(Press Release) December/January is my favorite time of year, though not for all the usual reasons: letters to Santa; Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby on the radio; rainbow lights and mistletoe; Red Ryder BB guns and angels named Clarence; partying like it's 1999 every New Year's Eve, and heavily spiked eggnog. It's because I love those big year-end Top Ten, Top Twenty, Top Fifty lists that you'll see in every magazine and blog and on every pop TV show for the next couple of months. I'm an obsessive listmaker in any case: for example, at the end of every month, I make a playlist with the Top Ten Most Important Songs (to Me) of that month. I have an annually updated list of my Top Fifty Movies of All Time (#1 is always either a Woody Allen or a Hitchcock movie), Top Twenty-Five Albums, and The Thirty Best Songs of the Year. I'll be spending my vacation making lists and making arguments against everyone else's.
What were 2007's Top Moments in Del Rey Manga? It just so happened that a lot of them came during…
NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL!
New York City finally got the crown jewel manga/anime/J-pop con we've all been waiting for: New York Anime Fest was three Speed Racer-fast, Gundam-gigantic, Evangelion-epic days of gigantic swords, hyper-colored wigs, goth-loli brides, and maid café madness. Thanks to everyone who came to our panels and stopped by our booth. #1 convention of the year? What do you think?
NYAF: Top Five Highlights!
5. Our publicist, April Flores, was interviewed by a green gorilla for GorillaWire. To quote Ali Kokmen, our marketing manager: "He looks like a radioactive Dr. Zaius!"
4. Our friends at the Bandai booth showed a video loop of a dance from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and invited fans to dance along with it. The Haruhi otaku kicked it like Backstreet Boys all weekend.
3. Announcing Our New Licenses:
These could very well end up on your year-end Top Tens for 2008:
* Zaregoto (August 2008) is the seminal light novel from the mad scientist of J-lit: NISIOISIN. This manga-style update of the classic murder mystery is as addictive and suspenseful as Lost. NISIOISIN, who is so prolific he writes a novel a month and has his own section in Japanese bookstores, is also responsible for…
* xxxHOLiC: ANOTHERHOLIC More than a novelization, this is a real novel, consisting of three original stories set in the world of CLAMP's xxxHOLiC manga, including all-new illustrations from CLAMP. Look for it October 2008.
* Mao-chan (September 2008) features original character designs and story by Negima's Ken Akamatsu, and art by up-and-coming star RAN. The story: super-cute aliens attack Earth, whose deadly cuteness is way too much for the military. Enter Mao-chan, the general's 8-year-old daughter, and her adorable friends, the world's only defense against this massive attack of super-cuteness!!!
* Kamichama Karin Chu (July 2008) is the sequel to Kamichama Karin, and picks up where that kitten-cute magical girl epic left off. Yeah, KKC is in black and white, but if it were in color, it'd be all pink: that's how much girl power this story has.
* Gankutsuou is the manga companion to the revolutionary anime of the same name, designed by Maestro Mahiro Maeda himself. Look for it starting November 2008.
* Papillon (October 2008) is the new masterpiece by Miwa Ueda, creator of fan-favorite Peach Girl. Ueda is one of the best and most original storytellers in manga, and this story of a magical makeover is sure to win her a whole new following.
* Kasumi (September 2008). Global manga, for real: Kasumi is the result of trans-oceanic, cross-cultural collaboration between debut writer Surt Lim and pitch-perfect artwork from Japan-based Hirofumi Sugimoto. Kasumi is my new favorite shojo heroine: a plucky, cheerful, Miyazaki-worthy teen who just happens to have the power to turn invisible whenever she holds a breath!
2. Marvel/Del Rey Manga Collaboration!
As announced at the New York Anime Festival, Marvel Entertainment and Del Rey Manga will partner to produce two new manga series based on Marvel Entertainment's highly popular X-Men series.
The manga, created with the cooperation and consultation of Marvel editors, will take the classic characters from the X-Men series and re-imagine them in a manga style. The first project, scripted by the husband-and-wife team of Raina Telgemeier (writer and illustrator of The Babysitter's Club graphic novels) and Dave Roman (creator of the comic Agnes Quill), will focus specifically on the X-Men team. Indonesian artist Anzu will illustrate the two-volume series, which will go on sale in Spring 2009.
It's the X-Men as you've never seen them before, with the storyline fashioned as a private school shôjo comedy. As the only girl in the all-boys School for Gifted Youngsters, Kitty Pryde, a mutant with phasing abilities, is torn between the popular Hellfire Club, led by flame-throwing mutant Pyro–and the school misfits, whom she eventually bands together as the X-Men.
A second manga series follows the adventures of Wolverine, a breakout member of the X-Men team known for his attitude and unbreakable adamantium claws.
1. The Katsushi Ota panel.
We were honored by a visit from Kodansha editor extraordinaire Katsushi Ota, who made a special appearance at New York Anime Fest to discuss the light novel revolution in Japan and his trendsetting brainchild, Faust, the anthology of cutting-edge fiction and manga Del Rey will bring stateside next August. No one has done more to bring Japanese literature into the twenty-first century than Ota-san, and he gave the audience an inside look at the world he's helped create. Plus he was the perfect panelist: Stylish, witty, and quick with the quips. Thanks, Ota-san, on behalf of your American fans! Check out the interview with Ota-san in PW Comics Week.
For more highlights and hijinks from NYAF, visit the Del Rey Manga blog!
ART CONTEST WINNER
Also during NYAF, Del Rey Manga along with TheOtaku.com sponsored a fan art contest. We're delighted to congratulate Elizabeth Santana whose entry Festival attendees voted a their absolute favorite. For winning, Elizabeth can look forward to receiving a whole bunch of Del Rey Manga over the next year! Way to go, Elizabeth!
