Torrance, CA (January 23, 2003) � Starting in March 2003, North America's first weekly manga anthology magazine, Raijin Comics, will be sold in over 2,000 U.S. independent book stores, as well as Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Waldenbooks, and Hastings!
Gutsoon! Entertainment, the sister company to Japanese based Coamix, has signed a distribution agreement with Ingram Periodicals to place their flagship publishing property, Raijin Comics, in a diversity of retail book stores. The deal, signed in late December, means the magazine will now be available to manga fans and readers in the mainstream market place. Raijin Comics is also distributed by: Diamond Distributors, FM International, Triple A Anime, and Digital Manga. Raijin Comic's first issue was launched in the U.S. in Direct Market stores. December 4th, 2002 and featured Slam Dunk, Fist of the Blue Sky, City Hunter and Baki The Grappler. This week's issue, issue #7, includes the continuation of The First President of Japan.
"Our distribution deal with Ingram could not be more timely," said Horie Nobuhiko, Chairman Gutsoon! Entertainment and Coamix. "The recent news of bookstores agreeing to create a category specifically for Graphic Novels and Comics means our distribution deal with Ingram ensures that manga fans and readers alike, will have easier access to buying Raijin Comics. This deal with Ingram was inevitable as Raijin Comics' popularity continues to grow in the U.S."
Ingram Periodicals stated, "Ingram Periodicals has noticed substantial growth in the comics category and we are taking a strong initiative to further expand our comics distribution strategies. Retailers, specifically Borders and Hastings, are taking a greater interest in comics as a profitable and successful category. Raijin Comics is the perfect fit for us, and we look forward to a long, and profitable partnership with Gutsoon! Entertainment."
Gutsoon! Entertainment was established by Horie Nobuhiko, President and CEO of Coamix, Hara Tetsuo, Hojo Tsukasa, and accomplished editors Negishi Tadashi and Yamamoto Hideki. Gutsoon! Entertainment, Inc. is a privately-held corporation, operated by its shareholders and U.S.-based management team. The company's partners include publishing powerhouse Shinchosha, Hakuhodo and Sega Corp., who will work with the company to develop game and anime based content.
