Tokyopop's Pop Comics

Ringarune 2016-02-28 18:44:59 UTC #1

So, I just found out TokyoPop is relaunching in US, and it turns out they r making a new app and comic website called Pop Comics. I'm not really sure how it works, right now there is some kind of beta phase... i dunno... but check it out if u want ^^ It's pretty under the radar I believe (only has 5 downloads on google play XD)

Note: I recommend trying the app 1st since it seems like u can't get on the website as a creator until u receive a beta code or something like that...

Edit: Going to add more as I continue to explore this app. So I posted the 1st couple pages of my intro. The upload process is pretty straightforward, just note that the preview of your pages is going to be completely messed up, it looks super blurry, but once you publish it it seems fine. Also, for some weird reason it seems to be upping the contrast on my pages, dunno how to fix that, but anyways, the res u use on tapastic should work fine on this site.

Menbung 2016-02-28 18:59:38 UTC #2

Interesting, I was just reading the details for creators, sounds like what tapastic has been doing tho, with the exception of the founding creator thingy... they even mention the freemium model, mmm, well, we'll see. The new tapas app is coming so the similarities may decrease further down the line.

Kura 2016-02-28 19:03:39 UTC #3

The "Have you noticed that most digital comics platforms require you to alter your comics to meet their specifications? We noticed that too, and that's why we developed POP." is honestly the biggest selling point you can currently hit me in the face with because that is seriously ****ing one of the most frustrating things I tend to run into. Not going to lie.

Pandastrophic 2016-02-28 19:07:58 UTC #4

Yeah I looked through the website and...I think the app is really similar to Tapastic, like even the layout a bit, so I don't know really...?

gateofselidor 2016-02-28 19:31:09 UTC #5

I wouldn't recommend posting anything to any site or app run by Tokyopop. The contracts they used back when they first started offering "OEL manga" were awful, and a lot of new creators got burned by it (Tokyopop ended up cancelling their works, and then the creators couldn't get the rights back so they were left unable to finish their stories). You can read about it here and here.

If they're going for a user-submission model like Tapastic has then it probably won't involve signing over your rights, but given their history, they definitely don't have your best interests in mind, and they probably won't hesitate to exploit you as they see fit.

Ringarune 2016-02-28 19:34:33 UTC #6

I believe u own your comic 100% in this case though, at least that's what the site claims. I know the company's has had a pretty bad history, but hey, it's pretty small at this point, so I'm gonna test out how the app works. If problems arise, I'll probably just quit then.

Aspie_Gamer 2016-02-28 19:35:19 UTC #7

Nice find OP. I had been thinking of getting a second source of income for LoaA (Life of an Aspie), but either the sites I looked into wanted me to be exclusive to them (bye bye Tapastic) or they didn't have any way of both paying and helping creators get noticed. (something I love about Tapastic). I've signed up for the beta, so hopefully I'll be getting a beta code relatively soon. If all goes well, I'll probably update LoaA at a slower pace than I do here (Like twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays). i.e basically, it would be a marketing tactic on my part to urge new readers I pick up on Pop Comics to check out LoaA on Tapastic if they like what they see. My comics sister series Susan's Secret Stash would be Tapastic exclusive however to further encourage Pop Comics readers.

Ringarune 2016-02-28 19:36:21 UTC #8

I've also signed up for beta, but if u use the app you can publish your comic immediately at this point

AnnaLandin 2016-02-28 19:43:33 UTC #9

I'm going to second @gateofselidor - Tokyopop has a pretty bad reputation, and went down in flames last time - and if they have the same people in charge now that they're rising from the ashes, you should tread carefully with them.

Aspie_Gamer 2016-02-28 19:57:22 UTC #10

Ahh...I did not know that. I knew that Tokyo Pop was once THE face of the late 90's early/mid 2000's manga boom here in the US. I knew that something happened to them to cause them to lose relevancy and somewhat fade into obscurity by the late 2000's early 10's. At first, I just thought that bigger and better companies were doing Tokyo Pops job for less money, but greater returns on how much they make in manga sales. I did not know about TP's shady dealings with indie comic creators looking to make a name for themselves. No logical company would make you sell your soul so to speak just so you can make some money on your comic. If its true that Stu guy is still running the show, I'll be very cautious about using their Pop Comics app.

