Megatokyo on the Move
This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on March 7, 2006 Sign up now!
by Kai-Ming Cha, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 3/7/2006
In one of the bigger publishing stories to come out of the New York Comic-Con, Fred Gallagher's online comic and OEL manga sensation, MegaTokyo, is Moving from Dark Horse to DC’s CMX manga imprint, beginning with the fourth volume this summer. Gallagher says CMX is more in tune with his vision for Megatokyo ’s future. DC may even be looking to manage MegaGear, Gallagher’s online retail site for Megatokyo merchandise.
Megatokyo was the bestselling original English language (OEL) manga in 2005. While volumes 1-3 will continue to be available from Dark Horse, volume 4 of the series will be released from DC's manga imprint, CMX, in June.
"It mostly has to do with the opportunity to work with DC/CMX," Gallagher says of the move. "The focus of their line and where they want to go with manga is much more in tune with my interests and what I want to do."
During New York Comic-Con, Dark Horse publicist Lee Dawson said, "Dark Horse was founded on creator rights. We want creators to do what's best for their property. We respect [Gallagher's] right to publish where he wants to."
Gallagher started Megatokyo online with friend and cocreator Rodney Caston in 2000. Caston left the Web comic in 2002, leaving Gallagher with full ownership of the property.
Eventually, the online comic was picked up and published in paperback by Dark Horse, but Gallagher has continued publishing Megatokyo online (www.megatokyo.com) "I don't want people to buy it unless they like my work,” Gallagher says, adding, "I put as much complexity and depth into it as I can so people will reread it." He also points out that publishing online provides its own publicity. "The time between books isn't empty, with no exposure. Nothing fades. It's not a bad model if you can get it to work." For volume 4, Gallagher is working to expand on “Circuitry,” a section at the end of the online rendition of chapter 6 that "was compressed and awkward. I'm tweaking it to make it stand solidly on its own."
The move to CMX was also prompted by Gallagher's plans for the future. "I don't want Megatokyo to be the only thing I do,” he says. He mentioned the possibility of working on Warmth, a romance series he conceived of before Megatokyo, that he wants to produce in print format. After working on a book-by-book basis for Dark Horse, Gallagher said the new deal with CMX will give him the security to allow him to work on other things.
Gallagher will continue posting MegaTokyo online as he does now, and will continue handling the sales of MegaGear, his line of Megatokyo merchandise, which he manages with his wife. "Right now we're handling this much in the same way we've always done it," Gallagher says of his MegaGear line.
Asked whether DC/CMX was interested in managing the sales, Gallagher says, "DC has the option. I'm looking forward to doing stuff together. They have the rights to publish the books. As we build a working relationship, we'll see what else is in store."
