Who would’ve thought that television could actually get people to read?  It’s always been known as having the opposite effect. Bookscan’s list tells another tale as titles like The Walking Dead and A Game of Thrones dominate. While these publications do have other literary tie-ins, the influence of their TV adaptations on sales is undeniable. Also on the list is Diablo III: Book of Cain HC which is based on the popular video game.

Sailor Moon and Naruto are holding on to the 2nd and 3rd spots but manga in general got edged out by numerous volumes of The Walking …

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Let me just start out by saying that I really liked the first Gantz film.  I know that a lot of fans of the Manga did not like it and that’s to be expected with film adaptations. Rarely does one live up to its literary predecessor.  Being also  a fan of Kenichi Matsuyama (“L” of Death Note), I thought he did a decent job in the first Gantz and was looking forward to seeing what Kurono was going to do with his 100 pts. in the sequel.

If you’re not familiar with the story, without giving too much away, …

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I’ve played chess for fun since I was a kid and I enjoy it if I win or lose. The fun for me is in the game itself. I’ve been looking for a very special chess set for years and there are a lot out there–many have caught my eye, but none like the Clamp No Kiseki chess set.

As many Anime and Manga fans know, Clamp is a group of four women who created some of the best Anime for multiple generations. Some of the titles include XXXholic (pronounced holic), X/1999, Chobits, Angelic Layer, Cardcaptor Sakura and Tsubasa–just to name …

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Oh oh.  Could it be? And it seemed like the live-action Akira was full steam ahead, what with Garrett Hedlund scoring the part of Kaneda and Kristen Stewart being offered the role of Kai, not to mention additional offers being extended to Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter to co-star.  But then it seemed something was wrong when Warner had announced the contenders for the Tetsuo role and said they’d be making a decision before Thanksgiving then all we heard was crickets coming from them all through December. Now comes news that they’ve closed down their production office in Vancouver …

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Uchuu Kyoudai is a manga by Koyama Chuya about two brothers, Mutta and Hibito, who make a childhood pact to go into outer space after witnessing what looks like a UFO headed toward the moon.  The younger brother goes for his dream while the older one follows a more conventional path.  The film stars two alumni of the popular Japanese teen drama Hana-Kimi, Shun Oguri and Masaki Okada.

From the trailer, the film adaptation looks like it might be a little humorous and poignant at the same time. Coldplay provides the theme song “Every Teardrop is a Watrfall.” The film …

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Rurouni Kenshin started out as a manga in Japan in 1992 and has since been adapted into an anime series, OVAs, video games and now has evolved into a live-action, full-length feature film.   Originally aimed at teens, Kenshin’s overall popularity can be easily credited to its lone samurai/romance formula.  However, writer/illustrator Nobuhiro Watsuki did originally intend the story to be swordsman-centered as opposed to a romance.

This is a synopsis of the film compliments of Comic Book Movie:

Japan is about to enter the Meiji era and transition from the Middle Ages to industrialization. The samurai have no place in this …

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This had to to be one of the most fun AX I’ve ever been to.  The first ever hologram concert from Hatsune Miku brought great energy to the expo.  Attendees were really cool and the cosplayers were out in full force.  Some of these costumes are really getting sophisticated, even using mechanical devices to capture the look and feel of their favorite characters.  I love steam punk and they were represented well.  The Luke Skywalker version really stood out from the rest because it took an iconic character and put a new twist to it.

Below are several pics from the …

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Anime Expo in Los Angeles, Ca is in full swing with it’s first day of panels, events and merch finishing up.

Just ’cause the panels and main hall are closed doesn’t mean you have to go home, however.  There’s all kinds of after hours entertainment like karaoke, tabletop gaming, video screenings, all
ages dance, and more continuing through the night.

I am looking forward to Hatsune Miku show, which will be her debut on an American stage – or should I say screen.  This blue-green haired, pixel maiden will be quite the event, she is sure to be the object of …

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The manga distributor announced that it will be shutting down its North American publishing headquarters and will be holding what they are calling a garage sale to unload some manga, posters and other items from their warehouse.  Fans and friends of their Facebook page will get an opportunity to win a bag of stuff – all they need to do is submit video, costume pics, fan art, anything apparently that can be uploaded to the page before May 1.  Besides the shwag, winners will also get a pass to their private garage sale in Los Angeles on May 4.  Not a …

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Wizard World Comic Con will make its way to Anaheim this weekend, April 29 – May 1 at the Anaheim Convention Center.  The lineup looks pretty impressive and includes actors, artists and WWE/WWF stars.

Here’s a few I’m looking forward too; you can go to Wizards World’s website for the complete listing: 
Phil Ortiz (The Simpsons; He-Man; Masters of the Universe)
Phil Jimenez (Amazing Spider-Man; Astonishing X-Men)
Tony Washington and Michael C. Hayes (World of Warcraft)
Carlos Alazraqui (Phineas and Ferb; the Fairly Oddparents)
Stephen Stanton (Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Robot Chicken)
Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies; Army of Darkness)
Tricia …

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