Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.

I’m so sorry. I lost last week’s column, and now we’ve got this giganticanormous behemoth for you to make up for it. Dig in!!

Manga Spotlight: Slayers: Super-Explosive Demon Story by Hajime Kanzaka and Skoko Yoshinaka

Released by CPM Manga

Swords and socery comedy has always been a bit of a geek genre. It tends to combine Dungeons and Dragons setting, Looney Toons sprinkled with a bit of sexual humor, with a touch of seriousness that nearly always builds to a battle with a would-be world destroying demon overlord. Even though only rates slightly higher than video game adapation on the respect latter, it’s more than capable of delivering an entertaining story.

Slayers remains the first name in swords and sorcery comedy. Other never quite measure up its madness, sense of adventure, or it's giant spells but the popularity is mainly due to its lead characters, Lina Inverse, a diminutive sorceress with a love for treasure, food, and a fiery temper, and her sidekick Gourry Gabriev, an ace swordsman that tends to only use his head for a place to keep his following blonde hair.

"Super-Explosive Demon Story" follows Lina and Gourry's first meeting, as they try to make some money robbing bandits, accepting guard jobs, and searching out treasure. It's a fast moving trip full of quick emotions, silliness, explosive spells, and moments of intense action.

Though anime hasn't the original medium for Slayers, its a series that is tailor made for anime. The colors, spell effect, and voice work by Megumi Hayashibara or Lisa Ortiz as Lina make the Slayers anime a unique experience. After the anime, the manga can only offer a reflection of the anime's energy. It is a nice visit with familiar characters, but it isn't the same.

This Week's Releases

Anime

Arjuna - Rebirth (Vol. 1)

Betterman - Seeds Of Death (Vol. 3)

Dragon Ball Z:Perfect Cell-Unstoppable

Grave Of The Fireflies (Collector's Edition)

Hyper Police - Episodes 5-8

Princess Nine - Grand Slam (Vol. 6)

Project Arms - The Claws That Catch (Vol. 1)

Sakura Wars Ova - Return Of The Spirit Warriors (Vol. 1)

Sherlock Hound Casefile 5

Steel Angel Kurumi - Fallen Angel (Vol. 4)

Yu Yu Hakusho - The Movie - Poltergeist Report

Yu Yu Yakusho Ghostfiles

Yu Yu Yakusho Ghostfiles:7 Ways To Die

Zoids - The Supersonic Battle (Vol. 4)

Manga

Bastard Vol 2 Tp

Big O Part 2 #4 (Of 4)

Dragonball Z Part 5 #10 (Of 10)

Medabots Part 4 #1 (Of 4)

Orochi Blood Vol 1 Gn

Project Arms Part 1 #2

Ranma 1/2 Part 11 #8 (Of 11)

Record Lodoss War Chronicles Heroic Knight Book 3

Shadow Star Shadows Of The Past Tp

Spirited Away Vol 1 Tp

Uzumaki Vol 3 Tp

A review of the first volume of Arjuna can be seen here.

Princess Nine volume 6 concludes the series about a high school girl's baseball team competing against boys' teams.

Grave of Fireflies is an anime classic about two young refugee of a World War II fire bombing.

Uzumaki volume 3 conclude the Junji Ito's spectacular horror series about a town haunted by the shape of the spiral. The series is a must for fans of the creepy and the grotesque.

Orochi Blood is classic manga horror story about a perfect older sister, her inferior younger sister, and a mysterious girl who ends up living with the two.

When picking up your manga, give Garlands of Moonlight by Jai Sen and Rizky Wasisto Edi a look. Its a manga inspired telling of Indonesian mythology and Dutch colonization.

Where to Find English NewType

A press release has been sent about concerning the availablity of the first issue of the English edition of the premiere anime magazine NewType.

October 4, 2002-Newtype USA, the leading anime and manga publication in the English-speaking world, today announced a partial list of the North American retailers that will carry the November 2002 premiere issue of the magazine. Negotiations with additional retailers were underway as of the date of this release.

"There's been an absolute storm of excitement around the magazine launch, including quite a bit of curiosity and concern from readers wondering where they'll be able to get the magazine," said Newtype USA Business Manager Heather Swan. "Some of the information disseminated hasn't been quite accurate; we're hoping to clear up some of the confusion."

