You’d be surprised at how manga works — while it may be new to a lot of U.S. readers, it’s actually old news to Japan, who see the original printings long before we do. (Kind of like astrology and stars, no?)

Well, Viz Media is making a quantum shift with Rin-Ne, the first manga to come out in the U.S. through www.TheRumicWorld.com, at the same time as Japan, through Weekly Shonen Sunday. The book is due out October 20th.

The book, by Rumiko Takahashi, follows student Sakura, who has long had the ability to see ghosts. Her sixth sense takes her on an adventure, however, when a long-absent classmate is much more than they seem.

I usually try to review a comic or two here on the weekends, but my review stack has gotten pretty out of control, so I figured instead of shaving a little off the top, I’d try to make a more sizable dent in it. So below you’ll find reviews of five comics and graphic novels from the last few months.

Empowered Vol. 5 (Dark Horse Comics) Adam Warren’s one-man graphic novel series has reached the point where reviewing each new volume seems a little beside the point. You’re either reading or your not, and if you’re not, you should be. Or at least, you should be if you like, love or maybe even loathe superheroes.

Empowered remains not only the funniest superhero comic on the stands, but also the most mature and sophisticated, which itself seems like a joke given the series’ start in superhero parody, shameless cheesecakery and bondage gags that would make William Moulton Marston blush.

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I think we can all agree that there are few things in this world as cool as comic books, and that one of those things is probably dinosaurs. This explains why comic books about dinosaurs tend to be fairly awesome, and Hitoshi Shioya’s Dinosaur Hour, a recent offering from the Viz Kids line, is no exception.

Yes, it’s a kids book (recommended for kids ages 9-12 on Amazon), and yes, it’s educational, but don’t hold any of that against it. It’s also a pretty funny sketch comedy starring various dinosaurs from various periods of prehistoric history. The comedy is all physical or character driven, to the extent that the dinosaurs are able to develop personalities in their few page appearances, and is otherwise pretty much realistic and naturalistic.

Basically, it’s a slice of life comedy starring a bunch of dinosaurs.

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The shojo animated series Nana will be available on the iTunes store, Viz Media has reported!

Episodes will be exclusive on iTunes through the end of August — and buying the Season One pass will also get viewers a special bonus episode. The series follows two girls named Nana — Nana “Hatchi” Komatsu, who has traveled to Tokyo with her boyfriend, and Nana Osaki, a punk rock dynamo who is shooting for the top of the rock-and-roll pantheon.

“NANA has touched millions of fans in Japan and North America with its realistic portrayal of two young women coming of age in life’s fast lane in modern Tokyo,” Ken Sasaki, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media, said in a press release. “The anime series possesses all of the attributes that made the original manga such a smash hit and combines them with a rocking soundtrack and creatively designed characters that audiences can really root for, laugh and even cry with. We invite fans to check out NANA on iTunes and take these girls’ adventures along as they navigate their own busy lives.”

The original manga by Ai Yazawa has sold more than 43 million copies. You can learn more about all this by clicking here.

If it’s 120 pages, can you still call it a preview?

Deep philosophical questions aside, from now until May 5th, Viz Media is offering a special preview for NARUTO readers at shonenjump.com, according to a press release from the publisher. You do, however, have to have a password, which can be found on Page 20 of the May issue of Shonen Jump.

That said, this preview will give a sneak peak of Naruto Manga 45, which won’t be released in print form until July of this year.

The latest online episode of Naruto Shippuden has hit the web!

You can see the latest from Japan here. Viz is now offering the latest episodes of the sequel series featuring a slightly-older Naruto on their site in partnership with Hulu.com.

Currently, episodes 1 through 16 and the 3 most recent (80-91) are available to watch. In addition to putting up the newest episodes, they’ll be filling in the backmatter 8 episodes each week.

This is an interesting move, likely being done specifically to combat piracy and the “fansub” crowd, which features high quality rips of anime shown in Japan, complete with English (and many other languages) translations as little as 24 hours after it first airs. It will be interesting to see how well this attempt to instantly monetize their show internationally works.

– Alison Bechdel and Harvey Pekar, together at last.

– Steve Duin has some good news about underground cartoonist S. Clay Wilson, who has been in ICU for the past several days.

– Ada Price talks to Dave Gibbons about his new book, Watching the Watchmen.

– Looks like it’s official: Naruto Nation 2009 is totally a go.

– Sam Thielman looks at the significance of Alan Moore’s run on Swamp Thing in light of the new super-fancy collection coming out soon.

