You Don’t Want Your Manga on this List ~ End of 2008 Edition

Sorry to be the Grinch this winter but cancellations were once again a topic of conversation this month. And with so many changes over the last half-year I thought it was about time I updated the cancellations list again. Bring on the gloom!!

A number of Broccoli Books titles were added to the list with their dissolution in November. Most of TOKYOPOP’s titles are not confirmed but after reviewing their release lists through August 2009, I thought I decided to add the titles listed as most of them will be in hiatus for around a year based on that information. UDON also makes the list as some of their manhwa titles have been in limbo since early fall with no restart in sight. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a ROBOT 6 solicitation in the coming months as that’s been a 6 month a release project for them.

A little bit of analysis on the updated list continues to support that manhwa is really struggling to find hold in this market. Manhwa is struggling on all fronts whether it is seinen or shojo. Now this should not be shocking as manhwa, relative to manga, is still new to this market. Manhwa has been around in North America for less than 10 years and manga is going on 30. The lack of media mix connections with manhwa are also contributing to its lack of appeal to the casual reader. Black God, technically a manga (published by SquareEnix), may help to expand this market particularly if publishers like Infinity can make the connection of Park SungWoo = Black God = simultaneous release Anime with their readership. Manhwa being a large part of Yen’s Yen+ magazine may also increase exposure and help them decide which genres and art styles to pursue in the future. At the same time, I think it would be a good idea to use surveys to figure out which titles to re-release in GN format. If a series is not well received Yen could easily run it in the mag and not risk losing money on a print run that may not go very far.

Japanese publisher MagGarden continues to be the biggest loser over the last few years. Many of their titles were dropped by ADV a few years back. TOKYOPOP rescued a handful of those titles and then decided to pick up some more only to struggle with these titles as well. MagGarden’s licenses are a strange mix of shoujo, seinen and shounen drawn by women (which is similar to how Enix, now SquareEnix, has operated their GFantasy and GanGan Wing lines). It’s really hard to figure who’s supposed to read their titles. And in my experience MagGarden titles tend to be design heavy and light on character development. Even their best seller ARIA isn’t much of a character based title as it is a slice of life travel log. Still there are some gems from MG. Elemental Gerad and Harukaze Bitter Pop are worth a look (even if the latter is in limbo right now).

One shocking trend of note is how many shoujo titles have been dropped. Shoujo appeared to be the safest demographic but with TOKYOPOP and UDON’s additions it is now showing much more weakness. Even titles from the Kings of Shoujo Hakusensha have found their way to the list. Hakusensha is by far the most popular choice for shoujo by publishers, as CMX, Viz, and TOKYOPOP have gone to their well in the past (Digital Manga and Comics One have as well for non-shoujo titles).

Finally here is a list of my most wanted titles on this list (along with who I’d like to see pick them up). Got to say some of the titles are pretty impressive and with a little bit of work many of these series could find an audience out in this market…

1. Yotsuba&! (Seven Seas)
2. Kizuna (BLU)
3. Disgaea II  (Yen Press)
4. the Finder Series (MediaBlasters)
5. Duck Prince (Del Rey)
6. Gunslinger Girl (Yen Press)
7. Yebisu Celebrities  (Aurora)
8. Bambi and Her Pink Gun! (Last Gasp)
9. Sweet Cream & Strawberries (Aurora)
10. Ga-Rei  (Go Comi)
11. Seraphic Feather (Dark Horse)
12. DVD (Go Comi)
13. Nosatsu Junkie (CMX)
14. Zig Zag (Viz Media)
15. Pilgrim Jager (Dark Horse)

(The following should get a nod too but I think their art (either too old or weird) will hurt their chances: You’re Under Arrest, PatLabor, Pineapple Army, Urusei Yatsura  Yubisaki Milk Tea).

Aurora picking up a BroBooks title shows how transfers can still happen. But I am sure that contracts and licensors more often than not may slow down the process.

Argh, Yotsuba should make a killing for whoever gets it away from ADV.

Here is the list of dread. As usual, these titles are “hiatus” and most have not been officially cancelled by their license holders or their original licensors. And if you have any info on these titles or any titles I am missing please feel free to share it in the comments.

