Digital Manga Publishing brings Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D Manga to comiXology

DMP’s flagship manga title makes its debut on the iPad

Kansas City, MO /NY, NY 6/8/11 – Digital Manga Publishing announced today that they are partnering with comiXology, the leading distributor of digital comics, to digitally release their flagship manga title Vampire Hunter D vol. 1-3 to the comiXology storefront for the iOS, Android and Web.

Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D print edition manga was launched in 2007 by Digital Manga Publishing, adapting the well renowned series of prose novel series, which began in the 80’s. Kikuchi mixed elements of gothic horror, science fiction and romance with the classic Western to produce a wholly original, post-apocalyptic vision of the distant future, where humanity is ruled by vampires and tormented by a host of creatures including demons, werewolves and mutants, as well as half-human, half-vampire ‘dhampirs’ like the series’ namesake, D.

“Manga has been in the brick and mortar comic book shops for several decades and Digital Manga Publishing would like to carry on that tradition to the digital frontier,” said Fred Lui, VP-Production of Digital Manga. ”We are partnering with comiXology because of the ubiquitous platform that they have built and the amazing reading experience they are able to provide.”

The Vampire Hunter D manga and novels have an international fan base, having sold more than 17 million copies around the world. The property has also been adapted into two anime movies, an audio drama, and a video game. The entry of the Vampire Hunter D manga into the digital edition arena will prove to be equally successful, especially with the reading experience when delivered through comiXology’s Comic App.

“The addition of Digital Manga’s Vampire Hunter D with it’s rich story telling is a great addition to our platform,’ said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology.  “The manga looks especially vibrant in our Guided View format on the iPad and we look forward to adding more of Digital Manga’s titles to our platform in the coming months.”

Through this partnership Digital Manga Publishing will be releasing more of their acclaimed titles through comiXology platform.

All volumes of Vampire Hunter D will be available on the comiXology platform for $9.99 each with 20 pages of the first volume can be read for free. You can find their dedicated web storefront at comics.comixology.com/dmp and all purchases are buy once, read anywhere.

About comiXology
Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, BOOM! Studios and Image Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which hosts over 9,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace. http://www.comixology.com/

About Digital Manga Publishing
Located in Gardena, CA, Digital Manga Publishing is one of the industry’s most unconventional and innovative companies, specializing in building corporate and cultural bridges from Japan to the Western Hemisphere – specifically through the licensing, importation and localization of anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comic books) and related merchandise for the North American mainstream and subculture markets. In this capacity, Digital Manga Inc. serves as a catalyst for the expansion of Japanese pop culture institutions into global arenas. The company’s diverse manga imprint line includes high profile manga/anime titles such as Vampire Hunter D; popular romance titles–Only the Ring Finger Knows; classic iconic titles–Speed Racer Mach GoGoGo; and award nominated titles–Itazura Na Kiss (Young Adult Library Service Assoc.) and Antique Bakery (Eisner Award). Digital Manga Publishing also caters to the young audience with a vast array of educational and instructional line of books with their Edu-Manga series and Let’s Draw Manga series.

For more information about Digital Manga Publishing, visit www.digitalmanga.com as well as:

www.emanga.com
http://twitter.com/digitalmanga
http://www.youtube.com/user/junemanga
http://www.youtube.com/user/801media
http://www.youtube.com/user/digitalmanga
http://www.facebook.com/DigitalMangaInc

Manga madness week 2: Right to left woes and Osamu Tezuka

Well a week’s gone by and Manga has indeed been read.  After my initial impressions of the books mentioned last week I’ve managed to proceed further down the path of Manga Enlightenment. Overall the books were enjoyable to read and for the most part pretty much on par with what I expected from books about vampires and pop divas. I will be one hundred percent honest having to read from right-left proved to be a little more trying than I would have thought at first, however reading Hetalia on the app helped a little with that problem and the thoroughly thought provoking series was made all the more reader friendly.

Of the books I got to read last week an immediate stand out came in the form on Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha Vol. 1. which I will admit I was not expecting. I picked this book up without knowing a thing about it or the man who created it, needless to say I’m happy I did. For those like me who may not be familiar with the late Osamu Tezuka he is regarded by many as one of the masters of modern manga, and after reading Buddha I can see why. I devoured the first volume and even managed to squeeze in two more books over the week, making it the only Manga series I’ve managed to keep up with after the first collection.  I wasn’t expecting something so epic in scale when I first picked up the book given it’s older publication date, yet right away I could not help but be swept away by the vastness of Tezuka’s adaption. Of course it may have helped that the English translation of Buddha was printed to be read from left to right.

Thus I’ve decided to explore more of Tezuka’s work during week two, only this time I promise not to cheat.  I’ll get the right to left reading thing down if it’s last thing I do.

Manga Madness Week 1: First Impressions

Alright before we begin we need to get one thing straight. I have never read a Manga before in my life, yes I have read a comic book in fact it could really be said that I have read an unhealthy amount of american comic books over the past few years of my life. However as far as the far Japanese cousin to the medium I love so dearly goes I don’t know my Shonen Jump from my TOKYOPOP. That being said in honor of the now seizable amount of Manga now available on comiXology I have decided it is high time to see what all this craziness is about, thus my decent into the world of manga readership begins, I’ve selected the books and will be keeping track of my progress. Here are my first impressions.