Swan added, "Subscription is, of course, the best way to ensure that readers receive Newtype USA hot off the press." Subscriptions are available through www.newtype-usa.com, at $89.95 (USD) per year (12 months). This price represents a 25% discount off the cover price.

Major Chain Retailers (to date): Suncoast Sam Goody Barnes & Noble Borders Media Play Waldenbooks Fry's Tower Gordon & Gotch Canada (Chapters/Coles Books)

Independent stores: Newtype USA will also be available at independent anime, comic and specialty stores across the country. "If your local anime or comic store doesn't carry Newtype USA, ask them to order it!" said Swan. "It's the only way they'll know that you want it."

Through the Newtype USA website Single issues and back issues will be available for purchase through http://www.newtype-usa.com.

Diamond Distributors: Extensive discussion in fan forums and on chatboards has centered around whether Newtype USA will be available through Diamond Distributors (publisher of Diamond Previews).

More Tezuka Manga in English

Anime News Service has commented that Studio Proteus, who translates Dark Horse Comic's manga releases, include Osamu Tezuka's classic Astro Boy has updated their FAQ:

Since you've decided to release Astroboy, is there any chance you're interested in releasing other Tezuka manga like Jungle Emperor Leo (AKA Kimba)?

Toren Smith:

We're looking at other Tezuka works, including Jungle Taitei, but there are some problems with that series...the portrayal of the African natives is likely to upset "certain people." It's silly because the white hunters are presented in an even more negative manner, but...

It's likely the next work we do will be Metropolis.

Anime Web Sites

Bandai has launched an English Arjuna web site for Arjuna at Arjunaproject.com. Arjunaproject.com will provide the latest in news and information on the Arjuna series release including - story/episode synopsis, character biography, story background information, behind the scenes look, staff biography, multimedia features, interviews, and home video release information.

Arjuna is created and directed by famed animator, Shoji Kawamori, best known for his role in the creation of the anime classic, Macross (Broadcast in North America as Robotech), Macross Plus, the Escaflowne series. Arjuna also features music composed by Yoko Kanno, best known for Cowboy Bebop, Macross Plus, and Escaflowne.

TOKYOPOP has posted a site for the upcoming release of the Lupin III manga at here. Lupin III is caper series following the adventure of Lupin III, the not quite sauve gettleman thief, his somber gunman partner, samurai associate, feme fatale competition/love interest, and the international police officer obsessed with tracking him name.

Japanese Sites:

Bandai has opened at Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex site at here

Big West has opened its Macross Zero site at www.macross.co.jp/zero/

The Naruto anime page is at here. Naruto follows a young orphan, ostracized by his ninja clan, as he trains to become its greatest ninja. The manga series it is adapted from will be features in the English edition of Shounen Jump. Its building nature, and intracate construction of the fictitious ninja culture, relationships, and methedology has made the series a popular feature in the Japanese Shounen Jump.

The live action adaptation of the women police comedy/drama You're Under Arrest has its own web page here.

TV Tokyo's Pecola page is at here, and their Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children is at here..

The Piano page has opened at here, The series features character design by Fujishima Kosuke.

The web site for Hand Maid May, the follow-up or tangent to Hand Maid May has opened at Natsume Maya it will be a three or four volume OAV (direct to video series) involving an aspiring film director who lives in the warehouse of an adult video company, and a Cyber Doll mini robot woman.

The site for the romantic comedy I''s is up at http://www.i-s.jp/

Anime Game News

From The Magic Box

Bandai has announced a new Playstatin One game based on Rumiko Takahashi fairy tale/horror Inu Yasha. The Inu Yasha: Sengoku Battle fighting will feature transforming characters. It can be seen at here.

Bandai is also working a new GameCube cel-shaded fighting + promotion simulation game based on Shaman King, see here. Screem shots of their four player Gamecube fighing game based on One Piece can be seen here.

Both Shaman King, and One Piece will be appearing in the English version of Shounen Jump.

One Piece follows an amazingly odd crew of pirates, as their captain, Monkey D. Luffey seems become the king of pirate.

Shaman King follows a young boy with the almost forgotten ability to talk to spirits as he battle other shaman to earn the title of kind.

Konami is developing a Playstation2 game based on the manga, and soon to be anime series GetBackers. The game is mission based, up to 2 players can cooperate in battle simultaneously, you can use a variety of union techniques and shaft techniques to attack the opponents. Screen shots can be seen at here.

