Gollancz & Viz plan UK manga releases

Gollancz have announced their intentions to release Japanese manga in the UK via a newly created imprint (titled “Gollancz Manga”) after securing a deal with major US manga publisher Viz for four of their popular series; Dragonball, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Case Closed and Fushigi Yugi.

• “Orion deputy chief executive and publisher Malcolm Edwards said: “Manga is becoming a worldwide publishing phenomenon, and we are delighted that Gollancz has been chosen by Viz to be its UK partner.” The Gollancz Manga editions will be sub-licences of Viz’s editions, from and limited to Shonen Jump and Shogakuken titles in Japan, originally published in the U.S.”

While we await further news on this, it’s reassuring to think that major manga publishing companies like Viz (and TokyoPop) have finally started to take the UK seriously.