Viz and their manga

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Does this press release relate to the reason why Viz ceased distribution of it's monthly comics? Have they lost the rights to some of their manga properties due to them now cutting costs (Dragonball, Inu Yasha, Big O, Tenchi, etc)?

Is the reason why they can no longer sell outside of North America due to some new Japanese or American law?

All they are doing is stopping the publication of their monthly 32-40 page comic books (NOT their anthologies (Animerica Extra, Shonen Jump)) . Instead they will just publish them as graphic novels only. This is just like what Tokyopop is doing. As far as I know they are not discontinuing any currently running titles.

It just means that the original publishing company just wants to make more money. Instead of one company paying 'x' for both NA and Europe, they can now have two companies paying 'x' (or one company paying x*2), one for NA and one for Europe.

Of course, keep in mind that this means that Viz themselves cannot sell them outside of NA. A comic book store or online retailer should still be able to sell them outside.

It means something else too... that video stores and bookstores now provide a bigger market for translated manga than comic stores (who prefer the monthly pamphlet format). This is an interesting change indeed, and may pave the way for a greater acceptance of the graphic storytelling medium in America.

Uhhhhhh...did I miss something? Because it looks to me like that press release didn't say ANYTHING about Viz ceasing distribution of their monthlies.

Blade (And I hope they don't, either.)

It's the same reason there are multi-region DVD players and dics and why in America we have VHS VCR's and in England, they have PAL VCR's

The last two months of the Previews comic store catalog have not listed any monthlies but the anthology books, so I'd say that's a pretty big clue they are...

Well, according to Viz-In, they're still publishing monthly comics, at least for The Big O. Nor does their website seem to say anything about quitting monthlies.

Blade

thanks. I prefer graphic novels anyway.

This has been noticed. This may, however, relate to the cessation of supply to Europe, possibly because there was a steady decline in comic purchase in favour of graphic novel purchase anyway.

There may be a change in Viz's output strategy, especially as they appear to be reissuing a lot of their back catalogue. Unless they issue some sort of statement, though, all we can do is speculate based on what becomes

Maybe, and in a perfect world, I'd agree unconditionally...

Sadly, the latest issue of Tenchi Muyo announces that it is also the last. So long as they keep coming out in GN format, I'm fine with it, but I'll miss the characters answering the letters (often referencing other anime!); Ethan tells me that Bastard!! is also ending, tho hopefully that just means the monthlies as well...

Dex, Yume's lab assistant...