YaoiLand Buzzes, Speculates On New Publisher
Over the evening I just got word on this from the Boys Next Door girls, and then Brigid mentioned it today over at MangaBlog: apparently a new yaoi publisher called Yaoi Generation, who will be at Yaoi-Con (and, according to BND’s Cynbaby, possibly at Otakon as well).
GloBL comic writer Tina Anderson and blogger/writer/editor Kethylia trade speculation, including the possibility that Yaoi Generation is being established by Yaoi Press (the company is based in Fremont, CA, where Iris Print’s Kellie Lynch lives and now works for Yaoi Press) or DrMaster (also based in Fremont).
I’m a bit skeptical on the YPress idea– I didn’t get the sense that Lynch was especially interested in doing the licensed manga thing, and I’m not sure why Yamila Abraham would launch a whole new company for that when Yaoi Press has an established reputation and sales. As for DrMaster, I suppose it’s entirely plausible.
A whois on the domain shows that the registrant as a “Thuy Duong.” I can find plenty of Thuy Duongs online, even ones in Fremont and ones who are into manga, but I can’t find any that seem particularly affiliated or connected with the industry, so I guess that’s mostly a dead end.
I suppose only time will tell. I’m shipping out an e-mail, though I don’t know if I expect a response. But if I bump into them at Otakon I’ll certainly get the details!
EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention– do look around their site. They talk a bit about what they’ll be up to, including publishing “Yaoi mangas, English edition” and a bi-monthly magazine, plus merchandise. It looks like they’ll be going for Internet sales only, with no mention of trying to get books into brick-and-mortar shops (though the online versions of real shops like Barnes and Noble and Borders’ websites are mentioned).
Tags: bl, DrMaster, western industry, yaoi generation, yaoi-con, yaoi-press
June 9th, 2008 at 8:19 am
hmm… so can we expect something readable, or will it all be girly stuff all over again? (keeps her fingers crossed)
June 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I’m writing here because there’s something wrong with your following entry (the one about Kadokawa and Gonzo downloads) and the comment box functions as a link to ANN.
Anyway, I tried to download some drama, and yes, they’re Japan-only. Dammit.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:04 am
@kuro: Oop! Fixed the entry, thanks for the heads-up and the confirmation.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Huh, a surprising development when DQ is possibly dead, Blu likely slowing down, Seven Seas’ yaoi line died a silent death.
Anyway, I hope this company is real and bring us some different stuff. The main thing I will miss about DQ if they die is that they brought alot of diversity to the yaoi market.
June 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Being connected to Dr. Master seems the most plausible right now, the two both being run out of, and registered by someone in, Fremont.
The name Thuy Duong made me think of an anagram first. I blame Bandai’s recent viral escapades for that kind of paranoia! Funny how easy it is thanks to DNS look ups to find Thuy Duong’s name, e-mail and home address but not to find any relevant to YaoiGeneration information past that on the internet.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
@Kuri: Funny, a lot of that information wasn’t on the whois this morning. I’m now pondering making a phone call…
June 9th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
@Dawn - One of the mods at Aarin stated that contacted Tran from DQ who stated that DQ will be re-stocking their mangas soon, but she did not give any indication if they will publish new titles they acquired awhile back.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
@Ruby_Alex Was that before or after the ‘News as of June 1st’ post by a DQ employee in the website? I interprited what that same employee said on another thread about buying titles that were still in stock as being a ‘buy while you can’ situation.
I mean, I hope things as not as dire as I implied. I like DQ alot. (And if they do reprint some books I need my own copy of Rising Storm …)
June 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
@Dawn - It was after the June 1st notice. Right now, one of the mods stated that Tran is going to have a meeting with the investors tomorrow to discuss finances. I think that conference tomorrow will indicate the future of DQ.