Updates made this afternoon to BLU’s website have made official what online retail sites have been warning boys’ love fans since mid-November – starting in 2010, BLU (the boys’ love imprint of Tokyopop) will be releasing their books at a cover price of $14.99/US.
Scarier yet for some of us, $18.99/CAN – thank goodness for the strong Canadian dollar keeping those terrifying prices relatively obselete on bookstore shelves!
Original volumes of BLU manga, published first in 2005, were priced at $9.99/US. This includes the first volume of the popular now-completed series Love Mode and the on-going Junjo Romantica. This means boys’ love fans have seen a five dollar increase over five years – averaging out the costs, we’re looking at an increase of one dollar for each year BLU has been publishing. BLU’s last price increase was in early 2008, raising from their debut $9.99/US to $12.99/US.
The first book listed to be released at the $14.99/US price is Hinako Takanaga’s Croquis, due out February 2010.
Editors on the BLU forums have cited different reasons for the price increases and variances since their debut, including related-decisions to keep or remove colour pages from books because of shrink-wrapping issues. All Tokyopop books have seen price increases over the years, garnering some negativity from consumers when accompanied by lower quality paper and fewer-to-no colour pages. Tokyopop has since returned to a higher quality paper while their pages range around $10.99/US.
BLUManga.com’s recent updates included a new info page and banner for Croquis, as well as its addition to the release calendar. BLU’s recent press release outlined releases through to Spring 2010.
Edit: BLU Manga has since stated that their future releases will all have 2-4 colour pages to go along with the price increase. (via TheYaoiReview)
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First, I gotta say, I love the graphic you have there. Sometimes it does feel like a little naughty winged dollar sign is taunting us.
Second, while I can’t say I’m pleased about a price increase, especially one that is a bit of a hike compared to their normal pricing structure, I can understand why they would do so. There are always trade offs — better paper quality will probably cost more and publishing non-mainstream manga might have to be offset by higher prices.
Finally, I know I’m going to end up buying whatever they manage to publish. I enjoy reading yaoi too much to not take a shot at whatever makes it to press. However, there will probably be a segment of the readership which will reconsider buying any volume with a much higher pricetag but that’s a risk any business takes. It’s a shame if some fans are forced to pass on something simply because of its price.
We’ll see where this takes Blu in the future I suppose. Higher prices in general seem to be a trend given the current world economy and the state of the publishing industry. It’s nice to see that there’s a pulse over there at least!
[…] of Blu manga, as Tokyopop confirmed their price increase to $14.99 per volume. Lissa Pattillo has more at […]
^_^ Nice banner thar.
I guess I'm in the camp that doesn't need color pages? I've always found the color pages more popular with younger fen – so the price increase is down to upping the quality + color inserts?
I suppose I can live with that, and will pay when they license something care about. Until then, it's library city with the current bumper crop of BL being licensed these days. :/
Wait a sec there. $18.99?! O_O That's almost enough to buy an omnibus.
I was pretty shocked myself when I saw it – especially since it's $4 more than the US price, which is steep by today's average price differences. I'm just thankful that few places would charge that price to Canadian buyers. Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca are both selling the book for $14.
Wow. That is very sad news indeed, but they've placed other books at the 14.99 USD/18.99 CAN.
Earthian was truely a beautiful release. Textured cover, a single color page, good quality paper and a horrid price (the one now standard).
I don't mind paying more for higher quality manga. In fact the nicer ones in my collection are way above the previous 9.99USD price point.
I do fear that the quality will not go up, and we'll be stuck with Tokyopop pulling the same nonsense as recent times.
My copy of Junjo Romantica 10 is so thin that it BENDS while still shrink sealed, and they felt 12.99USD was a decent price point. :( I thought Mixx pocket editions (unflipped with slightly better binding) was making a comeback.
Silly me!!
…At least they're not trying to force us to go entirely digital (I guess).
If you check on an online currency converter(yahooconverter). The thing that I'm most shocked aboutis that currently the price of 14.99(USD) is supposed to really be 15.50(CAD) right now. What the heck is up with that?! O_O