News

Moon Phase reports that the March 2008 issue (the first of a series of 20th anniversary commemoration issues) of Fujimi Shobo's monthly light novel magazine Dragon Magazine marks the magazine's 20th anniversary. An important Slayers announcement will be made in the April 2008 issue.

Also, Dragon Magazine will become a bi-monthly magazine starting with the May 2008 issue.

Source: LightNovel.org

From Tiamat's Disciple comes an interview with Yen Press' Kurt Hassler and George Walkley, who talk about Yen Press (which recently renewed its official website), its future, and the manga market in general.

Via: MangaBlog

From Comix Talk comes an interview with rem, winner of Kodansha's 1st International Manga Competition, and Eijiro Shimada, the editor of the Morning 2 magazine.

Also, The Star Online also talks to rem and Eijiro Shimada, as well as runner-up Lim Hwei Lin.

Source: MangaBlog

YaoiSuki has announced the Yaoi Press Suki 2008 Contest, a contest sponsored by Yaoi Press where the winner will receive "five books from Yaoi Press: fresh new editions of Yaoi Hentai 1 and 2, Desire of the Gods, Spirit Marked, and The Aluria Chronicles! [as well as] one of Yaoi Press's new parasols."

Japanese otaku/doujin shop Toranoana has released its 2007 Tora Annual Books Ranking. Below are the top 20 titles (out of 200):

  1. DDD
  2. Hayate the Combat Butler
  3. Lucky Star
  4. Shingetsutan Tsukihime
  5. Haruhi Suzumiya
  6. Doujin Works
  7. KimiKiss -various heroines-
  8. Fate/stay night
  9. Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
  10. Touhou Gumonshiki ~ Perfect Memento in Strict Sense
  11. Read More »

Kodansha's Kiss editorial department will be launching a special issue of Kiss titled Kiss PLUS. The first issue of the new magazine will be released on February 8th, 2008, and will be published on a bi-monthly basis. Kiss PLUS, like Kiss, will aim at female readers in their twenties and thirties.

Sources: Kiss News and Comitia

Manga publisher Ichijinsha will launch a new 4-koma (4-panel) manga magazine titled Manga 4Koma KINGS Palette Lite, a sister publication to Ichijinsha's other 4-koma magazine, Manga 4Koma KINGS Palette. The new magazine will be published on a monthly basis, with the first issue scheduled to be released on March 1st, 2008.

Source: Manga 4Koma KINGS Palette's editorial blog

The top 15 manga (December 2007 - January 2008) in France according to BdZoom:

  1. Naruto (33)
  2. Death Note (7)
  3. Naruto (32)
  4. Samourai Deeper Kyo (36)
  5. Naruto (1)
  6. Naruto (31)
  7. Naruto (2)
  8. Lanfeust Quest (1)
  9. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (16)
  10. Naruto (3)
  11. Death Note (1)
  12. Naruto (4)
  13. Naruto (5)
  14. Naruto (6)
  15. Death Note (6)

topYukiru Sugisaki's D.N.Angel will resume serialization in the April issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Asuka (2/28).

Ritsu Miyako's Shinrei Tantei Yakumo is coming to an end in the March issue of Hakusensha's Bessatsu Hana to Yume.

Also, a new one-shot from Kaori Yuki titled Camelot Garden will appear in the April issue of Bessatsu Hana to Yume (2/26).

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