News

The world of graphic fiction can be roughly divided between Western comics and Japanese manga. Both of them make use of sequential panels with drawings and speech bubbles to tell stories, but aside from that, the two mediums differ a great deal, and readers are going to care about that. Fortunately, it's easy for pop culture consumers to love both, since they both have plenty to offer, but manga evidently has the edge.

Japanese manga has some distinct advantages over comics even in the context of Western nations, where the home field advantage of Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse comics is surprisingly limited. The comic industry is still doing fine in the face of the competition, but nonetheless, it's clear how manga has caught up to and surpassed comics as readers' favorite medium. Some reasons, in particular, explain why reading manga is the stronger option both in terms of the industry and the fiction itself.

The anime medium has come a long way from its early beginnings on the silver screen to its modern capacity to draw crowds in theaters. As anime has become more popular among mainstream audiences, the medium's mature films have become increasingly beloved cult classics among fans. Whether an anime film is based on existing works or fashioned from completely original material, the best R-rated anime movies are celebrated for the dark tone and themes that define them.

Ghost in the Shell and Ninja Scroll are two of the most noteworthy R-rated anime films, but they are far from the only groundbreaking movies to redefine the mature side of the medium. The success of darker anime movies like these and many others is, in part, the catalyst for the growth of the medium's audience. A handful of R-rated anime movies are such masterpieces that they remain among the greatest works the medium has to offer fans.

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

Creature Commandos by Kevin Tiernan

Golgo 13 by Luis Martins

The Lighthouse by Fredlobo Lopez

Midsommar by Rebecca Colling

Nacho Libre by Sam Holland

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind...

Since its debut in 1997, One Piece has amassed an impressive list of achievements related to its longevity. Now, thanks to a superfan, the series is poised to add another feather to its cap as one of the longest-running anime series ever.

As revealed in a January 5, 2025, post on mega-streamer IShowSpeed’s @SpeedyHQ X account, the gaming, Irl, and social media super-influencer has received permission to live stream all 1,122 (and counting) episodes of the One Piece anime series. Since each episode of One Piece lasts about 25 minutes, if he proceeds with his plan, the stream would run for approximately 18 days straight without a break.

One Piece Superfan IShowSpeed Is Setting Up to Break Yet Another Record If IShowSpeed's Plans Come To Fruition, One Piece's Lore Will Become Even Greater 🚨| Watch: Speed reveals he’s been given permission by the One Piece producer to stream every episode of the anime...

Crunchyroll has responded to recent allegations regarding fan mail addressed to English voice actor David Wald.

In a statement released to Ann, a Crunchyroll spokesperson assured that the company is actively investigating the matter.

They also emphasized that fan interactions with voice talent are vital to anime’s success and underscored its commitment to maintaining privacy for all actors involved.

“Anime fans have a special connection with dub voice talent and that emotional expression is important in fueling more love of anime content. We are currently investigating the matter regarding the allegation of undelivered fan mail to a voice actor. We respect the privacy of all of our voice actors and do not intentionally open mail or packages not intended for Crunchyroll. Any fan mail should be sent directly to talent and their management.“

This statement comes after David Wald took to X on Oct 26 to share his concerns that...

Voice actor David Wald, who is known for his roles in the English dubs of anime series like Fairy Tail, Attack On Titan, and Akame Ga Kill!, has accused Crunchyroll of mishandling fan mail addressed to him over the past five years.

Taking to X on Oct 26, 2024, Wald alleged that Crunchyroll staff had opened his private mail, disposed of letters, and distributed items sent by fans without his knowledge or consent.

“If you sent me anything care of Funimation or Crunchyroll in the last 5 years, I apologize, I didn’t get it. I learned yesterday that @Crunchyroll opened my private mail, threw away your letters, and passed out any included items to their staff,” he tweeted.

In a follow-up post, Wald addressed Crunchyroll employees directly, sharing a photo of one of the opened packages and making a public request for the return of his belongings.

“Dear fellow workers at @Crunchyroll...

Gege Akutami has just ended Jujutsu Kaisen with a bang. After six and a half years of serialization, the series has achieved a milestone of 100 million copies in circulation, which also includes digital versions of the manga.

The final chapter of the manga might have been unsatisfactory for many, but that isn’t enough to deny the amount of influence it has had on the industry during its run. Its latest achievement is a reflection of the same.

Jujutsu Kaisen Ends Serialization with 100 Million Copies in Circulation Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro from Jujutsu Kaisen. [Credit: Studio Mappa]

Gege Akutami‘s Jujutsu Kaisen ended in the 44th issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. In the same issue, Shueisha revealed that Jujutsu Kaisen has 100 million copies in circulation. However, the publication did not specify if the number denotes copies in Japan or worldwide.

Related Gojo’s Death May Have Been the Best...

Akira is not only famous in the anime and manga sphere but also pop-culture in general. Critics and movie directors alike refer to Akira as one of the greatest and most influential films of the past 30 years. So it’s no wonder fans discredited Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas for turning the film down because it wouldn’t suit western audiences.

According to Manga Entertainment co-creator Andy Frain, Akira shaped modern sci-fi as people know it today. Films like Midnight Special, Looper, The Matrix, Chronicle, Inception, and even the TV show Stranger Things, all borrowed thematically and stylistically from Akira. In fact, two of those five movies even feature a child with destructive telekinetic powers as one of the main plot points.

Keanu Reeves in The Matrix | Credits: Warner Bros.

On the other hand, the creator of Akira admitted that he used not only Japanese media but also Hollywood movies...

