I arrived in New York today for the New York Anime Fest only to find that the big news of the day had already happened: Seven Seas and Tor books have formed a joint venture that will publish global and Japanese manga as well as light novels and illustrated books for young people. Calvin Reid has the full scoop at the link. What does this mean to you, the reader? More manga! One title they mention they are “competing for” is the Afro Samurai manga; I assume they wouldn’t bring it up if it wasn’t pretty much in the bag.
And here’s another pre-Fest scoop from PW: Yen Press will adapt James Patterson’s young adult series Maximum Ride as manga. It will apear initially in Yen’s monthly manga anthology, Yen Plus. The article includes some info I don’t think we have heard before about Yen Plus: It will debut this summer, with a cover price of $8.99 for 460 pages, and will be available in bookstores and comics stores as well as by subscription.
The pre-NYAF activity was the ICv2 Conference on Anime and Manga, which included lots of useful information about sales, trends, etc. But what everyone is really talking about is the bombshell dropped by Al Kahn of 4Kids Entertainment, who asserted, “It’s over in Japan. We’re moving to Korea. In Japan, the manga is tired.” Needless to say, that sparked a lively discussion, including some sharp reactions from Yen Press co-publisher Rich Johnson. ICv2 covers it here, while Laura Hudson, who was there, has a fuller account and Dirk Deppey, who was not, provides commentary and context (scroll down to the manga section). Heidi hits the high points of all the panels at The Beat, and there will be more to come at PWCW on Tuesday.
Aside from comparing notes on Al Kahn, the main activity at the Javits Center so far seems to be bugging the Del Rey people to find out what this Marvel thing is all about. So far everyone is keeping annoyingly mum.
In other news…
David Welsh links to the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens nominations and breaks them down by publisher. He also takes a look at upcoming comics featured in the new Previews.
Yaoi Press asked their readers what they thought of incest themes in yaoi, and they got a lot of feedback.
Shaenon Garrity dedicates this week’s Overlooked Manga Festival to a great manga for a long winter night: Chikyu Misaki.
ANN brings the news that manga-ka Susumu Katsumata, who won the Japanese Cartoonists Association award last year for Red Snow, has died.
Svetlana Chmakova and Faith Hicks will be signing their books, Dramacon and Zombies Calling, respectively, at The Beguiling in Toronto on December 19.
Reviews: At About.com, Deb Aoki takes a look at a new title getting a lot of push from Tokyopop, vol. 1 of Gakuen Alice. Ed Chavez reviews Sensitive Pornograph and Ben Leary checks out The Complete Guide to Manga at Anime on DVD. Lori Henderson gives vol. 2 of Yurara a B+ at Manga Life. Michelle is less kind to vol. 19 of Hana-Kimi at Soliloquy in Blue. Nick pans Yume Kira Dream Shoppe at Hobotaku. Ken Haley reviews Kazuo Umezu’s Reptilia at PopCultureShock’s Manga Recon blog. Connie is busy at Slightly Biased Manga, with new reviews of vol. 19 of Detective Conan, vol. 5 of 3×3 Eyes, vol. 6 of Dokebi Bride, vol. 1 of Skip Beat, and vol. 9 of Lupin III. Jordan Marks checks out Vanilla at Yaoi Suki. Erica Friedman looks at a Japanese title, Reijinna Josei, at Okazu.
Is is just me, or is manga-izing YA material becoming a trend? Tokyopop’s got two going, Yen’s formally announced, and the Tor/Seven Seas has definitely implied it. Do ya think the big pub might have figured out there’s money to be made there?
Thanks for the great in-depth report, Brigid — can’t wait to read the rest of the news from New York. Wish I was there! This year, more than ever, business strategy trumps licensing as the defining factor for success as a manga publisher. It’s going to be very interesting to see what initiatives work and which don’t in the next year.
Shaenon Garrity dedicates this week’s Overlooked Manga Festival to a great manga for a long winter night: Chikyu Misaki.
Couldn’t disagree with you more – Chikyu Misaki?!?! I know reviewers get their copies free so it’s easy to toss suggestions out there.
I suggest reading at the Barnes and Borders chains or get a library card.