I want to clobber Avril Lavigne!

[leoxjm]

That may not look like news at first sight, much less something related with a serious anime/manga/discussion forum, but believe it or not, it is. Through a press release Del Rey has announced "Make 5 Whishes", a two-volume OEL Manga (that's Original English Language Manga) featuring Avril Lavigne as one of its Characters.

Based on details available form a press release posted at anime news network, the release of the first volume is scheduled shortly before that of Lavigne's next album in April 2007. Lavigne would not be the main character of the story, but would be prominently featured in it.

Personally I don't like Lavigne, her "attitude", her "image" and I don't like her music. This particular project has "product placement" written all over it, which is something some people don't fully appreciate. In cases such as Code Geass I stand it as the production is not aimed, either in part or on whole, to prominently feature Pizza Hut and Biglobe, which just make cameos and background appearances here and there (even if I don't recall ever seeing C.C. eat anything other than Pizza). Sure, such cameos are sometimes all-too-obvious, but it is not like lelouch chose the name Cheese-kun over Zero. In this case it is pretty obvious that the production of this manga is aimed at promoting Lavigne's image, and I doubt that it is a coincidence that volume one and an album are scheduled for release a week apart from each other. I have to recognize, though, that for better or worse this would also draw more people's attention to the world of Manga, even if it isn't "Manga" manga.

So, what are people's thoughs and opinions on this? not only on Avril Lavigne and her OELM, but also on product placement and... well, related stuff. Good thing? bad thing? So-so thing?

BTW, you can check out Del Rey's press release here
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[Fission2]

dude, wtf? why the hell would they make a manga based on a pop star? yea I think she's a whore and her music sux to, but it's not about that. What is the manga going to be about? some over glorification of a pop idol? It doens't make any frickin sense! If anyone is going to buy it, bet your ass it'll be fans of Avril. publicity stunt to boast the manga, money for Avril no doubt. Waht genre? music? ABOUT AVRIL!? go to hell!!! this certainly isn't going to be a project that will start radical scanlating groups to put english into kanji...

[Bananaz]

yeah dude, just coz u dont like avril, does'nt mean u can say the manga's sux..

[Angel_Armz]

Is this gonna be like that manga Nana or something?

I don't like the rock punk kids. They're quite annoying.

At least Avril isn't like little Spears or little Hilton.
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[xenocrisis0153]

[sakib]

you mean she's still popular?!? what the hell is the world coming too? its the same thing with timberlake, who btw should have died with his boy band. dude avril lavigne being a voice actor is a total turnoff for me, i doubt i'm gonna pick up on this anytime soon
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ALL HAIL LELOUCH

[Kimmie-chan]