Newspapers join the Manga Revolution

Per the Associated Press, several newspapers will be adding two original English-language manga comic strips -- Van Von Hunter and Peach Fuzz -- to their comics page, including the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Vancouver Sun, Detroit News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Come January, the Sunday funnies of several major North American newspapers will have doe-eyed women in frilly outfits, effeminate long-haired heroes and other trademark images of the Japanese comic style.

The reason? Newspaper editors want to attract more young readers. A study released earlier this year by the Carnegie Corporation put the age of newspaper readers at 53 and climbing - hardly a recipe for circulation growth.

Both strips are published by TOKYOPOP and, somewhat ironically, are created by Americans.