A word of warning for aspiring mangaka

Post about anime's sister, manga in here. Manga reviews accepted in here as well.

A word of warning for aspiring mangaka

Postby Aka-chan » Thu May 29, 2008 10:29 pm

Maybe you've heard, but the comics bloggers are all up in arms about Tokyopop's latest scheme. They've started the Shining Stars Program, where you create a pilot manga (you also have the option of submitting only a manuscript of the chapter rather than drawing the whole thing out) and they just might publish it for you or give you a series deal.

Sounds great, right? Except that the contract, despite being written in what seems to be an attempt at "kid-friendly" language, is really a pretty bad deal. As in, they'll retain rights to your story and characters no matter what, even if it really takes off, they can do whatever they want with your story and characters, and they can pay you next to nothing. Hardly the fulfillment of your dream of life as a mangaka.

I know we have a lot of people on this forum who love to draw and write, and Tokyopop's big name may seem like a big plus, but I wanted to get the word out there that it isn't worth it. There are lots of fairer and brighter deals out there for you.

Unfortunately, bloggers don't always have the cleanest language, so I'm only going to link to this entry (it was pretty clean), though that one also links to other blogs on this topic. (If you decide to brave the language and follow the links, I recommend Bryan Lee O'Malley's writeup--it does a good job of breaking down exactly what's so bad about this contract.)
User avatar
Aka-chan
 
Posts: 1546
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:30 am
Location: ...here...

Aspiring manga-ka, beware

Postby Maledicte » Thu May 29, 2008 10:36 pm

...of Tokyopop's new Manga Pilot program. Despite it's hip, happenin' language it is not all fluffy bunnies. But hey, it's your decision...

Read the breakdown here* and the actual contract here.

*Sorry about the title of that article, folks D:
User avatar
Maledicte
 
Posts: 2078
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:39 pm

Postby Nate » Thu May 29, 2008 10:40 pm

Unlike many other things you hear about online, this one is for real, and it's pretty terrible.

Bryan Lee O'Malley's LJ entry is really the best source to see how terrible this is. Though not particularly in-depth, here is a good example of how underhanded Tokyopop is regarding moral rights (which has nothing to do with right and wrong, moral rights means that if you create something you have the right to control the eventual fate of it).

So yeah. Don't buy into this scam.
Image

Ezekiel 23:20
User avatar
Nate
 
Posts: 10725
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Oh right, like anyone actually cares.

Postby Kurama » Thu May 29, 2008 10:48 pm

I do not get it to well, but thats just weird.
Image
User avatar
Kurama
 
Posts: 679
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:00 am
Location: MARS (FL)

Postby Lilac#18 » Thu May 29, 2008 10:57 pm

That's messed up how you can't have what you want on your manga. I know not to work there now.
FKA Selenite
B careful of bad habits u form when ur single. In most cases u'll carry them over into ur marriage! - Damita Haddon

"Apparently, it takes more than just the sword." - Mirai (Future) Trunks

24When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. Proverbs 3:24 AMP

@)}~`,~ Carry This Rose In Your Sig, As Thanks, To All The CAA Moderators.

Image
User avatar
Lilac#18
 
Posts: 2349
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:06 pm
Location: USA

Postby Radical Dreamer » Thu May 29, 2008 11:02 pm

Moved to Manga Mania, but my gosh, that's insane. I hope no one actually goes for this.
[color="DeepSkyBlue"]4 8 15 16 23[/color] 42
[color="PaleGreen"]Rushia: YOU ARE MY FAVORITE IGNORANT AMERICAN OF IRISH DECENT. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR POTATOES.[/color]
[color="Orange"]WELCOME TO MOES[/color]

Image

User avatar
Radical Dreamer
 
Posts: 7950
Joined: Sat May 28, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Some place where I can think up witty things to say under the "Location" category.

Postby EricTheFred » Thu May 29, 2008 11:03 pm

I'm not sure what the "beware" is for, exactly.

I read through this, and except that it is considerably more plain English than most publishing contracts I've seen, this is pretty much exactly what a typical fiction publisher's standard contract reads (except that some of them, such as Harlequin, will also try to sneak in moral rights to your name or pen name, and such, so they can take your series and published name away and give it to a ghost-writer if you get uppity. Always, always have a lawyer look over any publishing contract before signing!)

The only thing that I'm bothered by is the 'non-exclusive rights' thing. I need to read that again and figure out what they can really do with it. But, I don't think an unpublished writer is going to get much better of a contract than this from any publisher without having an agent on their side.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He cause His face to shine upon you.
May He lift up His countenance and grant you peace.

Maokun: Ninjas or Pirates? (Vikings are not a valid answer, sorry)

EricTheFred: Vikings are always a valid answer.

Feel free to visit My Writing.com Portfolio

Largo: "Well Ed, good to see ya. Guess I gotta beat the crap out of you now."

Jamie Hyneman: "It's just another lovely day at the bomb range. Birds are singing, rabbits are hopping about, and soon there's going to be a big explosion."
User avatar
EricTheFred
 
Posts: 1691
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 1:26 pm
Location: Garland, TX

Postby Radical Dreamer » Thu May 29, 2008 11:07 pm

Since both of these threads were made near the same time, I just merged the two; it's why the first few posts read strangely with each other. XD
[color="DeepSkyBlue"]4 8 15 16 23[/color] 42
[color="PaleGreen"]Rushia: YOU ARE MY FAVORITE IGNORANT AMERICAN OF IRISH DECENT. I LOVE YOU AND YOUR POTATOES.[/color]
[color="Orange"]WELCOME TO MOES[/color]

Image

User avatar
Radical Dreamer
 
Posts: 7950
Joined: Sat May 28, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Some place where I can think up witty things to say under the "Location" category.

