Manga Bookshelf

Discussion, Resources, Roundtables, & Reviews

Katherine Dacey

The Manga Review: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

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As we celebrate another Pride Month, now is a good time to remember that books by queer creators are among the most challenged books in American libraries. There are a number of small things that you can do, however, to ensure that readers can continue accessing This One Summer, Flamer, Our Colours, and Gender Queer: A Memoir. One is to support the work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which has been helping schools and libraries challenge book bans since 1986. As the CBLDF’s latest newsletter points out, activists regularly target manga and graphic novels on the grounds that stories with images have a uniquely powerful effect on young readers. The American Library Association, which compiles data on banned books, is another organization worthy of your support. The ALA has created a number of resources for combatting censorship, offering advice on how to challenge a banned book, how to make a meaningful impact at a school or library board meeting, and how to report book censorship in your community. These tools aren’t just for librarians; anyone can use them to defend readers’ right to access books.

NEWS, VIEWS, AND INTERVIEWS

Lynzee Loveridge interviews Sumiko Arai, the creator of breakout hit The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All. [ANN]

UDON has joined a long list of companies that are no longer distributing comics through Diamond. Brigid Alverson has the details. [ICv2]

Josh Piedra has the skinny on the latest licensing announcements from Seven Seas. [The Outerhaven]

Wondering what’s new in stores this month? Katy Castillo has you covered with a comprehensive list of manga, books, and light novels slated for June release. [Yatta-Tachi]

The folks at Anime Feminist want to know: what’s the rarest manga in your collection? (FWIW, my answer would be Four Shojo Stories.) [Anime Feminist]

Muraktama Rodrigues explains why you should be reading Golden Kamuy. [How to Love Comics]

In honor of Pride Month, Anime UK News discusses “the anime and manga characters that break gender norms, the ones who do not conform to the binary, the ones who celebrate who they are and make us love them, regardless of how they choose to identify.” [Anime UK News]

Last but not least, the latest issue of the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics offers an in-depth essay by scholar Ashley Morningstar, who argues that “Naoko Takeuchi’s Sailor Moon helped spark a turning point in the shōjo genre, introducing a subversive trend of action-oriented narratives that featured fighting girl protagonists.” [Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics]

REVIEWS

Erica Friedman recommends Class X, an “obscure but wonderfully astonishing story”… Kara Dennison weighs in on Snowball Earth, a new VIZ title… and Jackson Brown is back with a fabulous review of The Great Snake’s Bride. “Don’t let the winking and nudging and giggling from us adult children fool you,” he notes. “The Great Snake’s Bride by Fushiashikumo is a brilliantly crafted story about family, trauma, healing, and how to find kinship in unlikely places. Alongside these themes is a salient commentary on womanhood and misogyny, which is expected from a gothic tale, and this manga is a fitting contribution to the genre.”

New and Noteworthy

Complete, OOP, and Ongoing Series

* Complete series review

The Manga Review: Hark the Herald!

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Big news from Anime Herald: the popular website will launch a companion magazine in October! Site founder and editor-in-chief Samatha Ferreira noted that the inaugural issue will celebrate Anime Herald’s fifteen-year history with reprints of “eight classic articles” but will also feature nine new essays from well-known journalists and critics in the field including Lynzee Loveridge, Daryl Surat, Chiaki Mitama, Erica Friedman, Red Bard, Borealis Capps, and Lucas DeReuyter. You can pre-order a print or digital copy by clicking here; the print version will retail for $17.95, while the digital version will have a “a suggested price of $12.75.”

NEWS AND VIEWS

Party like it’s 2007! Yen Press just announced that it would be releasing a deluxe box-set edition of Fruits Basket in November. [ICv2]

Justin and Helen round up the latest manga licensing news. [The OASG]

Naina Singh posts a thoughtful analysis of how Indian characters are depicted in Toboso Yana’s long-running series Black Butler. [Anime Feminist]

Elliot and Andy discuss The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You. [Screentone Club]

Helen, Kory, and Apryll dedicate their latest podcast to Kowloon Generic Romance and Neighborhood Story. [Manga in Your Ears]

On the latest Manga Machinations episode, the gang convenes a round table on Fumi Yoshigana’s Tamaki and Amane, then checks in on one of my personal faves, Irie Akie’s Go With the Clouds, North by Northwest. [Manga Machinations]

REVIEWS

Erica Friedman gives Does It Count If You Lose Your Virginity to an Android? a solid B…. Beneath the Tangles publishes a team review of Girl Crush, a new series about Japanese teenagers trying to break into the K-Pop industry… Johanna Draper Carlson checks in on some of her favorite ongoing food manga as well as some cute cat series… and Sarah just persuaded me to pick up Love in the Palm of His Hands.

