Say, did you know you can embed selections from Google Books, just like YouTube Videos? Well, yes, we can.
This an excerpt from Publishers Weekly, 1888, on how a new sales-and-distribution model is threatening the ‘old’ way of doing business via established local bookstores.
Anyone care to draw parallels to Amazon, or to ebooks?
Note: actually posted 7 July 2011 and backdated
Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 20 March 2011
##
last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary
The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 20 March 2011
Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding20March2011
Manga Top 500
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [387.0] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [362.0] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Bleach 34 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [354.0] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [341.0] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Maximum Ride 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [328.5] ::
6. ↔0 (6) : Black Butler 3 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [328.5] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Hetalia Axis Powers 2 – Tokyopop, Dec 2010 [314.2] ::
8. ↔0 (8) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [309.0] ::
9. ↑2 (11) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [302.0] ::
10. ↑2 (12) : Hetalia Axis Powers 1 – Tokyopop, Sep 2010 [284.4] ::
[more]
Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:
Viz Shonen Jump 93
Yen Press 58
Viz Shojo Beat 52
Tokyopop 51
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 40
Vizkids 32
HC/Tokyopop 19
Del Rey 16
Viz 16
DMP Juné 14
[more]
Top 50 Series:
1. ↑1 (2) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [792.1] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Black Butler – Yen Press [758.9] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [648.2] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [639.5] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Hetalia Axis Powers – Tokyopop [604.6] ::
6. ↔0 (6) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [537.9] ::
7. ↑1 (8) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [509.5] ::
8. ↑1 (9) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [482.5] ::
9. ↑2 (11) : Alice in the Country of Hearts – Tokyopop [482.1] ::
10. ↓-3 (7) : Soul Eater – Yen Press [480.5] ::
[more]
Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [387.0] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Bleach 34 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [354.0] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [341.0] ::
9. ↑2 (11) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [302.0] ::
17. ↓-4 (13) : Soul Eater 5 – Yen Press, Feb 2011 [259.6] ::
21. ↓-1 (20) : Maid Sama! 8 – Tokyopop, Mar 2011 [214.6] ::
32. ↓-6 (26) : Bakuman 3 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [171.7] ::
37. ↑13 (50) : Toradora! 1 – Seven Seas, Mar 2011 [161.3] ::
38. ↓-7 (31) : Dark Hunters 4 – St. Martin’s Griffin, Mar 2011 [160.7] ::
39. ↑59 (98) : Dogs 5 – Viz, Mar 2011 [160.6] ::
[more]
Top 50 Preorders:
28. ↑14 (42) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [179.9] ::
86. ↓-3 (83) : Black Butler 5 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [103.7] ::
127. ↑61 (188) : Naruto 51 – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2011 [75.2] ::
159. ↑102 (261) : Hetalia Axis Powers 3 – Tokyopop, Cancelled [59.8] ::
184. ↑18 (202) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [53.6] ::
220. ↑1 (221) : Bakuman 4 – Viz Shonen Jump, May 2011 [44.0] ::
228. ↓-22 (206) : Highschool of the Dead 2 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [42.4] ::
258. ↑new (0) : Naruto vols 1-3 collection – Viz Shonen Jump, May 2011 [35.1] ::
272. ↑94 (366) : Omamori Himari 3 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [31.8] ::
292. ↑223 (515) : Finder Series 4 Prisoner in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Aug 2011 [28.5] ::
[more]
Top 50 Manhwa:
135. ↑13 (148) : Bride of the Water God 7 – Dark Horse, Feb 2011 [70.0] ::
221. ↑32 (253) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [43.8] ::
436. ↓-69 (367) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [10.6] ::
445. ↑159 (604) : Black God 12 – Yen Press, Mar 2011 [9.8] ::
680. ↑308 (988) : Chronicles of the Grim Peddler 1 – Udon, May 2008 [1.0] ::
690. ↓-241 (449) : Priest 3 – Tokyopop, Nov 2002 [0.8] ::
698. ↓-77 (621) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [0.6] ::
832. ↑ (last ranked 13 Feb 11) : Angel Diary 5 – Yen Press, Dec 2006 [0.1] ::
841. ↓-24 (817) : Priest 1 – Tokyopop, Jul 2002 [0.1] ::
862. ↓-29 (833) : Angel Diary 13 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [0.1] ::
[more]
Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:
57. ↓-11 (46) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [134.0] ::
71. ↑5 (76) : Crimson Snow – Tokyopop Blu, Mar 2011 [118.6] ::
75. ↓-3 (72) : Demon Contract (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Sep 2010 [114.0] ::
93. ↓-48 (45) : Incubus Master (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jan 2010 [97.0] ::
119. ↑19 (138) : Caged Slave (novel) – DMP Juné, May 2008 [78.6] ::
173. ↑37 (210) : Belovéd 5860 (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Oct 2010 [56.5] ::
184. ↑18 (202) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [53.6] ::
206. ↑168 (374) : Kizuna Deluxe Edition 2 – DMP Juné, Feb 2011 [47.5] ::
