If Tokyopop’s reputation still hasn’t completely recovered from their self-induced crash and burn, DMP’s reputation isn’t going to recover with just a handful of titles that they largely had the rights to already, not if they’re still ignoring those unfulfilled Kickstarters. I’m willing to bet they had the rights to Hana no Miyako already. If they were announcing titles they had no prior connection to, I might be more convinced of their revival, but I’m not.
And Sublime's announcements from their FujoCon industry panel:
- Links, Natsuki Kizu
- Scattering His Virgin Bloom, Aya Sakyo
So, second bl omegaverse in print in English, second publisher for me to be extremely disappointed with for giving in to omegaverse (though not really, y'all have fun while I read that Natsuki Kizu oneshot).
I was also glad to hear that they have more announcements for Aug 1, since last year we only had the two announcements for 801 Day.
So, second bl omegaverse in print in English, second publisher for me to be extremely disappointed with for giving in to omegaverse (though not really, y'all have fun while I read that Natsuki Kizu oneshot).
Wow! This was unexpected in my book! I had assumed Sublime wouldn't pick up omegaverse but I seeing the artist this makes sense.
omegaverse isn't my bag at all so I'll be skipping that one but it's interesting to me that there's enough readership they're willing to not only license but release a print version of a two-volume series.
omegaverse isn't my bag at all so I'll be skipping that one but it's interesting to me that there's enough readership they're willing to not only license but release a print version of a two-volume series.
I wonder how much wiggle room the success of Given has given them as far as picking up licenses. It might make them more likely to pick up a two-vol series when experimenting with omegaverse than just sticking to the usual single-vol titles.
(Though the real tell re: success would probably be whether they pick up that title's upcoming sequel whenever it's available for licensing in English.)
If Tokyopop’s reputation still hasn’t completely recovered from their self-induced crash and burn, DMP’s reputation isn’t going to recover with just a handful of titles that they largely had the rights to already, not if they’re still ignoring those unfulfilled Kickstarters. I’m willing to bet they had the rights to Hana no Miyako already
The Tokyopop reputation's really got me thinking. I think cause of the Inkr app maybe too there's a separation between younger or maybe fans outside of the US that don't realize the Tokyopop history.
Though the kickstarter is still probably hopeless at this point...
If Tokyopop’s reputation still hasn’t completely recovered from their self-induced crash and burn, DMP’s reputation isn’t going to recover with just a handful of titles that they largely had the rights to already, not if they’re still ignoring those unfulfilled Kickstarters. I’m willing to bet they had the rights to Hana no Miyako already
The Tokyopop reputation's really got me thinking. I think cause of the Inkr app maybe too there's a separation between younger or maybe fans outside of the US that don't realize the Tokyopop history.
Though the kickstarter is still probably hopeless at this point...
The Flower Only Knows was a DMG title and they released just the first volume *checks notes* 10 years ago. Yes even I am shocked and I own it.
Tokyopop is starting to win me back slowly. I'm almost at breaking point and making my first purchase.
DMP is a different kettle of fish. They had a hardcore BL fanbase they were letting down with low print runs and abandoned for kickstarters. Then the kicksyarters bite them and they went further into hentai and Yuri. Then when all of those crashed and burned they have come back to thier BL audience which they have neglected for a decade to come and save them. Really different situation to Tokyopop because they have been burning bridges throughout the fandom on the quest for cash.
@phya I completely understand why many long time fans are hesitant to purchase from companies that don't have the best track record. I tend to be very forgiving because my desire to collect BL manga outweighs my anger/frustration/disappointment with a company's past behavior. That said, I will try extra hard to support companies, like Sublime, that have proven to be very reliable.
Oh, and I may be in the minority, but I am totally loving those Omegaverse titles. 😉
They're still as terrible at announcements as ever, but Kuma has a preorder up for Harada's Yoru to Asa no Uta/The Song of Yoru & Asa on Amazon. Harada in print? In English?? I don't know that I'll believe it until RightStuf has it on their site.
There's also the Seven Seas announcement of Until I Meet My Husband by Ryousuke Nanasaki and Yoshi Tsukizuki - both the essay and the manga. Heard so many good things about it can't wait!
If they were announcing titles they had no prior connection to, I might be more convinced of their revival, but I’m not.
Okay, fine, DMP/Juné might be on life support. They announced three titles today that are completely unconnected to anything they were putting out 10 years ago:
- Tsumasaki ni Kourozu, Aki Aoi (I'm assuming that title will probably change)
- Depth of Field, Enjo
- I Should Not Love You, Chise Ogawa
@jessinbooks This is pretty amazing!!!?? Impressive!??
I wonder what changed inside the office to lead to these announcements. Or it could be Taiyo Toshou is finally open to more licenses.
I haven't check online for reactions yet, but have they been...positive?
I haven't check online for reactions yet, but have they been...positive?
Reactions to Juné announcements are almost always largely positive, I've noticed. There are still plenty of people who don't trust the company (like me, even if I am still buying Twittering Birds) and others who are still very angry about those unfulfilled kickstarters, but there are plenty more people who will jump on anything they put out because hey, it's bl.
I'm also curious about the change. I don't know that it's on Taiyo Tosho's side, exactly - it's not like they don't work with any other English publishers (even if they're otherwise pretty limited to Renta), unlike some of the other Japanese publishers that exited the English market after DMP went comatose. Maybe Taiyo Tosho's just the only one still willing to work with them? Or these are licenses they were sitting on? Of Juné's most recent announcements, the newest license is from 2017, which is old enough to have been sorted out a while ago.
Depth of Field is a great title, but has been hyped at scandom years ago. The Chise Ogawa one seems very familiar, too. It might be awesome for English readers but I feel pity the publisher is not exploring options (unlike Tokyo Mangasha very recently)
What's good is even with all its scandals June still seems to have a market in indie comic sellers (at least where I live) so it's easy to buy. Kuma and Tokyopop are way more difficult.
What's good is even with all its scandals June still seems to have a market in indie comic sellers (at least where I live) so it's easy to buy. Kuma and Tokyopop are way more difficult.
Tokyopop's distribution issues are baffling. I get why Kuma's books are more difficult to get ahold of - very tiny publisher, still getting a foothold in the market, understandable - but Tokyopop? It takes forever for them to get titles even to US Amazon.