raijin?

Gen. Skirmish · 31-01-2005, 01:38 PM

actually does anybody know if raijin magazaine is still around?..

because i thought it was pretty ace, since it always had interview with people like oshii, nigthtow, etc, and had that cover story of the comiket.

but then it was only about 8 pages or so long.. but still better than 90 pages of neo.

Dock · 31-01-2005, 02:17 PM

http://www.raijincomics.com/extra/pr.aspx?_cid=80
It seems that Raijin is on a break, as of the June 2004 issue.

Quote:

Thank you for your enthusiastic support of RAIJIN COMICS. Over the past 18 months, we have tested the market to see how well a weekly and monthly manga magazine would fare with an American audience. Based on our research with readers, retailers and distributors, we have come to a conclusion – our publications, though appreciated by hard-core manga fans, are not penetrating a larger market.

In order for us to reach a broader market, RAIJIN COMICS, RAIJIN GRAPHIC NOVELS, and MASTER EDITION will be placed on hiatus for the time being. We will be taking time out to come up with ways to broaden the appeal of our publications, retooling stories and overall editorial content. RAIJIN COMICS Issue 46 and the June GRAPHIC NOVELS will be the last issue you will be printing.

[...]

Again, we want to thank you for your support over the last 18 months, and look forward to the possibility of bringing you a more powerful, exciting RAIJIN COMICS in the near future.

Sounds as thought it won't be appearing again.
It's a shame, and it reminds me of the death of Pulp magazine a while ago (although IMHO Pulp was much-much better than Raijin).

denji · 31-01-2005, 02:52 PM

*complete noob* what's rajin magazine? o_o;;

...*sigh* i`m an idiot ^^; i shouldnt be allowed here!

Dock · 31-01-2005, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denji

*complete noob* what's rajin magazine? o_o;;

Raijin was pretty obscure US anthology/magazine. It was a lot like Animerica, and the only reason I ever saw it was because of the copies Laura gave me. I never saw it in shops.

Gen. Skirmish · 31-01-2005, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dock

Raijin was pretty obscure US anthology/magazine. It was a lot like Animerica, and the only reason I ever saw it was because of the copies Laura gave me. I never saw it in shops.

quite. altho i found it easily availble in my local fp at that time [london].

but ironically i was taking about the full colour anime magazine, cus i never cared much for the comic mag..

if i remember correctly it was even translating chinesing comics like the popular storm riders?.. or was that another company.

but then one should remember tokyo pop came from the the rather humble mixx magazine.

i guess the raijin people thought they could take a piece of that market.

altho why bother with fist of the north star?.. since viz tried it twice!.. and they failed.

but raijin somehow thought they could open up one a new market in those kinda mangas.. much like pulp..

however i guess not, if anything it doe's recomfirm that the market in the west [IN MY OPINON] is going to just the fluffly rubbish most people expect manga to be..

that said tho berserk i think is being published by viz.. or is digital manga, so i guess there still is a market for more mature [or in this case inmature manga]

loki-kun · 31-01-2005, 03:53 PM

i thought raijin was great,and a good way of seeing a bunch of series at once. i only bought it casually,but it's a shame we won't be getting anymore of the most chexcellent keiji...

Azure · 01-02-2005, 11:46 AM

wait does that include their graphic novels?! I was thinking about collecting Slam Dunk! nooooo!

Laura · 01-02-2005, 07:14 PM

I'm surprised... I saw an issue of Raijin in FP in Cambs last week! Maybe it was the last one, then...

Raijin only seemed to release 'hard' testosterone-riddled manga stuff, apart from SuyoGetten... maybe Tokyopop are surviving because they release so many different types of manga; girls, boys, kids, adults etc etc etc.

Actually no. I take that back; I don't bother with a good 80% of Tokyopop's output because it is aiming at young 10-15 year old manga reader market readers. I'm not interested in a lot of their stuff (we're so spoilt for manga these days, what with Amazon and the net) - manga fans aren't buying just anything any more. So lucrative titles aimed at kids with a lot of disposeable income. Maybe a lot of 12 year olds weren't interested in, or allowed even, to buy Fist of the North Star style titles.

Either way, maybe there's other reasons too. Anyone else agree or have other ideas?

Gen. Skirmish · 01-02-2005, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laura

I'm surprised... I saw an issue of Raijin in FP in Cambs last week! Maybe it was the last one, then...

Raijin only seemed to release 'hard' testosterone-riddled manga stuff, apart from SuyoGetten... maybe Tokyopop are surviving because they release so many different types of manga; girls, boys, kids, adults etc etc etc.

Actually no. I take that back; I don't bother with a good 80% of Tokyopop's output because it is aiming at young 10-15 year old manga reader market readers.

