Yen Press

Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other international content. In addition to translated material, Yen Press has recently begun developing original series, most notably a manga adaptation of James Patterson's Maximum Ride and Svetlana Chmakova's latest series, Nightschool.

Yen Press was founded in 2006 by former Borders Group, Inc. Buyer Kurt Hassler and DC Comics VP Rich Johnson (who left the imprint in the fall of 2008). In July 2007, it was announced that Yen Press was to absorb ICEkunion, a Korean publisher that had been releasing manhwa to the United States. While the manga titles bearing ICEkunion's label would be continued to be sold in stores, subsequent printings would bear the Yen Press logo. Kurt Hassler assured fans, "We plan to pick up all the existing [ICE Kunion] titles...We’re going to continue everything, so fans shouldn’t worry. None of these series are going to fall into a void.”

Yen Press has also stated that it would like to release 30-40 volumes within 2008. One of the flagship titles of their original English artists line has been announced to be Nightschool, which would be released by Canadian Svetlana Chmakova, who is known for her Tokyopop title Dramacon.

During New York Comic Con 2008, Yen Press announced that the titles Soul Eater, Nabari no Ou, Sumomomo Momomo, Bamboo Blade, and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni will run in their monthly anthology magazine Yen Plus. The first issue debuted on July 29, 2008.

In 2009 Yen Press announced that it has acquired the rights to Yotsuba&! and Azumanga Daioh from their former licensee, A.D. Vision. In September 2009, Yen will rerelease the first five volumes of Yotsuba&!, in addition to releasing the sixth volume; Azumanga Daioh will be rereleased with a newly-translated version in December 2009.

Titles

Original Series

• Maximum Ride, the Manga story by James Patterson, art by NaRae Lee
• Nightschool by Svetlana Chmakova
• The World of Quest by Jason T. Kruse

Japanese Series

• Alice on Deadlines by Shiro Ihara
• Azumanga Daioh by Kiyohiko Azuma (reissue)
• Bamboo Blade story by Masahiro Totsuka, art by Aguri Igarashi
• Black God story by Dall-Young Lim, art by Sung-Woo Park
• B. ichi by Atsushi Ohkubo
• Cat Paradise by Yuji Iwahara
• Cirque du Freak, the Manga story by Darren Shan, art by Takahiro Arai
• Crimson Shell by Jun Mochizuki
• GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class by Satoko Kiyuduki
• Hero Tales: Juushin Enbu story by Huang Jin Zhou, art by Hiromu Arakawa
• Higurashi When They Cry story by Ryukishi07
• Ichiroh! by Mikage
• Kaze no Hana story by Ushio Mizta, art by Akiyoshi Ohta
• Kieli story by Yukako Kabei, art by Shiori Teshirogi
• Love Quest by Lily Hoshino
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya story by Nagaru Tanigawa, art by Gaku Tsugano, character design by Noizi Ito
• Mr. Flower Bride by Lily Hoshino
• Mr. Flower Groom by Lily Hoshino
• Nabari no Ou by Yuhki Kamatani
• Oninagi by Akira Ishida
• Pandora Hearts by Jun Mochizuki
• Shoulder-a-Coffin Kuro by Satoko Kiyuduki
• Soul Eater by Atsushi Ohkubo
• Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura
• Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna story by Kyo Shirodaira, art by Eita Mizuno
• S.S. Astro by Negi Banno
• Sumomomo Momomo by Shinobu Ohtaka
• Sundome by Kazuto Okada
• Sunshine Sketch by Ume Aoki
• Suzunari! by Shoko Iwami
• Usagi Drop by Yumi Unita
• Welcome to Wakaba-Soh by Chako Abeno
• With the Light by Keiko Tobe
• Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma (taken over from ADV from Volume 6 onwards; Yen will also rerelease first 5 volumes)
• Zombie-Loan by PEACH-PIT

Korean Titles

• 11th Cat by MiKyung Kim
• 13th Boy by SangEun Lee
• Angel Diary story by YunHee Lee, art by Kara
• The Antique Gift Shop by Eun Lee
• Bring It On! by HyeKyung Baek
• Chocolat story and art by JiSang Shin and Geo
• Comic by SiHyun Ha
• Croquis Pop story by KwangHyun Seo, art by JinHo Ko
• Cynical Orange by JiUn Yun
• Forest of Gray City (manhwa) by JungHyun Uhm
• Freak story by DongEun Yi, art by Chung Yu
• Goong (manhwa) by SoHee Park
• Heavenly Executioner Chiwoo story by HaNa Lee, art by KangHo Park
• Hissing by EunYoung Kang
• Jack Frost by JinHo Ko
• Legend story by SooJung Woo, art by Kara
• Moon Boy by YoungYou Lee
• One Fine Day by Sirial
• One Thousand and One Nights story by JinSeok Jeon, art by SeungHee Han
• Pig Bride by KookHwa Huh and SuJin Kim
• Real Lies by SiYoung Lee
• Sarasah by Ryang Ruy
• Sugarholic by GooGoo Gong
• Time and Again by JiUn Yun
• Twilight Story by Stephanie Meyer, art by Young Kim
• Very! Very! Sweet story by JiSang Shin, art by Geo
• You're So Cool by YoungHee Lee

Prose

• Haruhi Suzumiya series by Nagaru Tanigawa, joint publication with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Kieli by Yukako Kabei
• Spice and Wolf by Isuna Hasekura

Global Titles

• Ideal World story by Weidong Chen, art by Chao Peng (China)
• Step by Yanshu Yu (China)
• Toxic Planet by David Ratte (France)
• The History of The West Wing story by Sun Jiayu, art by Guo Guo (China)
• Wild Animals by Song Yang (China)
• Y Square by Judith Park (Germany)
• Y Square Plus by Judith Park(Germany)

Links

• Yen Press official site
• PW article detailing absorption of ICEKunion
• YS interview with Hassler on expansion into yaoi
• Yen Press Announces Titles to Run in Anthology Mag