ADV Manga

50 Rules for Teenagers	Daiwon C.I.	1	8
Banzai	Akita Shoten	0	2
Blue Inferior	Kadokawa Shoten	1	4
Boss, the	Daiwon C.I.	3	49+
By the Sword	BiBLOS	2	3
Cromatie High School	Kodansha	12	17
Daemon Hunter	MagGarden	1	7
Demon City Hunter	Akita Shoten	2	2
Desert Coral	MagGarden	3	5
Dream Gold	MagGarden	1	5
Eidron Shadow	MediaWorks	0	2
Enmusu	Akita Shoten	1	6
Fantasy Land	Daiwon C.I.	1	6
First King Adventures	MagGarden	2	8
Gadget	MagGarden	1	3
Gadirok	Daiwon C.I.	2	8
Gamerz Heaven	MagGarden	1	4
GATE	BiBLOS	1	3
Gunslinger Girl	MediaWorks	6	10+
Happy Lesson	MediaWorks	1	2
Iga-zukin: The Littlest Ninja	MagGarden	0	5
Jinki: Extend	MagGarden	3	9
Kagerou-Nostalgia	MagGarden	1	2
KI-ME-RA	BiBLOS	1	2
Kids Joker	Akita Shoten	1	6
Kyrie	Akita Shoten	0	2
Lineage	Daiwon C.I.	0	10
Louie the Rune Soldier	Fujimi Shobo	4	6
Love Blossoms	??	0	??
Lythtis	MediaWorks	0	2
More Starlight To Your Heart	MegGarden	2	8
Mystical Prince Yoshida-kun	MagGarden	1	2
Mythical Detective LOKI RAGNAROK	MagGarden	2	5
Noodle Fighter Miki	Akita Shoten	1	17
Notebook of a Demon Killer	Gentosha	1	6
Pastel Green Spell	??	0	??
Paeacemaker Kurogane	MagGarden	3	5
Pretty	Seoul Munhwasa	0	8
Quantum Mistake	Daiwon C.I.	1	31
R2	MagGarden	1	2
Ray	Akita Shoten	3	7
Ruler of the Land	Daiwon C.I.	3	46+
Saint Marie	Daiwon C.I.	2	7
Sky Blade, Sword of Heavens	Daiwon C.I.	2	13
Special Investigation Unit	??	0	3
Steel Angel Kurumi	Fujimi Shobo	9	11
Sweet & Sensitive	Daiwon C.I.	2	18
tactics	MagGarden	2	10+
Tengai Retrogical	MagGarden	1	7
Those Who Hunt Elves	MediaWorks	8	21
Vaizard	MagGarden	1	3
Yotsuba&!	MediaWorks	5	8+
Your and My Secret	MagGarden	1	5+

notes:

• According to the a geek by any other name blog, ADV does plan to continue publishing manga but have yet to solicit release dates for any of their continuing series.
• Tokyopop picked up a number of MagGarden titles - Peacemaker Kurogane, tactics, and Your and My Secret.
• Gamers Heaven, and Mythical Prince Yoshida-kun are currently on hiatus in Japan.
• Jinki: Extend left MagGarden to Ascii-MediaWorks.
• The BiBLOS titles might be void after the company went bankrupt in 2006.

BeBeautiful

Embracing Love	BiBLOS	6	13+
Finder Series	BiBLOS	3	5+
Kizuna	BiBLOS	7	10+
Playboy Blues	BiBLOS	1	3+
Sound of My Voice	BiBLOS	1	3+
Yesbisu Celebrities	BiBLOS	1	6+

note:

• All titles listed are being disputed as BiBLOS went bankrupt in 2006.

Broccoli Books

Coyote Ragtime Show	JIVE	2	3
Dejiko’s Adventure	Fujimi Shobo	2	3
E’s	SquareEnix	4	15+
Galaxy Angel II	Flex Comix	3	4+
Galaxy Angel Party	Broccoli	2	3
Hakoiri Devil Princess	JIVE	2	6
Honoka Lv. Up!	MediaWorks	0	4
Kamui	SquareEnix	9	11
Koi Cupid	Flex Comix	1	5+
Kon Kon Kokon	Flex Comix	1	1+
Leave it to Piyoko	MediaWorks	1	2
Disgaea 2	MediaWorks	2	3
Nui!	JIVE	1	3+
Pandora Hearts	SquareEnix	0	7+
sola	MediaWorks	1	2
Sex Friend	Kaiohsha	0	1

note:

• Cigarette Kisses transferred to Deux Press.
• Kon Kon Kokon is on hiatus as Koge Donbo* is working on other projects.

