Tag Archives: tokyopop

Svetlana Chmakova’s Dramacon returns!

Posted on by
Dramacon

Global manga publisher and media brand Tokyopop is celebrating the 15th anniversary of Eisner Award nominee Svetlana Chmakova’s debut title with a collector’s edition release of Dramacon.  This special edition will feature over 600 pages of beautiful artwork, a brand-new cover design, and a never-before published glimpse into Svetlana’s creative process.

Originally published as a manga trilogy beginning in 2005, the drama/comedy Dramacon follows a group of friends through three years at a local anime convention. With classic coming-of-age teenage themes in mind, Dramacon is well-positioned for fans of Svetlana’s work who are looking for something more in the line of young adult (YA) stories.

Christie, an amateur writer and full-time fan, is attending her first anime convention with her artist boyfriend to promote the manga they created together! But when she unexpectedly falls for a mysterious cosplayer, things get a little… well… complicated. What do you do when the person you’re falling in love with is going to be miles away in just a matter of days and you might not see them for a whole year? Take a trip to Yatta Anime Convention, where laughter, heartbreak, drama and excitement come together!

TOKYOPOP Announces New European Releases

Posted on by
Tokyopop

TOKYOPOP has revealed its May and June manga releases across Europe. With retail stores reopening around the world, TOKYOPOP’s worldwide publishing efforts are also picking up, with a vast selection of genres for manga fans published in German.

Wie Blüten und Blitze (Like Flowers and Lightning) by Kana Watanabe is a manga with an inspirational tone. Umiho is shy and has fallen head over heels in love, but doesn’t dare confess to her crush out of fear of rejection. Like a breath of fresh air, the headstrong Yachiko suddenly swirls into Umiho’s life and turns it upside down with a simple observation: “most of the time you’re angry most because you did nothing, right?” From that moment on, Umiho takes her fate into her own hands.

Written by Robinson Haruhara with art by Yuki Sato, Suginami on Dungeon Duty is one for shounen fans. Set in modern-day Tokyo with a medieval fantasy flare, the world is under constant siege by monsters from an underground network of dungeons. Civil servants are trained, armed, and sent down to protect their homes from attack, and Suginami is an apprentice defender, ready to put his skills to the test.

Two other first volumes released in May were Sword Art Online – Project Alicization, and Dog End.

June marked the first volume of Do Something Bad With Me, by Haru Aoi. This shoujo romance title follows Towako, a teenage girl who writes her secret thoughts and fantasies down in her diary. She always keeps it safe, but when her classmate Yui gets a hold of it, he offers her a surprising proposal.

Another shoujo release, Zum Glück bei dir (Fortunately With You) from Rika Enoki is a standalone romance title. Yae grew up with her parents in Tokyo, but when they take an assignment abroad she finds herself taking care of her grandparents house in the country by herself. Fortunately, the charming neighbor Oda, who works as a priest in the nearby shrine, helps her with her chores. But it seems he might be just as interested in Yae herself…

Four more titles launching in June are Apocalyptic Organs, Koimonogatari (Love Stories), Unter der Oberfläche (Under the Surface), and Love You Till You Die.

Tokyopop Announces an Adjusted Release Schedule

Posted on by
Tokyopop

Tokyopop previously announced their adjusted release schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic and have revealed an adjusted schedule for their 2020 titles.

The outbreak of novel coronavirus around the world has resulted in non-essential businesses closing down temporarily, including our printer, lettering team, distributor, and other vitally important parts of the publishing process. As the industry begins to adapt and resume business, the publisher has worked closely with its industry partners to create an adjusted release schedule for the remainder of 2020.

Tokyopop will also be revealing more community projects to engage and support fans through the rest of the year, with details to follow in the future.

A full list of revised release dates can be found on the Tokyopop website.

Tokyopop Adjusts Its Release Schedule Delaying April and May Releases Plus an Ebook Giveaway

Posted on by
Tokyopop

Tokyopop has announced they have adjusted their release schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due to a mix of factors including businesses being shut down temporarily including their printer, their lettering team, distributor, and more. They have made the decision to delay the print release of their upcoming titles originally scheduled for release in April and May of 2020.

