Manga-ka: Chifumi Ochi
Publisher: Yaoi Generation
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “Yanagi and Arata’s encounter started off as a simple pick-up at a bar, but Arata – who balks at homosexual sex – upsets Yangai to the point of being blackmailed into a sex-slave relationship. It is Arata’s charming and innocent personality, however, that breaks through Yanagai’s resolve and deeper feelings begin to form between them. Just then, Yanagi’s sex friend and Arata’s younger twin brother, Takashi, notices Arata’s strange behaviour…”

One old boyfriend, an inquisitive brother and a relationship that begins to teeter between romantic and purely physical are boys’ love staples awaiting readers in this second volume of breath. Yannagi, still laid back and ready to go, may seem more apt to push forward but a sharp blast from his past puts a damper on his enthusiasm and begins a renewal of old concerns, levelling out the proverbial playing field of emotion between him and Arata.

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Wrapping up the manga-centric news of this past weekend’s New York Anime Fest, Sunday saw Viz Media staff take the panel stand with some fun new announcements.

New Licenses:

Gente ~Ristorante no Hitobito~ by Natsume Ono
What’s the Answer by Tondabayashi
Grand Guignol Orchestra by Kaori Yuki
Nice to Meet You, Kamisama by Julietta Suzuki
Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi
What’s the Answer? (Creator unknown)
Bob and His Funky Crew (Creator unknown)

The previously announced series Bakuman (by the same creators as Death Note which premiere in the May 2010 issue of Shonen Jump, and before that in February Shonen Jump readers will get to read the first chapter of Toriko with its first volume due out in June. A reminder also that the big One Piece speed-up will begin in January which will see a whopping 4 volumes a month until June. A big yikes to fans’ wallets but a yay to their eager eyes!

For Rumiko Takahashi fans, Rin-Ne volume one comes out on October 20th and Inu-Yasha anime fans can look forward to a simulcast of the upcoming Inu-Yasha anime finale. I have to admit, as much Rumiko Takahashi’s tendacy to overstretch her series gets a tad on my nerves, I still have a big soft spot for her stories and I think an anime adaptation of Inu-Yasha’s finale is pretty neat and all the more spiffy that we’ll get to watch it so soon.

Manga-ka: Jiro Taniguchi
Publisher: Ponent Mon
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: December 2008

Synopsis: “Mountaineer Shiga made a promise to his best friend following his tragic death in the Himalayas. Twelve years later and he is called upon to honor that promise. When 15 year old high school student, Megumi, fails to arrive home one evening from school her mother calls on her dead husband´s best friend for help. Shiga abandons his refuge in the mountains and descends to the city to look for the girl. With the police investigation at a standstill, Shiga has to go it alone. But the metropolis can be a much more hostile and dangerous ground than the mountains. What has happened to the youngster and will Shiga find her before it is too late?”

The Quest for the Missing Girl is as straight-forward as its title. There are no real twists or turns in the story and the characters never do anything unexpected. If you’ve already guessed that the climax will involve Shiga’s mountain climbing skills, go have a cookie.

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Gardena, CA (September 28, 2009) – Digital Manga Inc., one of the industry’s most innovative and unique companies, is excited to announce eManga’s latest online rental titles from Yaoi Press, as they bring their favorite yaoi titles to eManga! Yaoi Press publishes global yaoi in a host of different languages, with over 45 publications to date. They have brought great yaoi creators from around the world, including Studio Kosen of Spain and M.A. Sambre of France to the US, and have helped develop yaoi within the Western market outside of creators in Japan. With their continued commitment to yaoi publishing and dedication to readers, Digital Manga Publishing is excited that Yaoi Press will be coming on board to share their amazing titles with yaoi fans everywhere! The first titles from Yaoi Press are Yaoi Hentai Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, now available at www.emanga.com!

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Author: Daimuro Kishi
Manga-ka: Tamao Ichinose
Publisher: CMX Manga
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: June 2007

Synopsis: “Is the Time Shop closing for good?! In this eries finale, Miu tries to stop two former sweethearts from trading in their memories in order to forget their past relationship. Then Mr. Kusaka announces he’s selling all the Time Shop’s assets and closing up for good. Can Miu and Ginzo change his mind?”

A romantic entanglement becomes Time Guardian Miu’s first big job of volume two, taking her on an emotional journey as go between for two struggling lovers. But their waffling relationship proves only the tip of the book’s real iceberg as Miu is thrown for a loop when she learns what all the memories the shops’ been collecting are really for, then finds herself traveling to another world to see that the Time Shop isn’t closed for good.

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Del Rey was up to proverbial bat yesterday for their panel at New York Anime Fest with some new titles and a well received title rescue from Tokyopop. (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

New Licenses:

Here I Am! – Ema Toyami
Arisa – Natsumi Ando
Yokai Navi Runa – Runa Rindo

The announcement of Yokai Navi Runa confirms Del Rey’s license of the series after a listing popped up on Amazon early this month. Nothing was said about the listings for upcoming omnibus of several of their other currently running serie,s but their choice of omnibus releases for their Tokyopop license rescues seems to prove a good indication of their growing preference for the format.