ANIME: DRAWING A REVOLUTION ON STARZ!
Easily a Top-Five All-Time Del Rey Manga moment: Publishing Jason Thompson's Manga: The Complete Guide. Catch Jason and other manga/anime gurus in the original documentary, Anime: Drawing a Revolution, airing on the Starz Network throughout January. Not sure if you get the Starz Network? Just contact your cable/satellite company or other video provider, as the saying goes!
NEW RELEASES: OUT OF PICTURE
In January 2008, take a look into the future of graphic novels and comics with Out of Picture, a collection of short comics pieces by the animators of Blue Sky Studios. This is a book for fans of: manga, comics, graphic novels, bandes-dessinees, Tintin, Moebius, Flight, Maurice Sendak, Robots, Pixar, Bone, Dr. Seuss, David B., Miyazaki, Daniel Clowes, Arthur Rackham, Alice in Wonderland, The Iron Giant: in short, if you love magic, beauty, art, and wonder, take a look at Out of Picture!
MINIMA! CONTEST
Here's another top-five item for next year: Minima! by Machiko Sakurai, a new shojo manga from Del Rey, in stores March 2008.
Have you every wished your favorite toy would come to life and be your best friend? That's just what shy, sweet middle schooler Ame wishes for—but she gets even more than that when the adorable Nicori comes to life. The sarcastic, attitudinal Nicori (think Jack Black in Pikachu form) soon takes over her life—and becomes an international superstar.
Be the first to befriend Nicori with an advance copy of Minima! E-mail us, and if you're selected, you'll win an advance copy of the book. There's just one catch: You have to write in and tell us what you think!
Send your emails to delreymanga@randomhouse.com with MINIMA in the subject line, including your full name and address in the body of the e-mail (NOTE: your personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this contest). Ten (10) lucky winners will be selected at random and will receive a copy of the book when it is published. All submissions must be received by Wednesday, January 23, 2008.
HELL GIRL ON TV!
The Hell Girl anime, the basis for Del Rey Manga's new series, will air on IFC starting in 2008. The anime is as creepy high-concept as it gets: there's a website that allows you to request Vengeance and Damnation Services from the Hell Girl. Type in your nemesis' name, and the Hell Girl will drag that tedious history prof/former BFF/Xerox-machine-hogging co-worker to hell. Watch this dark, stunning anime on IFC, buy the DVD from FUNimation, and read the book from Del Rey Manga.
HELL GIRL CONTEST WINNERS
Readers, you are all evil. So I learned when you wrote in for our Hell Girl contest. So many of you shared the names of those you'd like the Hell Girl to punish for you. (BTW, 99% of them were teachers.) Grand Prize Winners: watch out! Your runners up might send the Hell Girl after you next!
Grand Prize Winners [Miss America!]
Grand prize winners receive a copy of the DVD and the Del Rey Manga book.
* Tawny Wagner (Grand Rapids, MI)
* Conor Caracciolo (Worcester, MA)
* Jenni Tang (Panorama City, CA)
* Joan Otto (York, PA)
* Megan Griner (Potomac, MD)
Runners-Up [Her glamorous court!]
Runners up receive a copy of the Del Rey Manga book.
* Laura E. Leverett (The Woodlands, TX)
* Kathryn Lara McMurtry (Graham, FL)
* Madelaine Corrasa (Lakewood, CA)
* Alex Lee (Roseville, CA)
* Shana Scott (St. Louis, MO)
Tricia Narwani
delreymanga@randomhouse.com
IN STORES IN JANUARY
DARK WARS: THE TALE OF MEIJI DRACULA
by Hideyuki Kikuchi
The new novel from Hideyuki Kikuchi, the creator of Vampire Hunter D! Japan, 1880. Count Dracula cannot change who he is or what he craves. An entire country is about to fall prey to the vampire's bloodlust, and only young Diago stands against him. Diago is a prodigy with the sword, but will that be enough to save the Land of the Rising Sun from this demon of the night?
Le Chevalier d'Eon 3 by Kiriko Yumeji, Tou Ubukata
Lia is still searching for her murderer, but will success save her soul or doom her to the fires of hell?
Dragon Eye 3 by Kairi Fujiyama
On a dangerous mission to investigate a sighting of bloodthirsty Dracules outside the city, Captain Issa and is forced to make a terrible choice!
Shiki Tsukai 2 by Yuna Takanagi, To-Ru Zekuu
The Shiki Tsukai are "keepers of the seasons," magical warriors pledged to defend the planet's natural order against those who would destroy it. And Akira is destined to become the greatest Shiki Tsukai of all—that is, if he can survive the vicious attacks of his enemies!
The Wallflower 14: Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge by Tomoko Hayakawa
When a sudden storm traps goth chick Sunako and super-hot Kyohei in the basement, Sunako is ecstatic. Not because she can use the opportunity to get closer to such a cute guy, but because she can't wait to explore the deepest, dankest recesses of the mansion!
School Rumble, Volume 8 by Jin Kobayashi
The school festival is coming, and Harima and his cohorts want to present a play. But Hanai's group is set on a maid café. How can the two stubborn parties come to an understanding? Through a school rumble, of course!
Pastel 9 by Toshihiko Kobayashi
It's finally time for Mugi to act on his crush for Yuu, but wishy-washy Mugi is helpless on his own, so his friends concoct a simple plan for success. Step One: Hold Yuu's hand. Step Two: Hug her. Step Three: Kiss her! It's such a perfect plan, what could possibly go wrong?
Kagetora 8 by Akira Segami
Kagetora's brother Taka is in town to test Yuki—which only strains the relationship between Kagetora and his charge. Will Taka's presence cause more problems for a pair who already have too many?