Postby Warrior4Christ » Fri May 30, 2008 4:45 am

Yeah.. it looks like there's potential for TP to be mean there.. and there's nothing you can legally do to stop them.

Heh, I just finished a law assignment in which we had to write our own legal mumbo-jumbo, so the "hip language" contract amused me.
Everywhere like such as, and MOES.

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." - William Carey
User avatar
Warrior4Christ
 
Posts: 2045
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:10 pm
Location: Carefully place an additional prawn on the barbecue

Postby LadyRushia » Fri May 30, 2008 9:15 am

I think it's more of a problem because the majority of people who would be signing up for this are kids who wouldn't know any better. Man, that really sucks. Anyone who wants to create manga would be better off doing it on their own.
Fanfiction (updated 1/1/11)-- Lucky Star--Ginsaki ch. 4
[color="Magenta"]Sometimes I post things.[/color]
Image Image Image
User avatar
LadyRushia
 
Posts: 3075
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:38 pm
Location: In a dorm room/a house.

Postby Mave » Fri May 30, 2008 10:07 am

Well, this isn't nice. I was never quite fond of Tokyopop anyway.
User avatar
Mave
 
Posts: 3662
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2003 9:00 am

Postby soul alive » Fri May 30, 2008 10:35 am

Wow, just, wow. Not only is the thing written in the most intelligence insulting manner, but it's such a blatant attempt on TP's behalf to get OEL manga for more or less free.

I read through a couple of the analysis blogs last night, and my mind is just blown away. What a load of filth. Probably the things that bothered me the most were the "Frenchy-french and their silly moral contract" thing and the "if your story is in any way caught up in a legal battle, you, not us, are responsible for all legal fees and fines".

The sad thing is though, that there are kids out there who (a) don't know any better, (b) don't realize it's a good idea to have someone at least more knowledgeable, if not professionally qualified, look over the contract, (c) are so gung-ho to get their work published that they jump at the first deal presented because it looks like an offer they can't refuse, rather than one they can and should.

All the more reason to support your local webcomics.
-Sara-

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

A Cruce Salus, a webmanga. --- Status: Undergoing rewrites, currently offline

soul-alive.deviantart.com

"People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger / That my best friend was born in a manger?" 'Jesus Freak' - dc Talk
User avatar
soul alive
 
Posts: 1523
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:53 pm
Location: way out west

Postby Maledicte » Fri May 30, 2008 11:41 am

soul alive (post: 1231278) wrote:All the more reason to support your local webcomics.

*raises the roof*
User avatar
Maledicte
 
Posts: 2078
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:39 pm

Postby oro! » Sat May 31, 2008 5:12 pm

I remember seeing those things on the shelves a few years ago; I am sorry for those people if the contract was the same. I thought it was a cool thing to see normal people getting published, but no. Apparently not.
"I've learned when you throw mud at others, not only do you get your hands dirty, but you also lose a lot of ground." Ravi Zacharias
"Pride grows in the human heart like lard on a pig." Aleksander Solzhenitzen (so call me on it)
"Zeal without knowledge can lead to chaos." - Bob Rohm
"Why don't we love his truth as much as we seem to love his love?"- Cross Movement, in their song "Check us Out"
User avatar
oro!
 
Posts: 991
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:00 am
Location: in my dorm

Postby Amzi Live » Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:22 pm

That's one dirty way of bursting the bubble of writing artists out there.
[font="Arial Narrow"] Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. Psalm86:11[/font]
Proud lurker? Join MOES,and help us stay cool.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
User avatar
Amzi Live
 
Posts: 360
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:12 pm
Location: I walk in fields,forests,and cities of sound ♪♫♫♪

Postby beau99 » Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:48 pm

[quote="oro! (post: 1231711)"]I remember seeing those things on the shelves a few years ago]

The same thing happens whether you're a kid or teenager doing something like this or you're an adult writing a memoir.

Publishers are greedy, end of story.
User avatar
beau99
 
Posts: 1290
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:30 pm
Location: Phoenix

Postby minakichan » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:33 pm

HAHA POINT AND LAUGH AT TOKYOPOP.

Seriously, what is this weaksauce. The French came up with moral rights, and the French are all very silly, so let's just drop the idea altogether?

Moar reason to hate Tokyopop.

.....ACTUALLY, I was contemplating trying this a long time ago, but meh. Heheh.
ImageImage
User avatar
minakichan
 
Posts: 1547
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:19 pm
Location: Tejas

Postby Kintaro » Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:17 pm

Sweet more proof for me that Tokyopop is the lamest company ever.
Image
User avatar
Kintaro
 
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:40 pm

Postby mysngoeshere56 » Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:28 pm

Wow, thanks for the warning...

Haha, if I ever do anything to become a mangaka (which is something I would like to do - as an ametur though), I wouldn't want a deal like that.
-Sno
User avatar
mysngoeshere56
 
Posts: 1245
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:42 pm
Location: My heart and my body live in two different places.

Postby minakichan » Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:03 pm

Well, it looks like Tokyopop is suffering to some extent anyway. They're cutting releases both here as well as in the UK, where their market share in graphic novels has fallen from 80-90% (!) to 50%, and Tokyopop's revenue has decreased even as the industry has been going up. Also, they made 39 layoffs recently (including the spokesperson editor for Rising Stars of Manga who actually contacted me o_O).

I CALL THAT KARMA. TAKE THAT!
ImageImage
User avatar
minakichan
 
Posts: 1547
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:19 pm
Location: Tejas


Return to Manga and Manga Reviews

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 70 guests