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Posts Tagged Drawn and Quarterly

On The Shelf: August 7, 2013

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, August 9, 2013

Happy Birthday to me! Well, belated. Sort of. This week’s shipping day, August 7th, just so happened to be my birthday, and what a birthday it was! This week was a huge one for new manga – thanks predominantly to Viz Media – and among the spoils were some of my favourite series still running.

Notables for me included Toriko (Vol. 17), the final volume of Bakuman, A Devil and Her Love Song (Vol. 10), Kamisama Kiss (Vol. 13) and the very long awaited Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 21), a title that only comes out once a year! Plenty to choose from. Seek, read and enjoy~

A Certain Scientific Railgun (Vol. 08) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
A Devil and Her Love Song (Vol. 10) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Alice in the Country of Hearts: The Clockmaker’s Story [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Bakuman (Vol. 20) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Dance in the Vampire Bund Omnibus (Vol. 03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Happy Marriage!? (Vol. 01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Kamisama Kiss (Vol. 13) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 21) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Kimi ni Todoke (Vol. 17) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Kitaro [Amazon CAN, Amazon US]
Knights of Sidonia (Vol. 04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Library Wars: Love & War (Vol. 10) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Naruto (Vol. 62) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (Vol. 16) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Otomen (Vol. 16) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Pokemon Adventures: Heart Gold and Soul Silver (Vol. 01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Pokemon: Black and White (Vol. 11) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Rosario + Vampire Season II (Vol. 12) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Slam Dunk (Vol. 29) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Tegami Bachi (Vol. 14) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
The Sacred Blacksmith (Vol. 02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
The Wallflower (Vol. 31) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Toriko (Vol. 17) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
World War Blue (Vol. 02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]

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Categories: On The Shelf, Release Lists
Tags: A Certain Scientific Railgun, A Devil and her Love Song, Alice in the Country of..., Bakuman, Dance in the Vampire Bund, Drawn and Quarterly, Happy Marriage?!, Kamisama Kiss, Kaze Hikaru, Kimi ni Todoke, Kitaro, Knights of Sidonia, Library Wars, Manga, Naruto, Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan, Otomen, Pokemon Adventures, Rosario + Vampire, Seven Seas, Shonen Jump, Slam Dunk, Tegami Bachi, The Sacred Blacksmith, The Wallflower, Toriko, Viz Media, World War Blue

Drawn & Quarterly Adds Shigeru Mizuki’s Kitaro to 2013 Schedule

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, June 9, 2012

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Many fans’ prayers were answered this week as Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly announced the license of Shigeru Mizuki’s GeGeGe no Kitaro. The series – retitled simply KITARO – will see its first English publication in 2013.

Drawn & Quarterly has already released two series by Shigeru Mizuki: Onwards Towards Our Noble Deaths and Nonnonba. Though I’ve never read any Kitaro, the series comes up every time Shigeru Mizuki’s name is mentioned so I’m curious to read this title considered a manga classic.

“Meet Kitaro. He’s just like any other boy, except for a few small differences: he only has one eye, his hair is as an antenna that senses paranormal activity, his geta sandals are jet-powered, and he can blend in to his surroundings like a chameleon. Oh, and he’s a three hundred and fifty year old yokāi (spirit monster). With all the offbeat humor and a delightful cast of characters, Kitaro is a light-hearted romp where the bad guys always get what’s coming to them.”

There was no word yet on if Drawn & Quarterly will be releasing the series (which is very, very, long) as single volumes or omnibus-style. An Amazon listing (as reported by ANN) does show it as hardcover and clocking in at 432 pages, but it doesn’t say volume one anywhere on it. This could mean it’s either a one-shot collection of hand chosen story from the series or an indication it’ll be multi-volume editions and the listing is simply missing the volume number. Time shall tell!

Regardless of its format, however, this series has far too much positive press and history behind it to slip through my fingers when it hits store shelves early next year.

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Categories: Licensing, News
Tags: Drawn and Quarterly, Manga, Shigeru Mizuki

Otaku USA: On The Shelf – May 9, 2012

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, May 10, 2012

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Manga time! …which as a statement is sort of redundant here on Kuriousity. New week means new manga and while I continue unpacking my goodies from TCAF, I took a break for my weekly round-up of what new books are on the shelf this week. You can check out the full list and some thoughts over at my On The Shelf article at Otaku USA.