CPM Press

Angel Shop	Seoul Munhwasa	1	4
Comic Party	Ohzora Shuppan	3	9
Couple	C&C Revolution	3	4
Duck Prince	Kadokawa Shoten	3	6
Dystopia	Wani Books	0	1
Fantasy Fighters	??	1	??
Full House	Seoul Cultural	4	16
Geobreeders	Shounen Gahosha	2	13+
Hard Boiled Angel	??	3	4
Knock Your Heart Out!	Sodensha	0	2
Kung-fu Jungle Boy	??	1	??
Kururi of the Sea	Wani Books	0	4
Masca	Seoul Cultural	1	12
Mythology of the Heavens	??	2	3+
Nambul: War Stories	??	3	6
Oath to Love and Passion	Seoul Cultural	0	5
Otogi Matsuri	Wani Books	0	11+
Pale Pink	???	0	1+
Prince Standard	Wani Books	0	7
Princess	???	0	??
Rockstar’s Tale, a	??	0	??
Script Downers	Wani Books	0	2
Slayers Return	Fujimi Shobo	0	1
Slayers: City of Lost Souls	Fujimi Shobo	0	1
Slayers	Fujimi Shobo	6	8
Snow	??	0	??
Sweet Cream & Strawberries	Sodendsha	0	1
Sword of Shibito, the	Gentosha	2	8
Zzim!	??	1	3
Treasure Hunter	Akita Shoten	2	3
Warrior’s Song	??	0	17
Weather Woman	Kodansha	1	8
Wedding Eve	Ohzora Shuppan	0	1
World of Narue	Kadokawa Shoten	4	9
Yongbi the Invincible	??	3	4

Dark Horse

3 X 3 Eyes	Kodansha	8	40
Cannon God eXaXXion	Kodansha	5	7
Chronowar	Kodansha	0	2
Club 9	Kodansha	4	5
DameDame Saito Nikki	MediaWorks	0	1
Legend of Mother Sarah	Kodansha	1	7
Museum of Terror	Asahi Sonorama	3	15
Octopus Girl	LEED	3	4
Rebel Sword	Tokuma Shoten	0	3
Satsuma Gishiden	LEED	3	5
Scary Book	Asahi Sonorama	3	14
Seraphic Feather	Kodansha	6	9+
Shadow Star	Kodansha	7	12
Shaman Warrior	Haksan	6	9
Version	Ushio	0	3
What’s Micheal	Kodansha	11	20
You’re Under Arrest	Kodansha	2	7

note:

• Not a canceled series but according to reports AKIRA’s license reverted to Kodansha over the summer.
  
• Chunchu will restart in Feb 2009
• XS is scheduled to restart in March 2009
• Bride of the Water God will return in May 2009. Translucent was said to come back in the summer of 2008 with Bride, but no date has been announced as of yet).
• Still no word on when Shin-Lone Wolf and Cub will start.

Del Rey

A Perfect Day for Love Letters

Kodansha

2

3+

DMP Books

Bambi and Her Pink Gun	enterbrain!	2	6
Gloom Party	Akita Shoten	1	5
Is He Turning Japanese?	Media Factory	0	2
Knights!	MediaWorks	1	2
robot	Wani Magazine	3	9+
Swallowing the Earth	Shogakukan	0	3
Worst	Akita Shoten	3	20+

note:

• robot has transferred to UDON from volume 4 on.
• The following titles were announced at AX 2008 and have yet to get release dates: 9th Sleep, Ghost Hunt Scramble, Nanoha StirkerS, OverClock, RH+, and Tale of a White Night.
• UtaHime, also announced at AX, will be released in the first quarter of 2009

DrMASTER

888	Gentosha	1	3+
Crayon Shin-chan	Futabasha	10	46+
Indian Summer	MediaWorks	1	3+
My Sassy Girl	Blacktan	4	8

notes:

• Crayon Shin-chan transferred entirely to CMX.
• ToriKoro ended at 2 vols and moved from Houbunsha to MediaWorks.

DramaQueen

10K¥ Lover	Kousai Shobo	0	1
Angel or Devil	Oakla Shuppan	0	1
Audition	Seoul Munhwasa	2	10
Cage of Thorns	Kaiohsha	0	1
Devil x Devil	BiBLOS	0	1
DVD	Seoul Munhwasa	2	8
8mm	Daiwon C.I.	0	5
Invoke	Shinkousha	0	1
Mandayuu and Me	BiBLOS	0	1
Missing Road	Taiyo Pub	0	1
Naked Jewels Corp	Magazine Magajin	0	2
Not/Love	Oakla Shuppan	0	1
OMEN	Oakla Shuppan	0	1
Peter Panda	Daiwon C.I.	0	4
Promise	Daiwon C.I.	0	5+
Reverse?	Kousai Shobo	0	2
Summit	Seoul Munhwasa	0	7
Tyrant Falls In Love	Kaiohsha	0	4
Vision of the Other Side	Daran	3	12
Worthless Love	Kaiohsha	0	3

Fantagraphics

Anywhere but Here

Tokyo News Tsushinsha

1

5

Infinity Studios

Chibimono

Futabasha

0

3

note:

• Most of Infinity’s catalog is now available on CDrom.

Media Blasters

Apocalypse Zero	Akita Shoten	6	11
Baron Gong Battle	Akita Shoten	6	9
Kamunagara	Shounen Gahosha	6	10
Pilgrim Jager	Shounen Gahosha	3	6+
Twin Signal	Enix	1	19

note:

• Twin Signal is currently a SquareEnix title.

