The partnership between publishers provides for an increase in the publication of Japanese comics in Brazil
The partnership of Companhia das Letras with the publisher Japan Brazil Communication (JBC)started in 2022, it has new fruits coming out of the oven for this year, manga releases Of the hero AND My pet hero. The announcement was made during an event for journalists, content producers and fans of Japanese comics this morning of Wednesday 19, which was attended by the production director of Companhia das Letras, Matinas Suzuki Jr.in addition to the modification Marina Shoji and editorial manager Marcellus Del Grecoboth by JBC.
In Of the hero, which has already had a single print volume and a digital format, with volumes sold separately, for sale, accompanies the heroes of the Mashimaverse. “They cross time and unite in a grand adventure filled with magic, aether gear, combat, and an unshakable friendship.” The story is signed by Hiro Mashima.
Already my pet hero, tells the story of Tetsuo Tosu, who discovers that his daughter is being abused by her new boyfriend. From then on, he tries to save his daughter and then has to fight for his life. My Home Hero, written by Naoki Yamakawa and Masashi Asaki, has already become an anime and is available on the streaming platform Crunchyroll.
This month Editora JBC also presents the release of the manga Death note: short stories, a collection of stories parallel to the original story of Death Note, by the same authors Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. Released in Japan in February 2021, it brings together six new character stories from the publication. One of the chapters, “A-Kira”, was digitally released by JBC as Death Note One Shot Special and show the notebook presented in current times.
look to the future
Nearly thirty years, JBC is responsible for publishing approximately 250 titles in Brazil and has made an effort to increase its presence in digital media, while also increasing its reach in the dissemination of Japanese comic culture in Brazil. In addition to publishing manga, the publisher created Start! and JB Studios.
The first of them, the Start!, functions as an “incubator” for artists who “want to optimize the publication of their works”. JBStudios, on the other hand, is “destined for the development of its own and/or unpublished contents with national authors”.
The initiatives are also an investment by Companhia das Letras in the format. Matinas says he has already observed the growth of the market in relation to manga over the years. So when JBC approached the company about proposing a partnership, it didn’t take much effort for the publisher, which is part of the Penguin Random House conglomerate, to agree to seal the deal.
Thus, they acquired 70% of JBC. “A week after the deal, we held a global Penguim meeting to talk about manga,” Matinas recalls. In addition to wanting to explore the market, the filmmakers were willing to maintain relationships with the Japanese publishers who publish the format, a competence which JBC already had in Brazil.
To learn how to do it
Companhia das Letras’ investment in the manga market also includes the training of new artists. Part of JBStudio’s job is to create the file Course How to make manga, held by writer, artist and screenwriter Raoni Marqs. Training is part of the publisher’s courses arm.
Raoni is also the author of the metalinguistic comic strip how to make manga, which has four volumes planned, the first of which has already been published. In nearly 190 pages, the author draws and writes in the classic format, read backwards, from right to left. “One of my requests when we published was to use the message ‘Stop!! HEY! You’re starting to read your manga from the wrong side!!!”, common in publications made in Brazil, which teach how to read comics correctly.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