They’re working hard in the background to find other ways to get new titles to fans throughout this shutdown, including accelerated ebook releases and outsourcing work to freelancers, and are in ongoing talks with various partners to evaluate how quickly they can resume printing and releasing as scheduled. They don’t anticipate having to delay the release of titles initially scheduled for June or later, but will update the status of new releases as new information is made available.

As a thank you to their community through this global shutdown, they’ve launched the COVID-19 Community Free Manga Program, with a selection of their titles available digitally for free until the end of April.

DELAYED PRINT TITLES:

Aria: The Masterpiece, Volume 6
Futaribeya: A Room for Two, Volume 7
Disney Manga: Kilala Princess – Save The Village with Mulan!, Issue #1
Disney Manga: Kilala Princess – Save The Village with Mulan!, Issue #2
Disney Manga: Kilala Princess – Save The Village with Mulan!, Issue #3
Disney Manga: Kilala Princess – Save The Village with Mulan!, Issue #4
Koimonogatari: Love Stories, Volume 1
Konohana Kitan, Volume 8
Disney Manga: The Nightmare Before Christmas – Zero’s Journey, Issue #18
Disney Manga: The Nightmare Before Christmas – Zero’s Journey, Issue #19
Disney Manga: The Nightmare Before Christmas – Zero’s Journey, Book 4
No Vampire, No Happy Ending, Volume 1
Ocean of Secrets, Volume 3
Undead Messiah, Volume 3

Magnetic Press and Tokyopop Deliver New Digital Comics on comiXology

Posted on by

Just because there isn’t new physical comics being released to comic shops, doesn’t mean there’s not new comics to you. Magnetic Press and Tokyopop have 5 new releases you can check out on comiXology.

Find out what you can get now.

Genpet #1

Written by Damián
Art by Alex Fuentes
Cover by Alex Fuentes
Purchase

Younf Nat Kanan just got his very own Genpet, and just in time — gangsters are out to get him and his family! Lost in the futuristic Big Apple, the two of them must find a way back to his parents before trouble catches up to them!

Genpet #1

Infinity 8 #19: All for Nothing

Written by Boulet, Lewis Trondheim
Art by Boulet
Cover by Boulet
Purchase

The city-sized, deep-space cruise ship “Infinity 8” stops halfway en route between the Milky Way and Andromeda, blocked by a massive field of debris containing wreckage and artifacts from countless planets, cultures, and possibly dimensions. The captain of the ship calls upon eight of the ship’s top security to investigate the anomaly, each one sent out in a parallel time loop to collect information which can then be assembled to hopefully discover the truth before disaster erupts. Each time loop lasts only eight¬†hours, at which point things snap back to the way they were when they started, leaving the agents with no memories of their time in that window. Can the eight¬†agents solve the mystery without making things worse? Danger reveals itself within the interspecies population on the ship, some of whom may know more than they lead on . . . The first volume introduces us to the crew and captain of the Infinity 8 as they first encounter the anomaly, and the first security agent‚Äîthe brassy Yoko Keren‚Äîis sent out on the case. But she’s too preoccupied by her own relationship woes (or lack-of-relationship woes) to focus on the job. When a race of necrophagous aliens follow her into a floating graveyard, they begin to assimilate the criminal and violent behavior of the corpses they devour. With their attention turned back to the ship itself, Yoko has to find a way to stop them from destroying the ship before her time loop expires.

KLAW Vol. 3 #13: Operation Mayhem

Written by Antoine Ozanam
Art by Joël Jurion
Colored by Yoann Guillé
Cover by Joël Jurion
Purchase

High school troubles pale in comparison to the blackout delusions Angel Tomassini has started experiencing, believing he is secretly turning into a giant murderous were-tiger out of control. But is he really? Or is it all in his head?

