The Vicious Circle

Article by Chet Royer

Usually before the conventions, a conference known as ICv2, is held for professionals to discuss the industry of anime, manga and comics. I have always wanted to attend one of these conferences, because I was always concerned with the current health of the industry. I, also, had a new question just for this year: will publishers start making e-books for their publications? It just so happens that this conference is specifically about embracing the digital age.

ICv2 Expands Digital Conference at NY Comic Con!!

ICv2 Expands Digital Conference Roster at New York Comic Con
Boom’s Waid; Marvel’s Gabriel; plus OverDrive, Bitway, retailer, Robot, de Campi, more!

Norwalk, CT, September 16, 2010: ICv2 has announced a new session on Digital and Creativity and added a number of key speakers to the ICv2 Conference on Comics & Digital at New York Comic Con. The new session joins the ICv2 White Paper Preview; Print vs. Digital—War, Co-existence, or Collaboration; and the State of the Digital Market panels previously announced for the Conference, which will be held on Thursday afternoon, October 7th, on the eve of New York Comic Con at the Javits Center.

ICv2 Comics & Digital Conference 2010

The Future of Comics and Graphic Novels
At the ICv2 Comics & Digital Conference
With New York Comic Con
Thursday Afternoon, October 7, 2010 at the Javits Center

Norwalk, CT, August 31, 2010: ICv2 has announced the ICv2 Comics & Digital Conference at New York Comic Con, a half-day event where industry executives and thought leaders will discuss the impact of the rapidly growing digital channel on the comics and graphic novel medium.

2009 Is The Year Of Low Sales

According to the ICv2 White Paper, comics and graphic novels sales in the United States and Canada has fallen "with periodical comics slipping 3% and graphic novels declining by 6% for an overall drop of 5% as the total market receded from an estimated $715 million in 2008 to $680 million in 2009." A difference of $35 million is a lot of money. Not only did the comic and graphic novel sales drop, manga sales in the said countries has fallen for a second straight year. In 2007, manga reached its high point of $210 million in sales. However, in 2008, the sales was $175 million with the difference being $35 million, which is similar to the comic and graphic novel sales drop. Then in 2009, sales declined to $140 million and the damage is another $35 million. So, the difference between 2007 and 2009 is $70 million. When will the decline in sales stop? To learn more about the sales situation, check out the links below.
© 2010 Linda Thai

C2E2 Hosts ICv2 White Paper

C2E2 Hosts ICv2 White Paper
Annual Comic Market Overview

April 13, 2010. ICv2 publisher Milton Griepp will present the company’s Comic Industry White Paper at C2E2 on Friday at C2E2 at McCormick Place in Chicago, the company announced today. The annual ICv2 White Paper, which has been presented for the last four years at New York Comic Con, is the definitive source of information each year on the comics business.

2009 Top Manga Properties

Naruto published by Viz Media is #1 on the top 25 list, while Tokyopop's Fruits Basket is #2. In third place is Viz Media's Vampire Knight. Although the list also includes properties from Del Rey and Yen Press, the list is dominated by Viz Media.

To go further in the manga category, there are the shonen and shojo area. Again, Viz Media is the majority holder of the top 10 list for both. However, in the shojo top 10 list, Tokyopop is #1 with Fruits Basket. Del Rey and Yen Press are on the shonen top 10 list, placing 6 and 7 for Del Rey and 10 for Yen Press. However, Yen Press is not on the shojo top 10 list. Come to think of it, do they have a shojo manga??
© 2009 Linda Thai

'ICv2 Insider's Guide' #65: Top 25 Manga Properties Q1 2009
'ICv2 Insider's Guide' #65: Top 10 Shonen Properties Q1 2009
'ICv2 Insider's Guide' #65: Top 10 Shojo Properties Q1 2009

Good Bye Broccoli International U.S.

To all readers and fans of the Broccoli books in the United States. I got a newsletter/email from ICv2 and they announced that Broccoli International United States will stop production by the end of 2008. As a result, no more Broccoli books in 2009.

Read more about it in the ICv2 article: Broccoli Books Shuts Down
Website of Broccoli International US http://www.broccolibooks.com/
© 2008 Linda Thai