Coming in on the heels of Newtype USA's cancellation arrives PiQ, ADV's new entry into the magazine industry. Boosting content that reaches out to a broader audience, PiQ leaves the anime-focused style of Newtype for a wider spectrum of content including video games, comic books and popular television series.

"The primary goals of PiQ are to share and celebrate the love we have for these particular forms of entertainment with our readers, as well as shine a light on those often-overlooked projects, artists, creators and studios throughout the entertainment world." - PiQmag.com

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Comics Worth Reading is reporting that Tokyopop is giving anyone who participates in its Tokyopop Dreaming prose competition a free copy of Tarot Cafe and a piece of key art from The Dreaming.

Also, Tiamat's Anime and Manga Reviews has some news on Seven Seas' relationship with distributors, and problems they're facing by switching from Diamond to Tor/Macmillan:

We agreed to end our distribution through Diamond at the end of December 31, 2007, and as of January 1st, 2008, Tor/Macmillan became our "Vendor of Record" as it's called in the industry. [...] However, Diamond informed us they would not release most of our back stock to Tor until the end of February, since they were still accepting returns until then, and didn't want to make two separate and substantial shipments to Tor's warehouse.

Via: MangaBlog

From Manga Recon comes an interview with Christy Lijewski, artist of Tokyopop's RE:Play, and Tokyopop editor Tim Beedle:

PCS: How do you respond to fans who feel the term "manga" should only be applied to Japanese comics? Where do you see RE:Play fitting into the current comic market?

Christy: I think they're over thinking things to be honest. I mean, so many manga magazines and publishing labels in Japan are called "Comics" and no one there seems to go, "This isn't a comic!" I don't see why we see the word "manga" here and have to go, "This isn't manga!"

Now available for order & free download, shipping in April 2008

GRIMES, IA, March 25, 2008 - Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. is pleased to announce the Spring 2008 edition of the Right Stuf Anime Catalog is now available for free download at RightStuf.com (http://www.rightstuf.com), as well as pre-order, and it will ship in April 2008.

This new edition of the catalog features an exclusive interview with Kaoru Mori, the creator of EMMA: A Victorian Romance - in anticipation of Nozomi Entertainment's summer DVD release of the series' anime adaptation - as well as the answers to fans' questions about the production of the English-language dub for The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye.

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Phoenix, AZ, March 26, 2008 - Yaoi Jamboree, the new yaoi fan convention this summer in Phoenix Arizona, announces their first three guests of honor.

Yaoi Jamboree is pleased to announce the first guests for the June 20th to 22nd Yaoi Jamboree convention. As mentioned in previous announcements Yaoi Jamboree is hosting popular Japanese mangaka, as well as global yaoi creators.

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New Feature Film Based On Popular Action Manga And Animated Series to Have a Limited Domestic Theatrical Release

San Francisco, CA, March 24, 2008 ??? VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that it has secured the license from TV Tokyo Corporation, Shueisha Inc. and Dentsu Inc. for BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY in the Americas, Europe and Oceania. The feature film, which will be aimed primarily at teens and older teens, will have a limited theatrical release in major cities throughout North America this summer with the DVD release to follow winter 2008. Subsequent details will be released in coming weeks.

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From comics212 comes an interview Alvin Lu, Viz Media's Vice President, who talks about bringing Kazuo Umezu's manga Cat-Eyed Boy over to the U.S.

The first Anime Blog Awards is now underway:

The Anime Blog Awards is a bridge to highlight the best blogs in their various genres. We hope that the awards can celebrate the excellence of great anime blogs within the anime blogosphere. We also believe that this award will fulfill its desire to promote new or excellent blogs that should be given more attention.

To vote for your favorite blog, you need to own or contribute to a blog yourself. Nominations will end on April 22nd. Included in the award is a category for manga blogs. Go here for more rules.

According to an article from the Associated Press, Borders announced on Thursday that it may put itself up for sale:

Shares in Borders tumbled more than 39 percent as the nation's second-largest bookseller said it was considering options including the sale of the company or certain divisions, and that it had lined up $42.5 million in financing to help it keep running through the year.

Borders cut back on its graphic novel division early last year after the departure of Kurt Hassler.

A round up of the new comic release list and views for the week of March 19th 2008:

• ComicList: ComicList for 03/19/2008
• MangaCast: New Manga Release List ~ March 19, 2008
• Manga Recon: Weekly Recon: Weekly Recon, 3/19/08
• Precocious Curmudgeon: Upcoming 3/19/2008