Funimation has joined forces with Canadian-based Irwin Toy Company to create IF Labs, a new Fort Worth-based toy company that will be producing toys based on the Dragonball Z Movies and the original Dragon Ball series.

Jerry Chu, Producer, Marketing at Bandai Entertainment, confirmed to ICv2 that Bandai will release Cowboy Bebop , The Complete Sessions DVD collection on November 20.

Diamond has released some general mid-year category information, and while the shifts between categories are substantial year-over-year, the over-all business is stable with some positive underlying trends despite a tough economic environment in the 'real world.'

In an unprecedented move, the Cartoon Network is offering six different Samurai Jack action figures through its online store.

Many retailers have noticed (and encouraged) a steady increase of female customers at their stores over the past few years as pop culture offerings have diversified -- and many of these retailers have moved well beyond the basic, 'have a clean, well-lit store' approach.

While it is true that as in the United States, boys' comics outsell girls' comics in Japan, comics aimed at girls (or shojo manga) represent up to 30% of the huge Japanese market for comics that dwarfs comic publishing efforts here in the States.

ICv2 is launching its 'Grow with Shojo' promotion today, which includes free point of purchase materials for retailers, a display contest with major prizes, and information on how to market the fastest-growing products.

ICv2's 'Grow with Shojo' Display Contest is a great way for retailers to expand merchandising to female consumers--a rapidly growing consumer segment in pop culture stores.

Here's a list of the great prizes for the store that wins Third Place in our Shojo Display Contest. The total value is over $1000!!

After remaining silent for months in the face of chiding from Marvel's Bill Jemas, DC Comics spokesman Bob Wayne fired off a flurry of verbal jabs at Marvel.