On that note, Del Rey also announced that they’ve picked up the license for the remaining unpublished volumes of Rave Master (previously released by Tokyopop) and they’ll be putting out the final volumes in one omnibus collection.

A piece of news for those who, like me, see everyone of these announcements as another reason to attend NYAF next year, this 2009 event marked the final incarnation of New York Anime Fest as it is now and next year it will return as a dual event with New York Comic Con. (Source: AnimeNewsNetwork)

Vertical Inc. took the panel stand yesterday at this weekend’s New York Anime Fest with first a handful of new licenses to share with the audience. Source: AnimeNewsNetwork

New Licenses:

Peepo Choo – Felipe Smith
Twin Spica – Kou Yaginuma
Needles – Nobuaki Tadano
Chi’s Sweet Home – Kanata Konami

Readers will likely recall the recent ‘leak’ of Chi’s Sweet Home on retail sites earlier in the month, which though soon met with denial of license by Vertical, was officially confirmed as an acquisition during their panel.  In a move causing a rift of opinion between fans, Chi’s Sweet Home will be released in full colour and flipped (everything mirrored so it would be read in English-format left-to-right).

During the panel’s Q&A, Black Jack was discussed as likely seeing release to 17 volumes, and that the license of Osamu Tezuka’s pioneering shoujo series, Princess Knight, is a strong candidate for license as well. Both fantastic news I’d say!

New York Anime Fest is happening this weekend and the mangaverse is ripe with all the newest info as it comes thanks to numerous dedicated bloggers and Twitter-folk. Anime News Network has its dedicated staff on hand to cover the big anime/manga news, and though sadly their servers aren’t holding up as well as their staff, they’re still the best up-to-date resource (past speedy Twitter-ers!) for all your NYAF goodies.

Tokyopop had its panel earlier today and had a bunch of announcement. Sadly their simulataneous broadcast was foiled by technical difficulties, but of course the show went on!

New licenses:

Songs and Laughter by Natsuki Takaya
.hack//Link by Megane Kikuya/CyberConnect2
Ratman by Inui Sekihiko
Qwasar Stigmata by Yoshino Hiroyuki/Satou Kenetsu

BLU Manga (TP’s yaoi imprint)

Croquis by Hinako Takanaga
Blood Honey by Yozakura Sakyou
Love Knot by Ichijou Lemon
Cute Demon by Madarame Hiro
Love Story in the Isolated Island by Duo Brand

Tokyopop staff were also greeted with positive response to repeated news that they’ll be returning to a higher quality paper print for their books and just in time for the return of some fan favourites, such as the fourth volume of Suppli and the eighth volume of V.B. Rose.

Along with an update on the upcoming movie-adaptation of the Tokypop released, Priest, they also shared word that they’ll be releasing graphic novels based on two Hollywood films, the recently debuted Shutter Island and the upcoming Joss Whedon written Cabin in the Woods.

Earlier this afternoon, Tokyopop also sent out a press release outlining their previously announced titles debuting in 2010. Lots of fun stuff on the horizon!

Los Angeles, CA (September 25, 2009) ― TOKYOPOP is thrilled to unveil its manga and graphic novel offerings for the first four months of 2010 — a year packed with new titles from fan-favorites Tachibana Higuchi, Tanaka Suzuki and Benjamin, as well as soon-to-be-treasured works from creators new to the U.S.!

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Manga-ka: Kubo Tite
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: September 2009

Synopsis: “Ichigo, Chad and Uryû are determined to rescue Orihime from Aizen’s vile machinations. But though the Arrancars’ fortress is in sight, the would-be heroes must first pass Tres Cifras–the land of the disgraced Arrancars, who see destroying Ichigo and his friends as a way to redeem their honor!”

Cue the next damsel-rescue quest. Ichigo, Chad and Ishida have made their way into the world of the Hollows and their volumes of training are finally being put to the test. With new powers requiring exposition, and an entire world of potential new characters, the lead cast takes their official plunge into Bleach’s next giant battle arc.

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Digital Manga has been busy since their eManga website had it’s fairly-recent revamp, adding numerous titles from DMP’s large library of titles. Lately however they’ve begun branching out, adding several titles from creators around the world.

Most recently they’ve added the first volume of Games With Me, a historical boys’ love story written by Tina Anderson and drawn by Linsley Brito. I’ve had the opportunity to read Games With Me and really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting, not falling into your stereotypical character molds, and the art is beautiful and really polished. I definitely recommend taking the time to read it and am thrilled that Digital Manga is working with the creators to offer it to English-readers for the first time (the story has yet to be published in English).