211. ↑34 (245) : No Touching At All – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [46.1] ::
232. ↑24 (256) : Finder Series 1 Target in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Sep 2010 [41.6] ::
[more]
Note: actually posted 7 July 2011 and backdated
Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 13 March 2011
##
last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary
The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 13 March 2011
Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding13March2011
Manga Top 500
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [390.5] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [381.5] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [363.0] ::
4. ↑9 (13) : Bleach 34 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [356.2] ::
5. ↑5 (10) : Maximum Ride 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [337.7] ::
6. ↓-1 (5) : Black Butler 3 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [322.8] ::
7. ↓-3 (4) : Hetalia Axis Powers 2 – Tokyopop, Dec 2010 [321.7] ::
8. ↓-1 (7) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [319.6] ::
9. ↓-3 (6) : Fullmetal Alchemist 24 – Viz, Jan 2011 [311.0] ::
10. ↓-2 (8) : Vampire Knight 11 – Viz Shojo Beat, Dec 2010 [304.5] ::
[more]
Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:
Viz Shonen Jump 100
Tokyopop 54
Yen Press 53
Viz Shojo Beat 51
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 40
Vizkids 32
HC/Tokyopop 19
DMP Juné 14
Viz 14
Del Rey 13
[more]
Top 50 Series:
1. ↔0 (1) : Black Butler – Yen Press [773.7] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [772.8] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [656.0] ::
4. ↑2 (6) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [655.6] ::
5. ↓-1 (4) : Hetalia Axis Powers – Tokyopop [612.0] ::
6. ↓-1 (5) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [582.8] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Soul Eater – Yen Press [512.9] ::
8. ↔0 (8) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [509.1] ::
9. ↔0 (9) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [507.7] ::
10. ↔0 (10) : Fullmetal Alchemist – Viz [474.2] ::
[more]
Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [390.5] ::
3. ↔0 (3) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [363.0] ::
4. ↑9 (13) : Bleach 34 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [356.2] ::
11. ↓-2 (9) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [299.5] ::
13. ↓-2 (11) : Soul Eater 5 – Yen Press, Feb 2011 [282.4] ::
20. ↑12 (32) : Maid Sama! 8 – Tokyopop, Mar 2011 [224.3] ::
26. ↓-3 (23) : Bakuman 3 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [187.7] ::
31. ↑24 (55) : Dark Hunters 4 – St. Martin’s Griffin, Mar 2011 [175.0] ::
38. ↑11 (49) : Akira 5 – Kodansha Comics, Feb 2011 [164.0] ::
41. ↓-17 (24) : Pokemon Adventures 11 – Vizkids, Feb 2011 [155.4] ::
[more]
Top 50 Preorders:
42. ↑42 (84) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [153.4] ::
83. ↓-7 (76) : Black Butler 5 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [106.3] ::
188. ↑65 (253) : Naruto 51 – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2011 [54.2] ::
202. ↑187 (389) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [49.4] ::
206. ↑7 (213) : Highschool of the Dead 2 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [48.6] ::
221. ↑ (last ranked 13 Feb 11) : Bakuman 4 – Viz Shonen Jump, May 2011 [44.0] ::
261. ↑40 (301) : Hetalia Axis Powers 3 – Tokyopop, Cancelled [35.0] ::
366. ↑89 (455) : Omamori Himari 3 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [17.0] ::
377. ↓-18 (359) : Bleach 35 – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2011 [15.1] ::
431. ↑106 (537) : Spice & Wolf (manga) 4 – Yen Press, May 2011 [9.4] ::
[more]
Top 50 Manhwa:
148. ↓-28 (120) : Bride of the Water God 7 – Dark Horse, Feb 2011 [68.1] ::
253. ↑62 (315) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [36.0] ::
367. ↑24 (391) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [16.9] ::
449. ↑3 (452) : Priest 3 – Tokyopop, Nov 2002 [8.2] ::
604. ↑new (0) : Black God 12 – Yen Press, Mar 2011 [1.8] ::
621. ↓-17 (604) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [1.5] ::
817. ↑ (last ranked 9 Jan 11) : Priest 1 – Tokyopop, Jul 2002 [0.1] ::
833. ↓-121 (712) : Angel Diary 13 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [0.1] ::
875. ↑ (last ranked 21 Nov 10) : King of Hell 12 – Tokyopop, Feb 2006 [0.1] ::
884. ↓-43 (841) : Bride of the Water God 1 – Dark Horse, Oct 2007 [0.1] ::
[more]
Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:
45. ↓-1 (44) : Incubus Master (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jan 2010 [150.0] ::
46. ↓-5 (41) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [148.7] ::
72. ↓-9 (63) : Demon Contract (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Sep 2010 [116.3] ::
76. ↑122 (198) : Crimson Snow – Tokyopop Blu, Mar 2011 [113.9] ::
138. ↑16 (154) : Caged Slave (novel) – DMP Juné, May 2008 [72.4] ::
202. ↑187 (389) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [49.4] ::
210. ↓-15 (195) : Belovéd 5860 (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Oct 2010 [47.6] ::
245. ↓-78 (167) : No Touching At All – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [38.0] ::
256. ↓-23 (233) : Finder Series 1 Target in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Sep 2010 [35.7] ::
275. ↓-5 (270) : Junjo Romantica 1 – Tokyopop Blu, Oct 2006 [32.5] ::
[more]
Do you know what I hate most?