KLAW Vol. 3 #13

Orphans Vol. 1 #5: The Rifleman

Written by Roberto Recchioni
Art by Luca Maresca
Colored by Alessia Pastorello
Cover by Massimo Carnevale
Purchase

Jonas and the other orphans are sent into the woods on a survival mission that will leave scars long into adulthood, particularly for new recruit Raul…

Orphans Vol. 1 #5: The Rifleman

The Fox & Little Tanuki Vol. 1

Written by Tagawa Mi
Art by Tagawa Mi
Purchase

It is said that there are some special animals occasionally born with great powers. Senzou the black fox is one of those… but instead of using his powers for good, he abused his strength until the Sun Goddess imprisoned him for his bad behavior. Three hundred years later, he’s finally been released, but only on one condition — he can’t have any of his abilities back until he successfully helps a tanuki cub named Manpachi become an assistant to the gods. Unfortunately for Senzou, there’s no cheating when it comes to completing his task! The magic beads around his neck make sure he can’t wander too far from his charge or ignore his duties, and so… Senzou the once-great Fox Spirit must figure out how to be an actually-great babysitter to a innocent little tanuki or risk being stuck without his powers forever!

The Fox & Little Tanuki Vol. 1

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Around the Tubes

Posted on by
Money Shot #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d everyone get? What’d you like? What’d you dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

WNWO NBC – Grant allows Toledo Lucas County Public Library to start comic book clubs at local schools – This is great to see.

Newsarama – Tokyopop Branches Out Into Digital-First with New Titles by Shadow and Tim Smith 3 – That’s a very interesting move.

Global News – No ‘to be continued’ for C4 comic convention – That’s a long running convention.

The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: Witchcraft makes a mess of magic and feelings – Free comics!

Newsarama – DC Hires Editor Ben Meares – Some staffing news.

Reviews

AIPT! – Adventures of Spider-Man: Spectacular Foes
AIPT! – Marvel Rising: Heroes of the Round Table
The Beat – Money Shot #1
The Beat – Sparrowhawk

SDCC 2019: Tokyopop Announces New Manga Including Horror and Three Boys’ Love Titles

Posted on by

Tokyopop unveiled the launch of a new horror manga series, as well as three new, single-volume boys’ love titles to be released in early 2020 at their San Diego Comic-Con 2019 panel. 

From Kaili Sorano, the creator of supernatural manga series Monochrome Factor, comes another action-packed occult story entitled Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond. It follows the mysterious adventures of two high schoolers, Yamagishi and Sendo, who accidentally find themselves entangled in occult conspiracies and a fantastical array of paranormal phenomenon plaguing their school, including a plant-faced monster that seems to be assimilating innocent victims around the area. With the help of an enigmatic paranormal investigator named Akisato, the two must set aside their many differences and work together to stop these preternatural perils from the world “beyond.” 

According to the artist, this new manga series is heavily inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Call of Cthulhu, as well as the tabletop role-playing game of the same title. Horror manga fans can look forward to the Lovecraftian monsters and mysteries of Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond in February 2020. 

Also launching in early 2020 are three more boys’ love titles, each in single-volume format. 

The first of the three, titled Dirty Darling, is authored and illustrated by boys love artist Gorou Kanbe. In it, a young man takes in and takes care of an unfortunate vagrant, helping him clean up and get back on his feet. A special relationship begins to blossom between the two unlikely companions in this bittersweet story of loss and love.

Also scheduled for early 2020 are Dekoboko Sugar Days by Atsuko Yusen and RePlay by Saki Tsukahara, both of which feature a romance between two young men who started out as childhood friends.

Dekoboko Sugar Days is a fun, lighthearted romance between main characters Yuujirou Matsukaze and Rui Hanamine, who have been close since the two of them were young. At that time, Yuujirou was the one who stood up for and took care of his adorable, soft-hearted friend. As it turns out, however, Yuujirou’s childhood dreams end up growing a little too big to handle — or, rather, too tall! At over six feet in height, the cheerful and happy-go-lucky Rui towers over his would-be protector… and still has no idea Yuujirou’s had a crush on him since they were kids! 

RePlay also features a couple who started out as close friends, but with a twist for sports-manga fans. Main characters Yuuta and Ritsu have been part of the same baseball club for years, but after being defeated in a local tournament over the summer, the two decide to quit the club and begin studying for the same university. Still, Yuuta finds himself unable to give up his lingering attachment to baseball. The one person who can truly understand him is Ritsu. 

