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The mailbox has been inundated over the past few days with announcements from manga publishers for new licenses, new releases and new original English language adaptations.

Below is a collection of the most recent announcements to arrive. In each case, the full press release is available in our forum.

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VIZ Media announced it is bringing Mitsuru Adachi’s baseball manga series--Cross Game-- to North American readers on Oct. 12.

The drama will be published in a “hefty” expanded editions under the Shonen Sunday imprint and is rated “T” for Teens. The first volume will the first three volumes as originally released in Japan; subsequent volumes will contain two complete volumes from the Japanese release.

The Cross Game anime series will also stream for free on VIZ Media’s VIZAnime Web site: www.VIZAnime.com.

The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street, and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change readers’ perception of what shonen manga can be.

To read the full press release, click here.

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Seven Seas announces it has licensed the spin-off manga to the New York Times Bestselling Dance in the Vampire Bund series.

Dance in the Vampire Bund Gaiden: Dive in the Vampire Bund is a one-volume side story which introduces new characters, and also contains cameo appearances by the main cast. Dive in the Vampire Bund takes place during the early half of Dance in the Vampire Bund, Volume 6, and explores the origins of a deadly nanovirus that is wrecking havoc in current volumes of the series.

“Dance in the Vampire Bund fans are in for a special treat,” said Senior Editor Adam Arnold. “Dive in the Vampire Bund is a fast-paced thrill ride that explores the Bund like we've never seen before. It's an absolute must-have for fans of the series.”

To read the full press release, click here.

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To coincide with the release of Strawberry Panic: The Complete Manga Collection, Seven Seas Entertainment announced Strawberry Panic: The Complete Novel Collection, to be released in June 2011.

Strawberry Panic: The Complete Novel Collection will clock in at more than 600 pages. This three-in-one omnibus will contain the first two previously published novels along with the third and final novel which has never been published in North America. The three novels expand upon the storyline far beyond what is told in the manga, and contain new illustrations by Strawberry Panic manga artist Takuminamuchi.

The Strawberry Panic franchise has spanned three novels, two manga and a PlayStation 2 video game. In July 2009, Anime Works released the anime boxed set on DVD in North America.

To read the full press release, click here.

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Hachette Book Group USA announced Saturday at New York City Comic-Con that its graphic novel imprint, Yen Press, has acquired world rights to a graphic adaptation of the first three books in James Patterson’s young adult series Witch and Wizard.

The #1 New York Times bestselling series tells the story of Whit and Wisty Allgood, who only learn about their magical powers when they are arrested by guards of the New Order dictatorship and locked in a reformatory.

The artwork and adaptation of the Witch and Wizard series will be done by Svetlana Chmakova, creator of the New York Times best-selling manga series Nightschool, and will be serialized in Yen Plus. To read the full press release, click here.

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Also on Saturday, Yen Press announced it will publish a manga adaptation of Soulless, Gail Carriger’s debut novel and the first in her Parasol Protectorate series.

Soullessis a comedy of manners set in a Victorian London full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles and tea-drinking. It stars Alexia Tarabotti, a very proper Victorian lady who is pulled into the world of supernatural politics after killing a vampire with her parasol at a party.

Yen will be doing direct adaptations of the first three books in the Parasol Protectorate series (Soulless, Changeless, Blameless), all available from Orbit Books. Individual chapters of the series will make their debut next year in Yen Plus, Yen’s online manga anthology (www.yenplus.com ). Print editions of the complete books will follow shortly thereafter.

To read the full press release, click here.

Kodansha Ltd. and Random House Inc. announced today (Monday) plans to change and expand their manga publishing relationship in North America, with the former taking over publishing duties for its titles.

According to a press release, the companies said they are shifting from a licensing relationship to a sales and distribution arrangement as of Dec. 1.

The current relationship between Kodansha and Random House began in 2003, with the first titles debuting in 2004 under the latter’s Del Rey Manga imprint. Since then, more 500 volumes have been published, including many bestselling manga series.

Under the new arrangement, Kodansha's subsidiary, Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC, established in 2008 and led by Yoshio Irie, will publish Kodansha-originated manga themselves directly in the U.S. English-language market with strong support from Random House Publisher Services (RHPS), Random House's third-party distribution division. Del Rey Manga associate publisher Dallas Middaugh will remain with the program, transferring to RHPS.

"We are very excited to extend our relationship with Random House," said Yoshio Irie, president and CEO of Kodansha USA Publishing. "Both companies see opportunity in the American manga market, and we look forward to working together to further the distribution and exposure of manga in the United States."

