I've had to block a ton of spam user accounts recently, so I'm switching the new user account creation into approved by administer only. If you want an account, please sign up and also drop me a line via the site's contact form, so I know you are a human and not someone who is only signing up for the site to post links about real estate or drugs.

Continuing with our Manga Blogger Profile series, today we visit Dave Ferraro, who does Manga Monday and more at his blog Comics and More.

Your name or blog handle: Dave Ferraro
Where do you live? United States - Near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
What is the URL of your Blog? http://comics-and-more.blogspot.com

What your blog offers:
Comics-and-More is a blog where I review comics of all sorts: graphic novels, superheroes, art comics, and of course, manga. I have a few features that readers can expect to see consistently, the most popular being "Manga Monday." I do put other content on my site, like my thoughts on music and movies, but comics are my first love, so I keep my focus on that medium. Manga takes up more and more of my time these days, and having that weekly feature forces me to try out books I normally wouldn't read, and I feel like I have a better grasp on things going on in manga for it, and it has enriched my life, as I hope to enrich others through my blog by pointing out the best that the medium has to offer.

What got you started blogging about manga?
I began blogging as a way to write consistently. I write a lot in my free time, mostly novels, and I felt like it was a good exercise to keep my writing sharp. But since I started posting more content, I found that I really enjoyed having a voice in the comic book community. I love championing books that may get overlooked, discovering hidden gems, and just gathering my thoughts about how I feel when I finish reading a new book. Putting my thoughts down helps my critical skills and makes me a better writer: When I see things I don't like in stories, I can think about why I didn't like them and can avoid similar mistakes in my writing. And vise-versa, when I see something I like, I ponder over why it worked for me and apply it to my own work. I also really do just love pointing out good material to readers, and I feel that at the end of the day, if I turn somebody on to a book that I really love, and they love it too, then the whole experience of blogging over the years has been worthwhile.

What was the first manga you read that caused you to become a regular manga reader?
Nana by Ai Yazawa (from the very first chapter in Shojo Beat)

What one title do you think everyone should go out and buy?
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki

What is the most prized volume or series in your manga collection?
Andromeda Stories (Volume 2) by Keiko Takemiya, because it was the first comic to use a blurb from my blog to sell it!

What outside of manga interests you?
I'm surrounded by books constantly. When not in the bookstore where I work, I can usually be found reading or writing. I write novels primarily (fiction, mostly supernatural), but draw comics as well. I'm also a big movie buff, particularly when it comes to horror movies, and I can never get enough pizza.

Thanks for stopping by! If you would like your blog featured on Manga Views in the coming weeks, just fill out this handy form.

Bunches of new reviews added for the G and H manga already in the database!

BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES
www.bandaientmanga.com

February 16, 2010 (Cypress, CA) – Bandai Entertainment Inc. announced today that it has launched a manga specific website, bandaientmanga.com. Previously manga information could be found at the company’s main site www.bandai-ent.com.

“The publishing line grew significantly in 2009, so we wanted to have a unique space for news and information about our upcoming releases,” said Robert Napton of Bandai Entertainment Inc.

Bristling Romance Between Two High School Students In New Shojo Manga From Nana Haruta

San Francisco, CA, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will debut the fun shojo manga CACTUS’S SECRET on March 2nd. The new series, by Nana Haruta, will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

I added some single reviews to many existing manga series. Check out the recent posts section for fresh review links for Shinobi Life, V.B. Rose, Tsubasa, and more!

New review links just added for What a Wonderful World!, not simple, and Natsume's Book of Friends. Check 'em out!

Continuing with our Manga Blogger Profile series, today we visit Lorena from i ♥ manga

Your name or blog handle: Lorena Nava Ruggero
Where do you live? USA
What is the URL of your Blog? http://iheartmanga.blogspot.com

What your blog offers:
My blog, i heart manga, offers regular reviews of manga and manhwa, and the occasional graphic novel. Soon, I'll be adding occasional reviews of translated light novels. While I review all kinds of manga, including gekiga, I tend to skew towards shojo. Readers can also expect to find articles on manga panels from San Diego Comic-Con International, which I've been attending for about a decade now, and links to other manga-related news and reviews that I write for other websites.

What got you started blogging about manga?
I started blogging about manga because I was simply reading so many series that it was hard to keep up, especially since I borrow a lot of manga from my local library. So, i heart manga has become my reading log of sorts and helped connect me to all the other fabulous manga bloggers and writers out there. Lastly, as a professional writer, blogging has become another way to strengthen my writing.

What was the first manga you read that caused you to become a regular manga reader?
Death Note

What one title do you think everyone should go out and buy?
Dororo or Yotsuba&!

What is the most prized volume or series in your manga collection?
The entire series of Buddha that I won from the Large-Hearted Boy blog.

What outside of manga interests you?
As I mentioned, I'm a professional writer/editor and I also teach public relations research. Outside of work, I also enjoy cooking, listening to music (mostly rock), reading "regular" books, and watching movies, including foreign and animated films.

Thanks for stopping by Lorena! If you would like your blog featured on Manga Views in the coming weeks, just fill out this handy form.

San Francisco, CA, January 25, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the release of Volume 1 and 2 of the new VIZ Kids series DINOSAUR KING. This manga is rated ‘A’ for All Ages and will carry a MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Continuing to fill in reviews for manga in the database, I added a bunch of reviews to the F section. So head on over there for review links for Fairy Tale, Forest of Gray City, Fruits Basket, Fushigi Yugi, Future Lovers, and more.