Book 1: Blood Sucker Legend of Zipangu: A Vampire story by Aki Shimizu and Saki Okuse it boasts a Parental Advisory warning on it’s front cover and must in fact be read from right to left luckily there proper instructions for just how this Manga should be enjoyed. Needless to say I’m excited.

Book 2: Princess Ai: A fantastical coming of age romance story about “A diva torn from Chaos” and “A savior doomed to Love”. this one seems interesting. Sporting a talent team consisting of Misaho Kujiradou, D.J. Milky  and…Courtney Love!? I can honestly say I’m a little scared of this one.

Book 3: Hetalia Axis Powers Vol. 1: So this is the first book of it’s kind currently available on comiXology  and naturally it makes the list. A comedy about the Axis powers of World War II personified by a dashing trio young soldiers. Again this is a right to left styled manga, which comiXology’s Guided View reader will make a little easier to read for stubborn western sensibilities.

Book 4: Buddha Vol 1: The Wild Card of the bunch, a book recommended to me in the past by more than one person and one I’m hoping will add a little diversity to the current list. Written by Manga Godfather Osamu Tezuka this 2004 Eisner Award winner looks promising, how will it compare with the others? only time will tell.

So there you have it. Four books in five days, will they be enough to sway this die-hard mainstream american comic book reader to the Manga side of life? Or is there perhaps a more worthwhile title missing from the list above. I am open to suggestions feel free to add them in the comments section. Next week I’ll be back full reviews and a new list of manga titles!

Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got some reading to do.

TOKYOPOP & comiXology Debut Hetalia Axis Powers in Industry’s First Simultaneous Print and Digital Manga Release

comiXology Introduces First Japanese Manga Series in Partnership with TOKYOPOP

9.22.2010 – /Los Angeles, CA/New York, NYC – In a first-ever simultaneous print and digital release for a major manga title in North America, TOKYOPOP, the leading independent manga entertainment company in the U.S., has partnered with comiXology, the number one digital comics platform for the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and the Web, to release the digital editions of Hidekaz Himaruya’s hit manga Hetalia Axis Powers at the same time as the graphic novel print version.

Hetalia’s mobile debut in the U.S. is a key part of TOKYOPOP’s simultaneous print and digital releases on all popular platforms.

The first volume of Hetalia has been divided into six issues and will be available through the Comics by comiXology app and on the Web for $0.99 each. The first issue will be free.

Also coming soon is a deluxe teaser app that fans can download from the iTunes App Store, which includes a preview of the first chapter, manga trailer, and photos of elaborately dressed fans in Hetalia cosplay (short for “costume play”).

“TOKYOPOP is thrilled to have comiXology join us as a partner in bringing this phenomenal new manga to every popular platform so fans can read it whenever and wherever they want,” said Stu Levy, CEO of TOKYOPOP. “comiXology is a crucial part of our campaign to engage our fans in innovative new ways.”

The release of Hetalia represents comiXology’s first-ever manga offering. The manga reads from right to left in the authentic Japanese format, using comiXology’s patent-pending Guided View™ Technology to create a fluid experience for dedicated manga fans and new readers alike.

“TOKYOPOP has developed a first-to-market track record in bringing manga to digital,” said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “Hetalia presents an incredible opportunity for comiXology to introduce more readers to the style and richness of manga storytelling through mobile. Working with such a pioneering publisher as TOKYOPOP is truly an honor. We look forward to bringing all of their titles to our platform.”

Hetalia Axis Powers has swept the Internet worldwide as a Webcomic, and the graphic novel has already sold more than a million units in Japan. A humorous and often politically-incorrect retelling of actual historic moments, Hetalia focuses primarily on the relationships between the Axis and Allied Powers during the World Wars. The story follows Italy, Germany, and Japan from the fall of Rome up through World War II, with each country personified by bishonen characters (archetypal Japanese “pretty boys”).

Hetalia is available through the Comics by comiXology app on the iPad, iPhone and iPod now.

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About TOKYOPOP®
Founded in 1997 by international media entrepreneur Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP established the market for manga in North America, introducing the term to the English language in the process. Over its history, TOKYOPOP has published over 3000 books, distributed anime and Asian films on home video and television, licensed merchandise to consumer goods companies, created graphic novels of major brands such as Warcraft, Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Hannah Montana, and led the way digitally in social media, e-commerce and user-generated content.

TOKYOPOP’s brand expanded internationally with offices in Europe and Japan and a network of over 160 partners in more than 50 countries and 30 languages. Taking its Manga Revolution beyond the page, TOKYOPOP has begun producing live-action and animated film and television content based on its extensive intellectual property library, including Priest, Van Von Hunter, and another 20 projects currently in development, along with America’s Greatest Otaku, an 8-episode reality show filmed during its 2010 summer-long, 28-city national tour.

For more information, visit www.TOKYOPOP.com as well as www.twitter.com/tokyopop and www.facebook.com/tokyopop.

About comiXology
Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Marvel, DC, BOOM! Studios and Image Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which hosts nearly 3000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.

http://www.comixology.com/