ICv2 has released the June 2007 top 100 graphic novel sales estimates and the top 300 comics sales estimates based on Diamond Indexes and Publisher Title Data. Also from ICv2 is an analysis of the trends in June based on the graphic novel sales chart.

Anime news and review website Active Anime has announced a new giveaway of e-Frontier's Manga Studio 3.0:

Active Anime is once again doing another giveaway, and this time, we would be giving away Manga Studio Pro EX Version 3.0 Software (MSRP $299) courtesy of e-Frontier. We would also like to congratulate VINCE of Souther California for winning the $500+ Anime / Manga Giveaway which also includes the software.

Madeleine Rosca, runner-up in Japan's first International Manga Awards, has posted Part 1 of her International Manga Award trip to Japan:

We were visiting Kodansha - who have published Akira, Air Gear, Negima and a whole lot more of my favourites - and a combination of the food and the extreme heat and humidity was just hitting me so badly...within ten short minutes of meeting the editors, I realised I would have to leave, or risk the embarrassment of being sick on Kodansha's nicely polished floor.

Via: animeOnline

World's Leading Manga Entertainment Brand Inks Content Deal With World's Leading Lifestyle Portal for Exclusive Premieres

Los Angeles, CA (July 16, 2007) - MySpace and TOKYOPOP today announced a partnership to premiere four exclusive new shows based on TOKYOPOP's hit manga series "I Luv Halloween," "A Midnight Opera," "Bizenghast" and "Riding Shotgun." Featuring music from the latest underground acts and cutting edge digital animation from Asian CG powerhouse Menfond Electronic Art, pilot episodes will air the week of July 16, 2007, with subsequent episodes running weekly thereafter.

Read More »

Adult publisher Kitty Media is currently looking for an unpaid intern to help proofread uncensored yaoi and moe manga:

I'm Frank and I'm the Managing Editor here at Media Blasters and Kitty Media. I'm looking for someone with really good English language skills to help me with some proofreading. I'd like you to actually come in to the offices and work with me this way we can discuss the stuff you'll be working on.

Source: AoD

From TZG2.0 comes the most current Amazon top 25 sales chart for manga in Germany:

1. Verliebter Tyrann Vol. 3 (aka The Tyrant Falls In Love) Tokyopop
2. Shinshi Doumei Cross Vol. 6 Tokyopop
3. Naruto: Naruto. Die Schriften der Rin Carlsen
4. Das Demian-Syndrom Vol. 4 (aka Demian Syndrome) Carlsen
5. Inu Yasha Vol. 45 EMA

Go here for more.

Via: MangaBlog

Japanese idol Shoko Nakagawa (actress, seiyu, illustrator, singer and more), also known as Shokotan, will finally be able to achieve her "childhood dream" of becoming a mangaka with the debut of her six-part series Noushi no Koi in the upcoming issue of Ohta Shuppan's quarterly magazine Hon-nin (on sale 9/8).

Suorce: Tokyograph

Creator Of FULL MOON To Meet Fans In VIZ Media Booth# 4113 And Participate In SHOJO BEAT Panel Discussion While Magazine Plans Interview And Rare Manga Short Story For August Issue

San Francisco, JULY 13, 2007 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will celebrate the work of famed manga artist Arina Tanemura throughout the month of July with a rare personal appearance at the 2007 Comic-Con International, plus a bonus short story and special cover (both by Tanemura) for the August issue of SHOJO BEAT magazine, which goes on sale nationwide on July 17. Tanemura is the creator of the mega-hit shojo series FULL MOON and the recently debuted THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE †.

Read More »

A commercial for Honey and Clover creator Chica Umino's upcoming series, The Lion of March, can be found on Young Animal's website. The new manga will begin serialization in Young Animal issue 14, on sale 7/13.

Also available is a commercial for Kiminori Wagasugi's Detroit Metal City.

Source: Ultimatum Tidbits

The following manga appeared on the USA Today Booklist Top 150 (PDF) for the week ending July 8th:

• #53 - Naruto, Volume 15 - Viz - (Last week: #107)
• #149 - Kingdom Hearts II, Volume 1 - Tokyopop - (Last week: -)

The 11th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Award Ceremony was held on June 6th. During the award ceremony, each winning mangaka talked about their thoughts, feelings and future plans. In Japan, the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award has become one of the most prestigious manga award in the industry.

The Tezuka Osamu Cultural Award is one of the most prestigious manga award in Japan. The award, named after Osamu Tezuka, was established by Asahi Shimbun in 1997.