– Over at Stars and Stripes, Gary Trudeau answers some of his critics.

– Van Jensen talks to Mike Allred about the revamped Red Rocket collection.

– Here’s my idea of a fun time: Dan Nadel, Gary Panter and CF sitting around, talking about art and comics.

– Did you know About Comics is 10 years old this year? I didn’t. Chris Murphy has a recollection.

– Sandy Bilus is giving away a copy of Alan’s War over at his blog.

– Oscar Pedro Musibay looks at the Comics Galaxy event that was held at last weekend’s Miami Book Fair.

– Frank Santoro considers the new Popeye collection.

Remember late last year, when Viz besieged book stores and comic shops with a blizzard of Naruto volumes (three a month)? Well, apparently that may be happening all over again. The Anime News Network is reporting that 11 volumes of the uber-popular shonen manga series by Masashi Kishimoto will be released in stores between February and April of 2009. That’s according to reports by both Amazon and Simon and Schuster (who is one of Viz’s book distributors):

Naruto volume 33 is scheduled to ship on December 23. However, the next four volumes (#34-37) are all listed for February 3. Volumes 38 to 41 will then follow on March 3. Volumes 42 to 44 will end the accelerated schedule on April 7. The next volume, #45, is slated for July 7. The Amazon online retailer also lists the same dates.

There was some suggestion last time around that the reason Viz was doing this was to a) catch up on the Japanese audiences and cut down on some of the scantillations; and b) speed through one of the drier parts of the lengthy epic. What’s the reasoning this time? Are they still that far behind Japanese readers? Was the initial Naruto Nation that popular? Apparently so.

– Artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the “Hope” Obama poster, tells Boing Boing he’s pleased as punch to have his work parodied by Mad Magazine: “I consider a high point in my career for pop culture recognition.”

– Laura Hudson talks to James Kochalka about the 10th anniversary of his diary strip, American Elf.

– Hudson also interviews librarian and comics advocate Karen Green, who has a column over at Comixology.

– Doug Wolk looks at Bill Willingham’s upcoming plans for Fables, which include a prose novel.

– Bookslut talks to Phoebe Gloeckner.

– I hadn’t heard about this — cartoonist Carol Lay has a book coming out entitled The Big Skinny, about her lifelong battle with her weight. Wendy Werris has more details.

– Geeknerd’s annual Halloween Costume Bingo is up.

– Frank Santoro takes a look at the new Bat-Manga! collection and declares it good.

– Kristy Valenti takes time to remember the 1986 graphic novel Greenberg the Vampire, one of Marvel’s early entries into the graphic novel market.

– Noah Berlatsky thinks superhero comics are at their best when they don’t take themselves too seriously.

– Everyone and their uncle seems to be talking about Inio Asano’s Solanin, now in stores courtesy of Viz.

For a while now, Viz’s movie division has been releasing their ongoing slate of live-action films (almost all based on popular manga and anime titles like Nana or Love.Com) as one or two-night showings in select theaters across the country, the better, one imagines to gather j-pop faithful in one spot, thus creating more of an blessed event than an average night out at the movies.

So imagine my delight when I found out that a special screening Death Note II: The Last Name would be occurring at a theater only a mere 40 minutes from my humble abode! Being a fan of the original 12-volume manga by writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata (at least up until volume nine or thereabouts) this seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. No waiting for the DVD or Internet piracy for me bucko! Perhaps there would even be cosplay at the cinema! Should I get my hand-made Ryuk costume (lots of duct tape and boa feathers) out of the mothballs? (more…)

As Watchmen continues its leisurely drift down the USA Today bestseller list, the 31st volume of Naruto arrives at No. 24, which Anime News Network says is the highest-ever debut for a manga.

It’s also the third-highest spot held by Masashi Kishimoto’s popular fantasy-adventure series.

In its eighth week on the chart, the collection of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ 1986 miniseries slipped six places to No. 26. The trade paperback peaked at No. 13 last month.

But Naruto and Watchmen aren’t alone on this week’s chart. Matsuri Hino’s Vampire Knight, Vol. 5, debuts at No. 100, Tite Kubo’s Bleach, Vol. 22, at No. 105, and Warriors: Into the Woods at No. 135. Jeff Kinney’s hybrid Diary of a Wimpy Kid holds to No. 74 in its 59th week on the list.

USA Today’s chart tracks all genres and formats of books sold in some 4,700 brick-and-mortar and online stores.

On the Viz Media blog, Mike Montesa offers a tour of the company’s San Francisco offices, housed in the former Northpoint Theater.

