Where the boys (making out with other boys) are

Some interesting yaoi discussion going on at Cognitive Dissonance. Definitely not my field of expertise, but I have quite a few friends who are very much into "boy's love." Suffice to say it's one of those fandom-driven phenomenons where, if you don't "get" it, you don't get it. I don't get it. (The artwork's usually too spindly and sparse for my tastes.)

Since Del Rey is still a few volumes behind Japan with Tsubasa and xxxHOLiC, few English speakers may be aware that both titles were put on hold due to a CLAMP member taking ill. Fortunately, she's back now, but we don't know yet what impact it may have on the publishing schedule for these series.

Playing Catch-up

Hot on the heels of Viz's Shôjo Beat announcement, Tokyopop announces six new titles for summer. Nice try, TP -- BECK sounds pretty interesting, and I've heard Heat Guy J is cool, but ... the other guys have a shoujo anthology!

Speaking of The Other Guys, one correction to the previous entry: Viz's release of Baron: The Cat Returns will actually be on May 3rd, the same day as Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1.

And that's all for today, folks.

... to the hip hip hop and you don't stop

Anime Expo, the premier anime convention on the West Coast, announces that they will have a 24-hour manga library during AX 2005. Over 2,000 volumes will be available, from all major publishers including Viz, Tokyopop, and other "companies to be announced." Great, now I'll have no reason at all to get a good night's sleep during the con ...

The Boston Globe takes a look at the interplay between hip-hop and manga, name-dropping titles like Tokyo Tribes, Worst, Blokhedz and @Large.

Through AoD (no permalink), a handful of new release dates from Viz. Notable titles include: Fullmetal Alchemist Vol. 1 on May 3rd -- it's an anime! It's a video game! It's a series of action figures! It's a bubble bath! And finally you can read the manga it's based on! More off the beaten track is Baron: The Cat Returns on March 1st, the basis for Studio Ghibli's lighthearted caper The Cat Returns, which Disney will be releasing on DVD on February 22nd. (Trust me on this one. As far as anthropomorphic characters go, Baron is about as suave as they get.)

The Manga Mover anthology is now discounted to £3 if you order from their website.

And finally, a scanlation I would actually recommend! Otenba releases the 6th chapter of Read or Dream.

Marching to the Beat

Of course, it's my busiest night of the week, so that's when all the big news comes out: Viz announces the titles to be serialized in the Shojo Beat anthology. Highlights include Nana by Ai Yazawa, creator of Paradise Kiss, and Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend) by Yuu Watase. That faint sound you hear is me plunking down subscription money for this.

Thought Balloons caught this one: Dallas Middaugh, co-founder of Seven Seas and their "world manga" project, leaves the company to join Del Rey full-time. Now why would someone leave a company which is still on its way up and whose first books are due out in just over a week? Maybe because Del Rey is also on the way up, and with a higher profile. But abandoning your baby just like that ...

And what's up with CPM? Laying off employees and cancelling/postponing a slew of titles ... this is rather disconcerting.

On the bookselling front, Borders and Waldenbooks have started selling volumes of untranslated, imported manga. Unfortunately, they'll be costing around $12-$13, which is about twice the price that they normally go for among Japanese bookstores and online sellers. Here's a list of the titles available, while a PR rep from Borders announces that it's a limited nationwide test. Not all stores will have them. For now.

Dead dead dead.

Sorry, I'm just too tired and out-of-time to round up links today, but this freaks me out.

(And that's why, in Japan, you're supposed to throw out your monthly manga anthologies after you're done with them!)