Manga Xanadu

Kodansha and Viz Media rule the print and digital realms this week. And like that proverbial bad penny, Tokyopop is back with another Disney series, this one previously published by the black sheep of manga publishers.

I’m back and trying to get back on schedule. I hope I was missed at least a little. I don’t have my desk yet. It had to be dismantled for the move, so I’m working from a makeshift desk; a typing table and the window sill of our computer/bonus room. I don’t have any bookshelves up either, and after moving over a dozen boxes of just manga, I don’t think my husband would appreciate me buying more manga, but I can still window shop.

Yen Press has the big release list this week. It’s going to be a real money suck with so many titles coming out that I read. Vertical debuts another series, and the ghost from the past publisher rears it head with their first print release in 7 years. Only time will tell if it will be ugly or not.

Kodansha has the most releases this week, but several other publishers make an appearance, including three debut titles. We also see a new title from Digital Manga Publishing, a rare sight on the regular releases list, as it seems they are doing more publishing through kickstarter than traditionally. But they get funded more often than not, so something must be working for them. Digital only releases, which have also been really sparse lately make a bit of a come back as well.

With Diamond shipping Viz Media titles early, last week was just a bust for new releases. Even digital titles were next to non-existent. This week is a slight improvement with Seven Seas Entertainment and Vertical Comics having the most releases. Kodansha and Viz make an appearance, along with occasional manga publisher NBM.

Diamond is one against messing around with the releases schedule, so what should be the week for Yen Press to shine, is overshadowed by all the Viz Media releases coming out this week as well. Sorry for the wallets of anyone who needs a week to replenish between the two big publishers.

It’s been a hectic few weeks as we have to suddenly find a new home in a short period of time, so until the housing situation is settled, posting on this blog will be sporadic. I’ll try to post something when I can.

So much for thinking Diamond might get their Viz Media releases back on track. It’s a good thing I pre-ordered School Judgement Vol 2  through Amazon instead of my LCS. I’d still be waiting for it instead of getting a day early!

Variety is the name of the game with this week’s new releases, with several different publishers releasing both new titles as well as ending a few. Diamond Distributors is still a little wonky with regards to Viz Media’s books. Maybe they are trying to make up for last month’s delays.

There is so much good stuff out this week that I don’t even know where to start! Kodansha Comics, Seven Seas, Viz Media and Yen Press all have a good variety of titles as well as some long-awaited debuts. This week is a serious wallet buster!

It seems Diamond Distributors finally found their shipment of Viz Media manga. It’s about f-ing time. But this of course makes things more difficult for the direct market buyer as there are some really good titles coming from other publishers, so those on a tight budget will have some hard choices to make.

Diamond Distributors is really sticking it to Viz Media. This is the second week of no titles from the publisher coming through the Direct Market. Viz releases their shonen and shojo titles on the first Tuesday of the month, which was last week. This week rolls around, and it is as sparse as green is in California lawns.  Maybe next week will be better.