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Posts Tagged Yen Press

PR: Yen to publish James Patterson’s DANIEL X in manga series

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, November 6, 2009

YEN PRESS TO PUBLISH MANGA ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING NOVELIST JAMES PATTERSON’S DANIEL X

NEW YORK, November 6, 2009 — Yen Press announced today that it will adapt the first three novels in international bestselling novelist James Patterson’s DANIEL X series into manga with Korean artist Seung-hui Kye. Kye has published extensively in his native Korea with 13 manhwa books (Korean manga) to his name that have been translated and published in over 10 countries.

The first volume of Yen’s previous adaptation of Patterson’s work, MAXIMUM RIDE, spent 31 weeks on Nielsen BookScan’s graphic novel bestseller list and was named one of the top 25 manga properties in both the first and second quarters of 2009.

Like MAXIMUM RIDE, the DANIEL X manga will appear in Yen Press’s manga anthology YEN PLUS before the book is collected into a trade paperback format in summer 2010.

Kurt Hassler, Publishing Director, Yen Press, says: “The MAXIMUM RIDE manga adaptation has been a stellar success since its release earlier this year which is a real testament to James Patterson’s versatility as a great storyteller in any medium. Yen Press is incredibly excited to be a part of helping to bring DANIEL X into the comics world for existing fans of the series and new readers alike.”

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Review: An Ideal World

By Andre Paploo on Tuesday, November 3, 2009

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Reviewer: Andre

Manhua-ka: Chao Peng, Weidong Chen
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: March 2009

Synopsis: “Time and again, A You finds himself chasing a mysterious rabbit through his dreams. But before he can reach out and grab it…his mother is shaking him awake for another day of work. A You’s not exactly thrilled with his job at the factory, so when a persistent streak of bad luck leaves him unemployed, it seems like a great opportunity to start over. The trouble is, A You doesn’t have anything to move on to. With no goals or aspirations, A You roams the city searching for direction. Deep in thought on one of his strolls, A You suddenly rouses himself only to discover he’s lost in the woods. He catches sight of a rabbit, and in desperation follows it through the forest. But this scene seems familiar…Is it a dream? Or could there truly be An Ideal World within the darkness?”

Chinese comics have been imported to the English comics market since the 80’s, but those were primarily Hong Kong action comics. Now, we’re beginning to see a larger variety, including some titles from mainland China, such as this title – Yen Press’s release of An Ideal World. A mixture of European, Hong Kong and manga aesthetics, An Ideal World offers a change in pace from normal asian comics fare, with vivid colours and a self-contained, single volume story.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhua, Yen Press

Review: Soul Eater (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, October 31, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Atsushi Ohkubo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Maka is a weapon meister, determined to turn her partner, a living scythe named Soul Eater, into a powerful death scythe — the ultimate weapon of Death himself! Charged with the task of collecting and devouring the tainted souls of ninety-nine humans and one witch, Maka and her fellow meisters strive to master their weapons as they face off against the bizarre and dangerous minions of the underworld. But the meisters’ own personal quirks may prove a bigger obstacle than any sultry enchantress!”

Sporting a scythe wielding young girl next to a witch with a grinning Jack o’Lantern as the background on an otherwise sparse-white canvas – and with just as many ghouls, guises and grins on the inside, you’d be hard pressed to find something more festive than Soul Eater during Halloween night. Granted, you’d easily be able to find something scarier than this, but if you’re looking for the energy of Halloween embodied in something other than having your pants scared off, then this may be the book you’re looking for.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Yen Press

Review: The Antique Gift Shop (Vol. 09)

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, October 22, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manhwa-ga: Lee Eun
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: November 2009

Synopsis: “When a mermaid princess’s hopes to marry her human prince are squashed by the domineering, morbidly obese ex-ballerina to whom the prince appears to be tied, she decides to return to the Han River. But she’s beaten to the punch by the prince…and then the ballerina! What grave secrets about these two does the murky water conceal… and will either of them make it out of the river alive?”

Bun-Nyuh can’t handle it anymore – she’s through with that cursed Antique Gift Shop, no matter what the deal she made with her shaman Grandmother was. Though she finds herself able to storm away from the shop, her memories of it are another thing, struggling over the loss of her best employee, the beautiful but enigmatic, Mr. Yang – the man who always seem to know what to say. Feeling humbled and abandoned, Bun-Nyuh takes to the rainy streets in this ninth volume of Antique Gift Shop, the book which also sees the end of the twisted ballerina take on the Little Mermaid.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Nightschool (Vol. 02)

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, October 13, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Creator: Svetlana Chmakova
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Schools may lock up for the night, but class is in session for an entirely different set of students. In the Nightschool, vampires, werewolves, and weirns learn the fundamentals of everything from calculus to spell casting. Alex is a young weirn whose education has always been handled through home schooling, but circumstances seem to be drawing her closer to the Nightschool. Will Alex manage to weather the dark forces gathering?”

Alex begins her quest to discover what happened to her sister, a staff member at the city’s secret night school, who mysteriously vanished leaving not even a memory behind in the minds of most. Her sister’s place of employment is the first stop, but to wander the school halls, Alex must first become a student.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Global Manga, Yen Press

Review: 13th Boy (Vol. 02)

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, October 11, 2009

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Manhwa-ga: SangEun Lee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “With fierce determination, Hee-Soo continues to follow her heart — not to mention her beloved Won-Jun — everywhere! When she discovers Won-Jun is a Boy Scout (and that pesky Whie-Young too, boo!), she wants nothing more than to be a Girl Scout, especially so she can take part in the joint Scouts campout and be by Won-Jun’s side! But the other girls won’t let her get away with it that easily! Sheer willpower may not be enough to get Hee-Soo there…but maybe a little magic might do the trick?”

