Independent Opinions, News, and Reviews of Graphic Novels, Manga, and Comic Books
In the wake of yesterday’s news that DC is shutting down CMX, a variety of reactions hit the internet. Here are some of the strongest and smartest. David Welsh reviews DC Comics’ history of forgetting that it had a manga imprint. When Diane Nelson took over for Levitz, it surprised absolutely no one that CMX was not among her talking points, probably because DC didn’t have the right to repackage CMX properties in other media, so who cares? We need […]
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Brigid Alverson at Robot 6 reports that DC is closing the CMX Manga imprint as of July 1 due to “the challenges that manga is facing in the American marketplace”. (Update: As of 5/21/10, DC has removed the CMX website as well.) CMX launched in October 2004, and while their early title list was uneven, lately, they had been releasing a number of enjoyable titles, including Stolen Hearts My Darling! Miss Bancho The Name of the Flower The Lizard Prince […]
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by Chica Umino; adapted by Akemi Wegmuller; due out June 1 This volume ends the series. Since I stopped reading around book 4, I’m perhaps not the best person to evaluate how satisfying a conclusion it is. Also, I still dislike Hagumi, the elfin artist whom most of the guys are in love with, which creeps me out, since she (purposefully) looks like a child. Half the book finishes the main story, and apparently the only thread left to resolve […]
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Otomen is the anti-Star Trek. There, the rule was that only the even-numbered movies were good. With this series, I seem to enjoy the odd-numbered books more than the even. Which means that, yes, I was disappointed in this volume — but I have great hopes for the next one! As the author, Aya Kanno, mentions in an early note to the readers, “the plot is all over the place, isn’t it?” Asuka is feeling uncomfortable with the demands placed […]
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by Hinako Ashihara; adapted by John Werry With the conclusion of High School Debut, Sand Chronicles is now tied with Nana for my favorite shojo series. This volume concludes the main story, but there are two more books coming with additional bonus stories. To bring things full circle, in this book, the adult Ann is setting out to revisit the sand museum in Nima that provided her the hourglass token that drove so much of her young life. Once again, […]
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Each story I read with these mice siblings is better than the one before. I think it’s because the characters grow on me with exposure — I get more sense of them and their adorable little personalities. In Benny and Penny in The Toy Breaker, the third book in the series (after Just Pretend and The Big No-No!), cousin Bo comes to visit. Benny and Penny have to hide all their toys, because Bo always breaks them. Bo is grabby […]
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America’s Teenager Preaches for Spire Comics (This article originally appeared in Hogan’s Alley #16, March 2009.) Most of the larger American comic publishers are willing to create licensed publications for various organizations that aren’t sold through the usual markets. DC Comics, for example, has done free Superman giveaways for the United Nations, warning children in war areas of the dangers of land mines, and for the Doris Day Animal Foundation, telling kids not to torture pets. Marvel Comics created a […]
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First Finder, and now another comic classic will be returned to print by Dark Horse. Due out October 20, Scary Godmother will reprint the four children’s books in the series by Jill Thompson: Scary Godmother, The Revenge of Jimmy, The Mystery Date, and The Boo Flu. These painted fairy tales are gorgeously executed and wonderfully imaginative. Also in the new hardcover, cover-priced at $24.99, will be concept designs and a new cover (shown here). I hope this means that a […]
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