New and Noteworthy

Complete, OOP, and Ongoing Series

Pick of the Week: Witches, Senpais, and Doodles

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KATE: I’ve been jonesing for A Witch’s Life in Mongol since I first encountered the title on Tumblr several years ago. Based on what I’ve read about this series, it checks all of my boxes. Historical setting? Yes! Originally published in a magazine for women readers? Yes! Capable female lead? Yes! Oh, and the artwork looks pretty great, too. So, yes, A Witch in Mongol is my PotW.

MICHELLE: Stardust Family sounds legitimately good but serious, and I think I am more in the mood for fluff, so I’ll go with I’ll Forget You Starting Today, Senpai!.

SEAN: I am always so happy to read anything by Ryoko Kui, so my pick this week is Doodles by Ryoko Kui: Daydream Hour.

ASH: Lots of great things being released this week! I’m definitely interested in Kui’s artbook, but I’ll be joining Kate this week in selecting A Witch’s Life in Mongol as my pick. I’ve likewise been looking forward to this manga for quite some time.

The Manga Review: Robot Cat from the Future

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When Toei Animation released its 2025 Business Outlook Report last week, fans immediately began translating the document. Twitter user @Venixys reported that Toei was planning to expand it use generative AI tools in several ways including “storyboard creation,” “coloring,” and “background creation” from photographs. While using AI to perform these kind of detail-oriented, labor-intensive tasks could streamline production, it most likely comes with a human cost, as this work has traditionally been performed by teams of animators. In her coverage of the story, CBR’s Renee Senzatimore noted that Toei and Kodansha had both invested in Preferred Networks, Inc., a startup firm in the generative AI field.

One additional note: if you’re headed to San Francisco this fall, be sure to check out the de Young Museum’s Art of Manga exhibition, which opens on September 27th and runs through January 25, 2026. You can save $5.00 per ticket by pre-ordering them and using the code KODANSHA when checking out. (The fine print: the offer is “valid online only for adult and senior tickets to see Art of Manga from September 27 though October 25, 2025, subject to availability. This offer expires at 11:59pm (PT) on July 1, 2025.”) I’m sorry I don’t have a reason to be in San Francisco this fall, as the show looks great. How could it not be when Deb Aoki and Shaenon Garrity are on the advisory committee?

NEWS ROUND-UP

In international publishing news, Kadakowa recently announced that it has acquired a 70% ownership stake in Edizioni BD, the largest Italian publisher of manga. As part of the deal, Edizioni BD will become a subsidiary of Kadakowa at a time when the Italian manga market is booming.  [Animeconomics]

ICv2 is offering readers a sneak peak at Infini-T Force, a forthcoming series about a high school student who has the power to summon Gatchaman when she’s in a bind. Hilarity ensues (or so I’m guessing from the jokey tone of the press release). [ICv2]

To mark its tenth anniversary, Shonen Jump+ has commissioned anime adaptations of series that ran on the platform. Matt Schely has the details. [Otaku USA]

ICYMI: Brigid Alverson investigates “the ongoing saga of the Diamond bankruptcy,” walking readers through mountains of legal documents to explain why this messy situation isn’t fully resolved. [The Comics Journal]

Your feel-good story of the week: the residents of Takaikamishima—population 11—decided to open a manga academy to put the island back on the map. The school is open in the summer, and caters to tweens and teens. [The Asahi Shimbun]