The success and popularity of Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is extraordinary. In 1999, Naruto started its run in the Weekly Shonen Jump. With over 250 Million copies sold, the manga series has hit its 25th anniversary mark on September 21st. Achieving the commercial success of Naruto would be a dream come true for any artist.

Besides Masashi Kishimoto, there are 5 other mangaka who have lived this dream. Moreover, they have surpassed Kishimoto with the sales figures of their respective creations. So here’s a list of the top 5 manga that have outsold Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto.

5. Doraemon Nobita and Doraemon | Credits: Shogakukan

First published in 1967, Fujiko F. Fujio’s manga Doraemon has sold over 250 million copies with just 45 volumes. Doraemon is the story of ten-year-old Nobita and a robot cat called Doraemon. Their daily lives involve Doraemon helping Nobita with the help of gadgets. Nobita often finds himself in trouble and his...

An 8-minute Japanese anime produced over 100 years ago has now been unearthed for the first time, allowing fans both in Japan and across the globe to connect the industry's present to its earliest days from the 1920s.

Via Nhk, a black and white animation from around 1923 has been discovered for the first time. The animation, titled Koukuu Eisei (Dental Hygiene), was made by a daily necessities producer, believed to be an early version of Japan's Lion Corporation that exists today. Readers can check out frames from the anime below.

Related Demon Slayer's Tanjiro, Muichiro & Mitsuri Become Cover Models for Best-Selling Women's Magazine Following the premiere of Demon Slayer Season 4, three characters are being turned into cover models for a top-selling women's fashion magazine. Close An Animation About Teeth Is One of the Oldest-Surviving Anime of All Time

The hope behind the production of Dental Hygiene was to provide education to prevent cavities.

In exciting news for the IP's fans, the Golgo 13 anime, which has been on a 52-year broadcast hiatus, will be revived and air in Japan on Bs-tbs from Dec. 10-17 under the title Golgo 13 Selection.

As reported by Chunichi and reaffirmed by David Miranda on X (formerly Twitter), Golgo 13 was allegedly lost for more than half a century but was recently rediscovered. Miranda speculates that the lost anime was possibly found at Tokyo Laboratory amid its closure, when the series was likely buried in its media archive.

Citizen Releases Retro '80s-Style Watches Paying Tribute to Ghost in the Shell

The 1971 anime adaptation of Golgo 13, allegedly lost for many years, was recently found & will be broadcast on TV for the 1st time in over 50yrs. Due to the uncanny timing, can only imagine it was located at Tokyo Laboratory in the midst of its closure https://t.

While Japanese anime has been around since the early twentieth century, 1980s anime represents the Golden Age for anime in the West. Indeed, it was during that decade when anime experienced a significant increase in popularity in the United States. With no established set of anime fandoms, the anime that "came over" ran the gamut of what was available in Japan, from saccharin-sweet romance to ultra-violent war stories.

Naturally, a lot of the anime that made it to the West wasn't able to make the transition into American culture, and soon ended up in the cultural wastebasket. However, other series or movies were able to find their voice and become beloved classics - sometimes even more than in Japan. Below is a list of 10 1980s anime that not only found their voice but have proven to be as fun and enjoyable to watch now as they were three decades ago.

Since its debut in 2022, Spy x Family has been one of the most popular titles in the anime world. One of the reasons it is so popular is its ability to attract a broad spectrum of fans including men and women, young and old, otaku and new anime fans. Indeed, its fan base gives it a unique appeal that few other spy anime have achieved. Nevertheless, there are a lot of good spy anime out there that Spy x Family fans will enjoy.

While spies, espionage, and spycraft are the foundations that the Spy x Family story is built upon, they are not its only elements. Spy x Family's unique appeal comes from the integration of other themes into the basic spy story. Those themes include a healthy dose of comedy and humor, superhero fiction in Anya's telepathy, romance courtesy of Loid and Yor, and a sprinkling of action.

The manga industry has been around for far longer than many fans realize, and it wasn't always ruled by many of the tropes and archetypes that now dominate it. Various genres with just as many intended demographics existed in the past, with one theoretically being a different medium entirely. Said medium was exemplified best in the series that's the oldest manga still in publication.

Golgo 13 is far from what many fans (namely those in the West) would associate with manga and anime, and it actually has far more in common with notable action-based Western franchises. Nevertheless, it was a key part of Japan's comic book industry, allowing for a level of growth that reached new audiences. Here's the story of Golgo 13 and how it gave manga and "gekiga" a gritty edge.

Related: Why Viz's Website is the Model All Other Manga Distributors Should Emulate

Gekiga Differs Greatly...

To mark the release of Eureka Classics’ Golgo 13 available from 17 July 2023, we have 3 Blu-Rays to give away!

Almost impossible to see outside of Japan for many years, Eureka Classics is proud to present Golgo 13 in its UK debut on home video in a definitive Blu-ray edition.

Eureka Entertainment to release Golgo 13, the 1973 action classic directed by Junya Satō (The Bullet Train) starring Ken Takakura as Takao Saito’s deadly assassin. Presented as part of the Eureka Classics range in its UK debut from a stunning 2K restoration. Available from 17 July 2023, the first print run of 2000 copies will feature a Limited-Edition O-card Slipcase and Collector’s Booklet.

The first film adaptation of the long-running manga series by Takao Saito, director Junya Satō cast Ken Takakura (who was the original inspiration for the character) as the mysterious and stoic killer-for-hire who always completes his assignment (usually with his signature...