"We are thrilled to have a publisher as distinctive as Kodansha USA Publishing join the Random House Publisher Services portfolio," said Jeff Abraham, the division’s president. "Kodansha is one of the great worldwide publishing brands for the manga category, and we will do everything to support their efforts with our many booksellers and distributors who love selling manga titles."

Del Rey's ongoing manga titles which were licensed by Kodansha will be gradually taken over by Kodansha USA Publishing on a per-title basis.

Tokyo-based Kodansha established Kodansha USA Inc. on the occasion of their company’s 100th anniversary. Kodansha USA Publishing began by publishing Akira and The Ghost in the Shell in 2009 under the Kodansha Comics imprint.

Read the full press release in our forum.

It’s Naruto’s birthday Oct. 10, and VIZ Media is inviting fans to help celebrate with several new releases as well as a series of events planned around the 2010 New York Comic Con and Anime Festival.

The latest volume of the Naruto manga (Volume 49) will go on sale Oct. 5 while the Naruto Shippuden Box Set 4 will be available Oct. 19.

VIZ’s Shonen Jump magazine also celebrates Naruto in its October edition, available now on newsstands and online.

Finally, fans in the New York City area on Oct. 8 are invited to catch the VIZ Media Naruto Street Team in action. The team will be stationed throughout Times Square during the day and at the 2010 New York Comic Con and Anime Festival at Jacob Javits Convention Center in the afternoon. Those dressed in Naruto gear can win a prize.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and to date has more than 100 million copies in circulation. The manga series and animated counterpart are among VIZ Media’s most successful properties.

Read the full press release in our forum.

VIZ Media, LLC, announced this week the launch of a new series from iconic manga creator Kaori Yuki. Her latest series, Grand Guignol Orchestra, will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint and is rated “T+” for Older Teens. The series debuts on Oct. 5.

Lucille loves heading up the traveling Grand Orchestra, roving from town to town, entertaining the masses and making money. But now the musicians have met their toughest audience yet: people infected with the Guignol Virus, turning them into zombie dolls intent on killing all humans.

“Grand Guignol Orchestra is destined to become another dark masterpiece from the queen of gothic manga,” said Shojo Beat Senior Editor Pancha Diaz.

“The new series combines all of the elements that have made Kaori Yuki’s work a favorite among manga fans. With richly detailed artwork and a twisted tale of horror and tortured romance, Grand Guignol Orchestra takes readers to a recital where no one may make it out alive.”

Read the full press release in our forum.

The New York Times has published its weekly list of the top 10 selling manga books.

Only one of the five books which debuted on the list last week survived through to this week, with three additional titles finding room in the top 10.

Once again, the top three held steady with Bleach, Volume 32, in first place, followed by Yen Press’ Maximum Ride, Volume 3, in second and Tokyopop’s Alice in the Country of Hearts, Volume 4, in third.

The fourth volume of Shirow Miwa’s Dogs debuted in fourth place, with Naruto, Volume 48, moving up five spots to round out the top five.

Inuyasha, Volume 52, and Arata, Volume 3, debuted on the list in sixth and seventh places respectively. Meanwhile, Black Bird, Volume 5, returned to the top 10 in eighth place. Tegami Bachi, Letter Bee, Volume 3, was the only debuting title from last week to remain on the list, maintaining its ninth place position. Bakuman , Volume 1, finished the list in 10th place.

Butterflies, Flowers, Volume 4, Rasetsu, Volume 6, The Legend of Zelda, Volume 10, and Shama King, Volume 30, all fell from the top 10 after one week on the list.

The full manga list was:

1. Bleach, Volume 32, by Tite Kubo (VIZ Media)

2. Maximum Ride, Volume 3, by James Patterson and NaRae Lee (Yen Press)

3. Alice in the Country of Hearts, Volume 4, by Quinrose and Hoshino Soumei (Tokyopop)

4. Dogs, Volume 4, by Shirow Miwa (VIZ Media)

5. Naruto, Volume 48, by Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ Media)

6. Inuyasha, Volume 52, by Rumiko Takahashi (VIZ Media)

7. Arata, Volume 3, by Yuu Watase (VIZ Media)

8. Black Bird, Volume 5, by Kanoko Sakurakoji (VIZ Media)

9. Tegami Bachi, Letter Bee, Volume 3, by Hiroyuki Asada (VIZ Media)

10. Bakuman, Volume 1, by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (VIZ Media)

In the hardcover graphic books list, the Twilight graphic novel fell one stop to seventh in its 27th week in the top 10.

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Although there was only one new license officially announced this past weekend at Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA), both Dark Horse Comics and Vertical, Inc., teased about upcoming announcements scheduled for the New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and New York Comic Con (NYCC).