“Ex-Civil War surgeon George Callahan is a man haunted by his past. Unwilling to deal with the demons of his childhood, he turns to opium and finds back-alley employment with the heartless brothel keepers of San Francisco’s Chinatown. In Volume 1 of this gorgeously illustrated gay historical drama, Dr. George Callahan searches for a Chinese woman from his past, and soon finds himself unwittingly drawn to dim-witted male prostitute Jun, whose own life is complicated by the unwanted attentions of an aggressive bouncer named Roan Baxter.”

You can check out the complete press release sent out by Digital Manga for more information about the release and the creators.

Digital Manga has also added two Yaoi Press titles to their online manga rental website: Yaoi Press’s Yaoi Hentai, volume one and volume two. If you’re a yaoi fan and love a good comedy, there’s plenty for you in these books. They’re collections of short stories that range from funny to flashy and never without a heaping dose of 18+ material to earn the books their name.

And when you’re through there, of course don’t forget to check out the other eManga titles up for reading as well, including several books that haven’t been released yet (and most of which you can read a sample of for free!). Guaranteed to win you over to some fun purchases and leave you curious to see what titles will appear in their selection next.

Gardena, CA (September 24, 2009) – Digital Manga Publishing, Inc., one of the industry’s most innovative and unique companies, is proud to present a new title on its online rental and manga viewing site, eManga.com! Games With Me, by writer Tina Anderson and artist Linsley Brito, is a historic yaoi set in San Francisco’s 19th century Chinatown. An original German manga published in 2009, Games With Me marks the beginning of eManga’s initiative to offer readers a variety of non-Japanese contents on the site. Games With Me is currently unavailable in print form in the U.S.

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Today’s AnimeNewsNetwork has posted its list of winners for the recently held Canadian-exclusive contest for tickets to Evangelion 1.0. Congrats to all the winners!

And as another reminder, the first showing of Evangelion 1.0 hits Canadian theatres across the country September 30th (next Wednesday!). The Empire Theatres’ website has information on participating locations including word that each theatre will again be holding cosplay contests for attendees with prizes and goodies for the winners on the premiere night!

I’ll be attending the Halifax showing as both a fan and promoter for 2010’s Animinitime events, so I hope to see lots of friendly and familiar faces there :)

AAAAnime and RightStuf have made some recent updates to their inventory lists and a few new titles have wiggled their way in. Plus, we don’t want to think I’m just an Amazon-splunker, right?

Media Blasters has two new-ish yaoi listings up, continuing their history of under-the-radar licensing. Both are set for release this winter:

Erotikku ni Oborero! by Higashino Yuu, titled under the name Drawn To Him. (11/24/2009)

“Tomoki was specifically requested by Tougo Tsubaki, popular romance novelist to do the illustrations for his novels. Tougo calls it “inspiration” and seduces Tomoki. A love that started from sex…! His heart is racing and his body is so hot! Drawn to him is a manga artist’s professional and private life, with lots of sex!”

Douse, Koi Dakara by Naoka Kasuga, titled under the name Because of Love. (12/16/2009)

“Could you stop acting like my older brother already? I told you not to tease me, didn’t I? I’m not going to stop even if you beg me now.” Hana always seems to catch Nodoka at the most unflattering moments. I don’t like Hana treating me like his little brother. I’m not in high school (middle school) anymore. Tempted by Hana’s flirtatious demeanor, Nodoka takes Hana by force and…?! A story about a guy pursuing his older crush. (Heart) This book contains many short stories.”

There’s also a recent listing for Ellie Mamahara: Baseball Heaven, a boys’ love title licensed by Tokyopop’s yaoi imprint, BLU, which has been on hold for some time now. BLU’s website, rarely updated, doesn’t currently have the book dated for release but AAAAnime lists it for September 1st, 2010.

And on the not-yaoi side of things, there’s a listing up for a Darker Than Black omnibus from Yen Press. On their website Yen Press currently has two volumes listed for the series, each one priced at $12.99 at 192 pages while the listing on AAAAnime is priced at $18.99.

Manga-ka: Kanoko Sakurakoji
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: August 2009

Synopsis: “Everything changes one day when Misao is attacked by a demon. Her childhood friend Kyo suddenly returns to save her and tend to her cuts–with his tongue! It turns out Misao is the bride of prophecy, whose blood gives power to the demon clan who claims her. But most demons want to keep her power for themselves–by eating her! Now Misao is just trying to stay alive…and decide if she likes it when Kyo licks her wounds.”

Waiting for the day when her childhood Prince Charming will return, high school student’s Misao’s life is flipped upside down when a demon attack leads her to learn that she is a ‘bride of prophecy’. Now demons of every shape and size are after her, seeking her special blood which will imbue them with great power, and though she thankfully finds herself rescued by a familiar face from her past, Misao unfortunately realizes his intentions don’t seem entirely pure either.

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