Kodansha Comics to Celebrate 10 Years of Publishing with Different Spotlight Manga Every Month in 2019
For January, Katsuhiro Ōtomo's Akira is the Manga of the Month—fans can get exclusive content and anniversary pin
NEW YORK (January 10, 2019)—Top manga publisher Kodansha Comics announced today it will be celebrating its 10th anniversary of publishing in English with "10 Years of Kodansha Comics"—where for each month of 2019, starting in January, it will be spotlighting a different classic Kodansha Comics manga series. With each "Manga of the Month," fans can tune in for series-themed exclusive content, special deals, prizes through sweepstakes, and more.
For the first month of surprises, the January spotlight title will be seminal science-fiction epic Akira by Katsuhiro Ōtomo, the legendary artist who also directed the animated feature film based on his work.
As part of the celebration, Kodansha Comics will post on its website, KodanshaComics.com, an in-depth interview with Otomo, delving into his inspirations and intentions with Akira.
The series was released by Kodansha Comics in its first month of publishing, October 2009, before being remastered into the hardcover Akira 35th Anniversary Edition Box Set, which was the top-selling comics product of 2017 and won in two categories at the Eisner Awards at Comic-Con International last year.
All month long the Kodansha Comics website will also be running an Akira survey sweepstakes for a grand prize including the award-winning Akira box set, the art book Otomo: A Global Tribute, and additional goodies.
Lastly, throughout January, or while supplies last, Kodansha Comics will invite fans to visit online manga and anime retailer Right Stuf, where every purchase of one or more Akira-related books will come with a free, original pin depicting Akira's protagonist Kaneda leaning on his iconic motorcycle.
In later months, as part of the “10 Years of Kodansha Comics” campaign, the publisher promises to throw the spotlight onto other classic series that have defined its rise from the new kid on the English-language manga block back in 2009 to the category heavyweight it is today. Each month will bring exclusive online content, exciting contests, and, in some cases, special promotional sales.
The publisher encourages fans to keep up with every month's new surprises by following its website and social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where it will be posting on "10 Years of Kodansha Comics", along with announcements and material for new and ongoing series.
About AKIRA
In 1982, Kodansha published the first chapter of Akira, a dystopian saga set in Neo-Tokyo, a city recovering from thermonuclear attack where the streets have been ceded to motorcycle gangs and the rich and powerful run dangerous experiments on destructive, supernatural powers that they cannot control. Today, Akira remains a touchstone for artists, writers, filmmakers, and fans, retaining all the brutal impact and narrative intensity it had when Otomo first unleashed it onto the world.
Katsuhiro Ōtomo's stunning science-fiction masterpiece is considered by many to be the finest work of graphic fiction ever produced. This edition includes a new foreword from the author and a postscript from Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson.
About Katsuhiro Ōtomo
Katsuhiro Ōtomo is best known as the creator of the three-thousand page epic Akira. He also directed the groundbreaking animated feature film of the same name, as well as the acclaimed animated film Steamboy.
About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
Kodansha USA Publishing (KUP) is a subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan's largest publisher. Since it began publishing under its Kodansha Comics imprint in 2019, KUP has grown into one of the world's top graphic novel publishers, thanks to classics such as Akira, The Ghost in the Shell, and Sailor Moon, as well as hit new titles including Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card. Kodansha Comics is distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services.
NEW YORK (January 10, 2019)—Top manga publisher Kodansha Comics announced today it will be celebrating its 10th anniversary of publishing in English with "10 Years of Kodansha Comics"—where for each month of 2019, starting in January, it will be spotlighting a different classic Kodansha Comics manga series. With each "Manga of the Month," fans can tune in for series-themed exclusive content, special deals, prizes through sweepstakes, and more.
For the first month of surprises, the January spotlight title will be seminal science-fiction epic Akira by Katsuhiro Ōtomo, the legendary artist who also directed the animated feature film based on his work.
As part of the celebration, Kodansha Comics will post on its website, KodanshaComics.com, an in-depth interview with Otomo, delving into his inspirations and intentions with Akira.
The series was released by Kodansha Comics in its first month of publishing, October 2009, before being remastered into the hardcover Akira 35th Anniversary Edition Box Set, which was the top-selling comics product of 2017 and won in two categories at the Eisner Awards at Comic-Con International last year.
All month long the Kodansha Comics website will also be running an Akira survey sweepstakes for a grand prize including the award-winning Akira box set, the art book Otomo: A Global Tribute, and additional goodies.
Lastly, throughout January, or while supplies last, Kodansha Comics will invite fans to visit online manga and anime retailer Right Stuf, where every purchase of one or more Akira-related books will come with a free, original pin depicting Akira's protagonist Kaneda leaning on his iconic motorcycle.
In later months, as part of the “10 Years of Kodansha Comics” campaign, the publisher promises to throw the spotlight onto other classic series that have defined its rise from the new kid on the English-language manga block back in 2009 to the category heavyweight it is today. Each month will bring exclusive online content, exciting contests, and, in some cases, special promotional sales.
The publisher encourages fans to keep up with every month's new surprises by following its website and social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, where it will be posting on "10 Years of Kodansha Comics", along with announcements and material for new and ongoing series.
About AKIRA
In 1982, Kodansha published the first chapter of Akira, a dystopian saga set in Neo-Tokyo, a city recovering from thermonuclear attack where the streets have been ceded to motorcycle gangs and the rich and powerful run dangerous experiments on destructive, supernatural powers that they cannot control. Today, Akira remains a touchstone for artists, writers, filmmakers, and fans, retaining all the brutal impact and narrative intensity it had when Otomo first unleashed it onto the world.
Katsuhiro Ōtomo's stunning science-fiction masterpiece is considered by many to be the finest work of graphic fiction ever produced. This edition includes a new foreword from the author and a postscript from Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson.
About Katsuhiro Ōtomo
Katsuhiro Ōtomo is best known as the creator of the three-thousand page epic Akira. He also directed the groundbreaking animated feature film of the same name, as well as the acclaimed animated film Steamboy.
About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
Kodansha USA Publishing (KUP) is a subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan's largest publisher. Since it began publishing under its Kodansha Comics imprint in 2019, KUP has grown into one of the world's top graphic novel publishers, thanks to classics such as Akira, The Ghost in the Shell, and Sailor Moon, as well as hit new titles including Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card. Kodansha Comics is distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services.
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