Logging onto the Tokyopop website yesterday, I was surprised to see Avril Lavigne’s pouty visage alongside ads promoting The Twelve Kingdoms and King of Hell. It seems that Tokyopop and Del Rey have struck a deal that allows registered Tokyopop users to view a six-page sample of Avril Lavigne’s Make 5 Wishes, a two-volume, full-color OGM that Del Rey will unveil on April 10th. (Does make you wonder, though: is Del Rey now obliged to pimp the poetic musings of DJ Milky on its home page?) Given the age and listening habits of the typical Tokyopop consumer, this arrangement strikes me as a smart move. In the short time that the sample and “user profile” have been available for viewing, over 1,300 people have checked out one (or both). By Sunday night, I fully expect that number to double or triple.

If only that preview were more… I don’t know. I did like Camilla D’Errico’s character designs. And I liked the muted color palette. But the dialogue reminded me of those earnest, painful, and boring After School Specials that ABC used to air in the 1970s and 1980s. [Cue voice-over: "Hana is a shy girl who has difficulty relating to other teenagers and can't talk to her parents. But when her mother volunteers her to be a companion for an elderly man, Hana discovers new talents, a new side to her personality, and a new friend. With a special guest appearance by Avril Lavigne."] I have no idea if this exchange is typical of the book, but honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll stick around to read the rest. I’d rather just enjoy D’Errico’s contribution to the April issue of Nightmares and Fairytales (Slave Labor Graphics) and read the next volume of Kurogane.