Anime Magazines

IamSano · Post by **IamSano** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 5:20 pm

I recently made a trip to my local Barnes and Noble and found an anime magazine lying on the table. I didn't get a chance to look at it, but I was wondering how many anime magazines are available (In the U.S.)? And, what do anime magazines usually contain? Any comments would be helpful.

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 6:03 pm

From what i have seen there seems to be about a half dozen or so anime magazines for sale in the US. Most focus is placed on domestic releases (or at least it was in the ones i have seen) so they were of little use to me.

R-A-N-M-A · Post by **R-A-N-M-A** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 6:09 pm

I am Canadain, but I am sure this applies to the US as well. I know for sure that there is Newtype and at least one other that's name escapes me. I have never read newtype but I have concidered buying one from time to time, that is if I wasn't so damn addicted to buying Last Exile right now.

Banana_Boat · Post by **Banana_Boat** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:25 pm

NewType is a pretty neat source for anime, and its among the best anime magazines (certainly most popular) Issues include anime revievs, music and game reviews, manga reviews, interviews and such. Also each issue if im not mistaken comes with a DVD that contains the first episode of an anime, theres usually 2 or 3.

For more info, go toNewType

doughboy · Post by **doughboy** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 9:27 pm

I pick up Anime Insider every issue, even though it's technically written for pre-teens.

Lots of great pictures and articles of domestic and import releases.

The only part the pre-teen aspect comes into it is the letters section (man, they are dumb), but the wit of the staff writing is consistently genious.

IamSano · Post by **IamSano** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:13 am

Banana_Boat wrote:NewType is a pretty neat source for anime, and its among the best anime magazines (certainly most popular) Issues include anime revievs, music and game reviews, manga reviews, interviews and such. Also each issue if im not mistaken comes with a DVD that contains the first episode of an anime, theres usually 2 or 3.

For more info, go toNewType

It has anime episodes?! Whoa. Maybe I should subscribe...

OtakuMan22 · Post by **OtakuMan22** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:24 am

Damn skippy! Each issue of NewType comes with a sample DVD of a randomized, but new, anime each issue. The discs either contain the first two episodes of an anime, or the first episode of two different anime to give a wider variety.

Now then, as for what is available in America, there are two types of anime magazines in my view:

The actual magazine
The comic anthology with features that could be out of a magazine.

Starting from the top, we have:

Animerica - One of the oldest Anime magazines in the USA. Starting all the way back in the early 90's, Animerica was, and still is, published by Viz Communications with reviews, neat articles, and plenty of interesting and pretty fan art. Good stuff to have on hand for reference.

Protoculture Addicts - This one is HANDS DOWN from Canada, but also is available in the U.S. as well. While not in color, this "Grass-roots" anime magazine (It does not get published every month as far as I know, but when it does...) contains a wealth of release information in the form of GIGANTIC lists ranging from domestic to International releases. What's more, feature anime not only get detailed character bios and plot summaries, but they also do IN DEPTH episode summaries, so if you're not careful, you MIGHT be spoiled!

Anime Insider - From the makers of Wizard magazine, this anime magazine, while relatively new, contains some neat looks at up and coming anime, manga, and more! One of the more notorious features I am familiar with is the VS. section. A short fan-fic if you will that gives Anime Insider's take on who would win in a battle. For example:

Shinji Ikari in Eva Unit 01 Vs. Heero Yui in Gundam Wing

Fun stuff there!

NewType - FINALLY translated and brought to English speaking channels, this classic and DEFINITIVE anime magazine from Japan is now available in the U.S. Containing BEAUTIFUL artwork, some made EXCLUSIVELY for the magazine, this mag has in depth anime reviews, what's on TV in Japan, some great articles, a plethora of fan art, and has a sample of a manga inserted each month. If that wasn't incentive enough, each issue also contains a sample DVD of new anime being released, and it contains WHOLE and COMPLETE episodes! Even if it is just one or two episodes, it's enough to get you to go out and BUY THEM!

Now for the manga anthologies

Shonen Jump - Thanks to a special deal between Shonen Jump's Japanese publisher and Viz Communications, Shonen Jump contains IMMENSELY popular manga in an anthology that's at a reasonable $5 price! With titles like DBZ (now done in Shonen, but continuing in graphic novel format), Yu-Gi-Oh, Hikaru No Go, Yu Yu Hakusho, Shaman King, One Piece, and... yes... NARUTO, this sucker compiles the top popular boys manga into one book. With looks at U.S. media releases for the popular titles, some issues contain mega rare extras like Yu-Gi-Oh cards EXCLUSIVE to Shonen Jump. A MUST read!

Animerica Extra - Before there was Shonen Jump and it's sister magazine, Shoujo Beat, there was Animerica Extra. Formerly known as "Manga Vizion" from Viz, Animerica Extra was a sibling manga anthology to tie in with their other magazine, Animerica. It contained a mix of popular shoujo titles (Fushigi Yugi, Revolutionary Girl Utena), and some well known shonen titles (Video Girl Ai for one). I believe it is now defunct as Viz has basically split what WOULD have been in the magazine amongst the two siblings Animerica has now. (If Animerica Extra IS still being published, someone please let me know!) The two siblings are of course Shonen Jump and...