[this week, in this particular instance]
- Business press reporting the stock price of a company like it has anything to do with the business. Are you kidding me? – in a world where one well-placed skeevy slimeball can manipulate the generally-misplaced-but-widespread faith in ‘stocks’ to scam $65 Billion out of intelligent, conservative investors – OK, you tell me, is the stock market little more than a lottery? And a bet that’s fixed in favor of the house?
##
Sure, if you want to invest in a company, invest. Please do so, our economy needs it.
But buying stock is not an investment. A share in a company is just a token, a marker: the actual investment was years ago, with the IPO (or before) and now you’re just paying someone else for their stake – you don’t actually put money into the company, you’re just covering someone else’s bet.
All of the gains made in stocks [capital gains which are for some reason not taxable as regular income — even though capital losses are fully deductable] are little more than lottery winnings, pure gravy – & do nothing for the economy (the money made exchanging stocks do not go back the companies represented by them)
— and smart investments, long term capital investments that build infrastructure and create jobs, take decades to pay off, so the so-called ‘capital gains’ exception is meaningless and only encourage short-term, short-sighted investment.
I don’t understand the ‘capital gains’ exemption. I really, really don’t — and not from a political position, I can’t wrap my brain around it logically. Indeed, investment is never taxed. If you take money and pour it into research and facilities and payroll and product development and efficiencies in manufacturing and the supply-chain: you won’t be taxed for a single dollar of money you put into the business. Indeed, if you lose money, your tax burden goes down
Investors and Businesess are only taxed when they take money out, instead of reinvesting it.
Profits are taxed, not investment.
Large portions of certain politcal arguments about taxation and the economy are based on false premises: if corporations re-invested and hired new staff and created new product lines and put large sums into research and development: there would be no profits to tax.
We only tax the money individuals and corporations attempt to take out of the economy. There are no laws or rules saying you can’t cash out – but after taking advantage of the system for years you can’t suddenly complain that there’s an exit fee when you want to stop playing the game.
You object to my characterization of business as a game?
So:
The stock market is no more legitimate than the keno game at a casino – valid so long as the house plays along, but not a bedrock on which we should found our economy. It’s not money that is invested, it’s the ghost of old money traded back and forth and back and forth for decades. It might seem important, but stocks and stock prices are the least important thing we could talk about when it comes to business
Stock prices are just an opinion poll – kind of like using the votes for homecoming king/queen as a means of determining GPA, or using the ‘most likely etc’ polls posted in a yearbook to determine college placement.
Serious analysis [and serious analysts] should ignore the stock price.
The company stands or fails on it’s own merits; the stock price is nice bit of trivia but has nothing to do with how the company is run, or what it’s actual profit potential might be.
Please reference:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agora
related: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_(Roman)
related: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza
related: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza
related: Public Square
— check that last link for synonyms: city square, civic center, commons, open market, French place, platz, praça, public square, town green, or Maidan…
like the Midan Tahrir — you might have heard of Tahrir Square. Seems something happened there last month.
##
Open spaces have, from time immemorial, had to serve two purposes: commerce, and communication.
When two people meet, they can exchange goods. Depends on how good the price it is, though; if I don’t want your proffered wares (or if you ask too much in exchange) then we’re not going to make a deal.
However, when two people meet: they always exchange ideas. Even if you just sit there and refuse to talk, refuse to make eye contact even — well, I’ve certainly learned something about you, if nothing else. What you chose to share combined with the questions you refuse to answer — I can learn quite a bit about you no matter what other commerce or exchange takes place.
This is the Public Square, this is the Commons. We interact, we share [or not], we buy and sell [or not], and we negotiate. We debate. We conflict. We talk.