Read More »

From AoD comes an interview with Michael Gombos, Dark Horse's Director of Asian Licensing, who talks about a the state of Dark Horse's manga, the new titles announced at AX 2007 and and clarification the status of Eden.

The new comic release list for July 11th 2007 from ComicList, compiled by MangaCast.

Manga publisher Tokyopop has launched a beta version of its new website.

Via: MangaBlog

Fujiko Mine from Lupin III was voted the most beautiful female manga character according to a new poll from Oricon taken from 1,000 men and women.

Source: Tokyograph

Are Hong Kong comics really all about kung fu? The FØØL's Progress has published an article that looks at different kinds of HK comics outside of the kung fu genre.

Kodansha to host a second International Manga Competition

Our first full-scale international competition for manga, the "International Manga Competition," has received a phenomenal number of submissions from more than ten countries. We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm and support.

It will take time to finalize our selections, since we received more submissions than expected, so we plan to announce the results in August on our "e-morning" website (http://www.e-morning.jp/mimc), and publish the grand prize winning work in "Morning 2" #6, slated for mid-October.

Due to the enormous number of submissions we have received, we've decided to host a second International Manga Competition.

Read More »

Top 10 manga (7/11) according to Tohan:

1. One Piece, Volume 46
2. Eyeshield 21, Volume 25
3. Pyuu to Fuku! Jaguar, Volume 13
4. Blue Dragon: Ral Ω Grado, Volume 2
5. M×0, Volume 4
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Volume 11
7. Nodame Cantabile, Volume 18
8. Oishimbo, Volume 99
9. Homunculus, Volume 8
10. Eensy-Weensy Monster, Volume 1

Additional Rankings:

Read More »

One of the Winny file-sharer arrested in May may face up to one year in prison, Sports Hochi reports. ANN has the translation:

The 29-year-old defendant from Osaka is the oldest of the three arrested on May 18 for uploading manga magazines to Japan's Winny file-sharing system. The defense requested a suspended sentence since its client is a first-time defendant. The defendant was charged with violating Japan's Copyright Act.

According to posts on 2ch, Yusei Matsui's Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro will be adapted into an anime.

From Kadokawa Shoten comes a new magazine called Zoukan Ace A Assault. The 2007 Summer issue will be released on July 10th, and will carry extra chapters (side stories) of popular serializations such as Mirai Nikki, Garei, Fate/stay night and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

capeta creator Masahito Soda's manga Subaru will resume serialization in Big Comic Spirits under the titled Subaru ~solitude standing~.

The Yaoi Press blog has posted more information on Yaoi Jamboree, the new yaoi themed fan convention taking in Phoenix Arizona on June 20-22:

This is a genre convention, not a corporate show. It will be run similar to Anime conventions everywhere. I consider Yaoi Jamboree to be a cooperative effort among Yaoi Press and other Yaoi/BL publishers in that we will all exhibit, run panels, and have different sponsorship avenues.

Popular series becomes one of the first Original English Language manga licensed for the Japanese market

(Ann Arbor, MI: June 10, 2007) - FredArt Studios and Dark Horse Comics announced today that Kodansha will publish a Japanese language edition of Megatokyo Volume 1 under the Kodansha Box imprint. It will contain the same material as the English language Dark Horse edition with additional notes and commentary for Japanese readers. It is the first Original English Language manga title to be licensed by Kodansha for the Japanese market.

Read More »

According to Canned Dogs, Japan Doujinshi Printing Group has announced a few new guidelines that all adult-oriented doujinshi must follow in order to be accepted for printing:

Basically, they need to clearly mark on the cover that it is for adults and provide on the final page of the doujinshi their circle name, contact info, release date, and the name of the printing firm that printed the doujinshi.

Also from Canned Dogs is the news that the first chapter of the manga Touhou Bougetsushou (based on the popular Touhou doujin games) has been made available online by Ichijinsha.

July comics top 10 in the U.S. according to PWCW.

1. Bleach, Volume 19
2. Naruto, Volume 14
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
4. Negima, Volume 14
5. Civil War: A Marvel Comics Event
6. Tsubasa, Volume 13
7. 52, Volume 1
8. Y The Last Man: Motherhood, Volume 9
9. Vampire Knight, Volume 2
10. Fruits Basket, Volume 16

Chuosha reports that Toen Shobo's monthly seijin magazine Comic Jumbo ceased publication with its August issue, which went on sale July 6th. Thanks Ed