Dark Horse Omnibus Editions Cancelled

[samekh.livejournal.com]

There hasn't seem to have been any word on the Dark Horse omnibus stuff -- I knew the release dates had passed, so I started doing a little research. And the results of that were not so good.

I work for a comic retailer, so I have access to the Diamond Comics Distributor website - which tells us when books will be released and where we place our orders. When I checked last week, both the CCS and MKR omnibus editions that hadn't yet been released were still listed. However, I just checked them again today...

CCS 2 and MKR 1 had been completely removed, and this is what was listed for MKR 2



Which means it's only a matter of days before it's removed from the DCD database as well.

I'm gonna see if I can get some answers from Dark Horse on this, but I think the reasoning will likely have something to do with Kodansha USA wanting to release their own titles? It sucks, but I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Comments

[nansuki.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I completely forgot about the Omnibus edition. I was expecting it to see it in stores (just like how I saw Clover). This is kinda upsetting. =/ Its all about the profit they'll receive, I guess...

Thanks for the news though~

[rockin-chi.livejournal.com]

this makes me so sad! I was really looking forward to those. I hope they get released eventually by someone though so i can complete my collection. Thank you for the news. :)

[samekh.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's gonna be picked up by Kodansha USA, just the way they took their licenses away from Del Rey -- it seems like they're trying to get the majority of their titles back, especially ones that were very popular. Since it just happened, it'll probably be a bit before we get confirmation on that, but I think that's what will end up happening.

[nokiirat.livejournal.com]

Such a shame. DH's omnibuses were great quality releases as far as editing and paper quality. Two of my amazon preorders went into 'no release date-please approve' type status.

Thanks for sharing the news!

[nokiirat.livejournal.com]

Another random thought...I wonder if CLAMP's business relationship with Kodansha went sour which caused them to rush through TRC and xxxHolic, and change publishers to Shueisha. ? :/

[rockin-chi.livejournal.com]

well thank you for the news none the less. Its nice to finally have a confirmation insteadne running around in the dark. :)

[moezychan.livejournal.com]

Noooo T_T I bought the first CCS omnibus for nothing! I already owned the 12 individual tankoubans x_x Thanks for sharing though...at least now I know why they haven't been released...

[kel-aka-gandy.livejournal.com]

well crap. Though I kind of figured they were canceled, since they've been missing from Dark Horse's website for a while (after originally being there), and that's what happened when they canceled some of the Blood+ novels. :[

[selenityshiroi.livejournal.com]

Okay, I can understand that Kodansha have recalled their licenses and that, but couldn't they have at least let the second CCS omnibus be published, since the first had already been released? Not cool, Kodansha.

[selenityshiroi.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it. I own the first three volumes three times over, now, since I've got the original Mixx *shudder* release, the Tokyopop boxsets and the omnibus.

[lilithdarkstorm.livejournal.com]

I own CCS omnibus 1 with 2 and Rayearth on pre order :-(

I wondered by the release date kept changing...

[teh-feeny.livejournal.com]

I think this link portrays my feeling exactly (http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/)

[outou.livejournal.com]

The thought crossed my mind back when we found out about that T.R.C. would have a rushed ending, but I'm not sure how that could explain xxxHOLiC's move between two Kodansha magazines (and the fact that it supposedly went on longer than CLAMP expected it to). Do you think Kodansha was getting pushy with marketing xxxHOLiC, and CLAMP didn't appreciate it all that much?

[lkk.livejournal.com]

I spoke to DH via Facebook last month & was assured that the books are only delayed not canceled. Of course, things may have changed since mid-January.

[samekh.livejournal.com]

The fact that distributor is listing it as cancelled as of today (where as when I checked last week, it simply said it hadn't been shipped yet), coupled with the fact that they've pulled the information from the website on the book means it's definitely not just being delayed.

I've been working with this website for four years, and I don't think I've ever seen a book come out after a "canceled by pub" note is listed.

It sucks, but that's how it seems to be.

[lkk.livejournal.com]

No offense intended, but I hope I'm right and you're wrong. From what you've said though, I fear you may be the right one. Which makes me very, very sad.

[shidouhikaru15.livejournal.com]

I looks like all the clues given by Dark Horse the last year were right, an inevitable cancellation >.< Too bad, I really wanted MKR omnibus u____u

[samekh.livejournal.com]

Things can change, but it's unlikely. I've been in this industry for almost five years and I don't think my distributor would cancel and refund my orders on the books if it wasn't the case.

Talking with my store director, he seems to think the same thing I do - that Kodansha Comics USA is going to pick it up. They've been really quiet about a lot of the licenses they picked up -- the only indication we've had is other company's Kodansha titles going out of print.

