Popular crossover manga includes Bleach, Naruto and Fullmetal Alchemist (Viz Media)

Shojo -- or, the style of manga for young girls -- may be dominating the market, but don't discount the influence boys have on the manga market. Just because manga focus more on character development doesn't mean they don't have any action at all. You just have to look at the success of series like Naruto, Bleach, or Fullmetal Alchemist to see that isn't true.

All three of these series have the fighting, weaponry, and snappy banter readers find in American comics. The difference is that both boys and girls are reading Naruto, Bleach, and Fullmetal Alchemist, and it's that crossover appeal that makes the difference. Most girls -- at least in my library -- aren't picking up Spider-Man, Batman, or the Fantastic Four. But they are reading Fruits Basket, Hikaru no Go, Her Majesty's Dog, Land of the Blindfolded, Sugar Sugar Rune, Death Note, Kingdom Hearts, Yotsuba&!, and on, and on. They're also reading Bone, Oddly Normal, Kat and Mouse, Runaways, Sidescrollers, and other American comics that have a clear beginning, strong characters, and complex storytelling -- all things they've come to expect from comics by reading manga.

NOTE: Bleach creator Tite Kubo will be at the Con Saturday at 1:15 pm in Room 7AB, and then Viz Media will host a Shojo Beat Panel at 3:30 pm in Room 10.

Shojo Beat Magazine is aimed at female readers. (Viz Media)

Years ago, I attended a workshop taught by Gene Yang in which he explained that American comics tend to be all about action, European comics are all about the art, and Japanese comics are all about character development. The how's and why's of this generalization are explained in Scott McCloud's book, Understanding Comics, which I'm sure, by now, you've all read. (No? What are you waiting for?)

Eva Volin and fellow judge on this year's Eisner panel. (Beth Accomando)

When I tell people I was asked to serve as an Eisner judge, the most common response has been a bewildered, "Why'd they ask you?" Although I want to respond with a hearty, "Because I'm awesome," I actually understand the confusion. The Eisners are considered the Oscars of the comics industry, and libraries aren't the first place that comes to mind for old school comic book fans looking to find their favorite series. But here's the thing: libraries are the first place NEW comic book fans think of.

It was a classic Comic-Con surprise visit, the kind that every fan hopes for - and one even newbies could get starry-eyed over. The LGBT Portrayals in Comics panel had just settled into a fun Q&A when moderator Patricia Jeres of Prism Comics interrupted to welcome a "very special visitor."

Some filmmakers and celebrities come to Comic-Con because they need to promote their movies to a particular fan base. But others come because they ARE that fan base.  This includes Quentin Tarantino (whom I met at a friend’s poster booth before Reservoir Dogs came out), Robert Rodriguez, Sam Raimi, and of course, Guillermo del Toro. Con attendees embrace these people because they share the same obsessions. After del Toro's panel in 2004, he was mobbed by fans in the hallway but took time to talk with almost everyone (including Aaron Soto, one of our KPBS Comic-Con team members, who gets a photo op with del Toro at the end of this video).

The 9/11 Report: The Graphic Adaptation (Hill and Wang)

On July 22, 2006, Comic-Con hosted a panel on The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón. The early look at this graphic adaptation of the 9/11 Commission's bulky report was designed to make it more accessible. Publishers Weekly Senior Editor Calvin Reid moderated the panel that included Hill & Wang publisher Tom LeBien, 9/11 writer Jacobson, and Senator Slade Gorton, a member of the 9/11 Commission. The discussion that followed not only explained how the graphic novel was made but also provided a context in which to view the work.