My apologies for not updating sooner; it's been a crazy week, and I've been preparing for a conference this weekend.
While I wasn’t able to go to NYAF (because, let’s face it, I can’t really afford the gas to get there), I have been keeping up with all the announcements and documentation of all the roundtable discussions. In particular, the state of the manga industry panel has lead me to ask a few questions about the “state of the manga industry” or, as I like to think of it “the state of where US manga publishers would like to go in the next, eh, six months or so.” While I wasn't able to go to NYAF (because, let's face it, I can't really afford the gas to get there), I have been keeping up with all the announcements and documentation of all the roundtable discussions. In particular, the state of the manga industry panel has lead me to ask a few questions about the "state of the manga industry" or, as I like to think of it "the state of where US manga publishers would like to go in the next , Eh, six months or so. "
We know that US manga is still profitable. Dark Horse has reported a 20-year high in sales of its manga lines, and people in the industry keep telling us that it’s going pretty well for them. The amount of manga publishers is continuing to increase, and news of an eventual Kodansha imprint here in the States is only an indication of where the business is going. We know that US manga is still profitable. Dark Horse has reported a 20-year high in sales of its manga lines, and people in the industry keep telling us that it's going pretty well for them. The amount of manga publishers is continuing to increase, and news of an eventual Kodansha imprint here in the States is only an indication of where the business is going.
One of the most interesting statements made at the state of the industry roundtable was Michael Gombos and Kurt Hassler’s dismissal of digital distribution. Blaming the lack of a universal format and explaining that manga “is meant to be read on the page” is what we got out of them. Frankly, Some of as are upset. One of the most interesting statements made at the state of the industry roundtable was Michael Gombos and Kurt Hassler's dismissal of digital distribution. Blaming the lack of a universal format and explaining that manga "is meant to be read on the page" is what we got out of them. Frankly, some of are us upset.
That includes me. That includes me.
See, digital distrubition isn’t about a universal format, and manga certainly isn’t only meant to be “read on the page”. That kind of attitude is what’s killing the music business right now. For the longest time, music was only an analog kind of experence. Play your tapes, your CDs, but don’t use your computer. Your Walkman is fine, thank you. The problem with that attitude is that, while your analog distribution may be pretty fricking great, people have been reading manga on the internet for years. Scanlations have always been a huge part of the industry, and the last time I checked, you get those on the internet, right? See, digital distrubition isn't about a universal format, and manga certainly isn't only meant to be "read on the page". That kind of attitude is what's killing the music business right now. For the longest time, music was only an analog kind of experence. Play your tapes, your CDs, but don't use your computer. Your Walkman is fine, thank you. The problem with that attitude is that, while your analog distribution may be pretty fricking great, people have been reading manga on the internet for years. Scanlations have always been a huge part of the industry, and the last time I checked, you get those on the internet, right?
Business is not necessarily about a feel or a perception; it’s about finding a consumer and playing to their needs in a way that is profitable. Manga has found its place in the comics world, but in a society where everyone is always on the run, how much more convenient can mobile manga be? Digital distribution allows manga fans a chance to download and go, and it allows consumers the chance to customize their manga experience. Business is not necessarily about a feel or a perception; it's about finding a consumer and playing to their needs in a way that is profitable. Manga has found its place in the comics world, but in a society where everyone is always on the run, how much more convenient can mobile manga be? Digital distribution allows manga fans a chance to download and go, and it allows consumers the chance to customize their manga experience.
Think, for example, on the possiblities of a RSS-type manga feed, where users could subscribe to manga series through objects like the iPhone or home computer. Each time a new chapter came out, the manga would be instantly queued for download, and purchased for a micro-transaction type fee. A small manga distribution application would be all it would take to get this kind of digital manga into the hands of a busy fandom. The advantage for consumers is a way to sample manga more liberally, and do so without downloading scanlations of licensed manga, or spend hours in the local Borders trying to find their next series. It also allows customers to keep a more “periodical” relationship with their favorite series that is more in tune with manga in Japan, in that a new chapter would come out every week or every few weeks, instead of one tankoban coming out four times a year. Think, for example, on the possiblities of a RSS-type manga feed, where users could subscribe to manga series through objects like the iPhone or home computer. Each time a new chapter came out, the manga would be instantly queued for download, and purchased for a micro-transaction type fee. A small manga distribution application would be all it would take to get this kind of digital manga into the hands of a busy fandom. The advantage for consumers is a way to sample manga more liberally, and do so without downloading scanlations of licensed manga, or spend hours in the local Borders trying to find their next series. It also allows customers to keep a more "periodical" relationship with their favorite series that is more in tune with manga in Japan, in that a new chapter would come out every week or every few weeks, instead of one tankoban coming out four times a year.
This isn’t just for consumers though. The manga industry profits too. Without knowing too much about the publishing scene, I can almost guarentee that manga are, at one point or the other, digitized so that translations can be applied to the original comic image. In this sense, the apple is ripe for the plucking. This isn't just for consumers though. The manga industry profits too. Without knowing too much about the publishing scene, I can almost guarentee that manga are, at one point or the other, digitized so that translations can be applied to the original comic image. In this sense, the apple is ripe for the plucking.
It’sa shame to see major publishers brush aside digital distribution. Truly, it’s money waiting to be made. It'sa shame to see major publishers brush aside digital distribution. Truly, it's money waiting to be made.
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