In an agreement that adds to its presence in the comics, graphic novels, and manga space, Penguin Random House Publisher Services has signed a multi-year sales and distribution agreement with TokyoPop. Under the deal, beginning January 1, PRHPS will sell and distribute the entire TokyoPop frontlist and backlist across all sales channels worldwide. Currently, Independent Publishers Group handles TokyoPop’s distribution to the trade, while comics shops are served by Diamond Comics Distributors.
Founded in 1997 by entrepreneur Stu Levy, TokyoPop helped to introduce manga to American readers and, after several years of growth, hit a difficult period beginning in 2011. It revised its U.S. operations in 2016 and, when manga sales began to soar in 2021, TokyoPop’s revenue also jumped, with the company hitting the PW fast-growing independent publisher list in both 2022 and 2023. Among its bestselling titles are Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Battle for Pumpkin King, FANGS, and On or Off.
“Penguin Random House offers an industry leading range of proven sales, distribution, and publishing services that will provide the important tools necessary to continue our growth trajectory,” said Marc Visnick, TokyoPop COO and publisher, in a statement. “With PRHPS as a partner, we will be better situated to take advantage of market opportunities as the manga, graphic novel and comics arenas continue to evolve while also expanding our reach into new markets.”
Rachel Goldstein, executive v-p of PRHPS, said that the company is “thrilled” to add TokyoPop to its distribution lineup. “We are excited to bring the full range of our sales and distribution experience and relationships to deliver their creators’ work to even more readers worldwide,” Goldstein said in a statement