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards capped off a busy second day of Comic-Con, one that included big announcements from Marvel, Viz Media and Image, plus a slew of new titles and creator exclusives.

The meaning behind the much-teased “Marvel to the Nth Degree” panel came to light Friday morning in The Wall Street Journal with word that Marvel is reteaming with Stephen King for a “motion comics”-style digital adaptation of his forthcoming short story “N.”

Image Comics revealed a team-up of its own: Six of the company’s founders — Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Jim Valentino, Rob Liefeld, Whilce Portacio and Todd McFarlane — and new partner Robert Kirkman will release Image United, a miniseries starring some of their best-known creations, plus “side characters.”

And after a lengthy delay at the creator’s request, Viz Media finally will release Naoki Urasawa’s science fiction/mystery series 20th Century Boys. The publisher also has licensed his latest work, Pluto. Both will debut in February.

The Vertigo panel unveiled new titles from Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá, and Jonathan Ames and Dean Haspiel, and offered details on the Vertigo Crime imprint, Seaguy sequels, and a hardcover collection of Death miniseries called, naturally, The Complete Death.

Other convention-related announcements:

• Del Rey has acquired several titles, including Shaenon Garrity’s CLAMP in America, Harvey Pekar’s Huntington, W.V On The Fly, Paul Hornschemier’s Life With Dr. Dangerous, and Brenden Burford’s Syncopated.

• Farscape creator Rockne O’Bannon will write BOOM! Studios’ previously announced adaptation of the sci-fi TV show.

• IDW Publishing will release a prequel to next summer’s Transformers movie.

• Dabel Bros. Publishing is adapting The Warriors, just in time for the cult film’s 30th anniversary.

• Artists Khoi Pham and Paolo Rivera have signed exclusive agreements with Marvel.

You can follow our complete Comic-Con coverage here.

Viz Media announced today at Comic-Con that it has licensed 20th Century Boys and Pluto, by renowned creator Naoki Urasawa (Monster).

The two titles will be released bimonthly beginning in February.

The publisher initially licensed 20th Century Boys in 2005, but Urasawa reportedly requested it be delayed until after Monster finished its English serialization because his art style had progressed between the two works.

In the award-winning science fiction/mystery series, a man and his childhood friends are drawn into a conspiracy that could threaten the world.

Urasawa’s most recent project, Pluto is a murder mystery that reinterprets Tezuka’s Astro Boy, specifically “The Greatest Robot on Earth” story arc.

Between Slam Dunk, announced last year, Black Lagoon, revealed in January, and now 20th Century Boys, I’m very happy.

In a press release sent out late yesterday, Viz announced that they have created a new Hollywood-based company entitled Viz Productions that will “produce and license live-action theatrical film and TV projects based on animated and manga (graphic novel) series.” Here’s a sample from the pr:

“VIZ Productions will give Hollywood a unique conduit to some of the most innovative and unique entertainment properties from Japan. Hollywood has always looked to comic books and graphic novels and has recently discovered the untapped pool of Japanese manga for development into live action features. Worldwide, the creators of manga are viewed as artists, and the rich storylines are already a hit with the coveted 12-34 demographic,” says Jason Hoffs, Head of Production for VIZ Productions. “With our pool of resources of dramatic storylines and incredible characters coming from manga and animation, we are confident that the development of many new projects will attract the best talent, actors, directors, writers and bring a new array of films to domestic audiences.”

So beyond the announcement about the company’s creation, there’s not too many details about what they’ll be producing and their immediate plans are. Hopefully more news will be made available during Comic-Con.

Full press release after the jump. (more…)

Viz Media sent out a press release detailing their plans for San Diego, which include:

- Bleach creator Tite Kubo will be in the VIZ Media booth for two signings and will participate in the panel ‘Spotlight on Tite Kubo’ with his editor, Atsushi Nakasaki (on Saturday)

- NBA Star Greg Oden will be in the VIZ Media booth for a signing and to promote literacy with the new basketball manga Slam Dunk

- A screening of the Bleach Movie: Memories of Nobody at the Gaslamp theater in downtown San Diego. Tite Kubo will be in attendance to offer opening remarks.

- Lakers Girls!

The whole press release can be found after the jump …

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ICv2.com follows up on the announcement that Viz Media will be conducting portfolio reviews at Comic-Con with a look at the publisher’s plans to cultivate original content.

The website also talks with Marc Weidenbaum, vice president of original publishing, and Eric Searleman, senior editor, about the portfolio reviews and the push for new material.

