ICv2 is reporting that Marvel is taking a page from DC Comics. Marvel has announced that the major Spider-Man and X-Men titles starting with Amazing Spider-Man #666 will be day and date digital.
The Companions Are Set
Finally a full picture of the Dwarfs from the upcoming Hobbit film. They all look very cool.
“The Strain” by Adapted
Dark Horse has announced that they will be adapting Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s The Strain, the first book of a planned vampire trilogy. The adaptation will be written by David Lapham and illustrated by Mike Huddleston. It is planned for a 24 issue run and then it will be released into a collected edition. The series will begin in December and it will be a day and date in issue form and digital form.
SDCC
Hope everyone that could go to Comic Con is having a great time. Enjoy the rest of your weekend you lucky dogs :).
Luffy Promotes AXE
For all of our neighbors in Japan AXE Fragrance Body Spray and Soap will have One Piece figures in them. You will be able to get one figure out of nine, for a limited time in Japan. The campaign begins next Monday and last until supplies are out. Good luck in getting all nine figures and if any one has friends in Japan see if they can pick them up for you.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-20/one-piece-to-pitch-axe-body-spray-soap-in-japan
Gundam Model Kit World Cup
This is something librarians can use with their Gundam fans to show interest in model kits. There is a group of individuals that do the model kits all around the world. It’s just the same as a car or airplane model kit which you might be more familiar with. I myself have one that I haven’t put together yet. These modelers are really exact or use the molds to kit bash and create unique Gundams or unique paint apps. for their Gundams. Anyway Bandai is setting up the 1st Gundam model kits contest, “Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011”. There will be 13 regions for the contest: Japan; China; Korea; Taiwan; Hong Kong; Singapore; Thailand; Malaysia; Philippines; Indonesia; Australia; Italy; and America. Preliminary rounds will be between July 25 – September 9. For more information about additional rounds and how the judging will be done follow the link below to AnimeNews Network.
DC Builds Relationship With Lego
Librarians need to let their DC Comics and Lego fans know about Warner Bros. making a deal with Lego to give them rights to produce Lego products of DC Comics characters. The figures and playsets will hit the shelves in 2012 with 13 figures to begin the DC Lego World, some of the figures will be: Batman; Superman; Wonder Woman; Green Lantern; Joker; Bane; Harley Quinn; and Lex Luthor.
Moe Characters on Insurance
Another example of how anime and manga characters are being used in everyday life in Japan. Totalsoft, an insurance company in Japan, is using Moe characters on their new website. The site is primarily aimed at men in their 20’s and 30’s to teach them about insurance….What insurance is and the different types of insurance. The characters used were designed by Wataru Kikuchi.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-19/insurance-explained-with-moe-characters
Lum-Chan Inspired Cosmetics
Bandai will begin selling a line of cosmetics with Lum-chan, from Rumiko Yatsura’s Urusei Uatsura, as the products spokesperson (image). The product will go on sale on July 29th and will have eyeliner for 1,260 yen ($16) and mascara for 1,575 yen ($20). This is something you can use for talking points with your young ladies that come into the library that are interested in anime and manga.
Anne Rice’s “Interview” Sees New Light
ICv2 is reporting that Yen Press will be releasing a Anne Rice graphic novel. Interview with a Vampire: Claudia’s Story is the title of the upcoming graphic novel. It isn’t an adaptation of the novel, however it looks at the events of Interview with a Vampire from Claudia’s point of view. Scheduled release is in the Fall of 2012.