I just got a press release announcing that NETCOMICS has struck a deal with Aurora Publishing’s josei line, LuvLuv, to publish their volumes online.

Starting in October fans will have access to titles like Voices of Love, Real Love, Love for Dessert, Pretty Poison, Make Love & Peace, and Sounds of Love via NETCOMICS’ usual setup (free previews, $0.25 per chapter for a 48-hour period, etc). They’ll come out once per month, so Voices in October, Real Love in November, etc.

It’s always nice to see the occasional het porn for women amidst all the BL out there!

Hokay, sitting in Aurora publishing, where we’ll celebrate the company’s first birthday: they announced their creation at Anime Expo last year. I’ll be scooting out of this one early to get to the Ouran panel, but here I am in the meantime! I came in early so I didn’t get a raffle ticket this time. Sad pandas. The grand prize is a Wii, too…awww!

Moving right along, they’re going to talk about the company, which is the US branch of Ohzora Shuppan, the #1 (they say) publisher of women’s comics in Japan. They particularly pioneered josei comics, hence their US josei line LuvLuv, as well as yaoi, hence the Deux line.

Man…it’s a shame they started late, because I’m going to have to scoot out right now. I’ll count on Deb from manga.about.com to catch any new announcements– sorry guys! I’m off to get the Ouran voice cast!

Aurora’s website now officially has Hitohira, a girls love-flavored high school drama about an extremely shy freshman who gets forced into the school’s drama club by its wacky members, in its schedule. The manga was adapted into an anime in spring ‘07, it was a cute show.

Meanwhile those keen eyes at MangaCast have spotted new licenses for Deux in the new issue of Previews: Heavenly Body by Takashi Kanzaki, Maid in Heaven (yes, it’s really a yaoi title) by Hisami Shimada, and Ruff Love (yes, it’s really a yaoi furry title) by Tamaki Kirishima.

Taro Aso may help boost manga and anime worldwide, but even if he DOESN’T become Prime Minister the manga companies are determined to get their names out.

Digital Manga Publishing has announced that they will now co-brand their releases– which means they’re putting the Japanese companies’ logos on the books as well as their own, at least for three companies: Shinshokan, Oakla Shuppan, and Taiyo Tosho. DMP will also share booth space with the companies at cons.

And then, of course, there’s the direct method– don’t forget that VIZ is co-owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan; and of course, Ohzora Shuppan just opened their own branch in the US, Aurora Publishing.

First off, I guest-starred on Japanator’s podcast again this week, mostly talking about San Diego Comic-Con announcements, cowbells, and other goofiness. You can check it out here. I really need to learn to speak a little slower.

I actually spent most of the day cleaning (!), but there was a bit of news here and there: