Set in the Shanghai underworld circa 1932, Hara Tetsuo's Fist of the Blue Sky is a 'prequel' to his action classic Fist of The North Star .

CrossGen Comics has chosen Client Distribution Services (CDS) for exclusive representation of its growing line of graphic novels to the bookstore, library, warehouse club, and mass merchandiser channels.

Comic and graphic novel orders (dollars) to Diamond US by pop culture stores for August were up sharply, increasing 14% over 2001 orders and 21% over 2000.

Comics based on retro toon and toy properties extended their lead in August comic orders from pop culture stores, with four out of the top 10 and six out of the top 20 comic titles fitting the retro mold.

CDS was very close to getting Marvel's bookstore business last summer, before Marvel moved to Diamond, so there was already a relationship long before the LPC bankruptcy led to the creation of a graphic novel division inside CDS, and this deal was probably unrelated to the new initiative.

Estimated quantities for initial orders on comics shipping in August 2002 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

Estimated quantities for initial orders on comics shipping in August 2002 from pop culture stores ordering from Diamond US.

John Gavin of York Comics and Cards in Parma, Ohio was prompted by another retailer's comments on con sales by publishers to send this message of agreement, and to note a different aspect of the issue.

Rich Biedrzycki of Dreamland Comics in Schaumburg, Illinois felt that Top Cow's sales of Battle of the Planets #1 before he received it were 'a slap in the face.'

Bandai Entertainment announced the acquisition of North American broadcast and video rights to Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex , an anime TV series that functions as a sequel to and extension of the original (1995) anime.