San Diego Comic-Con has been cancelled this year, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the virtual version. Here’s the lowdown on Tokyopop this year as it rises from the ashes of its 2011 shutdown.
The Tokyopop Phoenix Ascends?
As you may or may not know, Tokyopop shut down in 2011 due to financial woes. They had to lay off most of their employees, all of their overseas branches ceased operation, and their licensed manga reverted back to their original owners. In recent years though, it seems that Tokyopop is getting back into business, thanks in no small part to Disney being one of their major licensors. The fact that Tokyopop are now big enough again that they have their own panel in the SDCC should tell you that Tokyopop is once more on the rise.
But that’s enough Tokyopop history lesson for now. You want to learn more about Tokyopop’s manga, right? Well, here’s the lineup from Tokyopop’s panel video.
Featured Manga
1. The Way of Shao
A hip-hop shonen action series by Shao Dao and Tonio Maicon where the heroes fight with the power of music. Think JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure crossed with Brütal Legend, but with a hip-hop flavor.
- Volumes: 1 (ongoing)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Music
- Pg. Count: 120
- Format: Digital Manga
- Print Price: N/A
- Digital Price: $7.99
2. Death Knell
A supernatural and presumably Bangsian fantasy webcomic by Tim Smith 3 starring Death and their corporation as they try to carry out their job of reaping souls in the modern era. It reminds me of Soul Eater in some ways.
- Volumes: Webcomic (Ongoing)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: N/A
- Format: Digital Manga
- Print Price: N/A
- Digital Price: Free
3. Scarlet Soul
A supernatural love story between a human woman and a demon man by Kira Yukishiro. Feels kind of like Vampire Knight in terms of plot.
- Volumes: 2 (4 total)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
- Pg. Count: 192
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
4. No Vampire, No Happy Ending
Supernatural romcom with emphasis on the comedy from Shinya Shinya, where vampire fan Arika somehow manages to stumble upon the only vampire who doesn’t know how to act like one.
- Volumes: 1 (Ongoing)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: 208
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
5. Koimonogatari: Love Stories
A boys love story by Tohru Tagura where a boy talks about his experiences to his not-homosexual best friend.
- Volumes: 1 (Ongoing)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Boys Love, LGBTQ+, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 208
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
6. There are Things I Can’t Tell You
High school romance between two boys by Edako Mofumofu as they try to sort out their feelings for each other.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: Mature
- Genres: Boys Love, LGBTQ+, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 272
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $14.99
- Digital Price: $9.99
7. Don’t Call Me Dirty
BL series by Gorou Kanbe where a boy falls in love with an older, homeless man. Both of them apparently hate themselves for different reasons, and their love is supposed to fix that?
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Boys Love, LGBTQ+, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 176
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
8. Don’t Call Me Daddy
Spin-off series of Don’t Call Me Dirty, also by Gorou Kanbe, which explores the relationship the MC’s father has with another man.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Boys Love, LGBTQ+, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 176
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
9. Dekoboko Sugar Days
A fluffy high school BL series from Atsuko Yusen. Also features lot of sweets for some reason.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Boys Love, School Life, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 256
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $14.99
- Digital Price: $9.99
10. RePlay
A sports-centered BL series by Saki Tsukahara about baseball players falling in love.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Boys Love, Slice of Life, Sports
- Pg. Count: 192
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
11. Still Sick
A yuri series by Akashi about an office romance taking place between two women. I guess they both take sick days off to go out?
- Volumes: 2 (3 total)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Girls Love, Slice of Life, Romance
- Pg. Count: 196
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
12. Undead Messiah
Zombie apocalypse manga by female mangaka Gin Zarbo.
- Volumes: 3 (Complete)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Action, Horror, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: 208
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
13. Goldfisch
Fantasy adventure manga by female mangaka Nana Yaa based on the tale of King Midas. Love that classic shonen look to it.
- Volumes: 3 (Complete)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
- Pg. Count: 210
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
14. Kamo: Pact With the Spirit World
Supernatural and Bangsian fantasy by female mangaka Ban Zarbo, where a boy with a heart condition decides making a deal with a creepy spirit for a new heart is a great idea.
- Volumes: 3
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
- Pg. Count: 210
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
15. Deep Scar
Shojo romance series from Italian mangaka Rossella Sergi. The plot looks nothing like Vampire Knight, but the art certainly reminds me of it.