ESSAYS AND PODCASTS

If Helen Chazan’s writing hasn’t been on your radar, now is an excellent time to get acquainted with her work. TCJ just published her essay on Hunter x Hunter in which she characterizes Yoshihiru Togashi’s series as the “shōnen manga of a free man, every page crackling with hard-earned creative agency.” She elaborates: “The generic springboard of the Shōnen Jump manga premise is an opening for Togashi to draw whatever he pleases, in any style, setting or tone he wishes to explore.” I’ve never been particularly interested in Hunter x Hunter, but she’s persuaded me to give it a second chance. Go, read! [The Comics Journal]

David and Jordan debate the merits of Rash!!, a short-lived series set in a prison infirmary. [Shonen Flop]

The Manga Machinations team has a full plate this week, with Look Back, The Legend of Kamui, and Silver Mountain on the menu. [Manga Machinations]

Gee and Ray dedicate their latest podcast to romantasy, focusing on Dawn of the Arcana and The King’s Beast. [Read Right to Left]

Should you read War of the Adults? Rob offers his two cents as a parent and manga fan. [Dad Needs to Talk]

Petter and James tackle volume twenty-two of To Your Eternity. [Umami Manga]

ICYMI: Xan revisits Kingyo Used Books, which documents the manga-reading habits of the store’s clientele. [Spiraken Manga Review]

And speaking of old school titles, Kory, Helen, and Apryll jump in the WABAC Machine for a look at The Legend of Chun Hyang, an early CLAMP classic  [Manga in Your Ears]

Over at The Outerhaven, Richard Heaton explains why Dungeon Friends Forever is begging for an anime adaptation. [The Outerhaven]

Jocelyne Allen—another writer you should be following—sings the praises of Crystal Dragon, an epic shojo fantasy steeped in Celtic folklore. “While pretty much every panel is a work of art,” Allen notes, creator Ashibe Yuho “pulls off some truly glorious moments of visual storytelling.” Don’t hold your breath for the license, however; the series has been unfolding in fits and starts for forty years and still isn’t finished. [Brain vs. Book]

REVIEWS

Kirkus Reviews gives solid marks to Eike Exner’s forthcoming Manga: A New History of Japanese Comics, which will be released in August… Kathryn Hemmann reviews She and Her Cat, an anthology of short stories inspired by Makoto Shinkai’s short film of the same name… Rebecca Silverman recommends The 13th Footprint, a new mystery from the creator of Erased… and the latest recent installment of The Beat’s Bizarre Adventure focuses on A Drifting Life, Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer, and Seduced by the Demon King: A Sensual Rebirth.

New and Noteworthy

Complete, OOP, and Ongoing Eries

 

The Manga Review: School’s Out for Summer

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Before I get to this week’s links, I want to share some great news: MJ Beasi, webmaster and founder of Manga Bookshelf, can add another title to their impressive resume: author! MJ’s novel I Was a Teenage Death God will be published by Page Street YA in 2026. The novel  sounds like it would make a swell manga:

For Charlie, stealing life from high school randos is an okay price to ensure their twin sister and best friend-slash-crush remain off-limits to Lou, the ghost who’s been threatening Charlie their whole life. When Lou’s demands go too far, Charlie resorts to extreme measures to get a handle on their own powers. Though crossing state lines to meet strangers from the internet might seem like a great idea, Charlie’s literal road trip to self-discovery sets them and everyone they love on a collision course with a dark family legacy not even their mom’s Toyota can outrun.

The book is the first in a two-part series. Congratulations, MJ!

NEWS AND VIEWS

The 2025 Eisner Award nominations are in! Among this year’s picks for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia are Search and Destroy, an adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s Dororo, and Last Quarter, a supernatural romance by Ai Yazawa. [San Diego Comic-Con International]

And speaking of the Eisners, ICv2, The Beat, and SOLRAD all made this year’s short list for Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism. [San Diego Comic-Con International]

Matt Schely highlights the winners of the 49th annual Kodansha Manga Awards. [Otaku USA]

The last volume of Akiro Hiiragi’s manga adaptation of The Devil Is a Part-Timer! will arrive in stores next month. [Otaku USA]

Brigid Alverson parses the April 2025 Circana Bookscan Top 20 Adult Graphic Novels list. [ICv2]