Get Backers follows the enterprises of two lower class youths who open a business retrieving stolen property rather than conforming to work-a-day dictates.

Possible New AD Vision Licenses

AnimeNation reports The September 23, 2002 issue of Video Business Magazine spotlights AD Vision's 10th Anniversary. The magazine includes 20 "birthday card" ads acknowledging AD Vision's anniversary from American and Japanese companies including TBS, Kodansha, Toho, Sunrise, Comix Wave, Media Factory, and many others. Images used in the ads include AD Vision licensed titles such as Sailormoon, Powerstone, You're Under Arrest, Sakura Tsushin, Mamono Hunter Yohko, and Rahxephon. The Gonzo Studios ad congratulating AD Vision includes images from Kaleido Star (an acknowledged AD Vision license) and Chojushin Gravion. The KSS ad uses images from Happy Lesson.

Anime Ratings Successes

Kids' WB's anime centric Saturday morning lineup including Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon is the #1 Saturday morning cartoon schedule.

Yu-Gi-Oh! is #1 and #2 in the ratings, while Pokémon: Master Quest is #1, #2 and #4 in the ratings, and other shows come in just about every other top 10 position imaginable. There are a multitude of different demographics used to rate children’s programming, many of them overlapping, such as "Boys 2-11" , "Boys 6-11", "Kids 6-11" , "Girls 2-11".

ADV Hello Kitty Release

ADV Films today announced a street date of November 26, 2002 for Hello Kitty's Paradise: Pretty Kitty, the first of four volumes of the animated children's series Hello Kitty's Paradise. The title is available on VHS, and on child-friendly plug-and-play DVD.

Hello Kitty's Paradise is another successful part of the Sanrio Company's wildly popular Hello Kitty(r) franchise, built around the adorable, instantly recognizable kitten character. The title centers around the adventures of legendary Sanrio character Hello Kitty(r), her best friend Mimmy(tm) and their friends from school. Hello Kitty's Paradise is a joyful take on childhood adventures, with a healthy smattering of educational content about such important skills as sharing, having good table manners, writing letters and being polite.

New Interviews at Galaxy Anime

Galaxy Anime is hosting Real Audio interviews with TOKYOPOP president John Parker, Dave Merrill of Anime Weekend Atlanta, Senior Editor at Dark Horse Chris Warner, and Manga Entertainment's Keith Burgess.

Gundam Motorcycle Helmet

Bandai will be releasing a Gundam motorcycle helmet in Japan for 29,880 yen (US$250). It can be seen at here.

Japanese Manga Publisher Arrested

Comicon reports Japanese authorities have arrested a prominent manga publishing president, an artist and one other for selling comics containing indecent images. The comic, titled "Mitsushitsu", was aimed at adults and labeled 'adults only'. The incident is reportedly the first such arrest within the huge mainstream comics market in Japan.

MAINICHI SHIMBUN is reporting: "Motonori Kishi, 53, the president of the Shobunkan publishing company, was arrested by Metropolitan police on suspicion of selling obscene material, along with 34-year-old comic artist Yuji Suwa, and one other person whose name was not released. It is reportedly the first time that people have been arrested in connection with comics aimed at the general market."

MAINICHI SHIMBUN said: "Police said the trio sold 20,491 copies of the comic book "Mitsushitsu" to 16 book distributors and other firms between April 13 and 15 for a total of about 11.75 million yen. Matsubunkan officials expressed disappointment at the arrests. " 'Mitsushitsu' was aimed at adults, and we put labels on the comics so that the bookstores and the readers could distinguish that they were aimed at adults. Comics from other companies whose sections haven't been revised are sold, and we can't understand the arrests," officials said."

Spirited Away Box Office

Spirited Way earned an addition $600,000 last weekend for a total of $1.8 million in the US.

Next Region 2 Ghibli DVD Release

Ghibli's Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko is set for a 12/18/2002. Past releases suggest the DVD will feature English subtitles. The film, which is by Isao Takahata rather than Ghibli's more internationally famous Hayao Miyazaki follows a group of shape shifting racoon-like tanuki.

