News – New York Comic Con Manga & Light Novel Licenses

New York Comic Con was this past weekend, so let’s take a look at manga and light novel news!


Crunchyroll

Arakawa Under the Bridge – NAKAMURA Hikaru
Cuticle Detective Inaba (Cuticle Tantei Inaba) – Mochi
Gugure! Kokkuri-san – ENDOU Midori


Dark Horse

Lone Wolf 2100 – Eric Heisserer, Miguel Sepulveda, & David Gomez [based on KOIKE Kazuo’s Lone Wolf & Cub, remake of Lone Wolf 2100 by Mike Kennedy & Francisco Ruiz Velasco]


Kodansha Comics USA

Attack on Titan anthology – Various authors [English language original publication]
I am Space Dandy (Ore Space Dandy) – KATSUMATA Hiroki
Spoof on Titan (Sungeki no Kyojin) – hounori


Vertical Comics, Inc.

Vertical has announced audiobooks for some of their light novels:

Attack on Titan: The Harsh Mistress of the City
Kizumonogatari


Viz Media

7th Garden – IZUMI Mitsu
Black Garden – TABATA Yuki [previously digital-only]
Boys Over Flowers Season 2 (Hana Nochi Hare: HanaDan Next Season) – KAMIO Yoko [digital only, current chapters free to read]
Crown of Thorns (Ibara no Kanmuri) – KAMIO Yoko [digital only]
Everyone’s Getting Married (Totsuzen Desu ga, Ashita Kekkon Shimasu) – MIYAZONO Izumi
Haikyu!! – FURUDATE Haruichi
Kuroko’s Basketball (Kuroko no Basuke) – FUJIMAKI Tadatoshi
Monster Hunter (Monster Hunter: Senkou no Kariudo)  – HIKAMI Keiichi & YAMAMOTO Shin
Yona of the Dawn (Akatsuki no Yona) – KUSANAGI Mizuho

In addition, Boys Over Flowers Season 2 is going to get its first digital volume release. All chapters are currently available for free to read right now, but the chapters in volume one will likely disappear.


Yen Press

The Boy and The Beast – HOSODA Mamoru [light novel]
The Boy and The Beast – HOSODA Mamoru & ASAI Renji [manga]
Corpse Party: Blood Covered – KENDOIN Makoto & SHINOMIYA Toshimi
Dimension W – IWAHARA Yuji
Overlord – MARUYAMA Kugane & so-bin [light novel]
Overlord – MARUYAMA Kugane & MIYAMA Fugin [manga]
Psycome – MIZUSHIRO Mizuki [light novel]
Scumbag Loser (Saiteihen no Otoko) – YAMAGUCHI Mikoto
Space Dandy – HARADA Masafumi, Sung-woo Park, & RED ICE
Unhappy Go Lucky! – Cotoji


It’s always nice to see new titles added to Crunchyroll. It’s already a great deal at $7 for unlimited anime and manga with no ads and mobile streaming, but it’s always better to get more for your money! I’m sure many are hoping Arakawa Under the Bridge takes the next step and gets a print release.

Not one but two announcements are new OEM releases, plus audiobooks. Kodansha USA continues with Attack on Titan, but this is a rare tribute/fanbook that is not a Japanese original. Lots of big-name comic artists are on board, plus it will be in full color.

But, of course, the clear winner here is Viz Media. After their disappointing panels at some of the other conventions (especially for making such a big deal about their Shojo Beat 10th Anniversary celebration), it’s nice how Viz Media came out in full force here. A couple of major sports manga plus probably the most in-demand shoujo title? I’ve only read a little of Everyone’s Getting Married, but so far it’s an excellent josei featuring an all-too-common relationship struggle.

So all of you complaining about Yona of the Dawn and some of these other titles, make sure you buy them!! Otherwise Viz Media and other companies are going to use these series as examples of how in-demand manga flops financially.

What do you think the most exciting news from Comic Con was?

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6 Comments

  1. Coco

    Viz Media’s announcements definitely took the cake! I’m SO happy to finally get Haikyuu!!, Kuroko’s Basketball, and Yona of the Dawn in English.

    I’m also looking forward to Kodansha’s Attack on Titan Anthology due to all the creators who are contributing. I’ve read/follow a LOT of the creators on the project.

    The Boy and the Beast from Yen Press is the only one that’s intrigued me so far. I still want to see the movie. Space Dandy kinda interests me, but I’ll wait till they post a preview to see if I add it to my collection.

    Reply
    1. krystallina

      First time this year none of Yen Press’ offerings really interested me, but they’ve been getting a lot of stuff all year so they deserve a break. Complete opposite of Viz, who hasn’t been licensing many really awesome titles until NYCC.

      I also like how Kuroko’s Basketball is going to be in omnibuses. Good call.

      Still surprised by Yona. Would have thought they would have gone after it a long time ago if they really wanted it. Finally gave in to the Internet, or realized that shoujo hasn’t been doing too well recently and needed a AAA title?

      Reply
      1. Coco

        True.

        It’s like Viz was keeping all their announcements for the fall conventions.

        Me, too. I’m surprised by a lot of titles that aren’t getting picked up.

        Yes. Shojo sales have been low even with SO many good titles being released.

        Did you hear about the Tiger & Bunny Live Action film that was announced? I’m kinda excited to see how it turns out from the staff listed so far.

        Reply
        1. krystallina

          I heard about Tiger & Bunny! I know nothing about Hollywood directors or producers, so I had to Wikipedia the guys. Hope it turns out well and breaks the “Hollywood ruins anime” curse.

          Reply
          1. Coco

            I agree. xD

  2. insightblue

    Excited for a lot of these but mostly YONA!!! Yay!!! This made my week.

    Reply

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