Details on these upcoming 2020 Tokyopop manga releases are below.

Title: Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond, Vol. 1
Story/Art: Kaili Sorano
ISBN: 978-1-4278-6226-6
Rating: 13+
SRP: $12.99
Trim: 5″x7.5″
Pages: 176
Cover: Softcover
Release month: February 2020

Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond, Vol. 1

Title: Dirty Darling
Story/Art: Gorou Kanbe
ISBN: 978-1-4278-6225-9
Rating: 16+
SRP: $12.99
Trim: 5″x7.5″
Pages: 176
Cover: Softcover
Release month: January 2020

Dirty Darling

Title: Dekoboko Sugar Days
Story/Art: Atsuko Yusen
ISBN: 978-1-4278-6228-0
Rating: 16+
SRP: $12.99
Trim: 5″x7.5″
Pages: 256
Cover: Softcover
Release month: February 2020

Dekoboko Sugar Days

Title: RePlay
Story/Art: Saki Tsukahara
ISBN: 978-1-4278-6227-3
Rating: 18+
SRP: $12.99
Trim: 5″x7.5″
Pages: 192
Cover: Softcover
Release month: February 2020

RePlay

SDCC 2019: Tokyopop’s Exclusives and Panels

Posted on by

Tokyopop has revealed their exclusive merchandise available for purchase to collectors at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Centered around their full-color manga-style comic, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey, the limited edition items will delight fans of Tim Burton and Disney’s stop motion classic.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey was Introduced for Diamond Comics’ 2018 Free Comic Book Day with a prequel comic counted as issue #0 in the 20 issue comic series. Selling over 120,000 copies of the Free Comic Book Day debut to comic book stores across North America, the original story introduces new characters alongside fan favorites, and is written and created in house by the Tokyopop team.

When Jack Skellington’s faithful pet Zero gets lost in the woods, he finds himself accidentally sucked into the portal to Christmas Town. Alone and confused by this strange new world, he must get the help of the residents of Christmas Town to find his way back. And with their own holiday plans on hold, everyone in Halloween Town rallies behind Jack to mount a search for the faithful ghost pup. Will they be reunited in time to save both holidays?

Set in the wonderful world of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS as created by Tim Burton, explore the magical realms of Halloween Town and Christmas Town through the eyes of Zero as he tries to find his way home in an unfamiliar world.

All exclusives are available in limited quantities at booth #4037 on the exhibition floor.

Zero’s Journey issue #0 (2019 convention exclusive variant)

AVAILABLE FROM THURSDAY 7/18 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

Originally released for Free Comic Book Day 2018, this 2019 convention exclusive variant of The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey #0 features brand new cover art by Yishan Li.

Price: $20

Trick or Treat (2019 SDCC exclusive print)

AVAILABLE ON THURSDAY 7/18 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

This San Diego Comic-Con 2019 exclusive print features Kiyoshi Arai’s cover art from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey issue #8.

12″x18″ with metallic ink highlights.

Price: $15

Poor Zero (2019 SDCC exclusive print)

AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY 7/19 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

This San Diego Comic-Con 2019 exclusive print features Kiyoshi Arai’s cover art from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey issue #10.

12″x18″ with metallic ink highlights.

Price: $15

Here Comes Sandy Claws (2019 SDCC exclusive print)

AVAILABLE ON SATURDAY 7/20 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

This San Diego Comic-Con 2019 exclusive print features Kiyoshi Arai’s cover art from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey issue #12.

12″x18″ with metallic ink highlights.

Price: $15

Halloween Heartache (2019 SDCC exclusive print)

AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY 7/21 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

This San Diego Comic-Con 2019 exclusive print features Kiyoshi Arai’s cover art from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey issue #3.

12″x18″ with metallic ink highlights.

Price: $15

Tokyopop will also be selling non-exclusive prints from some of their most popular manga, a selection of titles from their International Women of Manga, Disney Manga, TOKYOPOP Classics and brand new lines, and will offer a button making station where attendees can select a button from a number of existing licenses, or design their own for purchase.