Shoujo Beat - A new manga anthology from Viz Communications that contains popular Shoujo titles for all the girls (and boys) to enjoy with romance, angst, and some freaky ass stuff too! If you want your manga anthologies with a hint of feminine charm, THIS is the one to get!

Super Manga Blast! - Dark Horse Comics' take on manga anthologies, this contains some of the popular mangas that Dark Horse published in the past (and is following up on), as well as some really offbeat and new stuff. Here, Dark Horse publishes new stories from Makoto Kobayashi (What's Michael?, Club 9), as well as Masamune Shirow (Appleseed) amongst others who have some really good manga out there.

MixxZine - Before Tokyopop was Tokyopop, it was called "Mixx Entertainment" and they are noted for being the FIRST to bring the ever popular Sailor Moon manga (far superior to the anime) to the U.S. The early issues of the magazine were of poor quality (and are probably a collector's item to have one that isn't ripped or torn), and the anthology did not become very popular. It did nab some landmark titles including Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth, and now Parasyte which is becoming a live action movie over in Japan (or is China making it?). Later, Tokyopop decided to dump the less popular Shonen manga to create...

Smile! - Which I pray to God isn't named after Apollo Smile, who I PERSONALLY blame for killing Sci-Fi's Saturday Anime block among other things. Anyway, continuing Sailor Moon and adding other Shoujo manga to this magazine was a great idea. Graphic novels coming onto the shelves were a great idea, and it was when this mag came out that Mixx became Tokyopop. I believe Tokyopop dumped the mag in order to focus SOLELY on graphic novels which they found were still well received and cost less to produce when "Un-flipped". This helped generate the manga boom of 2003!

Raijin Comics - this manga anthology had some BIG names under its belt, including Slam Dunk and City Hunter, along with a prequel to Fist of the North Star by the guy who DID Fist of the North Star! The problem was that the anthology came out at the same time that Shonen Jump did, and currently, Raijin Comics is pretty much dead. While "On hiatus", it's possible that unless the parent company, Gutsoon, is able to turn a profit and get their mojo back, we might not see these wonderful titles in the near future... at all!

Currently, one of the heads of Raijin Comics' American distribution is now working for CMX Comics, which is owned by DC.

So for a rundown of who's publishing who...

We have:

ADV Manga (Owned by ADV, duh!) - No manga anthology / graphic novels
CMX (Owned by DC Comics) - No manga anthology (yet) / graphic novels
CPM Manga (Owned by CPM, duh!) - No manga anthology / graphic novels
Dark Horse Comics - Super Manga Blast! (Anthology) / graphic novels
Del Rey Manga - (Owned by Random House Publishing!) - No manga anthology / graphic novels
Dr. Master - (Bought out Comics One) - No manga anthology / graphic novels
Tokyopop - Manga Anthologies Tokyopop Magazine and Smile! assumed defunct (new magazine Takuhai is NOT an anthology) / graphic novels
Viz - Shonen Jump and Shoujo Beat anthologies / graphic novels

And now for the dearly departed:

ComicsOne (Now lives on through Dr. Master)
Raijin Comics (we will miss you! Hope CMX buys your licenses)
Studio Ironcat (Poor Steve Bennett!)

There are some other smaller publishers out there, so keep an eye out!

Okay, so that got a little off track from the manga anthologies, but to really keep track of all the magazines and publications that aren't graphic novels here in the states requires a little bit of history and information.

Let's hope that the defunct companies get their titles up and running again, and I hope SOMEBODY keeps the Sailor Moon manga in print! That stuff's good!

~Otaku-Man

IamSano · Post by **IamSano** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:48 pm

Wow! Thanks for the detailed info Otaku-man. Whats everyone's opinion on whats the best anime magazine and why? That'd be very helpful so I can decide which one to subscribe to. Thanks.

xchobitz2miyu · Post by **xchobitz2miyu** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:56 pm

There are tons of anime magazines in the u.s. if you just know where to look. Personally, i don't Barnes and Nobles features a lot of anime-themed magazines...

If you go to the anime expo, they give you TONS of samples of different anime magazines (Animerica, Shojo Beat, etc.) It's cool ~ some magazines are all about giving you a chapter of different mangas!

Waldenbooks has a lot of magazines (then again it could just be the Westminster Mall~)

OtakuMan22 · Post by **OtakuMan22** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:08 am

Here's my take:

If you want a magazine with information, gobs of content, and excellent features, here are the top three contenders:

1. NewType
2. Animerica
3. Protoculture Addicts

And if you want a manga anthology with lots of cool, neato manga in one nice cheap package, then the top three would be:

1. Shonen Jump
2. Super Manga Blast!
3. uhhhh.... Shoujo Beat?

So there are your top three contenders per each catagory AND my top picks for each of the two catagories.

Enjoy!

~Otaku-Man