Compare the Agora to the Marketplace:
Since the earliest public spaces naturally attracted commerce, over time the nature of the word changed to the point that commerce became the only meaning of the word: the old senses of ‘public assembly’ and discussion and debate and meetings and comings and goings were subsumed into the larger and more ‘important’ economic aspects.
It’s not uncommon to hear the modern turn of phrase “marketplace of ideas” — which to me is kind of funny as the “markets” and marketplaces have always been about exchange, and these public spaces at their origins were primarily about ideas — meeting and talking.
The internet has become the new Agora: the gathering place.
To think of Digital Distribution and Downloads and eBooks and Amazon as the new market place, and as the internet as merely being a function of these [or just the underlying foundation, like a new public utilty] is myopic at best and willfully ignorant at the very least and downright stupid at worst:
It’s about more than just digital. It’s more than just commerce. The internet is the new conversation, a global conversation, and sure: that means we buy and sell stuff.
But the internet is so much more.
Like the Greek citizen-farmer-solider of Athens back in 500BCE we’re just going to have to work things out by trial and error: the rules and institutions of the internet as they currently stand are well-thought-out and they seem to address the needs of today—and seem to do so well enough—but the potential of the Agora was so much more, and so is the internet’s.
After 2500 years, we have two ultimate expressions of the Agora: the shopping mall, and the United Nations
in another 2500 years, what will the internet look like, and what will that mean for civilization?
Note: actually posted 7 July 2011 and backdated
Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 06 March 2011
##
last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary
The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 06 March 2011
Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding6March2011
Manga Top 500
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [396.0] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [393.5] ::
3. ↑16 (19) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [368.7] ::
4. ↔0 (4) : Hetalia Axis Powers 2 – Tokyopop, Dec 2010 [341.0] ::
5. ↑1 (6) : Black Butler 3 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [330.3] ::
6. ↓-1 (5) : Fullmetal Alchemist 24 – Viz, Jan 2011 [323.5] ::
7. ↑1 (8) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [323.0] ::
8. ↓-1 (7) : Vampire Knight 11 – Viz Shojo Beat, Dec 2010 [321.7] ::
9. ↓-6 (3) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [313.9] ::
10. ↓-1 (9) : Maximum Ride 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [307.9] ::
[more]
Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:
Viz Shonen Jump 98
Yen Press 56
Viz Shojo Beat 54
Tokyopop 49
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 40
Vizkids 34
HC/Tokyopop 19
Viz 15
Del Rey 13
DMP Juné 12
[more]
Top 50 Series:
1. ↑1 (2) : Black Butler – Yen Press [791.0] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [783.7] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [642.1] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Hetalia Axis Powers – Tokyopop [638.1] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [607.1] ::
6. ↑4 (10) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [603.9] ::
7. ↑2 (9) : Soul Eater – Yen Press [533.9] ::
8. ↓-2 (6) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [529.9] ::
9. ↑5 (14) : Yu-Gi-Oh! – Viz Shonen Jump [513.0] ::
10. ↓-3 (7) : Fullmetal Alchemist – Viz [479.0] ::
[more]
Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [396.0] ::
3. ↑16 (19) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [368.7] ::
9. ↓-6 (3) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [313.9] ::
11. ↑4 (15) : Soul Eater 5 – Yen Press, Feb 2011 [302.2] ::
13. ↑19 (32) : Bleach 34 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [295.4] ::
23. ↓-5 (18) : Bakuman 3 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [200.6] ::
24. ↓-3 (21) : Pokemon Adventures 11 – Vizkids, Feb 2011 [198.6] ::
32. ↑28 (60) : Maid Sama! 8 – Tokyopop, Mar 2011 [177.1] ::
39. ↓-10 (29) : Seekers 2 Kallik’s Adventure – HC/Tokyopop, Feb 2011 [162.3] ::
41. ↑14 (55) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [158.5] ::
[more]
Top 50 Preorders:
76. ↑12 (88) : Black Butler 5 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [111.7] ::
84. ↑43 (127) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [104.4] ::
213. ↑65 (278) : Highschool of the Dead 2 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [46.1] ::
253. ↓-33 (220) : Naruto 51 – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2011 [37.1] ::
301. ↑25 (326) : Hetalia Axis Powers 3 – Tokyopop, Cancelled [27.5] ::
359. ↑99 (458) : Bleach 35 – Viz Shonen Jump, Jun 2011 [17.1] ::
370. ↑61 (431) : Mega Man Gigamix 1 – Udon, Jul 2011 [15.5] ::
381. ↑29 (410) : Black Bird 10 – Viz Shojo Beat, Sep 2011 [14.3] ::
