Poll: Most Exciting Licensing News from SDCC 2009
I spent most of San Diego Comic-Con engrossed in home improvement projects, but was able to keep abreast of licensing announcements thanks to a steady stream of tweets from folks like Gia Manry (@animevice). This year’s haul was more modest than previous years — remember the summer that Dark Horse announced a new CLAMP project and VIZ nabbed Slam Dunk? — but yielded some interesting titles nonetheless, including 51 Ways to Save Her (CMX), a disaster drama from the creator of Secret Comics Japan; Fujyoshi Kanojo (Yen Press), a comedy about an out-of-control female otaku; and Toriko (VIZ), a manga after Ted Nugent’s heart:
In a world where the taste and texture of food is extremely important there exist individuals known as Bishoku-ya (luxury food providers) who specialize in the acquisition of rare ingredients and animals. Toriko is one of these hunters and it is his dream to find the most precious foods in the world and create the ultimate dinner course. As one of the most skilled hunters in the world he is regularly hired by restaurants and the rich to seek out new ingredients and rare animals. A man with inhuman ability, he utilizes his incredible strength and knowledge of the animal kingdom to capture ferocious, evasive and rare beasts to further his final goal, the ultimate dinner course composed of the most delicious food in the world. He is currently accompanied by a weak and timid chef who, inspired by Toriko’s ambition, travels with him to improve his culinary skills and find rare ingredients.
Since folks seem fond of the Humpday poll — any form of procrastination in a storm? — here’s another opportunity to waste a few minutes by telling us what licensing announcement made you dance for joy. Don’t see your favorite on the short list? Tell us what it is and why we should be excited about it, too.
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I’m excited about Bunny Drop, Fujyoshi Kanojo, and Kobato as well. Alas I could only chose 1
Yeah, choosing just one is hard, with all the great titles announced this year. I’m more excited now than I was last year. 51 Ways, Bakuman, Phantom Guesthouse and most of CMXs other licenses. It’s gonna be tough choosing what to buy! At least I’m already set for Bakuman with my SJ sub.
I had difficulty choosing as well. I gave my vote to Bakuman, since I’ve been making such a fuss over it, but really I wanted to vote for about five things.
I admit that I’m taking more of a wait-and-see attitude with Bakuman, as I’m one of three people in the mangasphere who didn’t like Death Note. Toriko sounds kind of fabulous, though, as does 51 Ways to Save Her and The Phantom Guesthouse. I’m glad to see that CMX continues to license great series for kids and tweens that don’t have obvious tie-ins with videogames, toys, etc.
Thanks for voting, and thanks for your comments, guys!
My vote went to 51 Ways, but I’m also excited to see Dark Horse’s packaging of Card Captor. They did such a beautiful job with Clover (even though I wasn’t crazy about the book itself), that it strikes me as a near must-have.
Me, too, David! Card Captor and Magic Knight Rayearth have both been out of print for some time, so it will be nice to see them again on bookstore shelves with new packaging and new translations. (Chobits, not so much.) I’m a little disappointed that DH didn’t acquire the rights to Tokyo Babylon as well. The original TP edition is great, but it’s also OOP.
That begs the question: will Viz do a VIZBIG edition of X/1999, another OOP CLAMP title?
I also had a very hard time voting, since I think I plan to read nearly everything on this list. My vote ultimately went to Cardcaptor Sakura, though, simply because I’m sure Dark Horse’s edition will be gorgeous.
I’ve heard of fan speculation murmurs about whether this new partnership with DH will allow CLAMP to do stuff like finish releasing X *here* rather than in Japan. Wishful thinking, probably, but it’s a nice thought anyway.
A lot of these look good, but as a card-carrying BL fangirl I’m looking forwards to Fujyoshi Kanojo. But why did they romanize it as fujyoshi, when is about 100-fold more common in English? The English title Yen has applied (“My Girlfriend’s a Geek”) is stoopid and doesn’t actually get the point across, but there’s already the (very funny) , with a not-dissimilar premise, so perhaps they were concerned there would be confusion.
OK, I totally mangled the formatting on that. Let’s try again:
Fujoshi on Wikipedia
Fujoshi Rumi on Wikipedia
@Michelle: Don’t you love rumors? I’m tempted to start one right here!
@JRB Point well taken! I’m guessing that the Japanese publisher requested the title to avoid confusion with Fujoshi Rumi (one of my great guilty pleasures, BTW… it’s a hoot!). Still, you’d think that anyone interested in the plot would be able to distinguish on fujoshi from another!
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Other. The one that I was most happy about was Sasameke. I wasn’t really expecting it. I’m not a big soccer guy, but the art is attractive.
I’m curious to see how Sasameke will do, too. Sports manga is big in Japan, but seems to meet with a “meh?” reaction here in the States.
Kate, if it gives you some optimism about Bakuman, I have *really* mixed feelings about Death Note. I’m a big fan of Obata’s art, and that’s the only reason I even checked into Bakuman.
That does make me feel a lot better, Melinda! I like Obata’s art, too, though I haven’t yet read a series in which I liked the story nearly as much as the visuals. Sounds like Bakuman might be a welcome change from Death Note and Ral Grad.
Ah, Hikaru no Go falls into that category for me, so I have already felt fully satisfied there. But I’m always eager to experience that again!
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