Late-Breaking: TOKYOPOP OEL To Be Web-Only Henceforth
Well, I think we were all waiting for some news from TOKYOPOP, but this is probably not what most of us expected: Chris Butcher has a report from Steady Beat creator Rivkah that TOKYOPOP’s non-licensed works– i.e. their original global titles (Warcraft and Harper Collins count as licensed) –will be web-only from hereon in.
I haven’t fully formed an opinion yet, but instinctively I can’t help but think that this takes a big step back in terms of legitimizing western-originating manga, and making it that much less likely that a manga reader will stumble upon it accidentally.
Also, I wonder if it applies to upcoming titles, like Studio Kosen’s Daemonium (pictured)– I’d guess that their contract promised that their book would actually see print someday, but under the circumstances, who knows?
June 13th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Wow, this coming right after Scott’s Tokyopop article; really shows how much Tokyopop has fallen.