Forum - View topicNEWS: ShoPro Books' Contract to Publish Marvel Comics in Japan Ends on March 31
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mdo7
 Posts: 8229 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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So who will handle the distribution of Marvel Comics in Japan if the contract with ShoPro Books end?
Speaking of American comic books in Japan, I never seen any manga or comic blogs talking about American comic book fare in Japan other than the 2018 Answerman article which probably has not aged well to be honest. I only know the IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog comic did so well in Japan that 2 characters from the IDW series were featured in a Sega Japan's fire safety promo (something that I've never seen before). I liked to also add that IDW's Godzilla comic/graphic novels do get Japanese translation and release thanks to a company called Phase Six. I've always been curious about American comic book in Japan, and how they fare. And my other questions is given that we now have American comic book like DC, Marvel, IDW are now having characters from anime and manga crossing over with western comic book characters like the Naruto X TMNT crossover comic. I've always wondered: if manga can get simulpub, then why can't American comic book based on Japanese IP or let alone a crossover comic featuring anime/manga characters don't get simulpub release in Japan in that same manner. I mean the only time an American comic book got a simulpub release in Japan was back in 2013 when Archaia Publishing's Cyborg 009 comic got a simulpub release in Japan, and this was before manga simulpub in the US become the norm. Other then that, I've never seen any American comic book getting a simulpub in Japan in that same manner the way we simulpub manga in the US. I always wondered why, and that baffle me to this days. |
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Cypher997
Posts: 192 |
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I think the contract for publishing Marvel Comics in Japan might be in limbo. For one, Disney owns Marvel and the deal that they might want will cost a pretty penny on the publishers part so they have to sell quite a bit in order to 'break even', especially when they're competing with Japan's home grown product (ie: manga) and audience. There is another reason but it's one that I can't go into further detail on and leave it at that.
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BlueAlf
 Posts: 1768 |
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Considering the quality of Marvel Comics nowadays, honestly I don't think a licensing deal would be profitable in the first place. Unless if they're publishing older titles of course.
It's a pity. I remember there was this one Twitter account that talked about American comics being published over there. It was interesting to discover what they said. |
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SinisterOracle
 SubscriberPosts: 864 |
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This is disappointing for Marvel Comics fans in Japan but honestly the comics haven’t been nearly as good as they used to be 25-40 years ago. Many stories have been retold countless times, people have died only to come back to life umpteen times, and they have 56 different versions of the same characters. Maybe we’ll have another golden age of comics at some point with more original stories. Anyway, hopefully someone can pick up the licensing for this if so desired.
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Beatdigga
 Posts: 5148 Location: New York |
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I can't imagine Disney charging low prices for this license, and it's not helped by the fact that recently, top comic and graphic novel lists have been dominated by DC off the backs of the Absolute Universe and Compact Comics line (manga-style digest format books on cheaper paper, which means pricing closer to manga), with the occasional Image comic like Battle Beast (off the success of Invincible) and the Energon Universe. Marvel HAD a line that might have been able to compete but they killed it early in the Ultimate Universe.
They need to provide products people want to read if they want people to pay what I presume are MCU-affected licensing fees. |
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mdo7
Posts: 8229 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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Is that Twitter profile still active? Is it still there or has the person deleted that profile after Elon Musk's took over of Twitter? I would like to see it myself if the profile is still there. |
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kgw
 Posts: 1541 Location: Spain, EU |
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I wonder why Marvel is not renewed but DC is. Lack of interest/sales in Marvel comics?
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Kicksville
 Posts: 1415 |
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The last thing I remember hearing about Marvel Comics in Japan was the Spider-Man Clone Saga getting printed over there, apparently after being frequently requested. I wonder if they finished it, and what people thought of it.
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Nekbone
Posts: 214 |
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Because manga is popular while American comics are not so there's no market for such a thing nor any money to be made. Not even Americans read much American comics that aren't also also classified as children's books like Dogman.
The last Marvel news I heard was when Squirrel Girl (the one infamous for it's terrible art and design) went viral for how different the cover was compared to the much lower quality interior art and accusations it was false advertising. Which means Squirrel Girl got published there of all things but not other stuff? Grim. |
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mdo7
Posts: 8229 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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Then how do you explain IDW's Sonic The Hedgehog comic doing so well in Japan to the point 2 characters from IDW comic appearing on a SEGA's Japanese safety promo? What evidence do you have that countered my evidence? I want to let you know that Sonic's Japanese fanbase is not as big or mainstream in Japan compared to his fanbase in the US or elsewhere, so how is Sonic comic from IDW are selling out like crazy and how are 2 of the characters from the IDW comic series being featured in a Japanese safety promo? If American comic book is not popular in Japan, then why is IDW's Godzilla comic book still continuing to be translated in Japan even to this day for? Why are there no Godzilla manga being made in Japan (other then the one made a long time ago, I don't see any new Godzilla manga being made when western publishers like DC, Marvel, and IDW are featuring the characters in their crossover works) when IDW's Godzilla comic book are still being made and being translated and published in Japan? |
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Cypher997
Posts: 192 |
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My guess is that the deal for IDW and DC's wares doesn't take as large a chunk of money from the publishers in Japan compared to Marvel's deal with said publishers in Japan. As we know, Marvel (and by extension the Mouse House) wants a pretty large chuck of money made when comes to contract deals. There's also the chance that IDW and DC have better marketing for their wares in Japan too.
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Dancing Green
 Posts: 73 |
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Didn't Young Champion put out a new Godzilla manga last year? |
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mdo7
Posts: 8229 Location: Katy, Texas, USA |
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That's correct. But here's the thing, there are more Godzilla comic produced and made in the US rather than Japan. I mean if you looked at Wikipedia entry for Godzilla (comics), you'll see there's more American comic for Godzilla then Japanese manga. Godzilla doesn't have a lot of manga titles compared to the American comic titles. So the problem is Nekbone claim manga are more popular then American comic which I don't dispute, but the problem is why are certain American comic book titles like IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog, Godzilla are the only American comic book to get the level of popularity in Japan. The fact that there are more American comic book of Godzilla, then Godzilla manga titles should raise an eyebrow from anime/manga fans. |
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DanteNyxBlaze
 Posts: 20 |
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Marvel's been bad since they got rid of Spider-Man's marriage to Mary Jane.
People in Japan aren't missing much. |
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