A lot of sources today are picking up a distributor’s note that Viz’s SHOJO BEAT is ending publication in July. Anime News Networkrounds up supporting evidence:
Viz Media’s Shojo Beat magazine is no longer accepting subscriptions over the phone or online, and one of its distributors, Alini Magazine Services, reports that the magazine “is ceasing publication with the July 2009 issue.” Telephone representatives of the company that handled Shojo Beat’s subscriptions say that the company has not been accepting subscriptions “for several weeks” as of Tuesday, and add that more details will be available on the shojobeat.com website. The website currently displays the fifth issue of the fifth volume of the magazine (pictured at right).
No official comment has emerged from Viz yet. You will recall that Shojo Beat is the girl-focused manga anthology title; word is that subscribers will be switched over to SHONEN JUMP, the boy-focused mag. Developing.
§ Calvin Reid reports on Papercutz’s new license for the hugely popular Disney Faires line:
Papercutz publisher Terry Nantier said the house will produce four novels a year in both paperback ($7.99) and hardcover ($12.99) based on Disney Fairies; the first titles will appear in April 2010. Nantier said “the graphic novels are all-new stories, not adaptations of existing ones,” and said this will be the first time the prose series has been turned into book format comics. “87% of girls aged 6-11 are familiar with Tinker Bell and 45% say she’s a favorite,” he said. Papercutz will oversee the production of the books and its titles are distributed to the book trade by Macmillan and to the comics shop market by Diamond Comics Distribution.
God knows, little girls need Tinker Bell. Actually, in reading this article, we read many surprising facts, including that Papercutz has produced 17 volumes of their Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys manga-styled GNs. That’s a lot of books. Teens love comics.
§ David Wohl has joined Radical as editor-in-chief, replacing Dave Elliott, who will remain as Special Projects Editor. Rich Johnston has more on the story — basically, Elliott, who was Radical’s founding editor, didn’t want to relocate to the West Coast, so it was a friendly parting.
§ This long article from USA Today on the pressure to license the Simpsons seems kind of badly focused, but it has lots of insights about the current licensing situation, and anecdotes about the early days of the Simpsons, so it’s worth reading.
Shonen JUMP.
Der post vacation mush brain.
I hear Matthew Brady’s heart breaking.
Anime News Network has updated with confirmation of Shojo Beat’s end. Sad.
Teens don’t read Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew – that’s kid stuff. They’re rated for elementary school, and that’s where the books are doing well. NOT with teens. Yeesh.
Teens do love graphic novels, however. Lots of manga. Many teen librarians are gnashing their teeth today, trying to figure out how to replace the void that will be left by Shojo Beat. Many teen girls love manga. Many of those teen girls love shojo manga.