The two events are set for Oct. 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

At Dark Horse’s AWA panel, Carl Horn said the company would be making a “substantial announcement” at NYAF with five to eight titles to be announced.

Meanwhile, Ed Chavez with Vertical said at AWA that the company would be announcing at NYCC a new novel license (to be released on May 5, 2011) as well as a one-shot Osamu Tezuka title to be released in hardcover next summer.

More details from Anime Weekend Atlanta, including full panel reports, will follow later this week.

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The New York Times has published its weekly list of the top 10 selling manga books.

It was a busy week for the list, with five new books making their debuts. Even so, the top three consisted of returning titles with Bleach, Volume 32, holding onto first place in its second week on the list, followed by Yen Press’ Maximum Ride, Volume 3, and Tokyopop’s Alice in the Country of Hearts, Volume 4.

VIZ Media dominated the remainder of the list, including all five new books. Butterflies, Flowers, Volume 4, Rasetsu, Volume 6, and The Legend of Zelda, Volume 10, debuted in fourth through sixth places respectively.

Bakuman , Volume 1, in its sixth week in the top 10, was in seventh place.

The latest volume of Hiroyuki Takei’s Shama King debuted in eighth place, followed by fellow newcomer Tegami Bachi, Letter Bee, Volume 3. Naruto, Volume 48, rounded out the list in 10th place.

The full manga list was:

1. Bleach, Volume 32, by Tite Kubo (VIZ Media)

2. Maximum Ride, Volume 3, by James Patterson and NaRae Lee (Yen Press)

3. Alice in the Country of Hearts, Volume 4, by Quinrose and Hoshino Soumei (Tokyopop)

4. Butterflies, Flowers, Volume 4, by Yuki Yoshihara (VIZ Media)

5. Rasetsu, Volume 6, by Chika Shiomi (VIZ Media)

6. The Legend of Zelda, Volume 10, by Akira Himekawa (VIZ Media)

7. Bakuman , Volume 1, by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (VIZ Media)

8. Shama King, Volume 30, by Hiroyuki Takei (VIZ Media)

9. Tegami Bachi, Letter Bee, Volume 3, by Hiroyuki Asada (VIZ Media)

10. Naruto, Volume 48, by Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ Media)

In the hardcover graphic books list, the Twilight graphic novel held onto sixth place to mark its 26th week.

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Vertical, Inc., announced today (Sunday) that it has licensed Velveteen & Mandara by Jiro Matsumoto.

The announcement came during the company’s panel at Anime Weekend Atlanta.

Described as “zombie madness from the creator of Freesia," the one-volume manga is scheduled for release on Aug. 9, 2011.

More details from Anime Weekend Atlanta will follow shortly.

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The New York Times has published its weekly list of the top 10 selling manga books.

The third volume of Yen Press’ OEL manga adaptation of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride held onto the top spot, where it debuted last week.

Naruto, Volume 48, jumped two spots this week to second place, followed by Rosario Vampire Season II, Volume 2, and Black Bird, Volume 5, which each dropped one spot to third and fourth respectively. Meanwhile, Bakuman , Volume 1, moved up one place to round out the top five.

Vertical’s Chi’s Sweet Home, Volume 2, was the top 10’s lone new title, debuting in sixth place.

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Volume 27, dropped three spots to seventh place, while the final three held firm, D. Gray-Man, Volume 18, Vampire Knight, Volume 10, and Black Butler, Volume 2, in eighth through 10th.

Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 23, fell out of the top 10.

The full manga list was:

1. Maximum Ride, Volume 3, by James Patterson and NaRae Lee (Yen Press)

2. Naruto, Volume 48, by Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ Media)

3. Rosario Vampire Season II, Volume 2, by Akihisa Ikeda (VIZ Media)

4. Black Bird, Volume 5, by Kanoko Sakurakoji (VIZ Media)

5. Bakuman , Volume 1, by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (VIZ Media)

6. Chi’s Sweet Home, Volume 2, by Kanata Konami (Vertical)

7. Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Volume 27, by Ken Akamatsu (Del Ray)

8. D. Gray-Man, Volume 18, by Katsura Hoshino (VIZ Media)

9. Vampire Knight, Volume 10, by Matsuri Hino (VIZ Media)

10. Black Butler, Volume 2, by Yana Toboso (Yen Press)

In the hardcover graphic books list, the Twilight graphic novel held onto sixth place for the third straight week.

Comment on this article in our forum.

The New York Times has published its weekly list of the top 10 selling manga books.

Another OEL manga title jumped to the top spot on the list this week with Yen Press’ Maximum Ride, Volume 3.

