Del Rey announced two new series today, and though the press release doesn’t really spell it out, one of the series has migrated over from Tokyopop: Samurai Deeper Kyo, which is up to volume 34 already. Del Rey will publish volumes 35 and 36 in a single omnibus edition in December. No word on what’s going to happen to the earlier volumes now that the property has changed hands. The other series, Wild @ Heart, is by Kitchen Princess creator Natsumi Ando, which will probably be enough for me. Both series are published in Japan by Kodansha. Got that? KODANSHA! Full press release is below.
DEL REY MANGA ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF SAMURAI DEEPER KYO, WILD @ HEART
NEW YORK, NY – June 12, 2009 – Del Rey Manga, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, today announced an acquisition continuing a fan-favorite manga series, and the launch of a brand new series from one of Del Rey Manga’s most popular authors.
SAMURAI DEEPER KYO, the supernatural action series by Akimine Kamijyo, will continue to be published in the US by Del Rey Manga, beginning with a special omnibus edition that collects Volumes 35 and 36 of the Japanese editions into a single package. The story, set in feudal Japan, follows two legendary warriors and rivals, Demon Eyes Kyo and Kyoshiro. One day they meet in battle during a lightning storm, and both fighters mysteriously disappear. Kyoshiro re-emerges several months later, harboring a secret: the soul of Demon Eyes Kyo is locked inside him—and he’s determined to reclaim his body. Volume 35/36 of SAMURAI DEEPER KYO will be published in December 2009.
From the creative mind of Kitchen Princess manga-ka Natsumi Ando comes a new series promising a winning combination of drama, comedy and romance. WILD @ HEART takes the popular Western idea of Tarzan and gives it a fun shôjo manga spin. Chino is like any typical teen looking for love—but instead she finds herself stuck with Hyou, a child her father brings home from the jungle. Now she has to take care of Hyou, the wild child, and help him adapt to life outside of the jungle and in the city. The award-winning and popular Ando is also the creator of the top-selling Zodiac P.I. WILD @ HEART will debut in January 2010.