Welcome back to another installment in “Last Week in Geekdom” where I comb the internet for all the news you need to know so you don’t have to. I’ve been on and off lacking in motivation to write the last couple weeks, but I’m hoping to get more posts up next week and try to get through my manga backlog. Anyways, highlights from last week include: sexual assault allegations have resurfaced against Vic Mignogna; Hayao and Goro Miyazaki are working on two new movies for Ghibli, and all the Hanna-Barbera comics may cease publication at DC indefinitely. As always, I encourage you to check out the articles and videos below and let me know if I missed something. Have a great Sunday!
Top Anime and Manga News
Accusations against Funimation voice actor Vic Mignogna have resurfaced including instances of sexual harassment and assault on minors, anti-semitism, and homophobia. Mignogna has written a response to all of these, and I have linked a twitter thread by Kaylyn Saucedo in which she goes over his response and the kinds of accusations made.
Hayao Miyazaki and his son Goro are reportedly created two new films for Studio Ghibli. The father and son will have one new film each though no information on what those films may be has been released yet. This continues Miyazaki’s on-again, off-again retirement for Ghibli and Goro’s first return to working on Ghibli films since From Up on Poppy Hill.
The anime film Mirai has been nominated for an Oscar. The film has been nominated in the Animated Feature Film category along with the likes of Isle of Dogs, Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Spider-Man: into the Spider-Verse. Winners will be announced February 24th.
Rumiko Takahashi has won one of the highest honors in the French comics world, the Angouleme Grand Prix 2019 Prize. This award honors the author’s lifetime body of work and entitles her to be marshall for the 2020 awards.
Anime Announcements
- Machikado Mazoku manga gets TV anime
- Twilight (Yutaka Yamamoto) anime premieres May 24th
- Infinite Dendrogram gets TV anime
- Fairy Gone to premiere in April
- Promare anime to debut in May
- Made in Abyss compilation film to debut March 15th in US
- Konosuba film to debut July 12th
Manga Announcements
- A Place Further than the Universe manga ends in February
- Pocco’s Udon World manga ends February 15th
- Infinite Dendrogram gets English translation and release
- Maid-sama creator Hiro Fujiwara to draw 1-shot in February
Top Comics News
DC Publishing has laid off about 3% of its workforce, or 7 employees, in an effort to restructure, and — as some believe — a response to a perceived recession on the horizon. One of those affected by the lay-offs is senior VP art director Mark Chiarello. Some restructuring has started at the company, consolidating departments and employees that will see DC focusing more on its core mission of publishing.
A suspect in the theft of 400 Batman comics worth 1.5 million dollars has been arrested in Arizona trying to sell an estimated 100,00 dollars worth to a Mesa comic book store. The accused man has posted bond and the location of the rest of the comics is still unknown.
A Superman comic has drawn criticism this week for showing the repeated torture and murder of Lois Lane. Superman Giant #7, written by Tom King, has multiple pages showing the multiple ways Lois Lane may be murdered and has drawn criticism from comic fans due to its younger target audience and relation to the “women in the refrigerator” trope. Tom King responds to the criticism here.
Rumors from DC Comics are circulating saying the line of Hanna-Barbera comics currently being published are going to be canceled, signaling the end of DC Comic’s role in the franchise. Bleeding Cool points to disagreements over the way these iconic characters have been taken story wise, including the recently cancelled Scooby Doo Apocalypse series.
Featured Articles and Interviews
- Salon sits down with Brian K Vaughan and talks his success with his space opera romance Saga and how new creators could break into the industry.
- The Fun with Dumb podcast sits down with DC Comics head Jim Lee to talk about his life in the comic industry and the ins and outs of making comics.
- Anime News Network’s Answerman talks manga and independent comic shops in this post, speaking with comic store owners on why some stores may be hesitant to stock manga or outright refuse to.
- Crunchyroll sits down with A Place Further than the Universe director Atsuko Ishizuka on the anime’s inception and reception.
Featured Videos
- Get in the Robot delves into why food in anime is so amazing and where the trend for food anime and manga comes from.
- Kamimashita discusses how the character of All Might from My Hero Academia relates to Superman and Spider-Man of the Silver and Bronze Age of American comics.
Featured WordPress Post
- Atelier Emily discusses camera movement and shot composition in The Promised Neverland and how that contributes to the building of a feeling of being unsettled.
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