Korean Comics Gaining Popularity in North America
Korean manhwa (the Korean term for comics) is starting to gain popularity in North America. Drawn and Quarterly’s manhwa list has grown steadily since publishing Yeon-sik Hong’s Uncomfortably Happily in 2017. “We were fortuitous in the moment when we started publishing these comics,” said Drawn and Quarterly senior editor Tracy Hurren. “I think we have seen a surge in the popularity of K-pop, films like Parasite, and from a literary perspective, we have seen literary fiction from Korea and about Korea having a moment too, like Han Kang’s Vegetarian and Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko. I think there was a bit of a cultural moment and excitement for the content coming out of Korea.”
Batman: The Audio Adventure is the First of HBO Max’s New Exclusive Podcasts
HBO has announced that they are releasing their new podcast Batman: The Audio Adventure as an in-app exclusive, meaning it will only be available in the HBO Max app and not from other podcast apps. The scripted audio series will be the first of HBO Max’s new exclusive podcasts, including a scripted sequel to Issa Rae’s Looking For Latoya, called We Stay Looking, and a new OC companion podcast called Welcome to The OC, Bitches.
Portland Book Festival Announces Hybrid Event for 2021
After going virtual in 2020, the Portland Book Festival is returning to downtown Portland for this year’s event. In order to include as many participants as possible while still remaining safe, the festival’s organizer, Portland nonprofit Literary Arts, has announced that this year’s festival will include several days of virtual events and one day of in-person events. The festival will take place in November online, at the Portland Art Museum, and at several other downtown venues. This year’s authors will be announced on September 22nd, and tickets will also go on sale at this time. “Whether you join us online or in-person, we are excited to build community and celebrate books, storytelling, and the power of literature with you,” Literary Arts said in a press release.
If You Dream of Owning a Bookstore, Here’s Your Chance
Want to be owner of a beloved bookstore, but not wanting to start from scratch? Here’s your chance! Owl Pen Books in upstate New York has just hit the market and is looking for someone to carry on the store and her legacy.