Links: Girls rule!

Shojo manga made an especially strong showing on this week’s New York Times Manga Best Seller list, with volumes of Black Bird, Codename: Sailor V, Princess Knight, and Sailor Moon all posting robust numbers. Looking at the Times’ other lists, the fourth volume of Kazu Kibushi’s Amulet series continues to sell briskly, as does the second volume of the Twilight graphic novel.

iFanboy interviews Owly creator Andy Runton.

Over at No Flying No Tights, Robin Brenner leads a discussion about the ALSC’s controversial Children’s Graphic Novel Core Collection list.

The Center for Disease Control has published a kid-friendly comic about pandemic preparedness starring — what else? — zombies.

Curious about Gladstone’s School for World Conquerors? Creator Mark Andrew Smith has posted the entire first issue on his Tumblr account. As an added bonus, he’s annotated every page, offering readers a window into his creative process. (Via Robot 6.)

Jen Lee Quick is in talks with a publisher to complete Off*Beat, her quirky coming-of-age series about a boy with a mysterious past. TOKYOPOP published the first two volumes in 2005 and 2006, respectively, then placed the series on indefinite hiatus.

The Comics Journal recently launched a new column, Kinder Comics, which will look at sequential art for younger readers. Charles Hatfield, who teaches children’s literature courses at California State University, is the author; his first column focuses on Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists.

Reviews: At No Flying No Tights, Traci reviews two new additions to Capstone’s DC Superpets line: Superpowered Pony and Salamander Smackdown! Across the pond, elementary school student Mia reviews The Etherington’s Baggage at the Forbidden Planet blog.

Jennifer W on The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (No Flying No Tights)
Russ on Animal Crackers (No Flying No Tights)
Johanna Draper Carlson on Archie: A Celebration of America’s Favorite Teenagers (Comics Worth Reading)
Abby on Archie’s Weird Mysteries (No Flying No Tights)
Tanya on Benjamin Bear in Fuzzy Thinking (books4yourkids)
Sterg Botzakis on Beowulf (Graphic Novel Resources)
Danica Davidson on Big City Otto: Elephants Never Forget (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Danica Davidson on vol. 1 of Daniel X: The Manga (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Katherine Dacey on vol. 1 of Dawn of the Arcana (The Manga Critic)
Sterg Botzakis on Dear Creature (Graphic Novel Resources)
Tom De Haven on Donald Duck: Lost in the Andes (The Comics Journal)
Sheli on Hero House (No Flying No Tights)
Sara on The Hound of the Baskervilles (No Flying No Tights)
Sterg Botzakis on Journey into Mohawk Country (Graphic Novel Resources)
Don MacPherson on Just the Usual Superpowers (Eye on Comics)
Tanya on Nina in That Made Me Mad! (books4yourkids)
Sheli on vols. 1-2 of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (No Flying No Tights)
Tanya on Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists (books4yourkids)
Leroy Douresseaux on Okie Dokie Donuts: Open for Business (Comic Book Bin)
Nic on vol. 1 of Pandora Hearts (No Flying No Tights)
Gail on Power Lunch, Vol. 1: First Course (No Flying No Tights)
David Welsh on vol. 1 of Princess Knight (The Manga Curmudgeon)
Russ on vol. 1 of Psyren (No Flying No Tights)
Gail on Shivers, Wishes, and Wolves (No Flying No Tights)
Paige McKee on The Skrumps: The Mooch Steps Up His Game (Sequential Tart)
Sheila McNeil on Stan Lee’s How to Write Comics (Sequential Tart)
Lewis on Super Animal Adventure Squad (Forbidden Planet International)
Brian P. Rubin on Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and Other Steam-Powered Stories (Graphic Novel Reporter)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 1 of X: 3-in-1 Edition (Comic Book Bin)

Filed under: All Ages, Graphic Novels, Manga, News