Some notables this week are NonNonBa from Drawn and Quarterly, Flowers of Evil from Vertical Inc. and the FLCL omnibus from Dark Horse.

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Categories: Features, News, On The Shelf, Release Lists
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Dark Horse, DMP, Drawn and Quarterly, June, Manga, Otaku USA, Seven Seas, Vertical Inc

TCAF 2012: Events for the Manga-Inclined

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, May 2, 2012

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The Toronto Comics Art Festival is only days away now – how time flies! For those who’re going, or those simply curious, the event organizers now have the complete schedule, exhibitor list and map available on their website.

TCAF had several very worthwhile manga-related events last year and this year they’re welcoming the creator of Chi’s Sweet Home, Konami Kanata. On Saturday evening she’ll be giving a talk at The Japan Foundation:

Konami Kanata in Conversation
Saturday, May 5, 2012 (7:00pm-9:00pm) @ The Japan Foundation
“Please join us in welcoming manga author Konami Kanata, creator of The New York Times Bestselling manga Chi’s Sweet Home, to her first-ever North American appearance. Kanata is traveling to Toronto to attend The Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2012, and will be giving a special talk at The Japan Foundation where she will discuss her 30 year career making manga, and spread awareness of the plight of those in the Tohoku Region of Japan still severely affected by the March 11th, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Konami Kanata-sensei will be interviewed on stage by Vertical Inc. Editor Ed Chavez, and will be autographing copies of her work for attendees.”

As with other TCAF events, Konami Kanata’s talk is free to attend but RSVPs were being taken for this one in advance to accomodate numbers. While closed now, a ‘rush line’ will be open at 6:30pm for those who did not RSVP with attendance dependent on the capacity.

Along with Vertical Inc., comic & manga publishers Fantagraphics and Drawn & Quarterly will be at TCAF selling books as well. The complete list of exhibitors is an impressive array of publishers and artists; like any big event the only real downside is there likely won’t be enough time to visit all the ones you want!

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Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Drawn and Quarterly, Manga, TCAF 2012

Diamond Manga Previews: January 2012

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, January 8, 2012

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Diamond Comics is North America’s largest comic book distributor. If you have a local comic store in your area, it’s very likely they get their books from them. Every month Diamond releases a giant magazine, Previews, containing all the products they have – from comics, manga, DVDs and merchandise – that will be released starting in about two months’ time, giving retailers and buyers the chance to put their orders in before shipping dates.

I’ve been picking up the Previews magazines for years, oogling all the different books coming out from publishers and wondering how long until the stacks of Preview magazines I’ve yet to get rid of will crush me in my sleep. Starting now I’ll be writing about the different manga content published in Previews each month here on Kuriousity. This includes all the manga titles listed, the top Manga sellers as tracked by Diamond and mention of other things of interest I spot. With the small two month window, Diamond Previews has rarely been the source of new licenses but it’s a great reminder and showcase of all the books coming our way soon, plus the perfect time to get your orders in, whether through Diamond or at your online retailer of choice.

I’ll also be including with these monthly Preview posts a downloadable PDF that you can print off and check off the manga you’d like to order. Then it’s as easy as bringing it into your local comic or book store – wherever in your area that orders in through Diamond Comics! Currently the list is just the names and does not include the Diamond order codes. I’ve never come across a store that requires them for ordering but if yours does, let me know and I’ll include them on subsequent files:

January 2012 Manga Previews Checklist (PDF)

You may continue reading at your own discretion for my thoughts, elaborations, random pictures and the Top 10 Selling Manga of November 2011!

Fallen Words Picked Up By Drawn & Quarterly

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

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AnimeNewsNetwork has confirmed with Drawn & Quarterly that the company will be releasing a new Yoshihiro Tatsumi collection of short stories titled Fallen Words. A listing for the book originally popped up on Amazon.ca, followed shortly there-after by Amazon.com.

“In Fallen Words, Yoshihiro Tatsumi takes up the oral tradition of rakugo and breathes new life into it by shifting the format from spoken word to manga. Each of the eight stories in the collection is lifted from the Edo-era Japanese storytelling form. As Tatsumi notes in the afterword, the world of rakugo, filled with mystery, emotion, revenge, hope, and, of course, love, overlaps perfectly with the world of Gekiga that he has spent the better part of his life developing.”