Wrestling fans rejoice: the Kyodo Printing Company will be publishing a new deluxe version of Baki the Grappler for English-speaking audiences. [The Outerhaven]

The Mangasplaining team is back in action with Naoya Matsumoto’s monster battle manga Kajiu No. 8. [Mangasplaining]

REVIEWS

Over at The Comics Journal, Jacob Ahana-Laba introduces American readers to Rapid Commuter Underground… Kara Dennison offers a sneak peak at Yan, a new series from the creator of Oldman… Lauren Orsini lists her 10 favorite (and least favorite) manga of the year so far… Demelza gives high marks to The Apothecary Diaries Art Book… and Gabriel Rodriguez calls Berserk “the most beautiful story ever told.”

New and Noteworthy

Complete, OOP, and Ongoing Series

Pick of the Week: Witches, Dancers… and Giant Chickens?

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MICHELLE: I’m dreadfully behind at this point, but I really liked what I’ve read of Wandance so far, so the latest volume is what I’m most looking forward to, this week.

SEAN: I’ll go for the new volume of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which I can always count on to be wonderful.

ASH: I don’t know if it’ll be wonderful, but I am intrigued enough by the prospect of retreating to the mountains to live with giant chickens that, long story short, I’m going to go with Long Story Short, I’m Living in the Mountains.

ANNA: I’m going to go for Merry Witches’ Life because I’m intrigued by the premise of this josei series.

KATE: As usual, I’m late to the party, but two titles caught my eye: Merry Witches’ Life—because you can never have too much josei—and Dr. Mashirito’s Ultimate Manga Techniques—because even a manga critic can learn something useful from a how-to book.

Pick of the Week: Boxers, Idols, and Vampires

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MICHELLE: This week, it’s Ashita no Joe that appeals to me the most. I continue to be grateful that this is being released!

KATE: I second Michelle’s pick! We need more classic sports manga available in English.

SEAN: Because I enjoyed New Game!, I’ll give my pick this week to a new work from its author, Idol x Idol Story!.

ANNA: I’m also making Ashita no Joe my pick!

ASH: I do love that Ashita no Joe is being translated, but this is likely the only chance I have to pick A Vampire in the Bathhouse which looks like an utterly ridiculous (in a good way) josei manga. It was the rubber duckies on the cover that tipped the scales for me.

Pick of the Week: Tamaki & Amane (and They Were 11!)

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SEAN: Of course, we already picked They Were 11! unanimously back in January when the preorder pages fooled us all. As such, of course, that is our pick this week as well. HOWEVER, we will also be picking another title in the interests of fairness. So I’m picking the new Fumi Yoshinaga, Tamaki & Amane, which looks fantastic.

MICHELLE: I can’t conceive of a time when I *wouldn’t* pick a new Fumi Yoshinaga! So, yes, same for me!

KATE: At the risk of being boring, I, too, choose Fumi Yoshinaga!

ANNA: I agree!

ASH: I adore Fumi Yoshinaga’s work, so I am incredibly excited for Tamaki & Amane. (And also Moto Hagio’s.)

Pick of the Week: Climbing and Clouds

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MICHELLE: I am looking forward to both Riverbay Road Men’s Dormitory and The Little Bird Sleeps by the Sea. Presumably, the latter will be much more wholesome, however, so I will pick that one for brain-balm purposes.

SEAN: Gonna have to give it to the manga with the most striking cover this week, because The Climber makes me want to see what his deal is.

KATE: That sound you hear right now? That’s me screaming with excitement over a new installment of Go With the Clouds, North by Northwest, one of the weirdest and most consistently satisfying series I’m reading right now. I’m also going to hop on The Climber bandwagon, as it looks great, if potentially vertigo-inducing. This is definitely a head-to-the-comic-shop week for me!

ASH: While I am intrigued by several of the novel offerings this week, it’s The Climber for me, too!

ANNA: I’m with Kate this week, I’ve ordered both Go With the Clouds, North by Northwest and The Climber. What an exciting week!

