Yen Press
Parent company |
Kadokawa Corporation (51%) Hachette Book Group USA (49%) |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Founded | 2006 |
Founder |
Kurt Hassler Rich Johnson |
Country of origin | United States |
Headquarters location | New York City |
Distribution | Worldwide |
Official website |
www |
Yen Press LLC is an American manga and graphic novel publisher co-owned by Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces Yen Plus, a monthly manga anthology. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other international content. In addition to translated material, Yen Press has released original series, most notably a manga adaptation of James Patterson's Maximum Ride and Svetlana Chmakova's Nightschool.
History
Yen Press was founded in 2006 by former Borders Group buyer Kurt Hassler and DC Comics VP Rich Johnson (who left the imprint in the fall of 2008). In July 2007, it was announced that Yen Press was to absorb ICEkunion, a Korean publisher that had been releasing manhwa to the United States. While the manga titles bearing ICEkunion's label would be continued to be sold in stores, subsequent printings would bear the Yen Press logo. Kurt Hassler assured fans, "We plan to pick up all the existing [ICEkunion] titles...We’re going to continue everything, so fans shouldn’t worry. None of these series are going to fall into a void.”[1]
Yen Press had previously stated that it would like to release 30 - 40 volumes within 2008. One of the flagship titles of their original English artists line has been announced to be Nightschool, which would be released by Canadian Svetlana Chmakova, who is known for her Tokyopop title Dramacon.
During New York Comic Con 2008, Yen Press announced that the titles Soul Eater, Nabari no Ou, Sumomomo Momomo, Bamboo Blade, and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni would run in their monthly anthology magazine Yen Plus. The first issue debuted on July 29, 2008.
In 2009, Yen Press announced that it had acquired the rights to Yotsuba&![2][3] and Azumanga Daioh[4] from their former licensee, A.D. Vision. In September 2009, Yen Press rereleased the first five volumes of Yotsuba&!, in addition to releasing the sixth volume; Azumanga Daioh was rereleased with a newly translated version in December 2009.
On April 11, 2016, it was announced that Yen Press would function as a joint venture between Hachette Book Group and major Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corporation, with Kadokawa owning 51% of the company.[5]
Titles
Original series
- Beautiful Creatures, story by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, art by Cassandra Jean
- The Clique, story by Lisi Harrison, art by Yishan Li
- Daniel X by James Patterson, with Michael Ledwidge, art by SeungHui Kye
- The Dark-Hunters: Infinity, story by Sherrilyn Kenyon, art by JiYoung Ahn
- Gossip Girl; art and adaptation by HyeKyung Baek, original concept by Cecily von Ziegesar
- The Infernal Devices, story by Cassandra Clare, art by HyeKyung Baek
- Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story, story by Anne Rice, art by Ashley Marie Witter
- Maximum Ride; story by James Patterson, art by NaRae Lee
- Nightschool, by Svetlana Chmakova
- Soulless, story by Gail Carriger, art by Rem
- Twilight: The Graphic Novel; story by Stephenie Meyer, art by Young Kim
- The World of Quest, by Jason T. Kruse
Manga
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Manhwa
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Manhua
- An Ideal World; story by Weidong Chen, art by Chao Peng
- Step, by Yanshu Yu
- The History of The West Wing; story by Sun Jiayu, art by Guo Guo
- Wild Animals, by Song Yang
Light novels
- A Certain Magical Index story by Kazuma Kamachi, illustration by Kiyotaka Haimura
- Accel World, story by Reki Kawahara, illustration by HiMA
- Another, by Yukito Ayatsuji
- Another Episode S, by Yukito Ayatsuji
- Baccano!, story Ryohgo Narita, illustration by Katsumi Enami
- Black Bullet, story by Shiden Kanzaki, illustration by Saki Ukai
- Book Girl, story by Mizuki Nomura, illustration by Miho Takeoka
- Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody, story by Hiro Ainana, illustration by shri
- Durarara!!, story by Ryohgo Narita, illustration by Suzuhito Yasuda
- Goblin Slayer!, story by Kumo Kagyu, illustration by Noboru Kannatuki
- Haruhi Suzumiya, story by Nagaru Tanigawa, illustration by Noizi Ito
- Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, story by Fujino Omori, illustration by Suzuhito Yasuda
- Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Sword Oratoria, story by Fujino Omori, illustration by Kiyotaka Haimura
- Kagerou Daze, story by Jin (Shizen no Teki-P), illustration by Sidu
- Kieli, story by Yukako Kabei, illustration by Shunsuke Taue
- Kingdom Hearts: The Novel, story by Tomoco Kanemaki, illustration by Shiro Amano
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories The Novel, story by Tomoco Kanemaki, illustration by Shiro Amano
- KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, story by Natsume Akatsuki, illustration by Kurone Mishima
- Log Horizon, story by Mamare Touno, illustration by Kazuhiro Hara
- Magical Girl Raising Project, story by Asari Endō, illustration by Maruino
- My Girlfriend's a Geek, by Pentabu
- My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong as I Expected, story by Wataru Watari, illustration by Ponkan8
- No Game No Life, story and illustration by Yuu Kamiya
- Overlord, written by Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by so-bin
- Pandora Hearts: Caucus Race, story by Shinobu Wakamiya, illustration by Jun Mochizuki
- Psycome, story by Mizuki Mizushiro, illustration by Namanie
- Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-, story by Tappei Nagatsuki, illustration by Shinichirou Otsuka
- Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers-, story by Ishio Yamagata, illustration by Miyagi
- Spice and Wolf, story by Isuna Hasekura, illustration by Jū Ayakura
- Strike the Blood, story by Gakuto Mikumo, illustration by Manyako
- Sword Art Online, story by Reki Kawahara, illustration by abec
- Sword Art Online: Progressive, story by Reki Kawahara, illustration by abec
- The Asterisk War, story by Yuu Miyazaki, illustration by Okiura
- The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, story by Satoshi Wagahara, illustration by 029 (Oniku)
- The Irregular at Magic High School, story by Tsutomu Satō, illustration by Kana Ishida
- The Isolator, story by Reki Kawahara, illustration by Shimeji
European titles
- Dystopia, by Judith Park (Germany)
- Toxic Planet, by David Ratte (France)
- Y Square, by Judith Park (Germany)
- Y Square Plus, by Judith Park (Germany)
- Goldilocks and the Seven Squat Bears, by Émile Bravo (France)
References
- ↑ Yen Press Hires Lee, Adds ICE Kunion List - 7/24/2007 - Publishers Weekly
- ↑ Koulikov, Mikhail (7 February 2009). "New York Comic Con Yen Press". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
- ↑ "Yen Press » YOTSUBA&! by Kiyohiko Azuma". Yen Press. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
- ↑ "Yen Press to reissue Azumanga Daioh manga". Anime News Network. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
- ↑ Laura. "Exciting news about the future of Yen Press!". Yen Press. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
External links
- Official website
- PW article detailing absorption of ICEKunion
- YS interview with Hassler on expansion into yaoi