Welcome to Manganews.net!

Want to change how the site looks? Choose a style!
Neo, Classic Jouhou or Mangasuki(Animesuki style).

News and Updates

Possible Relicensing of Popular Yaoi Finder Series

Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 12:27 PM by Jason

The word on the street is that Japanese publisher Libre have at last got the ball rolling on relicensing Yamane Ayano's immensely popular Finder series for an English release. The title had been licensed and released here in the states with much fanfare, with Ayano even making the trip to Yaoi Con back in 2004 partly to promote the series, with licensing being handled by CPM's Be Beautiful Yaoi line.

It was a year or so ago when the wheels fell off, so to speak. CPM had bought their release license from publisher Biblos, who then filed for bankruptcy in April of 2006. This in turn caused the business rights to Biblos's titles to end up in the hands of Libre, who made headlines when they accused CPM of failing to renegotiate rights for the Biblos titles CPM held, including the Finder series. We e-mailed Libre about the situation and got a more detailed breakdown of the issue (from their perspective of course) in response to our questions. Since then things have been quite, aside from CPM's breaking silence on the issue in an impromptu interview from NYAF where CPM head honcho John O'Donnell revealed that Libre had been avoiding attempts to resolve the matter, possibly (he theorized) to hurt sales of the books and stonewall things until the licenses expired naturally, leaving Libre free to shop the titles back out to other publishers.

As it turns out, this may very well be exactly what has happened. As reported over on Simon Jones' most excellent (and most NWS) Icarus Blog, Gia over at A Geek By Any Other Name (who, in fact, conducted the interview with John linked above) is reporting that comments made by Libre Editors on their forum have revealed that relicensing the series is underway, though they do not of course say to whom. There are a number of possibilities of course, with the large number of Yaoi publishers that have come out in recient years, and it is also possibly (but not, I think, highly likely) that CPM and Libre has resolved their issues and will be working to get the series out. At this point, only time will tell.

Upcoming Final Installments in Bessatsu Margaret

Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 11:40 AM by Jason

ANN reports that the popular shoujo volleyball manga Crimson Hero is set to begin its final story arc in the July issue of Bessatsu Margaret. The series had run for twelve volumes so far and is licensed here in the states by Viz, who has released 8 volumes so far.

Also announced was the final installment of Chocolate Underground. Aiji Yamakawa's tale of two boys smuggling chocolate is based on British author Alex Shearer's book Bootleg, also being adapted in anime form by Production IG as part of a venture into creating anime designed specifically for streaming onto mobile phones.

MJ Review: Baku

Posted Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 11:13 AM by Eric

Review of the Day

  • Baku
Mangaka: Mizuki Hakase
Genre: Gothic Romance
Licensed by: Tokyopop
Reviewed by: Snow Wildsmith

Takeshi’s mother has tried to kill him several times, insisting that he isn’t human, but when the truth about his birth is finally revealed, it will take two figures from Takeshi’s past to help him survive. Mephisto helps ghosts move on to the next life, but his cheerful demeanor hides a deep sadness. Gothic-fantasy mistress Hakase offers stories about two young men who are more than what they seem, but who would be nothing without the families they have created for themselves.

Go read the full review!

MJ Review: World's End

Posted Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 11:29 PM by Eric

Review of the Day

  • World's End
Mangaka: Eiki Eiki
Genre: Yaoi
Licensed by: DMP
Reviewed by: Snow Wildsmith

Continuing where she left off after Dear Myself, Eiki Eiki picks up the story of Hirofumi and Daigo. Four years after they started living together, Daigo is becoming more and more possessive of Hirofumi, to the point where he doesn’t want Hirofumi to leave the house at all, for fear he won’t return. Faced with the prospect of being a kept man, what will Hirofumi do?

Go read the full review!

MJ Review: Wild Adapter Volume Four

Posted Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 12:15 AM by Eric

Review of the Day

  • Wild Adapter Volume Four
Mangaka: Kazuya Minekura
Genre: Shounen-ai, Mystery
Licensed by: Tokyopop
Reviewed by: D. M. Evans

Wild Adapter, volume 4, has an overall theme surrounding the concept of kotodama, the idea that words have spirit and can have real impact on someone’s life. The bad guy this time feels defined by the harsh words of a teacher who called him ‘small’ way back when. Kubota has the misfortune of being on a drug run from Kou to the prostitute this guy is with, just after she calls the man ‘small.’ Kubota gets there just in time to see him running out after killing her.

Go read the full review!