Upcoming Releases

Bandai will be releasing the first volume of Argento Soma with and without a box to hold the entire series. Argento Soma is more mature than average sci-fi alien invasion/revenge story from Studio Sunrise (of Gundam fame) and Kazuyoshi Katayama (Big O, Giant Robo).

CPM will be releasing the fourth volume of the surreal sword fight filled high school drama Revolutionary Girl Utena, entitled Impatience & Longing on Junary 14th.

The third volume of Hyper Police will be releasing on December 17th.

Hyper Police is a police action comedy about a post apocalyptic world where humans live and work side by side with were-creatures, demons, and other mythological people.

Studio Nue's Copyright of Macross Upheld

The Kyoto Shimbun reports that Tatsunoko's recent appeal in the Macross rights case has been dismissed by the Tokyo High Court.

New Film From Otomo Katsuhiro

Natsume Maya reports Akira creator Otomo Katsuhiro's movie Steam Boy, scheduled for release in the Autumn of 2003, will cost 2 thousand million yen, comprise 1,850 cuts and 180,000 cels. By that time, the movie will have taken eight years to produce since the initial planning commenced in 1995, with changes and problems with investment and sponsorship etc. The story is set in a post-Industrial Revolution 19th century England, where young inventor Rei (Ray?) is sent a mysterious metal ball from this grandfather in the US. His grandfather tells him that the ball, which is a new form of energy that could power an entire nation, must be guarded against the forces of evil.

No Naruto or Shaman King in First Shounen Jump

Viz has announced that the first issue of the English Shonen Jump has increased in size to 288 in order make room for material, including an interview with Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, but Naruto and Shaman King will not appear until issues 2 and 3 respectively.

December Manga Releases

The following manga (comics) be released in the December time frame. For a full list, or to pre-order them visit your local comic shop.

Comicsone.Com

BRIDE OF DEIMOS #4 by Etsuko Ikeda and Yuuho Ashibe Will Deimos ever leave Minako to live her own normal life or is she forced to watch as all of her friends and loved ones die a horrific death. This is the punishment Minako must endure for becoming the Bride of Deimos. In the first chapter of this book, Minako is transported back to the time of the Gods and through the eyes of Venus; she serves as witness to a couple's betrayal. And where adulterous deities travel, chaos is sure to follow. A severed hand, a ghost looking for love and a tragic tale of murder are awaiting Minako and her teacher when they are forced to seek shelter at an old mansion, in Chapter 2. What do the death of one fellow student and the arrival of a bloodthirsty newcomer have in common? Minako aims to find out. 200 pp.

Crayon Shinchan (gn) 2

(Yoshito Usui) The adventures of that mischievous five year old continue. Follow Shinchan as he discovers new things, fights with his mother, and causes mayhem at Action Kindergarten. Watch as he helps his mom cook, clean, and shop. Will Shinchan ever act like a normal five year old kid? Or will his parents realize normal is not in his vocabulary? 200 pp.

Other graphic novel releases include cooking tournament Iron Wok Jan 2, and aereal combat adventure Red Prowling Devil 2.

ComicsOne's kung fu comics releases include Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre 5, Storm Riders 9, Story of Tao 2, and Weapon of the Gods 5.

CPM MANGA

Central Park Media will be releasing a collection of Jerry Robinson's Astra, a manga adapation of a previously unpublished story by the gold age Batman writer. Astra is a beautiful, interstellar princess who has never seen a man, since her Amazonian race only bears females. Now their supply of seed is running out, and Astra must find a male savior.

They will also be re-releasing Dark Angel Vol. 4: Legend of Sacred Beast and Geobreeders Book 4: Unfriendly Skies.

Dark Horse Comics

Collected editions being released include 3X3 Eyes: Key to the Sacred Land, and Astro Boy Vol. 11.

In 3x3 Eyes Pai, the beautiful 300-year-old amnesiac mystic, and her companion, Tokyo student Yakumo Fujii, search China for ancient relics to provide clues to the location of Pai's hidden Tibetan homeland, where Pai's memories can be restored. But the two are not the only ones in search of these objects. Both the dashing relic-hunter Jake McDonald and the nefarious Choukai, are trying to get their mitts on a certain mystic incense burner

Ghost in the Shell 2: Man Machine Interface continues will it's third issue.

Indivual issues include Blade of the Immortal 74:Fall Frost part 2 of 6, Cannon God Exaxxion 12, and Oh My Goddess! 93: Traveler part 3 of 5.