In light of the current problems with competitor Tokyopop’s “OEL” titles, and even recent issues at Platinum Studios, some may find this exchange funny:

Are you looking for original IP, or for talent to work on U.S. versions of Shueisha or Shogakukan IP?

The former.  And around here we call them original comics.  We’re looking to tell new stories.

Weidenbaum and Searleman — it’s unclear who’s answering the questions — also underscore that Viz isn’t looking for “manga-style properties,” at least in the rather generic sense of the term. No, the publisher is looking for, “a broad range of comics that emphasize serial storytelling, cliffhangers, reader feedback, a supportive editorial process, and a rich creator voice.”

We’re just a little more than a week away from the San Diego Comic-Con. Last night the meters measuring how many badges they had left were getting dangerously close to being sold out, so I imagine they’ll be gone soon.

Also, the official signing schedule is up … these are the signings that the con arranges and puts in the special autograph area, so it doesn’t include all the signings they’ll be having at booths on the floor.

If you’re a creator, publisher, company or any other entity that’s exhibiting at the San Diego Comic-Con, there’s still time to send in your update. I’ll likely be doing these reports right up until the show starts. So send’em on over.

*****

Mattel will have several folks signing at their booth during the convention, including Keith Giffen, who will be signing the exclusive Lobo figure they’ll have at the show:

–Four Horsemen (Jim Preziosi, Eric “Cornboy” Mayse, Eric Treadaway and Chris Dahlberg) - Famous action figure sculptors, responsible for Mattel’s DC Universe Classics and Masters of the Universe action figures (Thursday – Saturday, 1 p.m.)
–Keith Giffen - Appearing courtesy of DC Comics, creator of “Lobo” (Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m.)
–Frank Varela – Mattel Graphic/Concept artist (Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m.)
–Emiliano Santalucia - Cover artist on the recent Masters of the Universe animated series (Thursday and Saturday, 3 p.m.)
–Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivias - Husband/Wife team, VW Bus Artists (Friday, 3 p.m.)
–Greg Smikins - VW Bus Artist (Saturday, 2 p.m.)
–Mattel Executives - Available for interviews regarding Hot Wheels® and much more (throughout show)

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• Viz Media sends word that Marc Weidenbaum, vice president of original publishing, and Eric Searleman, senior editor, will perform the publisher’s first Comic-Con portfolio reviews from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27.

• The Venture Bros. creator Jackson Publick reveals that production has begun on the show’s fourth season. [Publick's blog]

• Apple profiles Dark Horse Comics, with a focus on the company’s network of 145 Macs. The feature includes a sidebar that details the production process for an issue of Hellboy – from initial discussions between Mike Mignola and editor Scott Allie to lettering to press — and a publisher timeline. [Apple.com]

• Speaking of Hellboy, Mignola talks about his collaboration with Guillermo del Toro on Hellboy II: The Golden Army: “It’s my job to take del Toro’s idea, which nobody else can make heads or tails of unless he’s drawn it in his sketchbook, and decipher it. Even though I don’t speak Spanish, we speak the language of monsters and we have very similar tastes in artists so I can usually understand what he’s going for.” [Underwire]

• The talented artist Kristian Donaldson updates his blog with news that the second edition of the Supermarket trade paperback from IDW will get a new format — 6″ x 9″ — and a new cover (above). Also, he’ll be reteaming with Supermarket writer Brian Wood for Issues 35 and 36 of DMZ, which sport covers by John Paul Leon. [Donaldson's blog]

• I’m enjoying Kyle Latino’s illustrated summaries of the comics he reads each week. [This Week in Comics, via Super Punch]

Over on his blog, Chris Butcher has posted a 1995 interview with the Blue Spring and TekkonKinkreet author:

TAKITA: Did you pick the setting for TEKKON KINKREET as the near-future because you had action comics in mind for this particular work?

MATSUMOTO: It would have been more effective to see a boy running down a building wall in animation, I couldn’t achieve the effect I had envisioned in a single drawing.

TAKITA: Even though it’s a single drawing, your expression of movement is so rich. You use techniques like abbreviating dialogue and very specific framing and composition in TEKKON KINKREET, did you do that all on instinct?

MATSUMOTO: If I try to write all of the dialogue, the story would be too long. Even when I read other people’s comics, I’m inclined to skip some of lines of dialogue. So I abbreviate it as much as possible in my work.

Butcher also has a valuable and comprehensive bibliography of the artist’s work over at the link.