TOKYOPOP® ACQUIRES THE PUBLISHING RIGHTS TO SIX NEW MANGA PROPERTIES GUARANTEED TO THRILL SCI-FI AND ACTION FANS:

G-Gundam, Gatekeepers, Scryed, RAVE, Jing: King of Bandits & Samurai Deeper Kyo

Los Angeles, CA (October 23, 2002) – – Adding to an already impressive line-up of properties for 2003, leading U.S. manga publisher TOKYOPOP announces the acquisition of six new manga titles. G-Gundam, Gatekeepers, Scryed, RAVE, Jing: King of Bandits and Samurai Deeper Kyo offer a unique mix of science fiction and action/adventure that will grab the attention of America’s rapidly growing population of teen male readers. Each of these titles has also spawned a successful anime series, and all have a built-in U.S. fanbase eagerly awaiting their debuts.

G-Gundam (Sci-Fi / Action)
As seen on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block weekday afternoons, G-Gundam tells the story of clashes between nations in a future century, settled not by war, but by organized tournaments between giant Mobile Fighters called Gundams. The highly popular series is a fun-filled blend of action, fantasy and science fiction, with plenty of giant robots and exhilarating battle scenes to captivate the imagination. Boasting multiple mega-selling toy lines, Gundam has become one of the most successful franchises in anime history.

Gatekeepers (Sci-Fi / Action)
Imagine Men in Black meets Gundam, and you’ve got Gatekeepers. Written and illustrated by famed manga-ka Keiji Gotoh (Nadesico), this manga inspired Gonzo’s anime of the same name, which is currently being released on DVD. The story: Invaders have infiltrated the Earth. Our only hope of stopping them lies in the hands of the Gatekeepers, who use their psychic powers as a last defense against a relentless force.

Scryed (Sci-Fi / Action)
Written by Yosuke Kuroda and illustrated by Yasunari Toda, Scryed has been called the X-Men of manga. Its mesmerizing pace and twisting plot keep readers guessing and wanting more. The title’s popularity as a manga turned it into an anime series, produced by Sunrise (Gundam, Cowboy Bebop). The
story: When a new type of human -- Alter-Users -- becomes the center of an unexplained phenomenon, an elite squad of soldiers appears to keep the peace... or so it seems. This group, called HOLY, has many hidden motives… and, in this case, what the public doesn’t know will hurt them.

RAVE (Action / Adventure)
Fans of Dragonball Z are sure to enjoy this fast-paced adventure series from creator Hiro Mashima. A smashing success, the manga has been made into a top-rated anime on Japanese TV that will soon also debut in the States. The
story: When the all-powerful Dark Bring awakens after a 50-year respite, it falls into the hands of the evil society Demon Card. The world’s only hope is Haru, a young boy with a big sword who must collect the pieces of the RAVE stone to stop the darkness.

Jing: King of Bandits (Action / Adventure)
Yuichi Kumakura’s seminal manga series is a visual fantasy classic in the tradition of Alice in Wonderland, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. The manga also inspired an anime series, currently airing in Japan and soon to release in the U.S. The story: In the life of Jing, the extraordinary is just another part of his normal day. A haunted ship with a living anchor, a speeding train run by a Dodo bird, a floating island ruled by a mask… just a few of the wild sights this master-thief encounters.

Samurai Deeper Kyo (Martial Arts / Adventure)
Written by Akimine Kamijiyo, this is a historic adventure series in the spirit of Rurouni Kenshin. The manga’s intense samurai fight sequences and compelling plot piqued the interest of Studio Deen (RAVE, Jing: King of Bandits), who adapted it into an anime for TV Tokyo. The story: Kyoshiro is a peaceful medicine peddler who harbors the soul of an assassin. Searching for his own identity, he accompanies a young bounty hunter across Japan in pursuit of a murderer.

TOKYOPOP® OFFERS FIRST SNEAK PEEK AT
2003 BLOCKBUSTER MANGA LINE-UP WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF FOUR NEW FANTASY/ACTION
PROPERTIES:

Rebirth, Chronicles of the Cursed Sword, Dragon Hunter and King Of Hell

Los Angeles, CA (October 16, 2002) – TOKYOPOP® expands its Fantasy/Action library with the acquisition of four new manga properties that will be published and distributed throughout the U.S. Favorites among teen boys, Rebirth, Chronicles of the Cursed Sword, Dragon Hunter and King of Hell are action-packed fantasy adventures chock full of swordplay, magic and the supernatural. Each will be released as part of TOKYOPOP’s growing collection of Japanese and Korean manga, which is currently distributed to national retailers such as Borders, Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks and SUNCOAST across the country.

“We are thrilled with the opportunity to release these best-selling titles on the heels of the success of Dragon Knights, Ragnarok and Priest in the same genre,” said Stuart Levy, TOKYOPOP Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “These acquisitions could not be more timely as we continue the explosive expansion of our highly successful manga business.”

Rebirth
Created by Kang-Woo Lee and first published in Korea in 1998, Rebirth tells the story of Dark Magician Deshwitat Rudbich, a vampire who was sealed in limbo 300 years ago by the Light Magician Kalutika. Resurrected in the present day, Deshwitat now vows to destroy Kalutika. He has the help of a team of spiritual warriors, and is determined to unlock the Light Magic necessary to bring this mad magician down for good.

Chronicles of the Cursed Sword
Created by Beop-Ryong Yuy, this tale follows the life of Rayan, an orphan with no home, no skills and no apparent purpose in life. However, when he happens upon the PaSa sword -- a cursed blade made from the bones of a demon king -- he suddenly realizes he has the power to be a great hero. The sword’ s creator is the evil Shiyan, a royal vizier who needs the weapon to help him usurp the kingdom from its rightful monarch.

Dragon Hunter
Created by Hong-Seock Seo, Dragon Hunter takes place in Kaya, a world where dragons shape people’s lives. Hunters make a living by slaying them, while shamans control them with incantations. Seur-Chong is a hunter with the Dragon’s Curse, a condition that gives him incredible strength and stamina, but it is slowly killing him. While this mercenary’s only initial concern is money, he is thrust in the middle of the power play among those who hire the hunters, and finds himself fighting for a cause more noble than anything he’ d ever imagined.

King of Hell
In Na In-Soo’s King of Hell, there’s a rift between Hell and the mortal world, and lost souls have been escaping to torment the living. The King of Hell has released Ma-Je -- the greatest swordsman in the underworld -- to stop the wayward souls. A story with striking artwork and steeped in Eastern and Western mythology, King of Hell is currently one of the hottest new series in Korea.

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