Status of Pastel?

[MrDisco]

Anyone know what's going on with Pastel (for the North American market)? My pre-orders at Amazon are now coming back saying they're trying to locate the item and when do I search I can't find it anywhere online. Has it been dropped?

[Susano]

I had to look up the series since I was unfamiliar with it. I am not certain what its status will be since Del Rey has reverted all of their titles to Kodansha USA. The first volumes to be released by Kodansha will not be out until this summer, and I do not recall Kodansha announcing titles for solicitation as of yet. Right Stuf has up to volume 14 listed which came out in 2009, but they still have the stock status as easy to acquire.

[MrDisco]

I had to look up the series since I was unfamiliar with it. I am not certain what its status will be since Del Rey has reverted all of their titles to Kodansha USA. The first volumes to be released by Kodansha will not be out until this summer, and I do not recall Kodansha announcing titles for solicitation as of yet. Right Stuf has up to volume 14 listed which came out in 2009, but they still have the stock status as easy to acquire.

i'm a little out of the loop...what's this about Kodansha USA? Does that affect Negima as well?

Yeah I have Pastel #14. It's #15 which is in pre-order hell (it was supposed to be out October 2010).

edit: just did some googling. wow..

http://www.kodanshacomics.com/

One thing that concerns me is "•And finally, Negima! gets an omnibus release in June, collecting the first three volumes with a new translation!". I liked Del Rey's translation (and all the extras they threw in). I hope the Kodansha team meets or exceeds this standard

random question: do people who collect series go back and re-buy titles when they're taken over by a new company? I'm thinking of Yotsuba and now Negima are in this boat.

[Susano]

Here is a link from Anime News Network. Kodansha USA started out by taking over the publishing of some Dark Horse titles including Ghost in the Shell (no, they did not undo the flopping of the US release.) I think the representative stated on the AoD forums that Negima will still be released since it is one of the better selling titles. Beyond that, there isn't really any other announcements about the unfinished titles.

Edit:

I've never repurchased titles,but I've never really run into a problem like this. As to the omnibus releases, a lot of companies have started to do that, including Del Rey. I really dislike those release styles since they area a pain to hold and tend to develop cracked spines far too easily.

[MrDisco]

. Beyond that, there isn't really any other announcements about the unfinished titles.

did more searching on found this site:
http://comics212.net/2010/10/04/kodansh ... -licenses/

The comments at the top don't bode well.

As for Pastel, it's a fun romcom. I really hope it continues because for people who invested in the first volumes will have no choice but to pirate the rest

I really dislike those release styles since they area a pain to hold and tend to develop cracked spines far too easily.

Totally agree with this. Seeing as we're a unique breed of collectors, it's safe to assume that as a group we would prefer volumes with the original cover art, nicely aligned spines, and decent paper quality. Omnibus editions are cheap insults in my view (though I can appreciate the economics of it all).

[Susano]

Yeah. I was very disappointed with the final volume of Mushishi that was turned into an omnibus release. I was far too large and lacked the other cover images. On top of that, I had to wait close to a year for it to be released.

I don't think a single person is particularly happy with the Kodansha USA move. Although I only have Negima from Del Rey, so this change is not affecting me as badly as it is for some people.

[Onegai]

random question: do people who collect series go back and re-buy titles when they're taken over by a new company? I'm thinking of Yotsuba and now Negima are in this boat.

Depends on the amount of volumes and the quality of series. If it's disposable then no.

[Susano]

I was just looking on Right Stuf's newly added preorders list and it looks like Kodansha US has solicited a large list of manga and other books for late Spring and Summer. I did not see anything for Pastel, but there were several titles that I doubt sold terribly well on the list, so I cannot imagine Pastel not making it for further releases.

Here's a list of what was recently solicited:

# Drops of God Graphic Novel 1
# Shugo Chara! Graphic Novel 10
# Wallflower, The Graphic Novel 25
# Until the Full Moon Graphic Novel 1
# Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Graphic Novel 1
# Shugo Chara! Graphic Novel 11
# Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Graphic Novel 10
# Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Graphic Novel 9
# Rave Master Graphic Novel 33-35 Omnibus
# Phoenix Wright Graphic Novel 2
# Phoenix Wright Graphic Novel 1
# Ninja Girls Graphic Novel 6
# Ninja Girls Graphic Novel 5
# Negima! Magister Negi Magi Graphic Novel Omnibus 1
# Negima!? Magister Negi Magi Neo Graphic Novel 7
# Negima! Magister Negi Magi Graphic Novel 30
# Negima! Magister Negi Magi Graphic Novel 29
# Mardock Scramble Graphic Novel 1
# Monster Hunter Orage Graphic Novel 2
# Monster Hunter Orage Graphic Novel 1
# I Am Here! Graphic Novel 2
# Gon Graphic Novel 1
# Fairy Tail Graphic Novel 14
# Fairy Tail Graphic Novel 13
# Deltora Quest Graphic Novel 1
# Cage of Eden Graphic Novel 1
# Bloody Monday Graphic Novel 1
# Arisa Graphic Novel 3
# Arisa Graphic Novel 2
# Animal Land Graphic Novel 1
# Air Gear Graphic Novel 19
# Air Gear Graphic Novel 18
# Megaman Gigamix Graphic Novel 1 (224 pgs)
# RIN-NE Graphic Novel 6
# ICO: Castle of the Mist Novel (400 pgs)
# Blue Exorcist Graphic Novel 3 (200 pgs)
# Cage of Zeus, The Novel (300 pgs)
# Ten Billion Days and One-Hundred Billion Nights Novel (360 pgs) (Hardcover)
# Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura Graphic Novel 3 (184 pgs)
# House of Five Leaves Graphic Novel 4 (208 pgs)
# xxxHOLiC Graphic Novel 17
# Japanese in Mangaland: Workbook 2 (96 pgs)
# Japanese For All Occasions: Mastering Speech Styles (200 pgs) + CD
# Aikido: My Spiritual Journey (288 pgs) (Gozo Shioda)
# New Kimono, The: From Vintage Style to Everyday Chic (128 pgs) (Color)
# What's What in Japanese Restaurants (256 pgs)
# Four Seasons of Mt. Fuji (96 pgs) (Color)
# Shinto Shrines: AGuide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion (240 pgs)
# All the Emperor's Men: Kurosawa's Pearl Harbor (384 pgs)
# Essence of Budo: The Secret Teachings of the Grandmaster (208 pgs)
# Basic Anatomy for the Manga Artist (160 pgs)
# King of RPGs Graphic Novel 2 (272 pgs)

[MrDisco]

ack Negima. That could be why Amazon order is in limbo. time to re-pre-order those volumes.