Comic-Con, New York (February 2006) - TOKYOPOP, the #1 publisher of manga in the U.S., is very pleased to announce the release of the popular Japanese shojo manga series Life. Tackling real life subjects of teen angst and self-torment such as cutting, suicide, bullying, and gangs in a candid and honest manner, Life features the work of acclaimed manga-ka Keiko Suenobu and includes a purposeful postscript written by licensed clinical psychologist, Susan M. Axtell, Psy.D.

Ayumu and her best friend, Shii-chan, are studying for their all-important high school entrance exams. Test results come back and Ayumu gets into the high school of her choice while Shii-chan doesn't! The pain of losing Shii-chan's friendship is so great that Ayumu starts cutting her wrists for comfort. To compound matters, she then makes a friend that might lead her deeper into a downward spiral.

"Life is about friendships and relationships -- how easily they can be shattered and how hard it is to put the pieces back together," says series editor Julie Taylor. "Ayumu's struggle and her cycle of self-loathing will ring very true to a lot of girls out there, and I hope the book will show that they're definitely not alone and that there's a way out. You go on a real emotional roller coaster with this series. Life is intense, cathartic, and impossible to put down!"

"Life portrays the experience of Ayumu, who is faced with the pressures of teenage life, and is struggling with emotions that sometimes feel too strong for her to handle," says Dr. Axtell. "She discovers that hurting herself makes her feel better�temporarily, anyway." Axtell continues: "Most people are learning about self-injury�it may even seem like a fad in some circles, but self-injury is not an effective way of coping."

Life will be available in April at all major book, comic, video, specialty and music stores nationwide at $9.99 (SRP).

About TOKYOPOP®
TOKYOPOP is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company's global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with recent offices opening in the UK and Germany and upcoming partnerships in Australia and China, in addition to its original Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. With millions of fans logging onto www.TOKYOPOP.com reading its books, and watching its DVDs and television programs, TOKYOPOP's award-winning catalogue of licensed and original properties has made the company a visionary in an ever-growing teen entertainment marketplace. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.