• There is now a trans Magic: The Gathering character. When I wrote about sexism in the community in 2012, I could not have imagined how much better things would be just three years later.

• Another week, three more reviews! Here were my thoughts on Kuroko’s Basketball, Yowamushi Pedal, and Gundam Build Fighters Try.

• Have you heard about Studio Cosplay? They’re a nonprofit starting up in Washington DC to become a maker space for geek crafting. My mentor Steven Savage already interviewed them at MuseHack.

• What killed the American anime industry? This year old post is worth reading again while you debate whether to finally buy that legal streaming subscription.

• Of course, decades before, anime was a financial miracle in Japan. How Can Anime Build On Its Past Success? examines how it could bounce back.

• How Much Do Vendors Earn Selling Merch at Geek Conventions? My favorite finance blogger, Nicole Dieker, investigates convention business.

• Patrick Macias teamed up with artist Hiroyuki Takahashi to create Crunchyroll’s first exclusive original webcomic, HYPERSONIC music club. The art is stunning and I’m glad this will be free for all users, not just premium members.

• Yumeka lays down her top 10 tips for anime blogging. I think numbers 7 and 2 are the most important.

• Got 30 minutes? Use it to learn 200 popular phrases in anime and manga. This slideshow includes both hiragana and romanji so you’re set no matter what level of Japanese mastery you’re at.

Illustration by Viktor Titov for Wizards of the Coast