On Saturday at Anime NYC, IZE Press, an imprint of manga writer Yen Press targeted on Korean manhwa and webtoons, hosted their very first solo business panel. Up till now, IZE Press licenses have been introduced along with licenses from Yen Press‘ standard industry panels. The publisher’s choice to take action has come on account of the key success the label has achieved within the quick 12 months that it has been energetic thus far.
Of word, this 12 months’s AnimeNYC was additionally the primary American conference to ask a Korean webtoon creator as a visitor of honor–Sleepy-C, artist of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. Sleepy-C held autograph signings on the conference and at venues like Kinokuniya and the brand new Manga Spot present in Columbus Circle’s MTA station’s Underground Turnstile Market. It was additionally the artist’s first time attending a fan occasion each internationally and domestically. The business panel was moderated by Mark De Vera, and featured three editors: Won Seo, Stephen Kim, and Liz Marbach.
History of Yen and IZE Press
Yen Press has been publishing Korean comics since they entered the market again in 2007, after absorbing ICEKunion, a Korean writer that had been bringing manhwa to the United States. Although they’re primarily generally known as a manga and light-weight novel writer today, many will not be conscious that their origins did in reality embody manhwa. Now that webtoons and manhwa have turn into as ubiquitous as manga within the digital panorama, they believed there wanted to be a devoted print writer to supply followers with bodily books, therefore the formation of IZE Press, originating from the phrase materialize. Those identical followers being catered to have helped make their enterprise a powerful success, with works similar to Solo Leveling making it into the NY Times Bestsellers charts in each comedian and novel type. This is important as a result of the native digital gross sales of those comics will not be tracked the identical, and subsequently won’t be as clear to these unaware of how the market works. Although complete views, subscribers/followers, and favorites is likely to be proven on providers similar to Webtoon, Tapas, and Tappytoon, their subscription and publishing fashions don’t publicly launch details about complete purchases/gross sales or readership that might in any other case be utilized by that writer to resolve what to license subsequent or broaden as a multimedia franchise.
Message from Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Author singNsong:
Greetings, that is singNsong. It’s a terrific honor to have the ability to ship our regards to the followers at Anime NYC 2023. Who may’ve identified that the sorry that started in 2018 would come this far. We’re certain DoKJA and Junghyeok are fairly happy as nicely. We’d like to precise our gratitude to Sleepy-C for being Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint to the worldwide viewers of this timeline by respiration life into its characters, and RIVERSE and Ize Press for placing the story to print. And final however not least, we sincerely thank all of you, the readers. Each considered one of you is the Dokja Kim that allowed this story to proceed. It’s due to you that ORV has come this far.
To rejoice Sleepy-C’s foray into the worldwide manhwa sphere, collaborator and authentic writer of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, singNsong, launched a press release thanking the followers for serving to make this occasion occur.
Surprise Appearance by Sleepy-C, Lead Artist of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint
After the message was shared, a raffle was held for three fortunate winners who obtained free signings from Sleepy-C, who was stealthily attending the panel within the entrance row. They obtained free Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint posters and a signed copy of Volume 1 of the comedian. Of word, pal of The Beat, Jillian Rudes–college librarian and writer of Manga in Libraries: A Guide for Teen Librarians–was one of many fortunate winners!
Sleepy-C said that she was very nervous to be right here, however expressed her due to everybody for coming. She’s conscious that some have come from far-off overseas, and for that she may be very appreciative. She says that though she is probably not as nicely spoken as authentic writer singNsong, she’s going to proceed to do her finest to proceed the story as a fan and artist.
Shortly after the giveaway, a trailer for 7Fates: Chakho was screened for the viewers.
Introducing Ize Press editor Won Young Seo
The editor for Solo Leveling, Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom, and The Villainess Turns the Hourglass, Won Seo initially began as an editorial assistant at Yen Press. She was beneficial to edit Solo Leveling, and her work was adequate to land her the place. Originally, she didn’t know and wasn’t anticipating to see how large Korean comics had gotten, however it was actually thrilling for her to expertise. Solo Leveling was her first foray into enhancing novels, and he or she was grateful it was solely 8 volumes lengthy. She states that essentially the most troublesome factor was all of the terminology and names to maintain monitor of. Ultimately, nevertheless, it was a enjoyable motion sequence for her–she states she has labored on motion manga earlier than, however seeing the motion described in prose was a brand new expertise.
Won would be the editor of two new licensed titles.
The Villainess is a Marionette
Art by: manggle
Original Story by: hanirim
The story revolves round Kayena Hill, a princess simply manipulated in politics and finally betrayed by her youthful brother. The story is about regression, as initially Kayena died and have become a lady who learn the occasions that occurred to her in a novel, earlier than reincarnating as soon as extra in her authentic timeline. It’s a romance fantasy with political and mature undertones for those that need extra chunk of their tales.
It’s a narrative identified for its fascinating artwork type, crafty feminine lead, and a dangerously shut sibling relationship. It has two accomplished seasons on Tapas, and boasts over 5 million views, and 593 thousand likes, proving it to be one of many extra profitable “reincarnated as a villainess” tales lately out there.
Marriage of Convenience
Art by: Antstudio
Adapted by: Hanheun
Original Story by: KEN
The story revolves round an infamously extravagant noblewoman named Bianca de Arno, who travels again in time to when she was 19 years outdated, after reaching the bottom level her life. Determined to outlive and dwell a greater life, Bianca begins her quest by mending her relationship with the person she calls her husband, Zachary de Arno.