Either way, maybe there's other reasons too. Anyone else agree or have other ideas?

nope that sounds about right to me..

i too don't care much for 90% of tokyo pop stuff, but there no doubt there new blood thats replacing people, who naturally WILL GROW OUT OF COMICS! [its a fact it does happen!]

however i still wonder if tokyp pop also happen to print alot of manga which has anime backing it up?

card captors sakura, chobits, angelic layer, chrono crusade, g.t.o, and many more i can't remember?

because it no coincident that the most popular black and white comic of 98 was pokemon!.

360 degree marketing they call it

j_u_d_a_s · 02-02-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by col skirmish

nope that sounds about right to me..

i too don't care much for 90% of tokyo pop stuff, but there no doubt there new blood thats replacing people, who naturally WILL GROW OUT OF COMICS! [its a fact it does happen!]

Dude! 26 years strong here I thank you! I really enjoyed City Hunter, Slam Dunk and First President of Japan myself. Shugogetten was.... rubbish. As for the Raijin Anime mag, it was nice, especially for 50p but with Newtype on the market with a free dvd, there wasn't much chance of it surviving. A shame because Newtype usually makes me angry while reading it (I'll never trust a review by someone called Wolfen Moondaughter).

As a side note, Tokyopop have put out some half decent mature stuff, Battle Royale anyone? As for the rest of their line-up, I could give or take it really. It's not really meant for someone of my age and gender and as such I'll look elsewhere for my comic habit. I still wince a little each time anyone male over the age of 18 buys Love Hina...

Dchan · 03-02-2005, 10:04 PM

Raijin was aiming at a broader market than Pulp but I am sad that I may never read another page of the Revenge of Mouflon or Bow Wow Wata, luckily The First President of Japan finished.
I too was sad to see Pulp go, it definately helped open up the market here though to begin with it also seemed kinda mainstream but i'm always glad to see Salarymanga available in English or anything different really.
I really thought Raijin could succeed with the backing from their Japanese arm, they already owned alot of manga. Pity.

31-01-2005, 01:38 PM	#1
Gen. Skirmish 5 star general Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: london Posts: 834 -->	raijin? actually does anybody know if raijin magazaine is still around?.. because i thought it was pretty ace, since it always had interview with people like oshii, nigthtow, etc, and had that cover story of the comiket. but then it was only about 8 pages or so long.. but still better than 90 pages of neo.

31-01-2005, 02:52 PM	#3
denji Improve or...get eaten! XD Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: swindon :D Posts: 1,467 -->	complete noob what's rajin magazine? o_o;; ...sigh i`m an idiot ^^; i shouldnt be allowed here! __________________ meteorflo.thewebcomic.com <---Love and Disco! enjoy =>

01-02-2005, 11:46 AM	#7
Azure Writer type Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: L Posts: 1,309 -->	wait does that include their graphic novels?! I was thinking about collecting Slam Dunk! nooooo! __________________ Shonen.co.uk//voiceacting.co.uk

01-02-2005, 07:14 PM	#8
Laura Biomecha 8 is here!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 12,350 Sweatdrop Member	I'm surprised... I saw an issue of Raijin in FP in Cambs last week! Maybe it was the last one, then... Raijin only seemed to release 'hard' testosterone-riddled manga stuff, apart from SuyoGetten... maybe Tokyopop are surviving because they release so many different types of manga; girls, boys, kids, adults etc etc etc. Actually no. I take that back; I don't bother with a good 80% of Tokyopop's output because it is aiming at young 10-15 year old manga reader market readers. I'm not interested in a lot of their stuff (we're so spoilt for manga these days, what with Amazon and the net) - manga fans aren't buying just anything any more. So lucrative titles aimed at kids with a lot of disposeable income. Maybe a lot of 12 year olds weren't interested in, or allowed even, to buy Fist of the North Star style titles. Either way, maybe there's other reasons too. Anyone else agree or have other ideas? __________________ Comics :: Website :: LJ :: Etsy :: DA :: Twitter :: RSoM UK 3

03-02-2005, 10:04 PM	#11
Dchan Gamera Obscura Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 722	Raijin was aiming at a broader market than Pulp but I am sad that I may never read another page of the Revenge of Mouflon or Bow Wow Wata, luckily The First President of Japan finished. I too was sad to see Pulp go, it definately helped open up the market here though to begin with it also seemed kinda mainstream but i'm always glad to see Salarymanga available in English or anything different really. I really thought Raijin could succeed with the backing from their Japanese arm, they already owned alot of manga. Pity. __________________ Samurai: "Your technique is impressive!" Ronin: "Indeed, I learnt it from your Mum!"

31-01-2005, 03:53 PM	#6
loki-kun SEGA Propaganda Officer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: rossington (aka hell) Posts: 70	i thought raijin was great,and a good way of seeing a bunch of series at once. i only bought it casually,but it's a shame we won't be getting anymore of the most chexcellent keiji...