takehiko inoue

We make a regular practice at ComicsAlliance of spotlighting particular artists or specific bodies of work, as well as the special qualities of comic book storytelling, but because cartoonists, illustrators and their fans share countless numbers of great pinups, fan art and other illustrations on sites like Flickr, Tumblr, DeviantArt and seemingly infinite art blogs that we’ve created Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the pieces of especially compelling artwork that we come across in our regular travels across the Web. Some of it’s new, some of it’s old, some of it’s created by working professionals, some of it’s created by future stars, some of it’s created by talented fans, and some of it’s endearingly silly. All of it is awesome.

We make a regular practice at ComicsAlliance of spotlighting particular artists or specific bodies of work, as well as the special qualities of comic book storytelling, but because cartoonists, illustrators and their fans share countless numbers of great pinups, fan art and other illustrations on sites like Flickr, Tumblr, DeviantArt and seemingly infinite art blogs that we’ve created Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the pieces of especially compelling artwork that we come across in our regular travels across the Web. Some of it’s new, some of it’s old, some of it’s created by working professionals, some of it’s created by future stars, some of it’s created by talented fans, awnd some of it’s endearingly silly. All of it is awesome.

Comics are officially bringing nations together. To celebrate 400 years of diplomacy between Japan and Spain, 46-year-old Takehiko Inoue -- the creator of of Slam Dunk, Vagabond, Real and other celebrated manga -- has been appointed as one of three goodwill ambassadors to Spain by the Japanese Foreign Ministry, to serve from now until July 31 of 2014.

I grew up watching the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Ohio State Buckeyes (football, of course). Sports are something I'm really into, though not to the point that I'll paint my face and show up shirtless to your tail gate party. But, y'know, on gameday, I'll wear a Hawks wristband or shirt to show my support...

It's one of the oldest tricks in the hustler's handbook. Find yourself a mark, pretend like you aren't all that, convince him to put some money up, and then use your true skills to earn some fast cash. In the manga series "Real," Kiyoharu Togawa and Tomomi Nomiya take to the basketball courts in parks and gyms, running game on unsuspecting suckers...