A accomplished sequence in Korea with 95 chapters plus aspect tales, Marriage of Convenience is a drama good for followers of tales like The Remarried Empress. The sequence has garnered over 3 million follows and 388 thousand likes on Tapas. At the tip of the panel, followers requested if the print model would be the censored model, or the mature uncensored model, which lately was additionally launched on Tapas with the appearance of Season 2. Won declined to remark, stating that data can be disclosed at a later time.
After these two bulletins, the viewers was proven a trailer for The Star Seekers.
Introducing Ize Press editor Stephen Kim
Introduced because the greenhorn of the crew, Stephen has been working at Yen and Ize Press for a few 12 months and a half. Originally, his expertise stemmed from translating and decoding from Korean to English. He said that it has been a terrific honor to be a part of the motion at the moment spreading Korean tradition. He has labored on The World After the Fall, My Gently Raised Beast, A Business Proposal, The Horizon, and most lately Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint! He feels honored and tons of stress to be engaged on each TWATF and ORV, because the writer is considered one of his favorites. His objective is to care for the western viewers, and current these tales in a method in order that viewers can get pleasure from it as a lot as he did when he initially learn them in Korean.
Stephen can be enhancing two new licensed titles.
SSS-Class Revival Hunter
Art by: Bill Okay
Adapted by: Neida
Original Story by: Sinnoa
Confucius Kim is unfortunate. He’s an F-Class Hunter with zero abilities, jealously following the careers of star hunters such because the Flame Emperor as he bemoans his personal incapability. Opportunity comes knocking at his doorstep nevertheless, when someday he receives the flexibility to repeat different individuals’s abilities–with the catch that he have to be killed by them first!
SSS-Class Revival Hunter is an motion fantasy sequence that may delight followers of sequence like Solo Leveling, due to its partaking motion, intelligent protagonist, and a cheat talent that permits for exponential development. The sequence remains to be ongoing, however at the moment has earned nearly 4 million views and 328 thousand likes on Tapas. As somebody who has learn it, I’d say it’s a narrative closest to the Japanese sequence Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World, as a consequence of its distinctive use of time, its diversified vary of emotional tones, and give attention to the expansion of a “loser” fundamental character who reconciles and matures over time as a result of nature of his energy and the way he goes about reaching his objectives.
My Secretly Hot Husband
Art by Harara
Adapted by Gabi Nam
Original Story by Jungyeon
Wearing its title on its sleeve, My Secretly Hot Husband is a romance fantasy. It is centered round Letitia, a lady who was reborn in one other world after her premature loss of life, who’s married off to the notorious “Monster Lord” generally known as Erden Halstead to meet an outdated debt. At her new residence, Leticia is greeted with befuddlement quite than concern, as she begins discovering trendy objects from her earlier life, and that her husband is just not so monstrous as his popularity begets.
This budding romance between the intelligent, optimistic feminine lead and a candy but highly effective male lead will enrapture readers with its mixture of candy moments and gut-busting comedy. It is a accomplished story in Korea with 109 chapters–the webtoon has recieved over 7 million views and 722 thousand likes on Tapas.
After these two bulletins, the viewers was handled to a trailer for the sequence Dark Moon.
Introducing Ize Press editor Liz Marbach
Liz Marbach is the editor for Villains are Destined to Die, The Remarried Empress, Unholy Blood. She was at all times within the scene of Korean popular culture, having fun with issues like kpop and kdramas in addition to manhwa. During faculty, she discovered Korean and ultimately had the chance to mix her love for webtoons along with her diploma by writing and enhancing.
Liz can be enhancing two newly licensed titles.
(*6*)
Beware the Villainess!
Art by Blue Canna
Original Story by Soda Ice
Adapted by Berry
This comedic romance fantasy has taken the world by storm! A contemporary-day faculty pupil someday wakes up as Melissa Foddebrat, the villainess of a cliche reverse-harem novel, however the entire males in it are trash! In her pursuit of a quiet life , Melissa turns into a go-getter who stands as much as these scummy love pursuits as she rewrites this story to save lots of herself and the feminine lead from these overbearingly possessive and poisonous males!
Completed at 127 chapters, the sequence has earned itself over 8 million views and a whopping 873 thousand likes on Tapas. With tons of meme-able response faces and tongue-in-cheek humor from its charismatic protagonist, this romance fantasy is a must have for passionate followers of the style.
Tied To You
Art by WHAT
Original Story by Chelliace
Tied To You is Ize Press’s first BL title. One day, Wooseo Shin finds out that his destined companion is definitely his crush’s older brother, as a consequence of a hoop of purple thread that seems round his finger. The ring marks an individual’s first encounter with their soulmate, and with it, neither can go to sleep if the opposite is absent. Haunted by insomnia and reluctance at accepting these circumstances, Wooseo and Jigeon Kang have little alternative however to begin sharing a mattress to be able to proceed dwelling regular lives. As they spend extra time collectively, emotions get messy and the longer term appears unclear.
Tied To You is a dramatic however heartwarming manhwa that includes a love triangle between brother, an obsessive male lead, and a pinch of fantasy in an in any other case trendy world. The story is initially impressed by the East Asian perception of the purple thread of destiny. This romance follows a college-aged protagonist as he struggles between his unrequited emotions for his shut pal and the brother who seems to be his fated companion.
For extra on Ize Press present and upcoming releases, observe them on X/Twitter at @izepress or go to their web site at izepress.com.
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