Boys over propaganda

Simon & Schuster, which distributes Viz manga, is listing Kazue Katō’s manga Blue Exorcist (Ao no Exorcist) with an April release date.

Johanna Draper Carlson takes an advance look at the manga that are due out in December. And Melinda Beasi makes her pick of the week at Manga Bookshelf.

Melinda Beasi posts the latest in the world of Korean comics in her latest Manhwa Monday post.

Speaking of Korean comics, the military news website Strategy Page has an interesting article on how South Korean manhwa are filtering into North Korea, via pirated CDs. Apparently entertainment media in North Korea is basically all government propaganda, and the kids are looking for something a little different.

Kristin Bomba drops in at All About Manga to do a guest post on strong women in manga.

Anna, who blogs as the palindromic Tangognat, has set up a new blog just for her manga reviews, Manga Report. Bookmark it now, and check out her most recent reviews, of The Cinderella Inheritance and The Cinderella Solution, The Dreaming Complete Collection, and vol. 1 of The Story of Saiunkoku.

At Mania.com, Thomas Zoth counts down “The Top 10 Scariest Manga You Haven’t Read,” although if you’re reading this you have probably read at least one of them (I have).

David Welsh is up to the letter M in his seinen alphabet at The Manga Curmudgeon.

Christopher Butcher posts his thoughts on NYCC, which boil down to: Lots of great people, not well organized, too crowded. But of course Chris’s take is much more entertaining than that, and he posts lots of pictures, one of which includes yours truly.

News from Japan: A new shonen magazine is in the works: Sakura Hearts, due out from Nihonbungeisha on December 9.

Reviews: Kate Dacey posts short takes on recent volumes of Chi’s Sweet Home, Kingyo Used Books, and 13th Boy at The Manga Critic.

Dave Ferraro on vol. 1 of 7 Billion Needles (Comics-and-More)
Sesho on vol. 2 of Andromeda Stories (Sesho’s Anime and Manga Reviews)
Julie Opipari on A Bed of Sand (Manga Maniac Cafe)
Nicola on vols. 1-3 of Black Gate (Back to Books)
Kris on vol. 2 of Brilliant Blue (Manic About Manga)
Carlo Santos on vol. 3 of Chi’s Sweet Home (ANN)
Erica Friedman on vol. 6 of Click (Okazu)
Kristin on vol. 1 of Cross Game (Comic Attack)
Michelle Smith on vol. 1 of Cross Game (Comics Should Be Good)
Michael C. Lorah on A Drunken Dream and Other Stories (Blog@Newsarama)
David Welsh on Grand Guignol Orchestra (The Manga Curmudgeon)
Lori Henderson on vol. 1 of Hanako and the Terror of Allegory (Manga Xanadu)
Katherine Farmar on vols. 1-3 of Hero Heel (Comics Village)
Zack Davisson on vol. 1 of Hetalia: Axis Powers (Manga Life)
Bill Sherman on vol. 1 of Hetalia: Axis Powers (Blogcritics)
Todd on vol. 1 of House of Five Leaves (Anime Maki)
Kinukitty on How to Seduce a Vampire (The Hooded Utilitarian)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 2 of Kingyo Used Books (The Comic Book Bin)
Lissa Pattillo on vol. 3 of Kobato (Kuriousity)
Kris on vol. 5 of Kyo Kara MAOH! (Manic About Manga)
Kris on Live for Love (Manic About Manga)
Kristin on vol. 1 of March Story (Comic Attack)
Shannon Fay on vol. 1 of Octopus Girl (Kuriousity)
Edouardo Zacarias on vol. 28 of One Piece (Animanga Nation)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 2 of Seiho Boys High School! (A Case Suitable for Treatment)
Sean Gaffney on vol. 3 of Stepping on Roses (A Case Suitable for Treatment)