The Manga Review: Princess Memeonoke

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If you’ve been on the internet anytime since ChatGPT 4.0 debuted, you’ve probably seen images that look suspiciously like stills from Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro. ChatGPT’s newest version—which arrived on March 26th—allows paid subscribers to create pictures from text prompts. Within twenty four hours of the new feature going live, users across the internet were directing ChatGPT to turn their pets, friends, and family members into Studio Ghibli memes. The irony? Hayao Miyazaki is on the record as describing AI-generated art as “an insult to life,” joining a long list of artists, musicians, and writers who feel violated by OpenAI’s training methods. OpenAI, for its part, claims that it’s making fair use of other people’s copyright-protected material. Until there is a definitive ruling on the legality of OpenAI’s methods, artists may need to use different legal strategies to prevail in court. One potential remedy, legal expert Rob Rosenberg suggests, is suing for OpenAI for trademark infringement instead: “Ghibli could argue that by converting user photos to ‘Ghibli-style,’ OpenAI is trading off the goodwill of Ghibli’s trademarks, using Ghibli’s identifiable style and leading to a likelihood of confusion among consumers that this function is endorsed or licensed by Studio Ghibli.” You’ll find more of his commentary here.

NEWS AND VIEWS

Katy Castillo runs down all of April’s new manga and light novels. [Yatta-Tachi]

MyAnimeList just posted its annual You Should Read This Manga list. Though some of the titles aren’t available in English yet, there are plenty of great recommendations that are, from Hirayasumi to The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy At All! [My AnimeList]

If you’re currently watching Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty, I have good news for you: Yen Press will be publishing the manga this fall, alongside five other new titles. [The Outerhaven]

And speaking of rock ‘n’ roll, Titan Manga announced that it will be releasing Isekai Metaller, the saga of a “a die-hard metalhead who, after getting electrocuted during his band’s farewell gig, wakes up in a world full of dragons, werewolves, and monsters that are just begging for a guitar solo.” Sold! [Behind the Manga]

Netflix just unveiled the trailer for The Rose of Versailles, which will begin streaming April 30th. [Otaku USA]

Trump’s new tariffs mean you’ll be paying more to import your favorite Japanese video games, manga, and merch. [Otaku USA]

This week’s must-hear podcast is an in-depth discussion of Moyocco Anno’s work hosted by Gee and Ray. [Read Right to Left]

Helen, Apryll, and Kory convene a roundtable on The Trials and Tribulations of My Next Life as a Noblewoman. [Manga in Your Ears]

How does the original Mixx edition of Parasyte compare with Del Ray’s? Tim and Patrick have the answer on the latest installment of Full Manga Alchemists. [Full Manga Alchemists]

REVIEWS

Over at Anime Nation, John explores disability representation in You Talk Too Much, So Just Shut It Already!… the latest Reader’s Corner offers pithy reviews of Pink Candy Kiss, Friday at the Atelier, and Dandadan… and I finally got around to reviewing Confession, a twisty thriller that gets the job done in a single volume.

New and Noteworthy

Complete and Ongoing Series

Confession

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Confession is a tight, twisty thriller that reads like an episode of The Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Author Fukumoto Nobuyuki establishes the premise in a few quick strokes: two hikers—one gravely injured—huddle on a mountainside pummeled by a fierce winter storm. As they debate the best course of action, Ishikura—who is bleeding profusely—confesses to murdering a mutual acquaintance, telling Asai, “I killed Sayuri… with my own two hands.” Asai, however, refuses to abandon Ishikura, dragging his wounded friend to the safety of an abandoned cabin. As the two wait for a rescue team to arrive, it finally dawns on Asai that Ishikura might regret what he said.

For a two-hander like this to work, it’s not enough to know what Asai is thinking; we need to feel his growing sense of desperation. Kaiji Kawaguchi’s art is up to the task, creating a spare, claustrophobic environment that’s almost as hostile as the barren slopes that surround the cabin. The cabin itself is rendered in just enough detail for the reader to grasp the layout and size, as well as the lack of good hiding places. Equally important, Kawaguchi’s character designs emphasize the wide social gap between the conventionally handsome Asai and the squat, dour Ishikura, encouraging the reader to question how these two people ever travelled in the same circles.