MJ Review: Camera Camera Camera Vol.s One and Two

Posted Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 09:31 AM by Eric

Review of the Day

  • Camera Camera Camera Volumes One and Two
Mangaka: Kazura Matsumoto
Genre: Boy's Love
Licensed by: DMP
Reviewed by: Snow Wildsmith

Akira loves his stepbrother, Satoru, really loves him, but he’s managed to keep that fact a secret from everyone. That is until he meets a goofy photographer named Kaoru who seems to know everything about Akira. Now Akira can’t get away from Kaoru and his proclamations of love and, to make everything worse, a devious girl is blatantly trying to steal away his darling Satoru. Toss in a teenage model who looks like he’s ten, but has more experience than virginal Akira, and a mysterious woman from Kaoru’s past and Akira might just decide that becoming an adult is more trouble than it’s worth!

Go read the full review!

MJ Review: All Nippon Air Lines

Posted Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 11:41 PM by Eric

Review of the Day

All Nippon Air Lines
Mangaka: Kei Azumaya
Genre: yaoi, parody, comedy
Licensed by: DMP
Reviewed by: REVIEWERS NAME

All Nippon Air Line, or A.N.A.L., is a unique company. Completely run by men, from the baggage handlers to the stewards to the “kings” (directors of the company), A.N.A.L. promises exquisite service to its customers. Catering to every whim, or fetish, is no small matter for this airline. Come try A.N.A.L. today—you’ll love it!

Go read the full review!

MJ Review: Gakuen Alice Volume One

Posted Monday, April 28, 2008 at 08:35 PM by Eric

Review of the Day

Gakuen Alice Volume One
Mangaka: Tachibana Higuchi
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, School Life, Shoujo, Supernatural
Licensed by: Tokyopop
Reviewed by: Snow Wildsmith

Mikan’s best friend Hotaru’s cold attitude makes her seem like a bad choice for a best friend, but Mikan loves her anyway. When Hotaru leaves unexpectedly for the prestigious and mysterious Alice Academy, Mikan is devastated. Then she learns that students who go to the Alice Academy are rarely heard from again and she decides to enroll in Alice Academy so that she can be with Hotaru. However enrolling might be easier said than done and will take all of Mikan’s courage and tenacity just to pull it off.

Go read the full review!

MJ Review: The Sky Over My Spectacles

Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 at 09:45 PM by Eric

Review of the Day

The Sky Over My Spectacles
Mangaka: Mio Tennohji
Genre: Yaoi, Romance
Licensed by: 801Media
Reviewed by: Lissa Patillo

Azuma has a fetish for people wearing glasses; it’s considered common knowledge in his class how his loves and lays with all with cute girls wearing spectacles. However, Azuma suddenly finds himself attracted to his fellow male classmate, Sorachi, causing him to wonder if questioning his sexuality is worth his fetish (especially when the object of his attraction seems to hate him). It doesn’t take much imagination to realize where things are going and soon the two are hopelessly in love with each other, cuing all the usual dramatics. This is the title story of the small collection and takes up just over half of the book.

Go read the full review!

Review of the Day: I’m Not Your Stepping Stone

Posted Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 01:03 PM by Jason

Review of the Day

I’m Not Your Stepping Stone
Mangaka: Shiuko Kano
Genre: Yaoi
Licensed by: 801 Media
Reviewed by: Anne Cain

While at a work site, a poorly educated construction worker, Kazuya, meets and falls for the girl of his dreams. The biggest problem? The girl’s younger brother, Masahi, a star student with an arrogant streak, has his sights set on Kazuya for himself. When Kazuya makes a vow to earn his high school diploma, and asks Masahi for help, the sex-starved teen only wants one thing as payment for tutoring: Kazuya’s body. This premise, coupled with Shiuko Kanno’s kinetic, attractive artwork, makes I’m Not Your Stepping Stone a must-own for yaoi fans who like their stories both sexually charged and romantic at the same time...

Go read the full review!

Press Release: DMP Platinum Celebrates Speed Racer’s 40th Anniversary at NYCC

Posted Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 10:35 PM by Jason

Gardena, CA, April 11, 2008 – Now in the US for the first time in its complete form, DMP is proud to present Tatsuo Yoshida’s masterwork. Painstakingly restored and collected into a hardcover, 2-volume set in celebration of Speed Racer’s 40th anniversary, Speed Racer Mach Go Go Go introduces these beloved characters to readers new and old. Join Speed Racer, Racer X, Trixie, Spritle and Chim Chim in this face-paced thriller of action and intrigue.

Included in this special edition set is an introduction by the voice of Speed Racer, Peter Fernandez! Peter Fernandez will be on hand at the DMP booth at New York Comic Con to autograph what critics are calling one of the best archival collections published to date.