389. ↑320 (709) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 3 – DMP Juné, May 2011 [13.7] ::
402. ↑27 (429) : Black Bird 9 – Viz Shojo Beat, Jul 2011 [12.6] ::
[more]
Top 50 Manhwa:
120. ↓-57 (63) : Bride of the Water God 7 – Dark Horse, Feb 2011 [79.2] ::
315. ↑27 (342) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [25.3] ::
391. ↓-4 (387) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [13.5] ::
452. ↑154 (606) : Priest 3 – Tokyopop, Nov 2002 [7.6] ::
604. ↑74 (678) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [1.8] ::
712. ↑28 (740) : Angel Diary 13 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [0.2] ::
782. ↑101 (883) : Bride of the Water God 5 – Dark Horse, Feb 2010 [0.1] ::
841. ↑15 (856) : Bride of the Water God 1 – Dark Horse, Oct 2007 [0.1] ::
879. ↑96 (975) : Laon 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [0.1] ::
914. ↑67 (981) : Goong 9 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [0.0] ::
[more]
Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:
41. ↑14 (55) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [158.5] ::
44. ↓-1 (43) : Incubus Master (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jan 2010 [151.5] ::
63. ↑1 (64) : Demon Contract (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Sep 2010 [124.3] ::
154. ↓-16 (138) : Caged Slave (novel) – DMP Juné, May 2008 [66.5] ::
167. ↓-49 (118) : No Touching At All – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [62.3] ::
195. ↓-4 (191) : Belovéd 5860 (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Oct 2010 [53.3] ::
198. ↑342 (540) : Crimson Snow – Tokyopop Blu, Mar 2011 [52.8] ::
233. ↑70 (303) : Finder Series 1 Target in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Sep 2010 [41.9] ::
237. ↓-94 (143) : Close the Last Door 2 – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [41.3] ::
255. ↓-61 (194) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 2 – DMP Juné, Jan 2011 [36.7] ::
[more]
I previously (as in, just this past January) lived in the “suburbs”, actually one of the ring cities just off the Perimeter (I-285 in Atlanta) about 12 miles or so from where I work. I took transit, which ate up about 50 minutes to an hour each way — sometimes more when you’re stuck waiting on a train or bus. Back when I drove to work on a regular basis, the same commute took about a half hour — sometimes more when stuck in traffic (with no real alternate routes) or maybe a little less if I took the toll highway and paid 50 cents. Of course, most mornings during rush hour you could count on paying the 50 cents and getting stuck in traffic.
But Sandy Springs (the incorporated city that immediately borders Atlanta on the north) was convenient: a mall five minutes away, decent connections to transit [including a direct rail line to the airport], shopping, restaurants, easy interstate highway access and everything most folks could think of: even the hospitals were close by. Seems like everything was just 5 minutes away, a short drive, maybe a little traffic…
[“5 minutes away” quickly becomes 20, with traffic, but most folks don’t think of it that way]
But making the decision to *not* drive not only made the suburbs less convenient, you start to get odd looks from people, and you notice how few roads have sidewalks, and when the transit authority decides to cut service because local governments are too short-sighted to invest in quality-of-life infrastructure, well…
So for the past few months I had been looking for a decent neighborhood to move to, where I could walk to all the necessities and grab a bus (or bike) for longer trips to department stores or a shopping mall. (I shop quite a bit online, and I own too much stuff anyway, so there isn’t much I need a store for.)
Fortunately for me, I work for a bookstore, and the real estate department did a very good job picking a neighborhood already.
View The Local in a larger map
Approximate distance (door-to-door)
Grocery store (1): .3mi, 480m, 10min (Trader Joe’s)
Grocery store (2): .65mi, 1080m, 20min (Kroger)
Grocery store (3): .7mi, 1170m, 20min (Publix)
Closest 24hr. convenience store that sells beer: .25mi, 390m, 5min
Local Library: .35mi, 570m, 12min
Local Comic Shop: .66mi, 1080m, 20min (Oxford Comics)
The Local: .31mi, 500m, 10min (Fado Atlanta, an Irish Pub)
Post Office: .33mi, 540m, 10min
Bike Shop: .95mi, 1520m, 30min (Peachtree Bikes)
Nearest Rail Station: .95mi, 1550m, 30min
Nearest bus stop: .3mi, 490m, 10min.
Nearest bus stop, alternate route: .3mi, 500m, 10min.
One bus goes up to the Lenox & Phipps shopping malls (or south to Downtown) while the other goes to the Lindbergh shopping center (with a Marta rail station, and a Home Depot among other retailers) or north up to yet another rail station and the Perimeter Mall. Not bad for transit options.
Work: .7 miles, 1140 metres, 20 minutes
and of course, the nearest book store is where I work.
##
This isn’t free: I went from a situation where I lived with roommates in an apartment in the suburbs, to an in-town location (in a nice neighborhood!) and on top of that, a one bedroom apt. where I have to pay rent and all utilities myself.
