Twitter is a-buzz this evening with licensing news from the folks at Digital Manga, who have announced the rescue of Finder, a popular series previously held by the now-defunct Central Park Media. Here’s the official press release:
Gardena, CA (3/11/10)– Digital Manga Publishing and Libre Shuppan are proud to announce the licensing of the Finder Series by Ayano Yamane! The Finder series has been one of the most heavily requested series from our readers, and has been considered by fans of the yaoi genre to be the quintessential yaoi title. From one of Japan’s top-selling yaoi mangaka, Ayano Yamane, DMP is proud to release the Finder series beginning with volume one in the summer of 2010 under the June’ imprint. For more information, news updates, and to keep on top of all things Finder, visit the Finder website at www.finderseries.com!
From our friends at Libre Shuppan:
We are pleased to announce that Kazuma Kodaka’s KIZUNA-絆- and Ayano Yamane’s Finder Series, both of which were previously licensed by Central Park Media, are now acquired by Digital Manga Publishing (DMP). For these series, all volumes will be newly translated and will be published under DMP’s June imprint. Finder Series is set to be released in Summer of 2010 and Kizuna is scheduled for September of 2010.
For further inquiries regarding this matter, feel free to contact us at rights@libre-pub.co.jp or Digital Manga Inc, at contact@emanga.com We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading our books and for your continued support.
———-
FINDER VOL. 1: TARGET IN THE VIEWFINDER, Rated M+ (for ages 18+), MSRP: $13.95, Available: SUMMER 2010, SIZE: B6, June’ Imprint
While out on assignment trying to document the illegal activities of the Japanese underworld, photographer Takaba crosses paths with the dark and mysterious leader Asami. Asami takes Takaba captive, in an attempt to subjugate and possess him. But when the son of the Chinese mafia enters demanding evidence that Takaba may have, will Takaba be able to survive being caught in the crosshairs of a deadly underworld feud?
L.M. says
March 12, 2010 at 12:13 amIt is good news (even if we all saw it coming) but I still don’t get why it’s being released under the June imprint rather then 801 media…
Melinda Beasi says
March 12, 2010 at 12:16 amMaybe for wider distribution? Or the larger trim size?
L.M. says
March 12, 2010 at 12:23 amYou’re probably right on both points, though if it was under 8M, they might actually have a more then decent print run (I love 8M but most of their ‘older’ ish titles are OOP) and trim sizes bigger then the original tanks kill me a little (on the inside) but that’s just IMHO
Melinda Beasi says
March 12, 2010 at 12:27 amI like the larger trim sizes, but I suppose that can be chalked up to poor eyesight. :) I’d read everything in magazine serialization-size if it was up to me. Heh.
JRB says
March 12, 2010 at 5:32 pm“trim sizes bigger then the original tanks kill me a little”
Actually, June’s trim is similar to that of many of the BL mags, so it’s closer to the original reading experience, if you think about it that way. I dunno about Be x Boy GOLD (original home of VF) specifically, but it’s identical to the French edition of Be x Boy (which is currently running VF, as it happens).
JRB says
March 12, 2010 at 6:27 pmScratch that. I was thinking of the trim of their Reversible and J-Boy anthologies, which is a bit bigger than their regular trim.
JRB says
March 12, 2010 at 5:39 pmAnd furthermore, the PR says the books will be in B6 size (5” x 7”), which is a typical tankobon sixe and smaller than June’s usual trim (which Amazon gives as 5.8” x 8.2”).
Melinda Beasi says
March 13, 2010 at 1:40 pmI find that depressing. One of the things I appreciate about June releases is the trim size. Oh well. :)
Connie says
March 15, 2010 at 12:57 amIt didn’t click until I read the comments here that this was a June title. I’m a little surprised by that too, because it’s one of the smuttiest BL series I think I’ve read. Even my roommate was shocked by how dirty it was.
I do wonder if there is more to the labeling than it seems. I just read a June title over the weekend that struck me as more of a DokiDoki thing. Maybe it is a lot of of distribution or brand recognition, as you say.
Melinda Beasi says
March 15, 2010 at 9:27 amI’ll be interested to see if DMP comments on any of this between now and the release… especially the questions I’m seeing all over about whether or not some of the smut might be edited for June. I’ve seen everyone asking, but no clear response.
Of course, the more I read about the title, the less I think it will be one for me. Rape, man… why does it always have to be rape? *sigh*