News

Diamond distributes Gutsoon to Booktrade

Gutsoon! Entertainment, has signed a booktrade agreement with Diamond Book Distributors as the exclusive U.S. and non-exclusive worldwide distributor of English-language editions of Gutsoon! Entertainments graphic novels to the bookstore, library, warehouse, mass merchandise, and comic book specialty markets.

Excertps from Press Release:

-Diamond Book Distributors has been selected by Gutsoon! Entertainment as the exclusive U.S. and non-exclusive worldwide distributor of English-language editions of its graphic novels to the bookstore, library, warehouse, mass merchandise, and comic book specialty markets.

Gutsoon! has designated June 2003 as the launch date for its extensive slate of new graphic novels, beginning with Fist of the Blue Sky, a prequel to Fist of the North Star, a manga popular around the world. (Fist of the North Star writer Buronson will be on board the new project as an advisor to assure quality and continuity.) Gutsoon! plans to release a total of 27 new graphic novels in 2003, including a Master Edition of Fist of the North Star in “explosive color,” City Hunter (a Tokyo-based crime story, also premiering in June), Slam Dunk (the internationally popular basketball story), First President Of Japan (a political thriller set in the near future), and more. Its titles explore stories and themes often neglected in Western comics, making them an excellent entry point into comics reading for those who don't typically read comics, but do read popular genre fiction.

Gutsoon! Entertainment was established in 2002 by Horie Nobuhiko (President and CEO of Coamix), world renowned artists Hara Tetsuo and Hojo Tsukasa, and accomplished editors Negishi Tadashi and Yamamoto Hideki. The company launched its flagship publishing property in December 2002, a first ever North American weekly manga called Raijin Comics. The California-based, privately-held corporation boasts a stable of top-flight manga creators and a broad selection of genres and styles to appeal to a wide spectrum of reader tastes.

“Manga has proven to be a huge draw to mainstream audiences, and Gutsoon! is practically synonymous with manga,” said Diamond Vice President of Purchasing Bill Schanes. “Their diverse line-up of various manga and talented roster of cutting edge creators will put Gutsoon! on the lips of manga fans and newcomers alike in stores across the country.”

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Diamond Book Distributors,” said Horie Nobuhiko, Chairman and CEO of Gutsoon! “Diamond is a leader in the distribution market place and will ensure that as Gustoon's! graphic novel line-up continues to expand. We will be seen in bookstores nation wide at a time where manga has proven to be such burgeoning business in America.”

Diamond's Sales Team will begin working with bookstores, book wholesalers, warehouse clubs, mass merchandisers, and libraries to place Gutsoon!'s titles across the country. “Gutsoon! knows publishing and knows the importance of quality stories, presented in the best format,” Schanes added. “We look forward to introducing the West to Gutsoon's signature line of high-quality manga.”