TOR BOOKS PARTNERS WITH SEVEN SEAS TO FORM NEW MANGA IMPRINT

[MattBrady]

Press Release

Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC—the largest publisher of science fiction in the world—has formed a new manga imprint with Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. Seven Seas, founded in 2004, publishes manga, manga-inspired novels, illustrated juvenile fiction, and more, and is one of the only publishers that produces original manga content in the US.

The new Tor/Seven Seas imprint will showcase the efforts of both companies working together to jointly acquire and co-publish some of Japan’s best-selling and most exciting manga series, light novels, and other fiction. Beginning with books scheduled for publication in early 2008, Tor will also be distributing new Seven Seas titles every month, under the Seven Seas imprint.

Tor Publisher Tom Doherty says of the partnership: “We are so pleased to be working with Seven Seas; their mix of science fiction, fantasy, humor, romance, and adventure is an excellent complement to Tor’s bestselling and award-winning genre fiction publishing program.”

Through its relationship with Seven Seas, Tor makes an exciting entrance into the world of manga publishing; manga, the Japanese version of comic books, is a publishing phenomenon that, in 2006, represented a $4.4 billion market in Japan and a $175-200 million market in the US. The distribution and publication of select Seven Seas titles will also give Tor an opportunity to become a flagship publisher of “light novels,” a type of book new to American manga and genre-fiction fans. The light novel launch will feature Ballad of a Shinigami, Pita-Ten, and Strawberry Panic, and will debut in March 2008.

“It’s an exciting time for the manga industry,” says Jason DeAngelis, president of Seven Seas. “Our partnership with Tor will enable us to push the envelope even further and expand the manga market, bringing all sorts of new and varied content to fans.”

In August 2008, Tor and Seven Seas will publish their first collaborative venture under the Tor/Seven Seas imprint, the manga Afro Samurai, written and illustrated by Takashi Okazaki. Afro Samurai—created in Japan but releasing here in the US for the first time—was the basis for the popular Spike TV anime series that premiered in 2007 and featured the voices of Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman, and Kelly Hu. The publication of Afro Samurai will kick off a multi-platform promotional campaign, including an Afro Samurai video game by Namco and the launch of Spike TV’s second Afro Samurai season, both slated for fall 2008.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Afro Samurai’s author, Takashi Okazaki, explains that Afro’s character was inspired by musicians he saw on old episodes of the television program “Soul Train,” which aired in the 1990s in Japan, and that “I also loved Japanese samurai flicks. So one day, I combined the two.”

The show has received rave reviews from press such as the Washington Times, which praises Afro Samurai for its “hip and very cool animation” and says, “in the most Quentin Tarantino of ways, [Afro Samurai] highlights a story of revenge set in futuristic feudal Japan.” Top gaming website IGN.com raves: “Samuel L. Jackson’s new action anime show kicks ass!”

[adamcasey]

I was wondering when Afro Samurai would be coming over.

This is probably a better move for Seven Seas than Tor. Maybe we'll start seeing postcards advertising manga book clubs? 5 titles for just a penny!

[AbacusComics]

Tor is George R. R. Martin's publisher as well.

Just a side note. I love GRRM's work.

[Lemurion]

But what's a "light novel?"

[ZoddGutsu]

A novel with a few images here and there in the novel.