Los Angeles-based manga publishing company TokyoPop has confirmed that it will be closing its U.S. manga publishing division at the end of May 2011, so events are now in motion to make this sad event a reality.
As of yesterday, anyone trying to visit TokyoPop.com was redirected to TokyoPop's Facebook page. Is this just temporary until the promised redesigned and streamlined website goes online, or is this how things will be from now on? Their Facebook page doesn't offer many clues, so we'll just have to wait and see.
While we know that TokyoPop is maintaining their publishing operations in Germany, and continuing their efforts in film and TV production, a few questions lingered. What will happen to the manga series that are ongoing or only have a few volumes left? What will happen to the rights to the original comics that were created for TokyoPop? And what will they do with all of the manga and memorabilia in its offices and warehouse? Today, people on TokyoPop's mailing list found out the answer to the last question.
TOKYOPOP ASKS FANS TO PROVE THEIR LOVE, AS LONG AS THEY LIVE NEAR L.A.
TokyoPop is planning a "Garage Sale" in mid-May in Los Angeles, at an exact date, time and location to be announced soon. But before that happens, TokyoPop (being TokyoPop) wants to get their fans to jump through a few hoops to prove their love in order to get first crack at the best stuff. They are holding a contest via their Facebook page to "give 10 of our most dedicated fans the opportunity to buy the most coveted goodies."
Well, 10 of their most dedicated fans who are:
- Willing to post a photo, drawing or video showing how much they love TokyoPop on TokyoPop's Facebook page before May 1, 2011.
- Able to be in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 to "pick up their goodie bag in person" because they won't mail it to the winner.
- Able to go to the undisclosed location at the undisclosed time to buy items from TokyoPop's garage sale.
Not willing to go to these lengths for a bargain, but still want to pick through the debris of this once mighty manga publishing company? Just keep an eye on TokyoPop's Facebook page for more info about the date, time and location of the TokyoPop garage sale that will be open to the general public.
Sorry, this event will only be open to fans willing and able to be in Los Angeles on the day of the sale. No mail orders or phone orders.
TokyoPop has always been keen to offer contests and giveaways to their fans, but this particular giveaway struck me as a little odd. Why make fans who are already feeling somewhat betrayed by the end of their favorite manga publisher (particularly if a series they're currently reading has a strong chance of never being completely published in English) draw pictures, write poetry, shoot videos or write letters saying how much they love TokyoPop when, well, TokyoPop has kind of just screwed them over?
Why refuse to mail a package of goodwill to any fan willing to make the effort to show their (possibly misguided) love? Why remind fans (who are likely teens or 20-somethings) that they have to travel to or be in Los Angeles on a mid-week, weekday/workday/school day in order to claim their prize, which is essentially the right to buy items of indeterminate worth? And why ask fans to compete to win what is essentially VIP tickets to their favorite company's funeral? Is it just me, or does this all seem a bit awkward and maybe a little inappropriate, given the circumstances?
WHAT ABOUT TOKYOPOP'S ONLINE MANGA OFFERINGS?
As I was ranting about my feelings about this unusual contest on Twitter, a few folks responded and raised some intriguing questions. David Brothers (@hermanos), comics blogger/journalist from Comics Alliance and 4th Letter asked:
"here's a question: Hetalia is still on (online comics website) ComiXology. Who gets the money for it?"
Julia (@mizzelle) blogger from The Retconned Fangirl added:
"And will they yank your copies if it disappears?"
These are legitimate questions. Now that TokyoPop is pulling out of the manga publishing business in the U.S., does that mean that they'll be ceding the licensing rights to the politically-incorrect comedy Hetalia by Hidekaz Himaruya, one of their top-selling titles of 2010? And if they do, what will happen to the people who purchased the right to read Hetalia online via ComiXology? Will Hetalia disappear from ComiXology's website, and therefore not be readable by the people who purchased it?
UPDATE: David Steinberger (@stonemtn), CEO of ComiXology responded to these questions via Twitter:
"Even if we were to stop selling a comic, it continues to be available to those people who purchased it."
So short answer is, if you bought Hetalia via ComiXology, you will continue to be able to read it, even if/when TokyoPop does not offer it for sale anymore via this online comics website. Phew.
If TokyoPop maintains their publishing relationship with ComiXology, then why wouldn't TokyoPop publish their trove of original comics that were created by numerous young creators digitally to keep them "in print"? This issue is even more relevant if they truly have pulled the plug on the TokyoPop.com website, which was where they were serializing some series (such as Earthlight by Chris Schons and Stuart Moore) that weren't able to see their entire story published in print format.
