Manga Publishers To Cut Graphic Novel Schedule By 10% in 2009

From ICV2: Now that the dust has settled from the holiday shopping season, manga publishers and booksellers are experiencing what all other retail-driven businesses must endure: sluggish sales in what's normally the busiest shopping period of the year. And where there's slow sales, cutbacks generally follow.

According to ICV2's survey, American manga publishers originally planned on publishing 1,731 volumes of manga in 2008 -- but the slumping economy resulted in a final tally of 1,356 volumes by year's end, which was 112 volumes less than what was released in 2007. And things don't look much better in 2009, as the projected amount of releases for the coming year is 1,224 volumes.

Several publishers decided to layoff staff and cut back release schedules this year, including TokyoPop who went through two rounds of staff cuts. Digital Manga Publishing let go two staffers, lost one to attrition and reassigned two other employees in October, in addition to announcing publishing schedule cutbacks. Vertical and Aurora quietly made cuts to their marketing staff, and Broccoli Books closed up shop.

So faced with this news, what will 2009 bring? Perhaps a greater emphasis on quality over quantity. With shelf space at bookstores at a premium, and many manga buyers feeling the pocketbook pinch that everyone else is experiencing, something had to give sooner or later.

Publishers are also realizing that they need to expand their offerings to readers who are both older and younger than the predominantly teen / twenty-something manga-reading audience they've been focusing on in years past. So we're seeing more kid-friendly manga being added to many publishers' rosters in 2009, as well as more sophisticated, grown-up offerings for readers who crave something beyond ninjas, soul reapers and school girl crushes.

While digital delivery of manga has been dismissed by publishers as a something that's not quite ready for primetime, several companies are dipping their toes in the water anyway.

So what do you think about these publishing cutbacks? It is cause for concern or just another case of "market correction?" Are there stories that you love that have been left in publishing limbo? Are you buying less manga now than you did this time last year? Do tell and add your comments below!