Entertainment Weekly interviews Masashi Kishmoto, the creator of Naruto, about his recently concluded series, which is one of the best selling manga in North America. Kishimoto confesses he didn’t expect that: “During the series, manga exploded, and I must say that part of what made Naruto successful was the globalization of manga, and the fact that all over the world, fans can enjoy and read manga even though the reading order is different than what people are used to. Originally, manga was this little niche industry, only appreciated by fans even in Japan. Now most laypeople are aware.”

Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, talks about the business side of running a bookstore.

The Red Shoes

The stories are powerful because they have messages. Growing up in the 70s, most things had happy endings.

We’re not used to suffering or resolutions that are more realistic. It’s not what we expect to happen, but when it does, the story stays with you.

David Alexander Robertson discusses his YA graphic novel Betty: The Helen Osborne Story, which tells the story of a Canadian Native American woman who was abducted and murdered in 1971. Robertson says the book is a way to highlight the issue of violence against indigenous women.

20th Century Fox has picked up Kazu Kibuishi’s series Amulet with the intention of making it into a feature film franchise.

Previews

Figment 2 #3 (Comicosity)
Plants vs. Zombies #6: Grown Sweet Home (Comicosity)
The Storyteller: Dragons #1 (ToughPigs)

Reviews

Matt Morrison on Enchanted (No Flying, No Tights)
Elizabeth Bird on Human Body Theater (School Library Journal)
Drew McCabe on Jughead #1 (Comic Attack)
Emma Weiler on March of the Crabs (No Flying, No Tights)
Helen on vols. 2 and 3 of Ms. Marvel (Narrative Investigations)
Garrett Gottschalk on vols. 1 and 2 of One-Punch Man (No Flying, No Tights)
N. Emmett on Prez #5 (Girls Like Comics)
Nicole Giroux on The Princess and the Pony (No Flying, No Tights)
Ryan Roe on Sesame Street: Another Sunny Day (ToughPigs)
Jamie on Teen Boat: The Race for Boatlantis (The Roarbots)
Robin on Tiny Titans: Return to the Treehouse (No Flying, No Tights)