Ready for this? About $280 more a month.
I was spending $68 a month for a transit pass; before that I was spending about $60 a month on gas (and more for car insurance) — so I save a bit there but the rent goes up.
But I think the real differential is that I moved out on my own, no roommates. I could have moved 5 years ago, even — this apartment complex is older than that by a decade or two — so it wasn’t the money that pushed me out into the suburbs.
When I went to Georgia Tech, of course I lived in town: GT is an urban campus. Knocking around the first few years after GT I moved way out (35 miles) and also moved back in with my parents for a year, but only now does it occur to me that I’ve been slowly circling around intown living for years: moving closer to the perimeter, moving closer to transit, and finally: moving to within walking distance of where I work.
We all make decisions. But what we can “afford” is a consideration that goes way past money:
What is your time worth? How much does traffic (& stress from traffic) actually cost? Do you need a back garden, or a yard, or multiple acres of wooded landscape out you back bedroom window? Do you need a car, or is it just a matter of getting your driver’s license at 16 (or 18) and, well, the first thing is to get a car, and…
…and?
[yeah, I know, it’s a really big question.]
We can’t all live in tight, well-designed urban spaces. We can’t all live like the Dutch, or the Japanese — or in liveable, vibrant cities like Paris, London, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, etc, etc, etc. You can even argue that we shouldn’t — but I feel we should. And if I can find a walkable, pleasant neighborhood with sushi bars and pubs and a library and comic shop and major chain bookstore in Atlanta (cited alongside cities like Houston and LA as poster-children of suburban and exurban sprawl) then I think many of us could.
I don’t have kids. I’m single, so I don’t have to balance the needs of a spouse or partner and the demands of their job and their priorities. I can be selfish. I can accept an older building without every latest amenity, and 20 year old kitchen cabinets and a closet of a bathroom and cracks showing even under a fresh coat of paint. I can compromise on these little things to live in a great neighborhood; others will compromise on the neighborhood in order to live in a spacious brand-new house. Neither of us is wrong.
Living “in the city” isn’t like TV dreams of New York or cinematic Paris: There’s nothing all that fancy about my new neighborhood. In many ways it resembles the town square of a much smaller city: local shopping, a few major chains, and the restaurants are nice enough but aren’t 4-star by any means. But I have a library, and a bookstore and a comic shop all within an easy 20 minute walk.
And I’m going to be happy here, in a way I wasn’t for years, in a way I haven’t been since college. If I had kids and that set of considerations, of course I’d look at it differently. But for now: I’m home
Prior discussion, partial prior discussion, presented more or less in order:
http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/02/21/diamond-gem-awards-show-comic-market-view-of-manga/
http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/02/22/we-chat-with-dark-horses-michael-gombos-about-their-manga-publishing-program/
http://www.mangablog.net/?p=10088
http://www.comicsbeat.com/2011/02/23/is-dark-horse-really-in-the-manga-game/
Still running a week or so behind.
Anyway, the Dark Horse manga discussion [don’t think it even rises to the level of ‘debate’] incorporated parts of the larger bookstore vs. comic shop debate, which reminded me of one of the long-simmering topics I always meant to work up into a full rethinking the box post.
Bookstores will always have a place so long as there are tweens and teens with cash.
We’ve not yet reached the point where 11 and 12 year olds qualify for credit cards, or where parents transfer allowances to debit cards instead of handing out cash. The jobs most of us work prior to age 16 are all cash-under-the-table, more often than not, and even venturing into the workforce most of us deposited paychecks while taking only a little cash — if we had goals to save up for — and would just cash the whole thing out if we didn’t. Until folks hit college (and after?) the primary tender is cash-in-hand, often supplementing a gift card, but not credit or debit.
This will change, as our society changes. But even when it becomes possible, will online sales sites sell to folks under 18 without some sort of parental approval? That’s a tougher question.
BruceMcF has commented on this at least once (vague memories point to him mentioning it at least once before) in the last Unique Experiences post.
No matter what happens online or with e-books, there is still no way to capture the cash-only customer.
And teens have cash. Teens like comics. They also like movies, and junk food, and energy drinks with industrial-grade-levels of caffeine, and illicitly procured alcohol (and other diversions) and awkward social interactions and awkward sex and awkward breakups and all that crap — I almost called it “Judy Blume crap” but I don’t want to insult Judy Blume fans, and I don’t recall that she wrote sex scenes.
Anyway, teens have cash, teens like comics, and teens without cars can con Mom or Dad into giving them a ride to the bookstore [or the mall] — or will be dragged along while Moms and/or Dads [in whatever combinations] stop by the bookstore for esspresso drinks and magazines and annoying booksellers with questions.