So whether this is your first trip around the course, or a nostalgic return lap, the exciting adventures in this collection are sure to bring out that familiar cheer:

Go, Speed Racer, go!

Autograph Session Details:
New York Comic Con April 18-20, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 4:00pm Booth #1622
Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 12:30pm Booth #1541

Read the full Press Release

Review of the Day: Wild Adapter Volume Three

Posted Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 02:01 PM by Jason

Review of the Day

Wild Adapter Volume Three
Mangaka: Kazuya Minekura
Genre: Shounen
Licensed by: Tokyopop
Reviewed by: D.M. Evans

Wild Adapter, volume three, is probably the most cohesive volume of the series so far. Kubota and Tokito are coming into their own. To recap: Kubota is the rather emotionally dead, sociopathic, illegitimate son of The Shadow and worked for Senada, head of a Yakuza branch (and rival to Seikya) for a while. He quit the Yakuza about the same time he finds his ‘cat,’ a young man, Tokito who has an animal-like hand and no memory. Kubota has finally found someone to care for in Tokito and together, with occasional help from Kou, an unlicensed physician, and Kansai, Kubota’s detective uncle, they’re trying to find a drug called ‘Wild Adapter’ that turns humans into animal-like creatures before they die...

Go read the full review!

Review of the Day: Sunflower Volume One

Posted Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 11:16 AM by Jason

Review of the Day

Sunflower Volume One
Mangaka: Hyouta Fujiyama
Genre: Yaoi
Licensed by: DMP
Reviewed by: Anne Cain

Sunflower follows a somewhat typical formula for schoolboy yaoi: mix a bunch of cute boys (with a dash of unrequited feelings) and stir in a healthy measure of misunderstandings to make the road to finding 'true love' extra bumpy. The resulting manga isn’t anything that will change your life, but Hyouta Fujiyama does manage to entertain you with a cast of adorable characters and her charming artwork. While this is a sequel of sorts to one of the manga-ka’s other DMP releases, Ordinary Crush, Sunflower stands alone well and readers don’t have to be familiar with the earlier story...

Go read the full review!

Got Zelda? Viz does!

Posted Friday, April 4, 2008 at 12:54 PM by Jason

The Legend of Zelda, in all its various gaming incarnations, is a hugely successful franchise worldwide with a dozen or so games for a variety of platforms. Highly popular here in the states, it has already spawned its own gloriously awful animated series and been featured as a comic. The last remaining cross-media barrier yet to be breached in the US is the Zelda manga, several series of which have been released in Japan. Not for much longer however; anime/manga/japanese pop retailer The Right Stuff has a listing on their site advertising the pre-release of a Legend of Zelda manga, created by the same manga-ka duo responsible for the various Zelda series already available in Japan, and licensed by Viz for an October release.

HT: The GoNintendo Blog

Drama Queen Jumps Back in the Saddle

Posted Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 06:18 PM by Jason

In what almost seems too much like an April Fools Day joke to be true, yaoi publisher Drama Queen has recently announced that they have finished reorganizing and refinancing the company and are ready to jump back into the US Manga business with a running start. Having not released any titles since September of last year, they are now sending new sets of finished books off to the printers and are hoping to have the first round on store shelves as soon as late May. Due to the backlog of finished books that has accumulated in the down time, DQ plans to release between 6-8 new titles every two months.

Some of the titles planed:
Tyrant Falls in Love
Worthless Love
The Cage of Thorns
Naked Jewels Corporation
The Summit

For a complete list and more details, check out the full article at Publishers Weekly


For older news articles, try the News Archive.

Series Name, volume #, chapter #, by Group Name(s) | [Info] = Release Info Link | [Comment] = Has Comment | [BitTorrent] = Has Torrent
May 14th

[Release info]

Unmei ni Kiss volume v.1 chapter c.5 (end) by Storm in Heaven

[Release info]

Unmei ni Kiss volume v.1 chapter c.4 by Storm in Heaven

[Release info]

4 gou Keibi Single Mind volume v.1 chapter c.1 by Fantasy Shrine

[Release info]

Sprout of Love volume v.1 chapter c.2 by Nakama
May 13th

[Release info]

Toradora! (light novel) volume v.1 chapter c.3 by Baka-Tsuki

[BT] [Release info]

Girls' Union (one-shot) by Dynasty Scans

[BT] [Release info]

Arcadia ~Rakuen no Hana~ (one-shot) by Dynasty Scans

[Release info]

Hyper Love Power volume v.1 chapter c.3 by Datenshi Blue ~ Fallen Angel Scanlations

Previous Release Lists can be seen here.   |   Sort by Title or Group Name