Once again, TOKYOPOP makes strides while the rest of the industry sits back and watches them go by. Sure, there have been music tie-in comics in the past, but really, do horrible comics about the Insane Clown Posse really do anything to help sales? And how many of you actually bought the NKOTB comics back in the day? Of course, it’ll still be interesting to see how this CINE-MANGA is actually received by the public at large, but I’m willing to bet that it’ll do well enough. In fact, if this particular promotion takes off, I’d be willing to bet we’ll see Rolling Stone, Blender, etc. getting into a similar act sooner than later.

TOKYOPOP? BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH LINKIN PARK CINE-MANGA?
Exclusive, First-of-Its-Kind Book to Be Released with “Breaking the Habit” DVD Single on July 17
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BookExpo America - Chicago, IL (June 4, 2004) - In a first-ever fusion of page-turners and turntables, TOKYOPOP Inc., the leading U.S. manga publisher, has teamed with the multiplatinum, Grammy Award?-winning band Linkin Park to develop the all-new Linkin Park Cine-Manga. A collaborative effort that joins TOKYOPOP’s unique Cine-Manga format with Linkin Park’s revolutionary new anime music video, “Breaking the Habit,” this unique 48-page cutting-edge book incorporates full-color images taken directly from the “Breaking the Habit” music video, freeze-framed into edgy spreads and peppered with manga-style images and sound effects. A must-have for Linkin Park and manga fans alike, TOKYOPOP’s Linkin Park Cine-Manga includes song lyrics and exclusive features not found anywhere else, such as a special foreword, band notes and commentary.

“We are doing something that is unprecedented,” said TOKYOPOP Editor, Jod Kaftan. “Not only are we delivering fans exclusive content like handwritten lyrics and insider facts, but we’re doing it all in a one-of-a-kind format. Given the band’s passion for manga and anime, and TOKYOPOP’s leading position in the marketplace, this collaboration is a natural fit.”

“We did this project for our fans,” said band member and video director, Joe Hahn. “Creating this Cine-Manga allows them to gain a deeper perspective into the meaning of our video.”

The Linkin Park Cine-Manga marks TOKYOPOP’s first venture into the world of music and is the latest addition to the company’s highly successful Cine-Manga imprint, the line of books that currently includes film, television and sports properties.

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