Book News, In Brief

First they did it to Chuck Berry, now they're doing it to Osamu Tezuka. Via Publisher's Weekly: "As the market for manga in America continues to grow, one of the top publishers, Tokyopop, has made a push to distinguish its OEL, or 'Original English Language' manga created by non-Japanese writers and artists." Tell me, what is it with White people and their appropriation of other people's sh*t? Did they peak with spray cheese or something?

Now we're never gonna be sure if the man with the world's longest fingernails is actually the man with the world's longest fingernails, or if he really even exists. Via Publisher's Weekly (again): "Ripley’s Takes Over Guinness. In a deal for the record books, the privately-held Jim Pattison Group has acquired Guinness World Records from HIT Entertainment for an undisclosed price. Among the Pattison Group’s holdings is Ripley Entertainment," a.k.a. Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Isn't this what they refer to as a 'conflict of interests'?

The Free Comic Book Day website has announced this year's giveaways. Included in the illustriously titled 'Gold Sponsor Offerings' are Simpsons and Futurama comics, the Transformers Animated FCBD 2008 Edition, All-Star Superman #1, Hellboy/B.P.R.D., Project Superpowers and a 2008 Shonen Jump sampler. Humbled by their 'Silver-level' status are Disney's Gyro Gearloose FCBD 2008 Edition and Gumby's Coloring Comic Book Special(?!). This year's Free Comic Book Day will be on May 3, 2008. You can visit the Free Comic Book Day website for the names of stores participating in your neck o' the woods.

DC Comics has paired six different anime directors (Satoshi Kon, among them) with six American comics writers (including Brian Azzarello and Greg Rucka) and told them to make six different Batman anime/animated shorts. Here is the trailer/making-of puff piece.