U.S. manga publishers are expected to release less than 1,000 volumes in 2010, the first time the number has fallen below that mark since 2004.

That’s according to a report in the latest issue of ICv2’s Internal Correspondence developed by surveying publishers on their future plans.

The reports states publishers will release 13 percent fewer volumes than they did in 2009, The drop was blamed mostly on cutbacks by smaller outlets.

ICv2 also ranked the top 10 manga properties by genre, with Naruto topping the shounen list and Fruits Basket the shoujo list.

Source: [url]http://www.manganews.net/news.php?article=1338[/url]

This sounds like bad news, right. The entire industry seems to be declining. Hope that things will get better for next year.

Hopefully that 13% is all that rubbish stuff Tokyopop have been putting out recently! 🤣

I don't think its declining. Its moving along at a steady pace, but there are bound to be bumps along the line somewhere. Manga is a relatively new market that booksellers and wholesalers are still trying to figure out.
Manga isn't going to suddenly disappear at some stage, that's without doubt.

lets hope that 13% its the crappy manga

Reading Love LuckyRecommended B Gata H Kei <3 Conveni-N XD

It appears that most of the publishers will be releasing about the same or slightly fewer volumes, while Yen Press actually publishing more thus being the exception, number of publishers such as Aurora, Go! Comi and DrMaster have either pulled out or drastically curtailed their publishing efforts.

Also, don't forget that some publishers went out of business last year such as ADV, CPM and Brocolli.

Don't forget that we are in the middle of a worldwide economic recession. We shouldn't be surprised to see publishers cancel their less-popular titles in favour of the ones that are keeping them in business.

Although with Viz, they make so much off the Top Three, they're well capable of venturing into less consumer-friendly markets, as seen in the whole SigIkki site, and their upcoming Seinen / Josei releases such as Asano Inio's What A Wonderful World, or Matsumoto Taiyo's Gogo Monster.

Drmaster has been cutting back since 2004. I think the last new thing they published was Murder Princess. Well, so long as Dark Horse keeps publishing manga, I don't see anything wrong. 😃

Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.

I'm fine with that. I don't read the actual physical U.S. volumes anyways 😛

Lalala~

I'm not surprised.
Especially because of what the others were pointing out. Tokyopop has been putting out SHIT.
Serious SHIT manga. Especially all those "Rising stars" ones.

I loved Go Comi and am sad to see them go, but manga is hitting its stride so we shouldn't worry too much yet. Worse comes to worse we can keep on reading scanlations. 😀

I'm just mad that even though Tokoyopop is dropping so many series they have the balls to mark their territory all over some new ones. Some of the new ones being really good. So what? Are they gonna drop those when it becomes inconvenient too?

The WORSE part about this is that Net Comics puts out no (?) or barely any hard copies anymore. They license manga then scanlate them and charge people 50 cents or more to read it online within 48 hours. I hate it because they decided to start this new trend with the last volume of one of my favourite series 100% Perfect Girl D:

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Quote from Calibine

I'm fine with that. I don't read the actual physical U.S. volumes anyways 😛

And besides, less publishers in U.S, less d/c letters to "our" translating groups: I mean, when a U.S. publisher claims rights on a manga title, usually it takes AGES to catch up to the actual manga...

Quote from Mamsmilk

Quote from x0mbiec0rp

Quote from Mamsmilk

I need a die with 2 sides.

That's known as a "coin".

Oh, thanks. Too much D&D.

Quote from Kitteh_13

I'm not surprised.
Worse comes to worse we can keep on reading scanlations. 😀

And that's why, as long as new manga is made on Far East, manga-reading community will never die off.

Quote from Kitteh_13

I'm just mad that even though Tokoyopop is dropping so many series they have the balls to mark their territory all over some new ones.

Completely agree with that. Them licensing manga means fewer groups would be willing to scanlate it and if they drop it still no one picks it up. This is very annoying.

I still bought my manga even when I knew of all the places to nab them for free online, simply as a show of support. Of course, my local bookstore often having buy 2 get 1 free deals made it a lot easier to do. But they've stopped doing that... and at full price there's no way I could collect more than 2~8 series (depending on # of volumes) a year.

These publishers need to shift their pricing structure to be more like Japan's. I still buy manga, but I buy raws since I'm more or less fluent now in Japanese, and they are so much cheaper compared to the localized versions. They can range anywhere from $2~5 for each volume compared to the staple $10 here.

I don't know how much leeway publishers here have in adjusting their prices, but I really think that if manga is to be mainstream more than just the big names like Naruto and Bleach, they will need to somehow work the prices down.

I think its been pointed out here before but Japan's tankoubons are printerd on lower quality paper and are smaller dimension than most of their western counterparts. But yeah, their average quality shouldn't be enough to double the price. With Dark Horse being an exception. Some of them were hella expensive but the quality was off the hook.

Sarcasm just doesn't work over the internet.

Hmmm... speaking of Aurora, are they actually still around? I know they are scheduled to release Selected Pandemonium in June but... there hasn't been anything from this publisher for a year. 😕

Quote from willdabeast

I still bought my manga even when I knew of all the places to nab them for free online, simply as a show of support. Of course, my local bookstore often having buy 2 get 1 free deals made it a lot easier to do. But they've stopped doing that... and at full price there's no way I could collect more than 2~8 series (depending on # of volumes) a year.

These publishers need to shift their pricing structure to be more like Japan's. I still buy manga, but I buy raws since I'm more or less fluent now in Japanese, and they are so much cheaper compared to the localized versions. They can range anywhere from $2~5 for each volume compared to the staple $10 here.

I don't know how much leeway publishers here have in adjusting their prices, but I really think that if manga is to be mainstream more than just the big names like Naruto and Bleach, they will need to somehow work the prices down.

I agree with silent killer also, but you have to know that it cost more money to translate the book and people have to make a living too. So i thinkg 10 is reasonable. Plus if you were to order the original and have it shipped it would cost around the same amount or more anyways.
Sorry to say but suck it up. Prices go up because of the economy , everybody needs cash now.