- Volumes: 2 (4 total)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 208
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
16. Breath of Flowers
Yuri romance series with some very nice art by French mangaka Caly. Apparently, a case of mistaken identity occurs when the main character falls in love with a cute boy, only to find out that he is a she. She decides though, that it doesn’t matter.
- Volumes: 2 (Complete)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Drama, Girls Love, LGBTQ+, School Life
- Pg. Count: 216
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
17. Kilala Princess Mulan
The latest installment in the Kilala Princess shojo fantasy series by Rika Tanaka, taking place in the Disney-verse. As you can tell, Kilala is hanging out with Mulan in this series.
- Volumes: 1
- Age: All Ages
- Genres: Action, Disney, Fantasy, Shojo
- Pg. Count: 128
- Format: Graphic Novel
- Print Price: $15.99
- Digital Price: TBD
18. Zero’s Journey
A comic book sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas by D. J. Milky, Kei Ishiyama, etc.; starring the ghost dog Zero.
- Volumes: 4
- Age: All Ages
- Genres: Action, Disney, Drama, Fantasy
- Pg. Count: 128
- Format: Graphic Novel
- Print Price: $15.99
- Digital Price: $9.99
19. Zero’s Journey: Ultimate Manga Edition
The same as above, but collected into a single volume and recolored to look like traditional black and white panels from a manga. Not certain if it reads from right to left too.
- Volume: 1
- Age: All Ages
- Genres: Action, Disney, Drama, Fantasy
- Pg. Count: 416
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $19.99
- Digital Price: TBD
20. Parham Itan: Tales From Beyond
Supernatural horror manga by Kaili Sorano inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos. Tentacles sold separately.
- Volumes: 2 (Ongoing)
- Age: Older Teen
- Genres: Drama, Horror, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: 192
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
21. A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation
A unique take on the isekai genre by Misaki, Momochi, and Sando; where a medieval gentleman is thrown into a fantasy world. Also, seems like there’s a bit of BL mixed in.
- Volumes: 2 (Ongoing)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 172
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
22. The Fox and Little Tanuki
A fantasy manga by Mi Tagawa about a wolf spirit being forced by the gods to raise an adorable tanuki pup. Seriously, how can you resist that adorable tanuki face?
- Volumes: 2 (Ongoing)
- Age: Youth
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: 172
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
23. Bibi & Miyu
A fantasy manga by Hirara Natsume and Olivia Vieweg about a German witch meeting a Japanese one. Reminds me very much of Kiki’s Delivery Service.
- Volumes: 1 (3 total)
- Age: All Ages
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: 176
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $10.99
- Digital Price: $6.99
24. Aria the Masterpiece
Repackaged (with shiny gold lettering) version of Aria by Kozue Amano about a girl who travels to a terraformed Mars looking to be a gondolier. It’s also a very cute girls love story in my opinion. The clues are subtle, but they’re there.
- Volumes: 5 (7 total)
- Age: All Ages
- Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 356
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $24.99
- Digital Price: TBD
25. Bang Dream! Girls Band Party! Roselia Stage
An idol story from Dr pepperco about a group of girls forming a rock band. Also, excellent yuri fuel.
- Volumes: 2 (Complete)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Drama, Idol, Music, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 192
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
26. Ossan Idol
A unique idol story by Mochida Mochiko and Ichika Kino about a group of impossibly youthful middle-aged men who decide to form an idol group.
- Volumes: 3 (Ongoing)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Drama, Idol, Music, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: 192
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $12.99
- Digital Price: $7.99
27. The God and the Flightless Messenger
A boy forms a relationship with a messenger for the gods in this BL fantasy one-shot manga from hagi.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: Teen
- Genres: Boys Love, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: 288
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: $14.99
- Digital Price: $9.99
28. Bakeneko Kattate Soro
A fantasy BL one-shot manga by Dento Hayane about the relationship between a boy and an older cat-guy.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: TBD (But likely Teen)
- Genres: Boys Love, Comedy, Drama, Supernatural
- Pg. Count: TBD
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: TBD
- Digital Price: TBD
29. Kusattemo Ani
A weird one-shot by Mimu Oyamada about a woman who has to market her older brother’s BL manga for him because he’s too shy to do it himself. Thus begins the woman’s discovery that her brother is actually pretty famous within the BL circles.
- Volumes: 1 (Complete)
- Age: TBD (But likely Teen)
- Genres: Boys Love, Comedy, Slice of Life
- Pg. Count: TBD
- Format: Manga
- Print Price: TBD
- Digitla Price: TBD
Source: YouTube
