Bandai to Release Comics in Sheeps Clothing
by Randall Fitzgerald on Feb.16, 2006, under america, manga
According to a press release from Bandai Entertainement, the company has plans to release several popular Top Cow comic books in manga form. Of course, if you know anything about Top Cow comics at all, you already know that the two comics they will be shrinking down to lessen enjoyment will be Tomb Raider and Witch Blade. The interiors of the books will be black and white and will account for 10 issues of each comic, totaling about 220 pages each. Each of the “manga sized digest(s)” will run you $9.99. The first volume of Tomb Raider is due out in May, followed shortly thereafter by the first volume of Witchblade in June. Subsequent volumes will be released every three months.
So, let’s see the tally here. Smaller, less detail, black and white. Yep, much better than a trade paperback. Full press release after the jump.
BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT TO PUBLISH TOP COW TITLES IN MANGA FORMAT
February 13, 2006 (Cypress, Ca) – Bandai Entertainment Inc. announce today it will publish a series of “manga sized” digest essential collections of two of Top Cow Entertainment’s best selling titles, Tomb Raider and Witchblade.
“Tomb Raider and Witchblade are Top Cow’s flagship publishing properties and we’re honored to be in business with a company as renowned as Bandai in its manga division launch,” says Top Cow President Matt Hawkins. “We look forward to a long enduring relationship with the company soon to be known as one of the leading manga companies in the United States.”
Each volume will feature a color cover with black and white interiors reprinting ten issues of each respective comic series, for a total of 220 pages. Each manga sized digest will retail for $9.99.
“Though American comics are not normally found in the manga section of stores we feel the right title repackaged in the manga format will introduce this material to the mass market buyer.” said Manga Editor Robert Napton. “The fact that Witchblade is about to become the first American comic to be recreated in Japan as an authentic anime only creates more awareness for Top Cow’s properties in anime and manga fandom.”
The first volume of Tomb Raider will be released in May, followed by the first volume of Witchblade in June, with subsequent volumes coming out on a quarterly schedule.
February 16th, 2006 on 7:16 pm
Western comics are pencilled and inked in a particular way, tailored with colour output of a specific size in mind. To switch it to B&W and then, on top of that, reduce the scale?
I dunno— unless they’re planning on re-working the art and use more manga-style techniques for tone and shade. I suppose it could work.
February 16th, 2006 on 8:53 pm
All the ones I’ve seen are just shrunk down. Some of them are in color, some not. Either way, it just ruins the whole thing. Plus, it’s still left to right orientation, so I would probably read it all wrong since my mind is tuned to the sizes for manga and comics differently.
I doubt they will be redoing any of the art though, considering the $10 price point.
February 17th, 2006 on 7:17 am
Come to think of it, the smaller format worked for now-defunct CrossGen Comics. I liked those mini-TPBs they put out. They packed in a lot of story for a lower price and the smaller format didn’t hurt. However, they still kept the art in colour…
I’m thinking that giving the Western inking and composition style, and the reliance on colour, the panels would look a little overworked in the smaller B&W manga format.
…then again, maybe I should shut my trap until I actually *see* some samples. :-P
February 17th, 2006 on 11:11 am
They’re not as bad in colour, but seriously, the size loss is just uncceptable to a puristl ike me. I mean, I have a huge shelf of comics and paperback and junk that I would probably go crazy if they were manga sized. I guess it’s more an issue of them manganizing something I love for its format and style. Why can’t they just leave things alone? :’(