The artwork is so effective, in fact, that some of Asai’s internal monologue feels superfluous, especially when he states the obvious: “If my suspicions are right, are you and I going to fight to the death?” (Signs point to yes!) Aside from a few clumsy monologues, however, the story never sags under the weight of too much exposition; Nobuyuki carefully doles out information about Asai and Ishikura’s past to reveal how fraught their relationship was before they went climbing, hinting at a long-simmering conflict between them. The final scene is a shocker in the best sense, challenging the reader’s perception of both characters without cheating or taking any narrative shortcuts to get there. Hitchcock, I think, would approve. Recommended.

CONFESSION • STORY BY NOBUYUKI FUKUMOTO • ART BY KAIJI KAWAGUCHI • TRANSLATION BY EMILY BALISTERI • PRODUCTION BY TOMOE TSUTSUMI, PEI ANN YEAP, AND HIROKO MIZUNO • KODANSHA USA • RATED 16+ (VIOLENCE) • 314 pp.

The Manga Review: Sunday Edition

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Last week was relatively slow news-wise, with few big announcements or controversies to report. The biggest headline of the week: Kodansha announced another edition of Hitoshi Iwaaki’s Parasyte, a series originally published by Tokyopop in the early 2000s, then reissued by Del Rey and Kodansha. So what’s so new about this new edition? Brigid Alverson has the scoop at ICv2.

NEWS AND VIEWS

Lisa De La Cruz contemplates the new puritanical streak in online fandoms. [The Wonder of Anime]

Congratulations to Robert Adams! His podcast Dad Needs to Talk just celebrated its fourth anniversary. [Dad Needs to Talk]

On the latest episode of Screentone Club, Elliott and Andy discuss two popular titles: Honey Lemon Soda and Cat + Gamer. [Screentone Club]

Also worth a listen: Xan tackles Hikaru in the Light!, a coming-of-age drama about an aspiring teen idol. [Spiraken Manga Review]

David and Jordan invite Sex Ed 120% letterer Sara Linsley to chat about the series. [Shonen Flop]

Start here for an engaging two-part conversation about Taiyo Matsumoto’s gorgeous, inscrutable No. 5. [Manga Machinations]

The ace podcasters at Shojo & Tell and Shoujo Sundae team up for an in-depth look at Josee, The Tiger and the Fish. [Shojo & Tell]

Tony Yao explains the cultural significance of green yuri, a color you might also associate with Charlie XCX’s “Brat Summer” of 2024. [Drop-In to Manga]

Are you reading Beat’s Bizarre Adventure? This Wednesday column offers short, smart reviews of new manga. This week’s offerings: Märchen Crown, Pet Shop of Horrors: Collector’s Edition, and Embers. [The Beat]

REVIEWS

When Women Write About Comics announced it was suspending its website, I was dismayed; some of my favorite critics were regular contributors. This week, however, I made the happy discovery that one of those writers—Masha Zhdanova—is now writing for The Beat. Her first assignment: an in-depth analysis of Yoshiharu Tsuge’ Oba Electroplating Factory. Go, read!

New and Noteworthy

Complete and Continuing Series

Pick of the Week: Gods, Ghosts and Teenagers

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SEAN: There are a couple of debuts I’m very interested in. But my pick is the final volume of Teasing Master Takagi-san, a series I’ve loved since it began. I doubt it sells well enough to justify the spinoff starring their child getting licensed, but I can dream…

KATE: A new installment of The Summer Hikaru Dies is reason to rejoice, so I’m making it my pick of the week.

MICHELLE: I’m also intrigued by The Summer Hikaru Died, but my pick goes to GOGOGOGO-GO-GHOST!, which looks like a lot of fun.

ANNA: I’m curious about The Failure at God School, as I’m always intrigued by paranormal shoujo series.

ASH: I’ll be joining Anna in picking The Failure at God School as the debut that intrigues me the most this week, though everyone’s picks for ongoing series are all solid choices, too.

