DC Comics has announced it has invested in manga production and publishing company Flex Comix.  Flex is now controlled by a consortium of investors and will create original manga that will be distributed digitally across the web and on mobile phones.  After the initial digital run, Flex will make trade paperbacks available in Japan.

“Flex Comix’ publishing model provides a cutting-edge platform for manga readers to enjoy our titles in online, mobile and print formats,” said Seiji Takakura, CEO of Flex Comix. “DC Comics and Flex Comix have forged a partnership that will bring authentic Japanese manga to the worldwide English language audience in new and exciting ways. We have many exciting plans in the works that we will be announcing in the coming months.”

via DC Comics

Here’s a new twist on Shojo - Shizuka is dealing with a new disease that is literally turning her invisible. Along the way she gets a boyfriend who like her for who she is, not what she looks like.

Teen-centric, quirky, and romantic, Translucent will appeal to shojo fans who like a little twist with their gakuen mono. Translucent’s shifting variables—between what people see and wish to see—create an emotionally sensitive manga, peppered with moments of surprising humor, heartbreak, and drama.

Translucent hits stores July 18.

Dark Horse Comics has announced Korea’s 2003 Manhwa of the Year, Chunchu will soon be available for American readers.

Chunchu is the story of a young man saved from death by his mother, banished by his people, hunted by his brother, and tortured by demons from within. Living and fighting with a warrior tribe that can never trust him, Chunchu lives a life of blood and violence. Still, something mysterious lurks within his cold exterior, something that could be awakened by the touch of a woman.

Chunchu will be a trade paperback and will arrive in stores on July 25.

via Dark Horse

For a long time MPD-Psycho was deemed too shocking for American audiences, but this June, Dark Horse Comics will be rocking the free world with the uncut and uncensored version.

Police detective Kobayashi Yousuke’s life is changed forever after a serial killer notices something “special” about the detective. Kobayashi is stable police detective until he witnesses the killer he’s hunting mutilate Kobayashi’s own girlfriend. The event triggers several dormant personalities that push Kobayashi into a complex tempest of deviants and evil forces, ultimately creating a multiple personality detective.

MPD-Psycho is written by Eiji Otsuka with art by Sho-u Tajima. This is a 18+ title and will arrive in stores June 6 with a shrink wrapped price of $10.95.

Did you pick up your copy of Witchblade Takeru Manga #1 yet? For those of you who haven’t, Top Cow Productions has released an updated version of it’s Takeru Manga trailer for you to drool over.

If the trailer doesn’t do anything for you, take the jump to see the full cover for the limited edition available only at last week’s New York Comic-Con.

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CMX, the manga imprint of DC Comics, has announced plans to publish eight new titles. The titles will begin shipping in July 2007 and continue through spring 2008. The list includes Two Flowers for the Dragon, Tears of a Lamb, Venus in Love, Palette of 12 Secret Colors, King of Cards, Presents Volume 1, and Samurai Commando: Mission 1549. DC is doing the right thing by playing up manga for all it is worth.

A complete description of each title after the jump.

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Top cow has sent us another sneak peek of Witchblade Manga #1. This time you get to check out the five pages in glorious color, and it does look amazing.

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