[nokiirat.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they are too polite to say anything about their publishers, but something probably happened for them to switch. They've been with Kodansha for years and years. I think CLAMP was trying to cram too much in with TRC/xxxHolic, so it became harder for them to tie all the loose pieces together. The non-endings seemed like easy way outs. Who knows if the publisher has any influence.

I do hope Kodansha USA improves the english release market...instead of sitting on titles for the upcoming years.

[cutesherry.livejournal.com]

I've actually been thinking about purchasing the omnibuses of CCS, in spite of already owning all 12 vols., because of all the great reviews I was given, and also because I own myself omnibuses books (of Hot Gimmick) and was pretty impressed by the quality.
But it seems like my hesitation to get them saved me from ending up with an incomplete collection...

[ekakin.livejournal.com]

Oh thats depressing. =c I kind of had an urge to at least read the Omnibuses of CCS when they'd both come to the library (because I read much faster when I have a book in end: not so much online.)
*le sigh* =[

[aria-san.livejournal.com]

*shock!*
D: ?? You mean these will NEVER be released now???
But I had this grand plan to buy both CCS omnibuses in one fell swoop to complete my collection and now there's only half of them available?
D: I am so bummed right now...
Makes me wonder if I should still go ahead and buy the first omnibus anyways...

[yawmin.livejournal.com]

I can back this up! I contacted DH a few weeks ago on Twitter and was told the same thing.

[samekh.livejournal.com]

I'm in the process of getting in touch with DH directly right now -- but what may have been true a few weeks ago doesn't necessarily mean it's the case now. The fact that the direct comic market distributors, who work closely with publishers, are saying it's been cancelled is kind of a big red flag.

[lkk.livejournal.com]

I sure hope someone releases them eventually. Dark Horse, Kodansha, I don't care who as long as the quality is maintained. I wish we knew for certain what's happening. But getting definitive answers from Japanese publishers via their American representatives can be nearly a fruitless task.

[outou.livejournal.com]

I do hope Kodansha USA improves the english release market...instead of sitting on titles for the upcoming years.

Me, too -- I'm worried about what samekh said about Kodansha USA not publicizing most of the licenses it's picked up.

[samekh.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry too much in that regard -- they have started announcing releases, after all. But considering they're pulling pretty much all of their books from other companies who'd been licensing they're stuff, I think they're just integrating a bit more slowly. After all, they're still limited in the amount of translators/typesetters/editors they have for all of the books. I think once they really get into the swing of things and start releasing more titles (since most of their initial announcements have not been released yet, with the exception of Akira and a couple of other titles), more announcements will be made.

It may not be speedy, but they're trying. I think they'll be okay, especially since they've already announced a bunch of titles that are petty popular sellers Stateside. I can see them being reluctant to begin soliciting/announcing titles until they're closer to actually being ready to release them. Most manga/comics don't get solicited to the direct market until two months before their scheduled release, and it's often only more than that because of unforeseen delays.

/tl;drs at

[alex-marr.livejournal.com]

What the Hell, the could at least put out CCS2.

I find this worry-some. I mean, how many other CLAMP manga will be cut as well?

AMAZON UPDATE TODAY

[nokiirat.livejournal.com]

got a date from Amazon saying February 25 2011 will be the release date for the first Rayearth omnibus. ^_^

[samekh.livejournal.com]

Now this is just getting strange, since it's still not listed via the comics distributors -- and the direct market usually gets this stuff first. I guess we'll have to see if it actually ships... or if they're just gonna keep pushing dates around like CLAMP in America

[arekuru.livejournal.com]

Dark Horse just resolicited both omnibuses for July, so everyone can stop panicking now. ^-^

[dyal4ever.livejournal.com]

Is there proof anywhere? It's not that I don't believe you, but I'd feel more assured if there was some proof somewhere. D:

[arekuru.livejournal.com]

You can find the new dates on both DarkHorse.com and (where I noticed them) Right Stuf.

[samekh.livejournal.com]

It's good to see the CCS one listed; I'm guessing it's a matter of time before we get a proper re-solicitation through the direct market (since volume 1 is still the only one showing).

But MKR still isn't showing as listed at all through the DH website. I see the solicitation on Right Stuf. I guess we'll see what happens. At the very least, waiting a month after the original listed street date to reschedule releases is a pretty poor move on their part.

[dyal4ever.livejournal.com]

It is now! :) http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/16-763/Magic-Knight-Rayearth-Omnibus-Edition

Yay! xD I was DEVASTATED when they were cancelled, I hope this means they're coming out for sure. (And won't be cancelled for real later D: )