Several members of the team will be appearing in panels at the show, featuring special creative guests and announcements of new licenses.

Diversity in Manga, Thu 7/18 (12 – 1pm), Room 29AB

Many of us love manga, but sometimes we don’t see ourselves represented as often as we’d like – or even at all. Join TOKYOPOP for a discussion about the importance of increasing diversity in manga titles, and for a preview of upcoming International Women of Manga releases, plus giveaways!

TOKYOPOP Presents: Manga for Everyone, Sat 7/20 (6 – 7pm), Room: 28DE

Manga is for everyone, and TOKYOPOP’s goal is to bring the magic of manga to all comic book fans, whether they’re manga veterans or new to the world of Japanese style comics. This panel will be an opportunity to show curious fans what’s coming up this year and beyond from TOKYOPOP, how we’re expanding our Disney Manga licenses for kids, bringing diversity into the world of manga from our International Women of Manga line, and both resurrecting classic titles for collector editions and bringing new manga over from Japan.

The Making of Zero’s Journey, Sun 7/21 (4 – 5pm), Room: 29AB

Join the team behind The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero’s Journey graphic novel series to learn about the comic’s creative process! We’ll be talking about the film that started it all, how it inspired this new story and what it’s like working with such an influential property. And stick around after the Q&A for a giveaway!

Tokyopop Heads to Hi De Ho Comics for Free Comic Book Day

Posted on by

This Saturday is Free Comic Book Day and Tokyopop will be at Hi De Ho Comics giving out free copies of Dizzy’s New Fortune, a full color, manga-style graphic novel telling a brand-new story in the world of Disney Descendants!

The original Villain Kids have worked hard to prove they deserve to stay in Auradon, and now it’s time some of their friends from the Isle of the Lost get that chance too! When Dizzy receives a special invitation from King Ben to join the other VKs at Auradon Prep, at first she’s thrilled! But doubt soon creeps in, and she begins to question whether she can truly fit in outside the scrappy world of the Isle.

Where: Hi De Ho Comics, 412 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
When: May 4th, 10am – 5pm
What: More details here!

Can’t make it? Check if your local store is hosting its own Free Comic Book Daycelebration by using the Comic Shop Locator service!

Nana Yaa’s Goldfisch Manga Being Developed as Anime!

Posted on by

Tokyopop has announced their adaptation of Nana Yaa‘s Goldfisch manga into an animated series.

With the script being written by Simon Thummet, the project will be produced by Tokyopop together with European animation studio Studio Seufz in Stuttgart, Germany. Funding is provided by the Media and Film Funding of Baden-Wuerttemberg (MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg), whose jurors in their last award session of the year approved around 3.7 million EUR for a total of 23 projects in the fields of script development, preproduction and production, with 15,200 EUR awarded to Goldfisch for the initial phase.

One of the first titles in Tokyopop’s International Women of Manga initiative, two volumes of Goldfisch are already available in English and in Nana Yaa’s native German from Tokyopop, and the first volume has been released in French (asGoldfish) by nobi nobi!. A new take on the legend of King Midas, the shonen action adventure title is inspired by the tales Yaa heard from her grandmother when she was growing up.

Say hi to Morrey Gibbs! A fisher-boy in a flooded world overrun with dangerous mutated animals known as “anomals”, he’s got his own problems to worry about. Namely, how everything he touches turns to gold! Sure it sounds great, but gold underpants aren’t exactly stylish — or comfortable!

Together with his otter buddy and new inventor friend Shelly, Morrey’s on a quest to rid himself of his blessing-turned-curse and undo the tragedy it caused. That is of course, if they can dodge the treasure-hungry bounty hunters…

Nana Yaa is now among the most productive artists in the German manga scene and has already published numerous amateur manga and short stories, including the Boys Love webcomic, CRUSHED!!. In addition to her contributions to anthologies by the independent publisher Schwarzer Turm, her first full-length work, Patina was published by Droemer Knaur in 2016. Her slice-of-life drama MCS was awarded Doujinshi of the Year in 2016.

« Older Entries Recent Entries »