Tokyopop Highlights Manga & Graphic Novels for 2023 Holiday Season
Los Angeles, CA – Publisher TOKYOPOP gets readers into the holiday spirit as it highlights a selection of manga and graphic novel titles that will make especially appropriate gift ideas this holiday season for that special pop culture fan, friend or loved one.
The titles selected by TOKYOPOP's editorial team includes CAPTAIN LASERHAWK: A BLOOD DRAGON REMIX, an original boys' love manga inspired by the Netflix anime series featuring alter egos of characters from the hit Ubisoft video games in a highly referential homage to the early 90s.
A pair of titles from TOKYOPOP's Disney Manga Collection are also highlighted with DISNEY MANGA: TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS - THE BATTLE FOR PUMPKIN KING and DISNEY MANGA: MACY'S JOURNAL - A GUIDE TO AMPHIBIA.
TOKYOPOP also highlights three titles from “Comics That Matter” initiative that utilizes the graphic novel medium to raise awareness about important causes and social issues. These include GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA, WHY I ADOPTED MY HUSBAND and AT 30 I HAD NO GENDER: LIFE LESSONS FROM A 50-YEAR-OLD AFTER TWO DECADES OF SELF- DISCOVERY.
CAPTAIN LASERHAWK: A BLOOD DRAGON REMIX, story by
Ben Kahn, art by Bayou Kun SRP: $14.99 176 pages
ISBN: 978-1427874047 Available December 14th
Dolph Laserhawk, the once powerful and illustrious super-soldier
stationed under the oppressive Eden mega-corporation, stands at a
crossroads between staying a mindless killing machine under
Eden's control and joining a band of rebel outcasts on a risky
undercover mission. Before he can finally be free of the
manipulative forces surrounding him, he must relive the best and
worst moments of his life. Using Holloway's VR technology, he
walks through his memories of living as a penniless deserter,
meeting and abandoning the love of his life, and coming to terms
with the truth behind his passionate and tumultuous love affair with
Alex Taylor - the ruggedly handsome criminal mastermind who
once saved his life.
Immerse yourself in the first-hand accounts of Captain Laserhawk's tragic past through this introspective manga adaptation featuring all-new scenes that explore Dolph's conflicting thoughts and motivations leading up to the most memorable moments in his life.
TOKYOPOP Comics That Matter Titles:
GUARDIAN OF FUKUSHIMA, written by Fabien Grolleau,
artwork by Ewen Blain 144 Pages Print MSRP: $19.99
ISBN: 978-1427871367 Available Now
It was March 11, 2011 when a massive earthquake triggered a
devastating tsunami, which, in turn, destroyed the cores of three
reactors of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. This
tragedy cost almost 20,000 lives and devastated countless more,
including that of Naoto Matsumura, a farmer evacuated from the
deadly radiation zone.
Unwilling to abandon his beloved animals, Naoto chooses to return home to his farm — and to fight for the beauty of life. This important graphic novel originating from France alludes to timeless Japanese legends as an ode to Mother Nature, and human resilience.
WHY I ADOPTED MY HUSBAND, story and artwork by Yuta
Yagi SRP: $12.99 148 pages ISBN: 978-1427873385
Available Now
As a gay couple living in Japan (where gay marriage is not yet
legal), Yuta and Kyota found a unique loophole to live together and
support one another financially, legally, and medically; Kyota
adopted Yuta. This nonfiction manga depicts how they met, living
together, discussions with their parents, and their future anxieties
and determination as they strive for independence and equal rights
under Japanese law.
Yuta Yagi is a self-described otaku living in Japan with his partner, Kyota. He is best known for his autobiographical manga, WHY I ADOPTED MY HUSBAND.
AT 30 I REALIZED I HAD NO GENDER: LIFE LESSONS FROM A
50-YEAR-OLD AFTER TWO DECADES OF SELF-DISCOVERY,
story and art by Shou Arai Print SRP: $13.99 180 pages
ISBN: 978-1427873453 ∙ Available Now
At age 30, Shou Arai realized that he had no gender. Now he was
faced with a question he'd never really considered: how to age in a
society where everything is so strongly segregated by gender? This
autobiographical manga explores Japanese culture surrounding
gender, transgender issues and the daily challenges faces by gender
minorities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community with a
lighthearted, comedic approach.
