"We had 20,000 people last year," said David Glanzer, director of marketing and public relations for Comic-Con International, which owns and manages WonderCon. "I think it's safe to say that when the numbers are counted [for this year] we'll see an increase." Glanzer noted that the crowd was large, but there were no complications in circulating fans through the convention hall. Glanzer attributed this to the opening of more panel discussion rooms, including the massive 4,500-seat Hall A, which featured most of the movie and television panels. Glanzer said he didn't expect the poor weather to affect crowd size. "The people in the Bay Area and Northern California are very resilient," Glanzer said.

Shinchan has been equated with Bart Simpson, but as a cartoon character, he is also reminiscent of a contemporary, South Park–influenced Dennis the Menace. Previously published by now defunct ComicsOne, the famed manga has been picked up by CMX following the Shinchan anime's appearance on Adult Swim. Despite his juvenile antics (dropping his pants in public) and precocious behavior (perusing the adult section of the bookstore and hitting on women), Shinchan retains an element of innocence and naïveté. The first book is compiled from vignettes illustrating Shin's relationship with his parents and aptly entitled "Mom and I Are Best Friends." Usui portrays this innocence through everyday activities. Shin wants to make a grocery list for mom, but doesn't know how to spell. He doesn't need help, however, when it comes to drawing all over his stomach and genitals using his mother's lipstick. The book has a mature rating and, like South Park, it needs one. There are lewd references to women's genitalia, and Shin's ability to copy the worst of adult male habits can be unsettling to see in a five-year-old. But like contemporary laddy movies like American Pie or Superbad as distasteful as it may be, it's still funny. (Mar.)

Thirty years ago, fantasy author Terry Brooks made history with his Shannara series by writing the first fantasy novel to make the New York Times bestseller list. Millions of books sold later, Brooks is set to take yet another leap with a new Shannara tale slated to hit shelves on March 25—not as a novel but as a manga. Created by Brooks, the story will be adapted with the help of writer Robert Place Napton and artist Edwin David, and published by Del Rey.

• Infinite Crisis (DC)
• Hellblazer: Joy Ride (DC/ Vertigo)
• Speed Racer Vol. 1 (IDW Publishing)
• Honey and Clover Vol. 1 (Viz Media)
• Krash Bastards (Image)
• Onslaught Reborn (Marvel)
• X-Men: Supernovas (Marvel)
• Hieronymus B (Top Shelf Productions)
• Infinite Ryvius Vol. 1 (DR Masters Publications)
• Minima Vol. 1 (Del Ray Manga)
• Yozakura Quartet Vol. 1 (Del Ray Manga)
• Dead Eyes Open (Amaze Ink/ Slave Labor)
• Body Language (Digital Manga Publishing)

• Shooting War Optioned
  
• New PW Video Channel
  
• NYCC Tabs Kubert, Simon
  
• Glyph Award Nominees
  
• Dark Tower Midnight Release
  
• New Naruto; Viz Down Under
  
• Bionicle GN from Papercutz
  
• Berberian, Dupuy at Housing Works
  
• Japanamerica at Kinokuniya
  
• Hotwire Signing Reslated
  
• Tank Girl Prose Novel
  
• DIY Amulet Comic