News of a fresh Yoshihiro Tatsumi license comes with perfect timing for me – I just finished his one-shot Black Blizzard and revisited his sprawling and wonderful, A Drifting Life. Both are different kinds of stories but each left me wanting more of the creator’s work. You can expect I’ll be picking up this new book when it’s released this Spring.

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Categories: Licensing, News
Tags: Drawn and Quarterly, Yoshihiro Tatsumi

Review: Black Blizzard

By Shannon Fay on Friday, August 27, 2010

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Yoshiro Tatsumi
Publisher: Drawn & Quarterly
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: March 2010

Synopsis: “Susumu Yamaji, a 24-year-old pianist, is arrested for murder and ends up handcuffed to a career criminal on the train that will take them to prison. An avalanche derails the train and the criminal takes the opportunity to escape, dragging a reluctant Susumu with him into the blizzard raging outside. They flee into the mountains to an abandoned ranger station where they take shelter from the storm. As they sit around the fire they built Susumu relates how love drove him to murder.”

Black Blizzard is an important work in manga cannon, but luckily it’s more than just a dusty piece of history. Even today it is still an engaging thriller worth reading. Susumu is a piano player who’s down on his luck. When he falls in love with a circus performer named Saeko, it leads to a series of events which end with Susumu killing a man while in a drunken rage. When the manga starts he has been arrested by the police and is on a train, handcuffed to a fellow prisoner.

Final Manga Notes of SDCC 2010

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, August 2, 2010

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Continuing with my streak of being very behind with convention news this summer, here’s a quick finishing round-up of manga news at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Links in the article will direct you to AnimeNewsNetwork where their on-site staff shared all the details from the panels.

The company Top Shelf announced one new manga license: Cigarette Girl by Masahiko Matsumoto and also expressed the hope to license the manga artist’s auto-biography series Gegika Freaks to “complement to Tatsumi’s own autobiographical manga A Drifting Life.” And speaking of which, the ginomrous auto-biography manga A Drifting Life won two Eisner awards at the event – Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia category and Best Reality-Based Work of the Year. (Note: Though I never wrote a complete review on this book, I did read it and got completely swept away in the story. It’s a very inspiring non-fiction story and makes for a fantastic (plus satisfyingly lengthy) read.)

Viz Media didn’t have any new licenses at SDCC (saving them for NYAF I hope?) but they did announce a re-release of the popular series, Death Note. Titled Death Note: Black Edition, this new edition will be released as omnibus books (multiple volumes in one) with new covers and larger trim sizes than the originals. Viz Media also announced that there will be a new layout for their manga magazine, Shonen Jump, upcoming in their December issue.

Vertical Inc. had a new license, Lychee Light Club by Usamaru Furuya who had another work licensed by Viz Media (Genkaku Picasso). The plot of Lychee Light Club definitely sounds unique (from Robot6): “The students at an all-boys school create a robot to track down beautiful women, a robot that for some reason runs on lychee fruits. Everything gets complicated when the machine develops self-awareness, however, and stops being quite so compliant.” Neat Vertical fact extra: Chi’s Sweet Home, released just a few weeks ago, has already become Vertical Inc’s best selling release. Wow!

And lastly in this SDCC round-up comes from the Canadian company Drawn & Quarterly who had a couple new titles to share at the event: Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths and NonNonBâ both by Shigeru Mizuki. Both are older titles by a manga artist known best for their work GeGeGe no Kitarō (which hasn’t yet been released in English).

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Categories: Licensing
Tags: Conventions, Drawn and Quarterly, Manga, Vertical Inc, Viz Media

Manga About Manga: Learning Process Via Plot

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

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Viz Media’s recent press release about the manga series Bakuman got me thinking – there are a bunch of manga series out there about making manga. What a fun concept! I know I always love it, it’s such a neat experience – both the slight irony of it and the educational factor too.

I’ve learned a lot about making comics in general from manga – neat little so-thats-how-they-do-its – and while ideas and inspiration are always a given when reading something, having someone else’s trials, experiences and knowledge laid out for you in the very format they’re in relation to is just a good combination.

So I got to thinking about the different series that are about making manga – so I compiled a list. Have another licensed title to add? By all means let me know in the comments so I can check it out!