When I first heard that Abrams ComicArts would be publishing Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater, I was pretty excited. Kamishibai, or "paper theater" is a uniquely Japanese form of street theater / storytelling that contributed to the evolution of manga in Japan. While kamishibai is well-known in Japan, there were very few books about this disappearing artform available in English -- that is, until now.

The cover art offered a hint of what would be in this coffee table-worthy art book: lots of full-color illustrations from kamishibai stories, including World War II kiddie propaganda, adventure stories and dramas. On this front Manga Kamishibai delivered exactly as promised: it's a really nice art book for comics fans and Japanese pop culture connoisseurs.

But then I started reading this book. While I really, really wanted to like Manga Kamishibai, it slowly dawned on me that it has several annoying flaws. Check out my review of Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater, and maybe you'll see what I mean, or maybe you'll think I'm just easily irritated!

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As most movie connoisseurs know, Japanese horror is simply a breed apart from the rest. It's one thing to have monsters and masked psychopaths with knives chasing teenagers -- quite another to show the darkness and madness hidden in the souls of humans, and the supernatural forces that hide in the shadows. Perhaps no one knows the visceral power of horror imagery than Kazuo Umezu, the manga master who has created some of the creepiest comics ever published.

Western comics readers have already experienced some of Umezu-sensei's masterpieces: The Drifting Classroom and Cat-Eyed Boy (from VIZ Media), Scary Book (from Dark Horse) and Reptilia (from IDW) -- but hardcore Umezz fans know that we've only seen a small portion of this 73-year old master's stories, and have rarely seen many interviews with him in English.

Now intrepid horror and Japanese pop culture blog Tokyo Scum Brigade has jumped in to fill in the gap by scoring an exclusive 5-part interview with Umezu-sensei himself at his infamous red-and-white striped mansion in Kichijoji, Tokyo. It's a fascinating and insightful chat with this one-of-a-kind manga creator, so it's well worth reading every bit of it. Read more...

American readers love shojo manga, but for the most part, they've saved their love for stories published in Japan after 2000. It's too bad really, because there are tons of awesome series that are currently aren't available in English that directly influenced the shojo manga we enjoy today.

One beloved shojo manga series that has recently made it to American shores is Itazura na Kiss (a.k.a. Mischievous Kiss or It Started With a Kiss) by Kaoru Tada, from Digital Manga Publishing. Although it was first published in 1991, Itazura na Kiss' story may seem familiar because it preceded and influenced so many popular shojo manga series, including Fruits Basket, Marmalade Boy and Sand Chronicles.

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As previously announced at Yaoi-Con 2009, Digital Manga has added Harlequin romance graphic novels to eManga.com, their online manga rental service.

And just to sweeten the deal, for a limited time, if you rent one of the eight new Harlequin manga titles from eManga.com, you'll be entered to win a copy of DMP's new romantic comedy manga, Itazura na Kiss. You have between now and Tuesday, December 15 at noon Pacific Time to sample a Harlequin manga title to be eligible to win.

In addition to the four titles previously announced at Yaoi-Con, four more Harlequin / Softbank Creative manga are now available on eManga.com, including two historical romances. Each title is a graphic novel adaptation by a Japanese artist of Harlequin prose novels written by Western authors, and all are complete in one volume.