Fantagraphics has announced it will debut a manga line this coming September. The first two volumes to be released in partnership with Japanese publisher Shogakukan are Moto Hagio’s A Drunken Dream and Other Stories and Shimura Takako’s Wandering Son. Hagio is considered one of the founders of  shōnen-ai – young male gay romance manga, albeit for young girls. Takako’s Wandering Son explores notions of gender identity through Shichi, a boy who wants to be a girl and Yoshino, a girl who wants to be a boy.

This looks exciting! Fantagraphics press release can be read here. Manga-phile Chris Butcher has interesting comments on the news.

Via both Robot 6 and Bleeding Cool .

My apologies for passing along news about Amazon’s incredibly discounted Marvel hardcover  books. Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool has posted updates about the now confirmed glitch that created incredibly inexpensive prices on hefty books.

Over at Publishers Weekly, John Seven takes the opportunity to  interview Howard Cruse about the upcoming June 2010 edition of Stuck Rubber Baby. Go read it here.

The Hooded Utilitarian site will have a roundtable discussion of Ariel Schrag’s Likewise. Schrag will join at the end of the discussion. This piece appears to be the start.

Likewise is one of a quartet of graphic novels Schrag wrote which chronicle her high school years. The series started with Awkward, followed by Definition, Potential, and Likewise. She was also a writer for Showtime’s The L Word (seasons 3 and 4). Potential is in development for film.

This week Marvel posted a piece spotlighting its Top Ten Power couples. Of course, Reed and Sue make the list, but there are a couple surprises among the names, including a male couple. Kudos to both Marvel and and the writer in question who followed through with his convictions. Thanks to online friend Mike for bringing this to my attention.

Argentinian artist Patricio Oliver announces various new projects (available in the US).

The Tenebrae Poster (Available February 16th, 2010)

About the Print

11 × 17 Poster printed in full color on high quality 100# stock.
Limited to 50 prints with 50% OF PROFITS to benefit INVISIBLE CHILDREN
Includes 1 (one) KidRobot Cucos Mini Figure

About the Charity
Storytellers. Visionaries, humanitarians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Invisible Children are individuals part of a generation eager for change and willing to pursue it. As a non-profit Invisible Children work to transform apathy into activism. By documenting the lives of those living in regions of conflict and injustice, Invisible Children hope to educate and inspire individuals in the Western world to use their unique voice for change. Invisible Children’s media creates an opportunity for people to become part of a grassroots movement that intelligently responds to what’s happening in the world.

Poster info is here.

Letter-press series of artist designed cards. Edition is limited to 500 hand numbered cards. Letterpress printed in maroon on natural white 110# stock with black envelopes. Five cards & envelopes per pack. More info may be found here.

Oliver’s Haiti Earthquake Relief poster is in full color, measuring 6″ x 11″ and printed on coated stock. All profits from the open edition will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

This poster can be ordered here.

Cucos Mini Figures 3-Inch (KIDROBOT)

From the dark recesses of Patricio Oliver’s mind come the bizarre children known as the Cucos. Led by the elusive and sinister Cursed Twins, this collection of 3-inch evildoers only exist to cause madness and horror wherever they go. This blind-boxed series includes 13 figures, 2 of which are chases.

Go to Kid Robot!

Visit Patricio Oliver’s website.

Hello and apologies! A little while ago it was brought to my attention (thank you for that!) that a huge block of spam was appearing on this site. In an ideal world that wouldn’t happen, but it did. It should be resolved though now there may be a visual problem with a margin of grey showing around the blue of the page layout. Please drop me an email at glajoe at gayleague dot com if you notice any thing spammish or such. It’ll be much appreciated.

Last summer, Sean McGrath heard Maggie Gallagher say the most reprehensible and simultaneously twee-est (is “twee” used in the correct sense of British usage?) thing to ever come out of her voluminous pie hole: “Marriage is not a civil right. In fact, it’s a civil wrong.” Her ability to turn a phrase aside, Mags’ head should have by all rights exploded from just the uncut rage McGrath sent her way (to say nothing of the other people he’s sure were doing the same thing). Ah, “Scanners,” you disappointed me once again. So, what’s a guy to do?

Easy, write a revenge fantasy and get friends to help make it into a comic book.

McGrath now presents to you the fruits of their labors – Rise of the Pink Ninjas: A Gay Fantasia – downloadable at Ortho Comics. Go ahead. It’s free!

See Mad Gallagher throw her weight around!

Stare in wonder at the mysterious Bastard Baby Doll!

Clench your butthole when P & M, the Night Bears, cruise by!

But most of all, enjoy and keep fighting. McGrath wants to start buying gay wedding gifts in this lifetime.

Rise of the Pink Ninjas: A Gay Fantasia
Written by Sean McGrath
Drawn, inked and colored by Benjamin Ruth
Lettered by Christopher Moshier
Cover graphic by Scott McGrath

Many thanks to three individuals who’ve made contributions here. Candise made looking up LGBT characters much easier. Just click the Characters page link in the sidebar (or here) to view the list. Hope wrote up more than a few much needed profiles for Marvel characters. The talented Alex Wright rescued the site from its ho hum aesthetic (could something so drab really be gay?) with a beautiful new banner. By the way, Alex accepts commissions. I’ll be happy to put you in touch with him! Leave a note in the comments section or send an email to glajoe at gayleague dot com.