Conventions | Japan’s Comic Market (aka Comiket), the world’s largest convention dedicated to self-published comics, stands to lose about $117,900 because of a decision to bar artist groups (“circles”) dedicated to the manga Kuroko’s Basketball following a threat letter. Organizers are refunding entrance fees to about 900 Kuroko's Basketball circles that registered for the Dec. 29-31 event, and must help pay for increased security in cooperation with local police and the Tokyo Big Sight complex. Since October, letters containing powdered and liquid substances have been sent to more than 20 locations linked to Kuroko’s Basketball creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki. At least six Kuroko’s Basketball doujinshi events have been canceled. [Anime News Network]

Comics | Domingos Isabelinho discusses the recent decision by a Belgian court not to require the publishers of Tintin in the Congo to stop distribution of the current edition of the book and place a warning notice on the cover of future editions, as well as a foreword explaining the historical context (as the British publisher Egmont does in its edition). While he doesn't feel that the courts should be able to force this on the publishers, Isabelinho says, "What’s unfortunate is that the publishers themselves don’t comply with [the plaintiff's] wish of their own free will as they should. It shows that Continental Europe is still way behind America and the U.K. when these matters surface in the public sphere." [The Hooded Utilitarian]

Publishing | Allison Baker, co-founder (with Chris Roberson) of Monkeybrain Comics, talks about launching the new digital comics initiative, how they are faring in their first year, and the importance of creator-owned comics. [The Beat]

Comics | Tom Spurgeon talks to Marc Sobel, the writer of The Love and Rockets Companion and The Love and Rockets Reader, both due out in 2013 from Fantagraphics. [The Comics Reporter]

Creators | When British artist Dave Kirkwood learned that a friend's daughter had cancer, he helped raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust with a collaborative graphic novel, in which he drew an image a day based on Tweets by ordinary and famous people, including actors Stephen Fry and Simon Pegg. [BBC News]

Creators | Writer and artist Dave Lapp talks about his latest graphic novel People Around Here, which chronicles life in his Toronto neighborhood. [Inside Toronto]

Best of the year | Brian Truitt, who pounds the comics beat at USA Today all year long, looks back at the year in comics news and gives his picks for the best of everything, from creators to "gutsy decisions." [USA Today]

Best of the year | Rich Johnston shares his picks for the best Irish comics of 2012. [Bleeding Cool]

Best of the year | Adam McGovern looks at the best comics that ended their run this year. [Tor.com]

Manga | RumBiko Takahashi will draw a special one-shot chapter of her long-running series InuYasha, which ended in Japan in 2008, for a special issue of Shonen Sunday magazine that will benefit the earthquake charity Heroes Come Back. [Crunchyroll]