Thankfully for our abounding curiousity since the end of volume one, this second volume of 13th Boy picks up right where we left off as far as the resident plot-oddity is concerned. Return of the talking cactus! Who turns into a pretty boy once a month for 24 hours. Why? We’re not sure yet but it’s so silly and out of no where that I’m too entertained to bother being critical about something that’s just meant to be fun.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: 13th Boy, Manhwa, Yen Press

Review: Mr. Flower Groom

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, October 7, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Lily Hoshino
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “The honeymoon’s not quite over yet… The Souda family tradition of marrying off its younger sons to male clan members leaves no generation untouched! Childhood friends Ritsu and Kouichirou may have taken their first, tentative steps into married life in Mr. Flower Bride, but now they have to wrangle with past loves, new misunderstandings… and each other (!!) to get to matrimonial bliss!”

A sequel to Mr. Flower Bride, Mr. Flower Groom follows the series’ newly wed couple – Ritsu and Kouchirou. They may still have their insecurities to deal with but it’s evident there’s more than just tradition binding the two together. But even with positive premise memories from the last book, are the characters themselves compelling enough to leave us fervent for this follow-up?

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Manga, Yen Press

Review: Black God (Vol. 07)

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, October 4, 2009

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Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Dall-Young Lim
Manhwa-ga: Sung-Woo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: October 2009

Synopsis: “Having systematically destroyed all the protective soul stones in Japan, Hiyou reveals his plot to gather alter egos together and unleash a massive wave of negative energy that could threaten the entire country. The last soul stone is in Okinawa — the stone once guarded by Makana and Kakuma’s family. With Kuro and Keita detained at the resort and Kakuma captured by Tribal Ends, Makana’s ready to step up and defend the pure place of his fallen relatives. But a lone Mototsumitama may not have the strength to oppose the evil at work…”

Keita and Kuro have infiltrated the hotel serving as Hiyou’s plotting base but when the enemy swoops in and captures Makana, Kakuma flies off in a rage to do whatever he can to save her. But with her abilities to unseal Japan’s final sacred stone now in the hands of the enemy, it may very well be the world that the group is out to save… or at least that’s what I believe is going on.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manhwa, Yen Press

Media Blasters Sneaks In A Few More Yaois, DtB Omnibus

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, September 21, 2009

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AAAAnime and RightStuf have made some recent updates to their inventory lists and a few new titles have wiggled their way in. Plus, we don’t want to think I’m just an Amazon-splunker, right?

Media Blasters has two new-ish yaoi listings up, continuing their history of under-the-radar licensing. Both are set for release this winter:

Erotikku ni Oborero! by Higashino Yuu, titled under the name Drawn To Him. (11/24/2009)

“Tomoki was specifically requested by Tougo Tsubaki, popular romance novelist to do the illustrations for his novels. Tougo calls it “inspiration” and seduces Tomoki. A love that started from sex…! His heart is racing and his body is so hot! Drawn to him is a manga artist’s professional and private life, with lots of sex!”

Douse, Koi Dakara by Naoka Kasuga, titled under the name Because of Love. (12/16/2009)

“Could you stop acting like my older brother already? I told you not to tease me, didn’t I? I’m not going to stop even if you beg me now.” Hana always seems to catch Nodoka at the most unflattering moments. I don’t like Hana treating me like his little brother. I’m not in high school (middle school) anymore. Tempted by Hana’s flirtatious demeanor, Nodoka takes Hana by force and…?! A story about a guy pursuing his older crush. (Heart) This book contains many short stories.”

There’s also a recent listing for Ellie Mamahara: Baseball Heaven, a boys’ love title licensed by Tokyopop’s yaoi imprint, BLU, which has been on hold for some time now. BLU’s website, rarely updated, doesn’t currently have the book dated for release but AAAAnime lists it for September 1st, 2010.

And on the not-yaoi side of things, there’s a listing up for a Darker Than Black omnibus from Yen Press. On their website Yen Press currently has two volumes listed for the series, each one priced at $12.99 at 192 pages while the listing on AAAAnime is priced at $18.99.

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Categories: Licensing
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Manga, Yen Press

Yen Press Presents The Clique In Manga-Style

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, September 15, 2009

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Yishan Li, established manga-inspired artist, has posted on her website the cover for an upcoming adaption of the bestselling teen girl novel, The Clique. Yen Press will be publishing the manga-style adaptation “mid next year” and Yishan Li is the artist commissioned for the book which stars five girls in junior high who form the schools “A-List Clique.”

A listing for this adaptation of The Clique originally appeared on Amazon early in the year but was retracted by request of the company until the work’s publication was finalized.

Like Yen Press’s Maximum Ride, and the upcoming adaptation of Twilight, the original Clique novels, written by Lisi Harrison, are published under an imprint of Hachette, the parent company of Yen Press.

09/17 Edit: Yen Press has now issued a press release officially announcing their Clique manga project with Yishan Li.

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Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Global Manga, Yen Press