The Super Manga Blast! 28 anthology will feature another chapter is Masamune Shirow's Appleseed Hypernotes.

Dark Horse Comics will also be releasing a series of Oh My Goddess T-shirts.

Gutsoon! Entertainment

Gutsoon! will be releasing the first four issues of their weekly manga anthology Raijin, and the anime and manga news magazine Fujin.

Raijin Comics #1-4 (Set) - B&W. Features Hara Tetsuo's Fist Of The Blue Sky (Prequel To Fist Of The North Star); The Gritty Underworld Of Tokyo Meets Hojo Tsukasa's City Hunter; The Sexy Antics Of Niwano Makoto's Bomber Girl; And The American Debut Of Slam Dunk, By Inoue Takehito. Plus, Itagake Keisuke's Baki The Grappler, The Story Of A Mysterious Young Fighter Who Enters The World Of Underground And Championship Martial Arts Fighting With A Bang; Tsugihara Ryuji & Hidaka Yoshiki's The First President Of Japan. When Japan Elects Its First President In History, The Political Climate Of Asia Becomes Full Of Turmoil And Intrigue. Also, Japan's Latest Magical Girl Super-Hit: Sakurano Minene's Guardian Angel Getten!; Ono Yoichiro & Ueno Jiro's Revenge Of The Mouflo. In The Skies Over Tokyo, A Typical Passenger Flight Turns Into A Political Flashpoint When Terrorists Take Over The Plane. And Sakurano Minene's Guardian Angel Getten. Printed in right-to-left format. Squarebound. 214 pp. each. MR.

Ironcat

Ironcat will be started the Amerimanga anthology, a compilation of four manga-style comics by American artists. Amerimanga Vol. 1 1 [Special

Megatokyo Chapter Zero: Relax, We Understand J00! collects comic strips and extra from the popular manga-stytle web comic.

Other collections include Vampire Princess Miyu Vol. 4.

Individual issues include Vampire Yui Vol. 5 4 and You & Me V. 1 #6.

Marvel Comics

Uncanny X-men 416 will be the first issue illustrated by manga created Kia Asamiya.

TOKYOPOP

TOKYOPOP will be releasing the first volume of the Akira Cinemanga, a comic make from screen captures from the Akira anime.

The first volume of the highly anticipated Kara Kano will be released this January. Yukino is the perfect student and she'll do anything and everything to be the top student in her school. A threat emerges in Soiichiro, a good-natured boy driven to succeed. They struggle and find respect for one another, and maybe, after the dust clears, something more.

The other new series begin with the first collextion of Gundam Wing: Last Outpost.Z agents enlist the remote asteroid colony of MO-V in the battle for independence. Now the colony is lending resources to OZ, and is under attack by the Stardust Knights.

Series that will be concluding include the 7th volume of volume of the exotic Korean manga Island, swords and sorcery comedy Sorcerer Hunters ends with its 13th volume.

Other collections include volume 4 of CLAMP's take on the collectable game genre Angelic Layer, volume 8 of GTO, the story of a former deliquent turned teacher, volume 5 of the street racing Initial D, volume 8 of the sex comedy Love Hina, shojo series Mars and Peach Girl hits volume 8, undead vengance western reaches volume 4, and the manga take on Norse myths Ragnorok reaches volume 5.

Viz Communications

Individual issues include All-New Tenchi Muyô! Part 2 #3 (of 4), Bastard!! #13: part 3, Big O Part 3 #2 [Of 4], Ceres, Celestial Legend Part 4 #3 [Of 4], Dragon Ball Part 5 #7 - [Of 7], Inu-Yasha Part 7 #5 - [Of 8] and Project Arms Part 1 #4 - [Of 16], Ranma 1/2 Part 11 #10 - [Of 11], Silent Möbius Part 12: Hell #1 and Vagabond #14.

Collections include Dragon Ball V. 10, Hamtaro: Let's Play! V. 2 Tpb, Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 V. 8, Pokémon Adventures V. 7: Pokémon Elite Tpb, X/1999 V. 9: Requiem Tpb, Vagabond V. 4 Tpb, and Video Girl Ai V. 5: Spinoff Tpb, and Zoids: Chaotic Century V. 11 Tpb.