Rosario Vampire Season II, Black Bird, Volume 48, and Naruto, Volume 48, each dropped one spot from last week to take second through fourth places respectively. Meanwhile, Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Volume 27, held on to fifth place for the third straight week.

Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 23, likewise held strong in sixth place, followed by Bakuman , Volume 1, which fell three spots from last week.

D. Gray-Man, Volume 18, and Vampire Knight, Volume 10, each fell one spot to eighth and ninth places. As with last week, Black Butler, Volume 2, rounded out the list in 10th.

Skip Beat!, Volume 21, which was in eighth place last week, dropped out of the top 10.

The full manga list was:

1. Maximum Ride, Volume 3, by James Patterson and NaRae Lee (Yen Press)

2. Rosario Vampire Season II, Volume 2, by Akihisa Ikeda (VIZ Media)

3. Black Bird, Volume 5, by Kanoko Sakurakoji (VIZ Media)

4. Naruto, Volume 48, by Masashi Kishimoto (VIZ Media)

5. Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Volume 27, by Ken Akamatsu (Del Ray)

6. Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 23, by Hiromu Arakawa (VIZ Media)

7. Bakuman , Volume 1, by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (VIZ Media)

8. D. Gray-Man, Volume 18, by Katsura Hoshino (VIZ Media)

9. Vampire Knight, Volume 10, by Matsuri Hino (VIZ Media)

10. Black Butler, Volume 2, by Yana Toboso (Yen Press)

In the hardcover graphic books list, the Twilight graphic novel held onto sixth place.

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The manga magazine Morning has announced the winners of its fourth annual Morning International Comic Competition.

“Throughout the previous three competitions, we found ourselves keenly noticing something,” selection committee member Koji Tabuchi said in a statement accompanying the announcement of the winners.

“While in Japan the word manga encompasses many broad genres and is still home to innovation and freshness, the term manga abroad refers to works of fantasy that are drawn in a specific style, and further confined to a small genre.

“This time, we saw an immediate change resulting from the contest's revised name, as we received many submissions that could be classified as seinen manga, the genre that our magazine Morning primarily publishes. Not only that, we also received many highly exciting works with stories and visual designs that we could not imagine ever seeing from creators within the Japanese industry. We value this quality, as seen by the prize-winning works.”

Kim DaeJin's The Unreverberating Echo won the contest's grand prize.

“In the past, we had formed a vague preconception that Korean authors' works submitted to the contest were mostly ‘highly aestheticized stories with flowing lines and a craftsmanlike approach to tone work,’ but we were pleasantly surprised when this story's individualistic and powerful style overturned this prejudice,” Tabuchi said. “The story’s theme also possesses a level of originality that seems very well thought out.”

Two second prizes were given to Tawainese creator little thunder’s APPLE BABY CAT and British creator Michael Aubtin Madadi's Starfields.

“The world created by little thunder is fashionable and exotic, but the underlying tenderness of the work can be understood by all,” Tabuchi said. “I believe that little thunder's talent reaffirms the universality of manga. Then there's Michael Aubtin Madadi, whose ‘heta-uma’-esque (so bad it is good) touch and offbeat sense were swiftly perceived by the judges, who nicknamed him ‘London's Yusaku Hanakuma.’ Including Mr. Madadi, half of the works that passed the second screening were by authors from Western countries, including some regions where one could not say that manga is widely read. We found this fact very interesting, as it made us feel a sense the potential that this competition offers.

“We now find exhilarating the question of how to foster and give exposure to talented individuals who broaden the borders of manga, beginning with the winners of this competition. The methods to do this may lie beyond the printed book, or even the world of the eBook.”

The winning entries, as well as comments from the artists, can be found at MICC's Web site.

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Controversy is swirling around a manga display at Kunsthallen Brandt’s media museum in Denmark.

The Copenhagen Post reports that the exhibit has drawn protests claiming the works being shown are child pornography.

“I have to admit that I myself was shocked at how extreme this genre is, and how deranged the imaginations are in this universe,” the newspaper quoted museum curator Christian Hviid Mortensen, who defended the exhibit.

“But we’re not showing the works for the sake of displaying child pornography. We’re looking for a debate on the issue. So if people are offended by it, then they should by all means speak out and say so.”

British online technology publication The Register further reported that the exhibit includes erotic manga such as Taro Shinonome's Swing Out Sisters, Kondom's Bondage Fairies, Tuna Empire's The Spirit of Capitalism, Kengo Yonekura's Pink Sniper, and Yumisuke Kotoyoshi's Juicy Fruits.

The exhibit opened Wednesday.

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