Publishing | Filip Sablik, BOOM! Studios' president of publishing and marketing, describes the company's announced cutback in the number of titles as a contrarian move: "All of the major mainstream comic publishers are pushing out more titles. Since February's ComicsPro meeting, it's something we've consistently heard from the front lines of the industry. So we decided to swim upstream a bit by trimming back our line and really focus, doubling down on our marketing and our positioning for each title, believing that a sniper-like approach would yield better profitability." [ICv2]
Legal | The Tokyo Bar Association is accusing officials of the Tokyo Detention House in Katsushika Ward of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, after they refused to allow an inmate access to comics that depict gay sex. Prisoners are allowed to have comics that depict heterosexual sex, but the officials argued that complying with the 45-year-old inmate's request for materials that included gay manga would be detrimental to order and discipline. [The Asahi Shimbun]
Legal | Paul Brinkmann writes about the tangle of legal cases stemming from a fatal car accident in which Terry Dinkins, owner of Acme Superstore in Longwood, Florida, was charged with manslaughter. According to police, Dinkins was driving in the wrong direction when his car collided head-on with another vehicle; both of the occupants of the second vehicle, Brandi Cole and Sylvia Barajas, were killed. Dinkins' blood-alcohol level reportedly tested at 0.20, more than double the legal limit. The father of Cole's children has filed a lawsuit against the comic shop, alleging that Dinkins was drinking at the Post Time Lounge that night at an event sponsored by Acme; the lounge is also named as a party in that suit. Meanwhile Acme's insurance company has sued the store, saying the accident isn't covered because Dinkins' actions amount to "gross negligence." The store was a nominee for the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award in 2014; on the store's Facebook page, Acme staff say Dinkins has not been involved with the day-to-day business of the store for over a year. [Orlando Sentinel]
Manga | Stone Bridge Press has licensed The Osamu Tezuka Story, the graphic biography of pioneering manga creator Osamu Tezuka. Created by Toshio Ban and Tezuka Productions, the 900-page book was published in three volumes in Japan. Stone Bridge will release it as a single massive volume, translated by manga pioneer Frederick Schodt. [Anime News Network]
Creators | I interviewed Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, behind the scenes at New York Comic Con. [Publishers Weekly]
Creators | Adrian Tomine discusses his new collection of short stories, Killing and Dying, and the way his life and work have changed since the publication of Shortcomings. [Details]
Creators | Guy Gilchrist, who's been drawing Nancy for the past 20 years, talks about his introduction to cartooning, copying comic strips in the diner where his mother worked. Gilchrist drew the Muppets comic strip for five years, getting the job at age 24 after being recommended by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker. [The Sentinel]
Comics | Sean Kleefeld sketches the evolution of the Diamond Previews catalog, from the first (unnumbered) issue to the current phone-book size behemoth. [Kleefeld on Comics]
Digital comics | Erica Friedman talks with Tominaga Norihide, the vice president of development for BookWalker, a Japanese e-book site that recently relaunched its English-language service, and then she tries it out for herself. [Okazu]
Exhibits | George Gene Gustines rounds up several exhibits of original comics art going on in New York City. [The New York Times]
Retailing | Joe Bills, co-owner of Escape Hatch Comics in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, talks about his first two years as a comics retailer. [Monadnock Ledger-Transcript]