The Manga Review: Yeah, There’s a Substack About That…

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Earlier this week, White Box Entertainment unveiled a new Substack account, Anime By the Numbers. In the accompanying press release, White Box promised readers a hard look at the business of anime, with insights from their in-house team of Miles Atherton, Chloe Catoya, Malu Arantes, and Klaudia Amenábar, and additional contributions from Animenomics’ Richardson Handjaja and ANN’s Jerome Mazandarani. The first post is up, and is worth reading; Atherton offers an in-depth look at how Netflix reports its anime streaming data. According to Atherton, “4.1% of all viewership on Netflix is anime-related. It’s not a small amount by any standard (that’s more than 4x as much as all of Bridgerton, including spinoffs, combined!).” He suggests, however, that this number doesn’t tell the full story, arguing that “Netflix gives just enough data to make people feel like they understand the space, but without a lot of massaging, there’s more noise than insights.” If you’re wondering how many people watched your favorite anime on Netflix, this post is for you!

NEWS ROUND-UP

Grand View Research just published a study of the US manga market that analyzes sales data from 2018-2024, and offers sales projections for the next five years. [Behind the Manga]

Brigid Alverson pores over the Circana Bookscan list of 2024’s best-selling manga. “The Top 20 consisted entirely of two types of manga: Shonen Jump series and high-end collections,” she observes. “Every title in the Full Year Top 20 falls into one of those two categories.” [ICv2]

On the latest episode of It’s Not My Fault TheOASG Podcast Isn’t Popular, Justin and Helen run down the latest manga and streaming news. [The OASG]

Erica Friedman shares all the yuri news that’s fit to print. [Okazu]

Another Wednesday, another batch of licensing announcements from Seven Seas! Their latest haul includes a mixture of manga, manhwa, novels, and audiobooks. [Behind the Manga]

Dark Horse announced that it will release a print edition of Sanho’s Purgatory Funeral Cakes in November. [Broken Frontier]

Not dead yet: Yana Taboso’s Black Butler will return from hiatus in the May issue of G Fantasy. The long-running series has been on a break since June 2024. [Otaku USA]

Lone Star anime and manga fans voiced concern over proposed legislation that could lead to bans on popular series with underage characters. Texas Senate Bill 20 would make it a felony to possess or promote “obscene visual material that appears to depict a child younger than 18 years old, regardless of whether the depiction is of an actual child, cartoon or animation, or an image created using AI or other computer software.” [Otaku USA]

GOOD READS

Lisa De La Cruz reflects on her changing relationship with anime and manga, noting that her days of binge consumption are over. “As I’ve gotten older and other parts of my life are always on “Go”, I’ve grown to appreciate the slowness in other areas, especially my media consumption,” she explains. “The appreciation for the slowness has only deepened my appreciation for the story and allowed me to engage with it more deeply and authentically.” [The Wonder of Anime]

Kara Dennison previews Titan Manga’s April 2025 releases. [Otaku USA]

Also at Otaku USA: Kara Dennison highlights three new VIZ titles that will debut next month. [Otaku USA]

How did an obscure Swedish publisher license Stop!! Hibari-kun!? Weendego sits down with Peow2 founder Patrick Crotty for the inside scoop. [Yatta-Tachi]

Brigid Alverson chats with Dark Horse editor Carl Horn about the company’s new editions of Berserk and Planetes, as well as Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s bloodthirsty drama Innocent. [ICv2]

REVIEWS

Over at Asian Movie Pulse, Giovanni Stigliano reviews the graphic novel adaptation of Liu Cixin’s Three Body Problem… Sarah gives If It’s You, I Might Try Falling in Love high marks… Marquan describes the hero of Rooster Fighter as “one bad motherclucker”… Megan D.revisits the original Tokyopop edition of Rave Master… and the latest Reader’s Corner weighs in on new volumes of Insomniacs After School, Omniscent Reader’s Viewpoint and more.

New and Noteworthy

Complete and Ongoing Series

Pick of the Week: No, It’s Not About the Iditarod

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ASH: I’ll admit, I had no idea that Satoru Noda had created a hockey manga before Golden Kamuy. I am immensely curious about its relaunch, so Dogsred is my pick this week!

SEAN: My pick is Did You Think My Yuri Was Just for Show?, as I always appreciate yuri with adults not in high school. Plus it’s complete in one volume.

MICHELLE: I’m pulling for Dogsred this week!

ANNA: Me too! Dogsred sounds interesting!

KATE: Is it a hat trick if I also pick DOGSRED?