Brad Meltzer’s new novel, The Book of Lies , due out next week, was the impetus for a USA Today story this week on the origin of Superman, which Meltzer ties to the death of Mitchell Siegel, Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel’s father, in a Cleveland robbery in 1932.

In Part Three we talk about the upcoming Marvel-Del Rey projects, Del Rey's publishing plans for books about manga, and the definition and categorization of manga.

In Part Two, we talk about Del Rey’s mix of original English language and Japanese licensed material, the Del Rey and Del Rey Manga imprints, the impact of Kodansha’s plans to publish in the U.S. , and digital distribution of manga.

Playroom has announced plans for several new games for release between now and the end of the year.

The 2008 presidential campaign has now made a connection, albeit a negative one, to pop culture; a spokesperson for Senator John McCain has tied supporters of Senator Barack Obama to #1 RPG Dungeons and Dragons .

Comic stores bought over 175,000 copies of the July issue of Secret Invasion, #4, only a few hundred copies down from their purchases of #3 in June.

These are estimates of the sales by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during July 2008.

These are estimates of the sales on graphic novels by Diamond U.S. to comic specialty stores during July 2008.

This October Electronic Arts will release Dead Space , a third-person, science fiction action video game.

The Walt Disney Company has acquired the rights to Monster Attack Network graphic novel.