Books, as entertainment, have to compete with video games and DVDs and movies — and the internet — but we still manage to score some small but constant fraction of that teen cash business.
Comic shops — would need to have teens coming in, before they could say the same. In the 80s? Yes. In the 90s? Yes. In 2011? Well, I think our teens have grown into 30-year-old connoisseurs of comics-as-art [or loser fanboys] and while they might have more income, they don’t spend nearly as much of it on comics.
And comics, as entertainment, have to compete with video games and TV shows and DVDs and movies and hardware purchases — and the internet, and other books — especially for the sort of customer who is still buying comics into her 30s.
[see what I did there? pronouns for the win.]
The success of manga in bookstores comes down to
and
and
[certain indy comics also have appeal — I’m thinking Scott Pilgrim here, but for it’s content, not it’s visual style]
##
One thing we’ve done at my bookstore is to start stocking actual comic books – part of this is due to local Borders in decline, part of it is due to broader customer interest with all these superhero movies recently —
but mostly it’s that 3 of 7 managers are comics fanboys [two DC, one of whom also reads a little Marvel, and of course one mangaholic] [guess who] — and also our lead bookseller in charge of the newsstand, who called someone at corporate in New York and asked: say, can we get some comics?
It is such small potatoes, about 30 titles out of a newsstand that stocks thousands (about 2500 different magazines, considering my display space) but hey: we have comics.
And they’re selling. I think Hastings also discovered the same thing.
Of Course some folks just grab a stack of comics, stake out one of our chairs and read them in store. We’re a bookstore, this is what people do. But: the comics are selling. And I think our trade paperback (and hardcover!) collections are starting to sell as well. Not as well as the manga, because, well, Naruto et al. – but they are selling.
Teens with cash. A retail space that is open, and inviting. A ‘neutral’ location that not only doesn’t turn-off parents, but is the sort of place the parents also want to visit. Offerings for all ages, from 3 to 6 to 11 to 13 to 16 to “Oh my god, would you look at what they’re doing in this comic”
Of course manga sells well out of bookstores. So does sparkly-vampire-fiction-with-barely-contained-sexual-metaphors-and-some-actual-sex. Teens love this stuff. It’s a matter of having stuff people want in a space they want to visit. I think a “comics bookstore” (focused: like a mystery bookstore or a travel bookstore) could do quite well where a “local comic shop” does not. I said as much, two years ago, though perhaps I didn’t articulate the point well.
Note: actually posted 7 July 2011 and backdated
Your Executive Summary and Index, Week Ending 27 February 2011
##
last week’s charts
about the charts
analysis & commentary
The Weekly Charts:
Week Ending 27 February 2011
Internet Archive Link: http://www.archive.org/details/MangaRankingsWeekEnding27February2011
Manga Top 500
1. ↑1 (2) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [408.0] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [401.0] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [362.5] ::
4. ↑1 (5) : Hetalia Axis Powers 2 – Tokyopop, Dec 2010 [350.0] ::
5. ↓-2 (3) : Fullmetal Alchemist 24 – Viz, Jan 2011 [346.5] ::
6. ↑2 (8) : Black Butler 3 – Yen Press, Oct 2010 [338.0] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Vampire Knight 11 – Viz Shojo Beat, Dec 2010 [328.5] ::
8. ↑1 (9) : Black Butler 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [324.5] ::
9. ↓-3 (6) : Maximum Ride 3 – Yen Press, Aug 2010 [317.0] ::
10. ↔0 (10) : Hetalia Axis Powers 1 – Tokyopop, Sep 2010 [303.6] ::
[more]
Top Imprints
Number of titles ranking in the Manga 500:
Viz Shonen Jump 96
Yen Press 59
Viz Shojo Beat 54
Tokyopop 48
Viz Shonen Jump Advanced 36
Vizkids 33
HC/Tokyopop 19
Viz 16
Del Rey 15
Seven Seas 12
[more]
Top 50 Series:
1. ↔0 (1) : Naruto – Viz Shonen Jump [822.2] ::
