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[phoinos]

Why does it seem that half of the series released from Tokyopop end up disappearing quietly into the ether before they even reach the last volume?  I can name at least six or seven series off the top of my head that I'm actively following (or trying to!) that have without fuss been relegated to the "release date undetermined" list.  These are series that I've been waiting for new volumes from for months, and some for over a year.  And yet Tokyopop continues to release brand-new series, while so many of their titles never resolve.

I understand that the economy might be bad right now and manga might not be selling as well as it used to, but come on.  Other manga companies have spaced their releases out farther while still maintaining the promise that the volumes will be coming.  Tokyopop has apparently thrown in the towel for a bunch of their series.   

And don't even get me started on their line of light novels, which I was ecstatic about.  The only light novel series of theirs that I can still see being released is the Twelve Kingdoms.  Which I love, sure, but what about Missing or The Good Witch of the West, fascinating stories in their own right that I was eagerly looking forward to?

I used to, if not love Tokyopop, at least like it very much.  It had - and still has - so much variety.  But variety means nothing if it results in so many series dying not even half-finished.  And it just really sucks to have a sinking feeling every time I browse Amazon looking for volumes from series that I'm beginning to doubt will ever be completed.

[penfold]

Agreed. But it's not just Tokyopop. Blood Alone and Unbalance X unbalance seem to have disappear up their own jacksies and Dark Horse seem to have lost the love for Eden: It's an endless world. I'm always a big believer in "if you can't finish it, don't start it" and that should hold true for publishers as well.

[phoinos]

True.  There are a bunch of other companies that are faltering too in their releases, particularly in the manhwa department.  I've got about five manhwa for which I've only got volume 1, with the volume 2 release date nowhere to be found.  It's disheartening.  I just bring up Tokyopop because they have a relatively large number of series in that state, but they're still releasing new series without finishing the old ones, and it pisses me off.

You'd think there'd be a contractual obligation for them to complete the release once they've acquired the rights.  It sucks that they can just drop a series right in the middle, leaving fans high and dry.

[GreyDuck]

Well, it looks like Kodansha has kicked Tokyopop to the curb. Part of the slide, or final nail in the coffin?