While we're at it, why not complete the current, ongoing series that maybe only had 1 or 2 volumes left to go by publishing them online or via print-on-demand through their TokyoPop online store, a program that was just getting started when TokyoPop announced that they'd be closing up shop? Granted, TokyoPop isn't at all obligated to answer these questions, but it sure would be nice if they did, or at least let fans know soon what will happen to their favorite ongoing / yet-to-be-completed manga series that were published by TokyoPop rather than leaving so many anguished questions from fans left on their Facebook page unanswered.
Now that we know a little more (but not quite everything) about the end of TokyoPop manga in the U.S., what do you think? Will you be making plans to check out this garage sale? Add your comments below!
Image credits: ©TokyoPop, © 2008 Hidekaz Himaruya / GENTOSHA COMICS INC.
Comments
Ooooh! You get the chance to purchase goods from a failed company I exchange for telling them how great they are? Makes total sense to me!
Gee whiz, if only I didnt live in Australia. Maybe then I could tell them how swelll I think they are.
My condlences go to those who have lost their jobs and the creators who will miss out on royalties but how ridiculous.
They sound like the high school cheerleader at her 20 year reunion “TELL ME I’M STILL PRETTY!!!!”
@Ryan: More like the cheerleader is saying “Tell me I’m still pretty and I’ll go on a date with you…in which you’re driving me in a Porsche and you’ll be taking me to the most expensive restaurant in Bel Aire…what?! a kiss?! That’ll cost extra…”
Yeah, I thought it was all kind of crappy, and not because I live on the East Coast.
Again, why do we have to profess love to a dead company to win Stu Levy’s stapler or something?
It’s not going to help the staff and freelancers that are without jobs. It’s not going to put another penny in the pockets of the mangakas or OEL creators. They’re who my concern is for – not in helping keep a “brand” relevant.
It DID compel me to unsubscribe from the Tokyopop mailing list and unfollow them on Twitter. They no longer do what I care about – publish manga – so why do they need my eyeballs/ attention? I have no interest in the Tokyopop “brand”, or Priest, or whatever else he has the interns pushing.
another spit your face from Stu and his insane ego.
The last stupid, ego driven, spit in your face idea from TP
My guess is that there are not going to be any bargains. Rather, they intend to charge top dollar to rabid fans (assuming there are any left). It seems to be a good first pass strategy to me. I’m sure there will a few collectors out there who will pay top dollar for some of the memorabilia available.
OMG how dare they!!!
@Deb Aoki: Is it just me, or does this all seem a bit awkward and maybe a little inappropriate, given the circumstances?
It’s totally inappropriate. It’s like having your family’s funeral and then selling their stuff just right beside the grave. LOL
I agree though, they should have made an On-demand system for a year or so and see how it went. I’m quite sure the readers would happily buy their titles and that way be satisfied even if Tokyopop closed it doors.
This is the third time I’ve been left high and dry by a company going “belly up” with several series I’m following with one or two volumes left to complete.
What I’ve seen/read it doesn’t seem like Stu cared about the manga publishing part of the business, and he really doesn’t see to care about how things will shake out regarding a number of things like publishing rights. And why did ‘they’ bother starting new series if it was clear TP wasn’t going to be around to publish (or announce publishing of) more than the first volume.
Stu’s whole handling of the American publishing etc, seems like it was one giant childish adventure, trying anything and everything with no real regard to the affect they might have on the company’s health.
And they wonder why fans flock to “illegal” scanlation distributors/websites….
Tokyopop… we had a good run. Lots of fun manga… But you’re dead to me now. Stupid bitches…
Great article Deb Aoki, as always. We are trying to pressure Tokyopop to creating an online sale of their products(speciffically Ebay, since they are going to liquidate their merchandise).
However, Tokyopop has yet to respond to their fans. A part of is doubting this, considering their history towards treating their fanbase(more specifically, Stu Levy).
I cried when they licensed several of my favorites since I’d already had the dubious pleasure of buying Satisfaction Guaranteed from them EXCEPT the last volume, that would have solved the whole mystery. They dropped the series before printing that volume.
Yes, yeah TP just one MORE kick in the teeth. My sincere love for you was left on your FB page, though you won’t leave it there long. NO satisfaction here at all.
I am friends with one of the interns there, and in her and some of the staff’s defense, not all of what happens at TP can be applied to everyone there. My friend and many of the others there truly *do* care about the fans and are as upset by things like this (and that the company was shut down) as we are.
I barely have enough to replace my love hina, chobits, .hack and Chibi vampire manga let alone make a trip to Los Angles. I know not everyone at the company is at fault but this bites in my opinion. And gives off a weird vibe.