After the cut, Tokyopop’s press release about Gravitation EX, the sequel to the BL fave Gravitation, which will hit the street on the same day in the U.S. and Japan—a first for a new Japanese manga, according to the release. They don’t specify the date, but the website gives it as February 13.
Tokyopop was kind enough to send me a review copy of this, so I’ll bump it to the top of the stack.
TOKYOPOP and GENTOSHA Comics Join Forces to Bring the World GRAVITATION EX
Hot Sequel to Hugely Popular Bestselling Manga Series Receives Historic Simultaneous Worldwide Release
Los Angeles, CA (February 12, 2007)-TOKYOPOP, leader of the Global Manga Revolution, and Gentosha Comics, one of Japan’s top manga publishers, are proud to announce their historic partnership for the simultaneous worldwide release of Gravitation EX, the eagerly awaited sequel to Maki Murakami’s bestselling cult-classic manga series, Gravitation. For the first time ever, a never-before-published manga of Japanese origin will be available on the same day at retail stores in North America, Europe and Japan.
According to TOKYOPOP Publisher Mike Kiley, “TOKYOPOP and Gentosha have entered into an exciting partnership to concurrently release Gravitation EX around the world, marking a momentous occasion in the continuing globalization of manga. Never before in manga publishing history has a multi-country synchronized release been executed.”
Adds Gentosha Comics President Yoshihiko Ito, “We are very pleased to partner with TOKYOPOP for the worldwide release of Gravitation EX. We look forward to watching the successful launch of this property and are keeping our eye on future opportunities with TOKYOPOP!”
Hailed as the forerunner in the hugely popular shonen-ai (boys love) category, the Gravitation manga series boasts nearly half a million copies in print. A romantic comedy/drama about making it in the music industry, the popular series has spawned myriad fan collectibles including novels, soundtracks, pencil boards, calendars, phone cards, postcards, art books, anime and much more.
Fans of TOKYOPOP’s popular twelve-volume Gravitation manga series know that the story concluded more than a year and a half ago—with unanswered questions. Now, with the groundbreaking global release of Gravitation EX, the wait is over for readers around the world. This all-new sequel picks up right when the boys step off the airplane in New York City, where Eiri Yuki and his vocalist lover, Shuichi, visit the grave of Yuki’s first love and tormentor. But once there, they make a startling discovery that will change their lives…forever!
Gravitation EX will be available in stores worldwide in February 2007.
