Media Do, Japan’s largest eBook distribution firm together with its US-based division Media-Do International has introduced a brand new partnership with TAICCA (Taiwan Creative Contents Agency), a Taiwan-based non-profit group that helps the manufacturing, improvement, distribution and abroad promotions of comics created in Taiwan, together with getting extra comics from Taiwan printed in English and Japanese.
As a part of this new enterprise, ranging from February 6, 2024, Media-Do International might be providing 4 new vertical-scrolling comics in English by creators from Taiwan on most eBook platforms together with Kindle, Google Books, Apple iBooks, Nook, Kobo, Bookwalker, MangaPlaza, and Renta.
These new comics from Taiwan are a part of Media-Do’s YUZU Comics program for growing webtoon-style vertical scrolling comics for Japan and different abroad markets. Since YUZU Comics was launched in 2022, greater than 50 vertical-scrolling digital comics have been produced in numerous languages worldwide. Media-Do International is already working with a number of Japanese publishers to carry their manga in English by way of eBook platforms, so this new deal opens the door for much more comics from Taiwan to be out there in English than ever earlier than.
Much like in S. Korea, the Taiwan authorities has performed a big position in selling the improvement and promotion of comics creators and unique comics IP from their nation. There’s Taiwan Comics Base in Taipei, a 4-story constructing that is a devoted facility for comics in Taipei City’s Huaying Street Business District, full with a bookstore, occasion area and services for comics creators to work.
Concurrently, increasingly Japanese publishers are investing in creating and publishing extra vertical scrolling comics. Besides Media Do’s YUZU Comics initiative, different main Japanese publishers have been making strikes towards this format, and we’re beginning to see extra of it in English too. Full-color rom-com Romantic Killer (now out there in English from VIZ Media and as an anime collection on Netflix) was a profitable entry in a contest sponsored by Shueisha, the writer of manga journal mega-brand, Shonen Jump. Kadokawa has been going all-in with vertical scrolling comics with their TATESC program (some TATESC titles, together with Gamera: Rebirth can be found in English on Bookwalker). Japanese e-commerce big Rakuten just lately launched R-Toon, their foray into vertical scrolling comics just lately too.
The first 4 titles from this TAICCA / Media Do initiative to arrive in English embrace a mixture of slice of life, fantasy and boys love tales. They embrace:
CONFESSIONS OF A 35-YEAR-OLD – a single-volume, slice-of-life drama
story and artwork by TEI · SRP: $5.99 · 146 pages · eISBN: 9781647115586 · For Readers Ages 12+ · Available February 6th
Thirty-five-year-old, single workplace employee Jason usually finds love to be elusive. He doesn’t give a lot thought to his new coworker Frank when he joins the firm. But when an opportunity encounter evolves right into a collection of shared moments, an unanticipated twist of their relationship finds Jason and Frank being roommates. Will Jason discover his new regular is love?
THREE SECONDS AFTER OUR EYES MET – a single-volume BL romance
story and artwork by Rancha · SRP: $5.99 · 146 pages · eISBN: 9781647115579 · For Readers Ages 12+ · Available February 6th
The pleasant, form Student Union Event Division President Hezhan has a fastidiously maintained picture however when fellow scholar Shunwen witnesses Hezhan’s outburst in a gathering room, he inadvertently turns into the keeper of Hezhan’s hidden facet. Worried his secret might be revealed, Hezhan approaches Shunwen however each time their eyes lock, it looks like Shunwen sees proper via him and he should “never lock eyes for more than three seconds.” Will Hezhan have the ability to defend his secret or will Shunwen reshape Hezhan’s life and his personal?
THREE SECONDS AFTER OUR EYES MET was a Gold Prize-winner in the BL class at the second-ever Glory Original Comic Competition. Rancha is considered one of Taiwan’s hottest BL comedian creators and famend for delicate storytelling and for realistically presenting the feelings of his characters.
THE LIGHT CONJURER – a 3-volume comical supernatural fantasy
story and artwork by Gene ∙ SRP: $5.99 · 146 pages · eISBN: 9781647115555 · For Readers Ages 17+ · Available February 6th
Rubin, a seemingly ineffective summoner whose conjuring makes an attempt are comically futile, secretly desires of defeating a dragon. Fate has a humorousness when Rubin summons a mysterious prince who coerces him into going to an deserted citadel… the place a dragon lives. Can a ineffective conjurer face the problem of confronting a legendary beast?
Creator Gene is a comic book artist/illustrator who was born and raised in Tainan, Taiwan. He was the Bronze Prize-winner in the BL class at the First Ever Glory Original Comic Competition. An lively determine in numerous doujin communities. Gene’s works are available in various types, and he loves to add a contact of humor to tales. His work “Wanted Magic Girl!” was chosen to the 10th Golden Comic Best New Artist Award in 2019 and he additionally has gained two prime prizes at the 2020 Kyoto International Manga Anime Awards.
LOVING YOU WHEN THE WORLD ENDED – a single-volume post-apocalyptic romantic BL journey
story and artwork by Gene · SRP: $5.99 · 146 pages · eISBN: 9781647115562 ·
For Readers Ages 15+ · Available February 6th
An apocalyptic occasion forces two strangers to navigate a world the place the previous order is shattered. Is it survival of the fittest or survival of the richest? Spoiled Nuowan can’t keep alive on this new actuality with out the assist of expert resort employee Yu Seng, whom he met solely moments earlier than the world ended. Yu’s former army coaching turns out to be useful however is kissing out of the blue a survival tactic?
For extra on TAICCA, go to their web site for Taiwan Comics Base. To study extra about Media-Do, go to their web site at mediado.jp.
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