Shou Arai (he/him) is an intersex transgender manga creator born and raised in Japan. Arai has published numerous titles about gender identity including Chuusei Furo e Youkoso!, Seibetsu R (Revolution)!, and Ano Koro wa Joshi Kousei, and also starred in the documentary film, Seibetsu ga, nai! Intersex Mangaka no Queer na Hibi, directed by Shogo Watanabe.
TOKYOPOP DISNEY MANGA Titles:
DISNEY MANGA: TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE
CHRISTMAS: THE BATTLE FOR PUMPKIN KING, story by Dan
Conner, Shaun McLaughlin and D.J. Milky, art by Deborah Allo
and Roberto Scalia SRP: $15.99 128 pages
ISBN: 9781427868435 Available Now
Jack Skellington is the undisputed Pumpkin King of Halloween
Town. But it wasn't always that way… Years ago, Jack and Oogie
Boogie were close friends. Eager to prove themselves, they poured
all their passion into their creepy projects to earn their rightful place
as the scariest duo in town. But there could only be one Pumpkin
King! What could have happened to turn two best friends into such
bitter rivals?
Written by Dan Conner (Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Zero's Journey), with story by Shaun McLaughlin and D.J. Milky, and art from Deborah Allo and Roberto Scalia, this full- color graphic novel series is another deep dive into the holiday-themed world originally created by Tim Burton.
DISNEY MANGA: MACY'S JOURNAL – A GUIDE TO
AMPHIBIA, story by Adam Colas and Matthew Braly, art by
Catharina Sukiman Hardcover SRP: $22.30 Softcover SRP:
$16.99 176 pages Hardcover ISBN: 9781427871527
Softcover ISBN: 9781427871756 Available Now
Amphibia chronicles the adventures of three best friends who find
themselves magically transported to the world of Amphibia, a wild
marshland tropical island full of anthropomorphic amphibians and
dangerous beasts. The three girls are separated when they arrive
in Amphibia, and Marcy finds herself living in the Newt controlled
city of Newtopia. Science-minded, she uses her journal to
catalogue and record the flora, fauna, and culture of the fantasy
creatures in this new world.
This faithful recreation of Marcy's journal chronicles her adventures in the magical world of Amphibia. Packed to the brim with new character insights, world-building lore, and untold stories, this book is a must-own for any Amphibia fan! The hardcover edition comes with an exclusive reversable dust jacket featuring a map of Amphibia, drawn by show creator Matt Braly.
DISNEY MANGA: STITCH AND THE SAMURAI: THE
COMPLETE COLLECTION, story and art by Hiroto Wada
SRP: $19.99 564 pages ISBN: 978-1427873880
Available Now
While fleeing the Galactic Federation, Stitch's spaceship
malfunctions and he makes an emergency landing... not in Hawaii,
but in sengoku-era Japan! Discovered by the brutal warlord Lord
Yamato and his clan, Stitch's incomparable cuteness is no match
for the battle-weary samurai, who decides to bring the "blue
tanuki" home with him. Will Stitch's love of chaos turn into a
formidable advantage for the samurai's influence? Or will his cute
and fluffy form disarm the noble lord's stern façade?
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About TOKYOPOP, Inc.
Founded in 1997, TOKYOPOP brings Asian pop culture to Hollywood and beyond. TOKYOPOP
established the market for manga in North America, introducing the term to the English
language in the process, and expanding the market in Germany, publishing thousands of books
in both languages, distributing anime and Asian films on home video and television, licensing
merchandise to consumer goods and companies, and creating graphic novels of both original
content and major IP adaptations. TOKYOPOP's core values focus on multiculturalism and
diversity; aestheticism and artistic integrity; and passionate and positive storytelling. More
information at: https://www.tokyopop.com/.