Out of Print Manga Titles

[lumber]

Originally Posted by Sandrylina

I am including all DrMaster titles until we hear anything official otherwise.

Came across a site that listed books by publisher using ISBNs. Here is their listing for DrM books:

Dr. Master Productions Inc. - books from this publisher (ISBNs begin with 978-1-59796) :
http://www.books-by-isbn.com/1-59796/

Might be of some use. You can navigate by names too. Click on link in upper left to get started. Just a bit on the funky side.

[holangjai]

Hrm, i think it would also be good to list every Tokyopop title that is from Kodansha since Tokyopop doesn't have the rights to Kodansha titles anymore, thus basically making those titles out of print.

[ragnar]

Dark Horse

Exxaxxion
Club 9
Seraphic Feather
Dominion Tank Police

[Noodle]

Disclaimer: I understand the purpose of the list (and fully supported its creation), so I'm not necessarily suggesting changes to the plan, but as a matter of perspective, it occurred to me to mention something:

There aren't actually very many titles that do get re-printed (relatively speaking), and there are even some companies that don't reprint almost as a rule, so the term "out of print" encompasses probably a lot more than most consumers think.

For example, DMP never reprints a book - they've more or less said so on their forums or at conventions that as a print run sells out, that's it for the book. (Does anyone know if there have been exceptions? I always wondered about OTRFK...) In fact, there are a number of 801 Media and JUNE manga titles they consider "out of print" and have even advertised them as such -- though that doesn't mean there aren't outlets out there that still have a few copies. And they're not the only publisher that does this either - most of the smaller ones (many now defunct, sadly) operated on this same principle. It's just too costly to reprint a book for the smaller publishers, unless there is actual demand.

As for actually listing those OOP DMP titles, I'm not even sure where to begin - I know there are many. Most of 801's initial catalog, for sure.

This practice relates also to bigger pubs with long or aging series, and has been discussed before. A lot of series -- such as Basara, as someone mentioned -- only get one print run because the sales aren't high enough to justify more, especially as the volumes drag on. So do we consider those series out of print? Sure, there may be volumes in circulation at certain retailers, but once those copies are gone, they're gone, which is essentially the same thing. But if we're to consider all those sorts of titles, this list would be probably 2/3 of the manga in the US catalog.

Anyway, again, I'm not suggesting we add series you can still find, just offering a point of perspective. I think the bottom line is if you want a manga series - don't wait to buy it.

[Sandrylina]

Originally Posted by Noodle

Disclaimer: I understand the purpose of the list (and fully supported its creation), so I'm not necessarily suggesting changes to the plan, but as a matter of perspective, it occurred to me to mention something:

There aren't actually very many titles that do get re-printed (relatively speaking), and there are even some companies that don't reprint almost as a rule, so the term "out of print" encompasses probably a lot more than most consumers think.

For example, DMP never reprints a book - they've more or less said so on their forums or at conventions that as a print run sells out, that's it for the book. (Does anyone know if there have been exceptions? I always wondered about OTRFK...) In fact, there are a number of 801 Media and JUNE manga titles they consider "out of print" and have even advertised them as such -- though that doesn't mean there aren't outlets out there that still have a few copies. And they're not the only publisher that does this either - most of the smaller ones (many now defunct, sadly) operated on this same principle. It's just too costly to reprint a book for the smaller publishers, unless there is actual demand.

As for actually listing those OOP DMP titles, I'm not even sure where to begin - I know there are many. Most of 801's initial catalog, for sure.

This practice relates also to bigger pubs with long or aging series, and has been discussed before. A lot of series -- such as Basara, as someone mentioned -- only get one print run because the sales aren't high enough to justify more, especially as the volumes drag on. So do we consider those series out of print? Sure, there may be volumes in circulation at certain retailers, but once those copies are gone, they're gone, which is essentially the same thing. But if we're to consider all those sorts of titles, this list would be probably 2/3 of the manga in the US catalog.

Anyway, again, I'm not suggesting we add series you can still find, just offering a point of perspective. I think the bottom line is if you want a manga series - don't wait to buy it.

Hey Noodle,

Actually part of my reason for wanting to create at least some kind of list was indeed to draw attention to how little manga gets rereleased or rescued compared to the anime list and try and start discussions about that. Hence why I said it the first post that I didn't just want a list, and actually there has been some talk beyond just the list, such as even knowing if a title is truly out of print or not, even if it's easy to find, or how some companies or titles just simply up and disappeared without much or anything said, including some that I didn't even realize, even after following stuff fairly closely. My ultimate hope (be it 5, 10, 20+, who knows how many years from now) is of course that some of these might have a legal digital future, if never again one in print. And as a result that is a very good bottom line to follow, one that I've been trying to do as well.

-Sandrylina-

[doubleO7]

Dark Horse:
Outlanders
Shadow Lady
You're Under Arrest

Viz:
Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Ground Zero
Urusei Yatsura (I'm surprised nobody brought this up yet)

[darkburst]

Wasn't Your & My Secret picked up from ADV Manga by Tokyopop?

[RestlessOne]

Two more:

Tokyopop
X-Day (finished its run)
Glass Wings (one-shot)

[Noodle]

Originally Posted by Sandrylina

Actually part of my reason for wanting to create at least some kind of list was indeed to draw attention to how little manga gets rereleased or rescued compared to the anime list and try and start discussions about that. Hence why I said it the first post that I didn't just want a list, and actually there has been some talk beyond just the list

Oh, definitely. My post was really just meant as a point of info, for those folks who maybe don't really realize how precarious the fates of many series can be. Honestly, I meant to post back when you first made the thread, but like everything else lately, I'm late to the party. Still though, it's good information to have around somewhere in here, and I would hope it sparks discussion on some level for someone out there reading.

Personally, the kinds of things it says about our manga industry is something I find very sad, and often frustrating. I'm generally a happy fan (believe it or not), but I've had a number of discussions over the last couple of years about this sort of constant OOP-worry, and it would be a lie to say it's not really depressing at times. Still, I won't let it ruin my hobby if I can help it; it certainly doesn't stop me from continuing to love manga itself.

[DocWatson]

Taken from AnimeMania as examples:

Antarctic Press:

• Amazing Strip (two volumes)
• Change Commander Goku
• Fantastic Panic
• Silbuster (two volumes)
• Star Trekker

Hentai:

• Bondage Fairies (license rescued by Eros Comix/Studio Proteus as Original Bondage Fairies)

Eclipse Comics:

• Appleseed (four volumes)
• Samurai, Son of Death (American author, Japanese artist)
• What's Michael? (two volumes)

First Comics:

• Mazinger

Redlight Manga (the hentai label of ComicsOne):

• Bombshell Boobies
• Dimples Down Below
• Fair-Skinned Beauty
• Pheromone on the Street Corner
• Rhapsody
• School Zone
• Sheila's Diary (three volumes)
• Twin Spark Girls

Edit: Alphabetizing the lists would IMHO be a good idea.