2. ↔0 (2) : Black Butler – Yen Press [807.1] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Hetalia Axis Powers – Tokyopop [655.9] ::
4. ↓-1 (3) : Maximum Ride – Yen Press [655.8] ::
5. ↔0 (5) : Vampire Knight – Viz Shojo Beat [608.9] ::
6. ↔0 (6) : Black Bird – Viz Shojo Beat [572.9] ::
7. ↔0 (7) : Fullmetal Alchemist – Viz [508.8] ::
8. ↔0 (8) : Alice in the Country of Hearts – Tokyopop [495.1] ::
9. ↑6 (15) : Soul Eater – Yen Press [484.8] ::
10. ↔0 (10) : Bleach – Viz Shonen Jump [480.3] ::
[more]
Top 50 New Releases:
(Titles releasing/released This Month & Last)
1. ↑1 (2) : Naruto 50 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [408.0] ::
2. ↓-1 (1) : Black Butler 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [401.0] ::
3. ↑1 (4) : Black Bird 7 – Viz Shojo Beat, Feb 2011 [362.5] ::
5. ↓-2 (3) : Fullmetal Alchemist 24 – Viz, Jan 2011 [346.5] ::
15. ↑30 (45) : Soul Eater 5 – Yen Press, Feb 2011 [272.8] ::
16. ↓-2 (14) : Pandora Hearts 4 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [252.1] ::
18. ↓-1 (17) : Bakuman 3 – Viz Shonen Jump, Feb 2011 [245.6] ::
20. ↓-1 (19) : Highschool of the Dead 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2011 [235.6] ::
21. ↑8 (29) : Pokemon Adventures 11 – Vizkids, Feb 2011 [232.7] ::
29. ↑2 (31) : Seekers 2 Kallik’s Adventure – HC/Tokyopop, Feb 2011 [189.4] ::
[more]
Top 50 Preorders:
19. ↑144 (163) : Yu-Gi-Oh! GX 6 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [244.7] ::
32. ↑107 (139) : Bleach 34 – Viz Shonen Jump, Mar 2011 [175.9] ::
55. ↑22 (77) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [132.5] ::
60. ↑84 (144) : Maid Sama! 8 – Tokyopop, Mar 2011 [130.4] ::
88. ↑60 (148) : Black Butler 5 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [98.3] ::
107. ↑93 (200) : Dark Hunters 4 – St. Martin’s Griffin, Mar 2011 [88.7] ::
127. ↑59 (186) : Maximum Ride 4 – Yen Press, Apr 2011 [74.4] ::
186. ↑597 (783) : Library Wars: Love & War 4 – Viz Shojo Beat, Mar 2011 [54.0] ::
207. ↑27 (234) : K-On! 2 – Yen Press, Mar 2011 [48.9] ::
215. ↑126 (341) : Toradora! 1 – Seven Seas, Mar 2011 [47.4] ::
[more]
Top 50 Manhwa:
63. ↓-27 (36) : Bride of the Water God 7 – Dark Horse, Feb 2011 [127.5] ::
342. ↑46 (388) : March Story 1 – Viz Signature, Oct 2010 [20.3] ::
387. ↑26 (413) : Jack Frost 4 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [14.4] ::
606. ↓-223 (383) : Priest 3 – Tokyopop, Nov 2002 [2.0] ::
678. ↑343 (1021) : Bride of the Water God 6 – Dark Horse, Aug 2010 [0.8] ::
740. ↓-171 (569) : Angel Diary 13 – Yen Press, Dec 2010 [0.2] ::
856. ↑ (last ranked 13 Feb 11) : Bride of the Water God 1 – Dark Horse, Oct 2007 [0.1] ::
883. ↑ (last ranked 6 Feb 10) : Bride of the Water God 5 – Dark Horse, Feb 2010 [0.1] ::
954. ↑88 (1042) : Jack Frost 3 – Yen Press, Jul 2010 [0.0] ::
975. ↑ (last ranked 6 Feb 10) : Laon 1 – Yen Press, Jan 2010 [0.0] ::
[more]
Top 50 BL/Yaoi Volumes:
43. ↑1 (44) : Incubus Master (Kindle ebook) 1 – Yaoi Press, Jan 2010 [154.0] ::
55. ↑22 (77) : Finder Series 3 One Wing in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Mar 2011 [132.5] ::
64. ↑11 (75) : Demon Contract (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Sep 2010 [126.0] ::
118. ↓-6 (112) : No Touching At All – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [82.1] ::
138. ↓-8 (130) : Caged Slave (novel) – DMP Juné, May 2008 [70.6] ::
143. ↓-19 (124) : Close the Last Door 2 – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [68.8] ::
191. ↑64 (255) : Belovéd 5860 (Kindle ebook) – Yaoi Press, Oct 2010 [52.4] ::
194. ↓-75 (119) : The Tyrant Falls in Love 2 – DMP Juné, Jan 2011 [51.6] ::
240. ↓-56 (184) : Pet on Duty Bonus Story: Pet in Love (Kindle ebook) – Animate/Libre, Aug 2010 [40.4] ::
254. ↑25 (279) : Finder Series 2 Cage in the View Finder – DMP Juné, Nov 2010 [36.4] ::
[more]
note: this comic is not about beer
note: this comic is not about Elvis
In my head, I sound like Yahtzee (quite a feat, given my inherited U.S.-flat-midwestern-accent.)
where I start my browsing day...
...and one source I trust for reviews, reports, and opinion on manga specifically. [disclaimer: I'm a contributor there]