Seven Seas

First Love Sisters	Ichijinsha	1	3
I, Otaku	SquareEnix	2	6
Kodomo no Jikan	Futabasha	0	6+
Neconoclasm	France Shoin	0	1

Tokyopop

B’TX	Kadokawa Shoten	15	16
Atelier Marie and Elie	enterbrain!	4	5
Beyond the Beyond	MagGarden	4	6
Blazin Barrels	Daiwon CI	10	34+
Boys Be… 2	Kodansha	17	20
Brave Story	Coamix	5	20
Chronicles of the Cursed Sword	Daiwon CI	22	36+
Ciel	Daiwon CI	1	9+
Culdcept	Kodansha	5	6
Cyborg 009	Akita Shoten	10	36
Dragon Hunter	Seoul Cultural	16	31+
Dragon Sisters	MagGarden	2	6+
Forget About Love	Daiwon	1	7
Foxy Lady	Ichijinsha	1	5
Ga Rei	Kadokawa	0	8+
Gatcha Gacha	Hakusensha	7	8
Genju no Seiza	Akita Shoten	7	14
Guardian Hearts	Kadokawa Shoten	1	8
Harukaze Bitter Pop	MagGarden	2	4
Hibiki’s Magic	Kadokawa Shoten	2	3+
Hotel Africa	Seoul Cultural	2	5+
I Wish…	Seoul Cultural	2	7
Ice Blade	Kodansha	3	19
iD_eNTITY	Seoul Cultural	12	27
J-Pop Idol	TOKYOPOP.jp	1	2
Kindaichi Case Files	Kodansha	17	27
Lagoon Engine	Kadokawa	5	7
Legend of “Zipangu”	Gentosha	7	12
LIFE	Kodansha	10	19
Mobile Suit Gundam -Ecole du Ciel-	Kadokawa	8	11+
Never Give Up!	Hakusensha	8	13
Nosatsu Junkie	Hakusensha	7	14
Pick of the Litter	Kadokawa Shoten	4	6+
Planet Blood	??	8	11
Platinum Garden	Akita Shoten	7	15
Rolling	??	1	6
Rure	Haksan	3	9
Queen’s Knight	Haksan	13	17
Qwan	Media Factory	4	6+
Satisfaction Guaranteed	Hakusensha	7	9
Saver	Daiwon CI	6	11+
Seduction More Beautiful Than Love	Daiwon CI	2	5
Shin Megami Tensei	ascii	2	9
Short Sunzen	Hakusensha	2	5
Shrine of the Morning Mist	Shounen Gahosha	4	5
Stand by Youth	???	3	5
suppli	Sodensha	3	6+
Tokyo Tribes	Sodensha	6	12
Yubisaki Milk Tea	Hakusensha	7	9+
Zig Zag	Hakusensha	3	9

UDON

A number of UDON manhwa do not have future release dates scheduled and others have missed scheduled release dates by a few months. Titles include:

Chronicles of the Grim Peddler	Seoul Munhwasa	1	6
Dear Waltz	???	0	4+
Eyvione	Seoul Munhwasa	1	3+
Magical JXR	Haksan	3	5

• And so far there have been no announcements on when Sengoku Basara and Shin-Onimusha will be released.
• 1520 debuted online and is tentatively scheduled for release early 2009. Reading Club is tentatively scheduled to debut within the next month.

Viz Media

Aera 88	Shgakukan	3	23
Black Jack	Akita Shoten	2	20
Bio-booster Armor Guyver	Kadokawa Shoten	7	27+
Cobra	Shueisha	0	18
Eat-Man	MediaWorks	2	19
Even a Monkey Can Draw Manga	Shogakukan	1	2
Getter Robo Go	Tokuma Shoten	0	7
GREY	Tokuma Shoten	2	3
Heartbroken Angels	Shogakukan	2	3
Justy	Shogakukan	0	5
Legend of Kamui	Shogakukan	2	21
Lycanthrope Leo	Shogakukan	1	4
Mobile Police PatLabor	Shogakuakn	2	22
Mobile Suit Gundam: the Origin	Kadokawa Shoten	12	14+
No. 5	Shogakukan	2	8
Orochi	Shogakukan	1	6
Ogre Slayer	Shogakukan	2	20
Pineapple Army	Shogakukan	1	8
Spriggan	Shueisha	3	11
Steam Detectives	Shueisha	8	13
the Ultraman	Shogakukan	0	4
Tough	Shueisha	6	42
Urusei Yatsura	Shogakukan	9	34
Voyeurs, Inc.	Shogakukan	3	11

notes:

• Black Jack license transferred to Vertical.
• Fist of the North Star license owned by Gustoon!