. 6 of Megatokyo (Animanga Nation)
Sean Gaffney on vols. 8-10 of Mushishi (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Leroy Douresseaux on The Object of My Affection (The Comic Book Bin)
Connie on vols. 10 and 11 of One Thousand and One Nights (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 2 of Pet Shop of Horrors (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 5 of Pig Bride (Slightly Biased Manga)
Connie on vol. 1 of Queen of Ragtonia (Slightly Biased Manga)
Michelle Smith on vols. 2 and 3 of There’s Something About Sunyool (Soliloquy in Blue)
AstroNerdBoy on vols. 14-16 of School Rumble (omnibus edition) (AstroNerdBoy’s Anime and Manga Blog)
Sean Gaffney on vols. 14-16 of School Rumble (omnibus edition) (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Amy Grockl on vol. 2 of Sugarholic (Comics Village)
Zack Davisson on vol. 2 of The Times of Botchan (Japan Reviewed)
Zack Davisson on vol. 1 of The Witch of Artemis (Japan Reviewed)