Manga | It's official: Tite Kubo's "Bleach" will come to an end within the next 10 weeks. Japanese "Shonen Jump" editor Hisashi Sasaki revealed the news on Viz Media's weekly Shonen Jump podcast. The 74th volume will be the final collection. [Anime News Network]
Political cartoons | The always-outspoken Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar defends politician Nga Kor Ming, who's being investigated for sedition because of a political cartoon on his Facebook page. Nga claims no knowledge of the cartoon, which depicts a large donation going directly into the personal account of Prime Minister Najib Razak. Zunar says the cartoon is not anti-Muslim and the government should lighten up: "Are the hearts of these Umno members, Inspector-General of Police (Khalid Abu Bakar) and the Red Shirts group, made of stone? If that is the case, I hereby offer a free 'let’s laugh' course for them. I am concerned as a lack of laughter can lead to depression and other diseases. I also believe that a nation will never progress if they don’t know how to laugh at certain matters like this." [Free Malaysia Today]
Political cartoons | "There will always be attempts to gag the media, such as the Daily Nation's refusal to renew my contract this year," writes Kenyan political cartoonist Gado. "The crucial point is how the press reacts to political pressure." While the pressure has gotten a lot worse in the last two years, he says, it is essential that freedom of the press be preserved, and with that, he posts a selection of his cartoons. [The Africa Report]
Political cartoons | Constance Alexander profiles Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Joel Pett. [KyForward]
Creators | YA novelist Gwenda Bond discusses her fascination with circuses, and the new adaptation of her "Cirque American" novels, which are being translated into graphic novels by writer Kate Leth and artist Ming Doyle. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Creators | Dan Jurgens, who wrote "The Death of Superman" in 1992, talks about his latest gig, writing a very much alive Superman in "Action Comics" as part of DC's "Rebirth" event. [Comic Riffs]
Creators | Brazilian comics writer Petra Leão has been the target of a barrage of online harassment because of a panel in one of her comics that was taken out of context by a conservative pundit; the panel in question shows a teenage girl, who has been resisting getting braces, saying (in Portuguese), "My body, my rules." [The Mary Sue]
Graphic novels | Peter Schweitzer's "Clinton Cash," which chronicles Bill and Hillary Clinton's financial affairs, has been adapted into a graphic novel, written by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Brett R. Smith. [Heat Street]
Retailing | The Topeka, Kansas, comic shop Boom Comics will provide free comics for a "Lunch Across Kansas" initiative; kids across the state will get a free lunch today, but kids in Topeka will get a comic as well. [Topeka Capital-Journal]
Conventions | Tom Spurgeon turns in a pretty comprehensive report on last month's HeroesCon. [The Comics Reporter]
Exhibits | Colin Noble checks out "Comics Unstripped," at the Kettering Museum and Art Gallery in Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK; it's an exhibit of original comics art by a host of American and British creators, including Alison Sampson, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Byrne, and local-boy-made-good Frank Bellamy. [Down the Tubes]