While we've still got a bit of time before Vertical's panel here at New York Anime Fest, they have revealed to us here at Japanator their new big license: Felipe Smith's Peepo Choo. You might remember Smith's name from his breakout hit at TokyoPop, MBQ. Now Peepo Choo, the first title written and drawn by a foreigner, and aimed at the Japanese audience, is making its over to America, courtesy of Vertical, Inc!

At its core, Peepo Choo is about discovering what life is really like outside of their cultural exports. The main character, Milton, is a total otaku who is in love with the anime Peepo Choo. So much that he goes around cosplaying as the title character, and honestly believes that everything depicted within the anime is what Japan is really like. Milton's complement is Reiko, an up-and-coming idol who believes she knows the real America from watching Hollywood flicks and MTV.

Of course, this isn't a down-to-earth discussion where the characters come to understand each other through comedic events. No, they're too busy trying not to get swept up in an assassination plot. I had read about it a while back when Deb Aoki posted on it, I knew I had to have it. Felipe's art style instantly grabbed my eye (check out the covers down below), and the plot was something not only interesting but had a greater meaning to it.

Felipe has busted his ass to work on Peepo Choo, and because of it, he's now living the dream as a manga-ka over in Japan. Sure, it's a lot of work, but that's what makes it rewarding. Quoth Felipe: "All I do is draw, I don't get to go out -- I do this because I want people to read my work!... Please pick it up -- I'm really eager to have people see it." Well, now it'll be reaching an even larger audience than before!

Peepo Choo will join Vertical's Summer 2010 lineup, so look for it on shelves once school is out. You probably wouldn't want to be caught reading this in the classroom, anyways. You can check out a video of Felipe talking about Peepo Choo after the jump, as well as the poster and cover art down in our gallery.