The absolute last thing I want is to lose the rights to LoaA indefinitely like those people foolish enough to sign up with Tokyo Pop's creator program back in the day who are still struggling to get the rights back to their works.

Ringarune 2016-02-28 20:04:27 UTC #11

I hope they don't do something like that in the future, but at this point the creators page says that you own your comic 100% (I would guess they would add that since people are skeptical of their old dealings). Personally I think if the indie creator thing was part of what killed them, they would be treading very carefully to avoid that same fiasco. One thing that makes me a little troubled though is that if you just find this app randomly, it would be hard to associate it with Tokyopop since you specifically have to go to their about page to figure it out... trying to hide it I guess...

Kura 2016-02-28 20:04:48 UTC #12

Well they advertise on the pop ap site that "

          Copyright is YOURS, period
          You create it. You own it. You control it. No fine print. No carve-outs. No exceptions.

So... yeah... no joint 50/50 contracts or publisher changes like previous creators had to endure when they were doing their printing format and OLM manga back in the day.

It wouldn't hurt to check them out if they really do intend to go that route, sign up get more info, but yeah do be smart about it and read the fine print fully just in case

SpavVy 2016-02-28 20:08:18 UTC #13

Given Tokyopop's history, I will never upload my work on that site. Even if they say the content I make is 100% mine, how am I to know they won't do something shady behind my back?

Ringarune 2016-02-28 20:14:01 UTC #14

been reading their privacy policy and terms of service, and they continually mention that they do not own any of the comics, all they have the right to do is distribute it on their platform, and anytime you wish to refrain from it being shown, you can just unpublish it. After that, all they they have the right to do I believe is keep some weird backup storage that they cannot publish on their platform though

Aspie_Gamer 2016-02-28 20:31:39 UTC #15

Aye

That already sounds like a red flag to me. Plus there's the fact that TP founder Stu Levy is behind Pop Comics. The same bastard who ripped creators off both financially and emotionally. There may be a very small chance that he's learned his lesson about creator rights and won't pull the same crap a second time, but with a new generation and a new way to publish original comics, but after reading up on those articles @gateofselidor linked to, I'm VERY hesitant about adding LoaA to PC's line up. LoaA is my baby. I've had her in the works for almost 5 years now. I've grown significantly attached to my characters and the story I've created for them. I would despise anybody who tried to take that away from me or who has a colored past of doing so to other creators leaving their characters in purgatory for what seems to be eternity.

Ringarune 2016-02-28 20:38:03 UTC #16

I do think I'll be careful as well and wait a little longer before deciding to publish on there. i believe in the second article, one of the creators mentioned to wait until they disclose what the license with the creators will end up being like. I honestly think though that Tokyopop is so hated by creators right now, that they'd have to be extremely dumb to try and pull all that again... no one trusts them at all, and they're really going to have to do a lot to fix their reputation, and terrible contracts would just destroy them.. then again.. maybe I'm wrong and they'll somehow end up messing things up again...

kambreapratt 2016-02-28 20:41:07 UTC #17

A couple months ago we were asked, by someone over there, to test it out and haven't yet (but that is only because of lack of time to format it ) We wouldn't go on there at all if our stuff was in danger of being taken. We were assured repeatedly that is not the case at all.

Ringarune 2016-02-28 20:43:21 UTC #18

that's really interesting, I would love to hear how your experience ends up being if and when you put your comic on there. I personally think I'll wait just a little longer until a little more info is released on the site and its workings.

kambreapratt 2016-02-28 22:44:10 UTC #19

We know one of the guys running it over there. We really do need to get up on there. They have been asking us to check it out and review it. So my husband really likes interface and said it's pretty cool and different. He said it is 100% creator owned and non-exclusive.

there are some cool features coming, but it's in Beta, which is why you aren't hearing a lot about it yet. We'll get a move on it in the next week or two and see and let you guys know. It is easy to load, but we are the problem for our comic because of how we had the pages in the beginning, it kind of looks odd. Most people would not have that problem.

Ringarune 2016-02-29 00:30:23 UTC #20

I can't wait to hear how it works. I signed up for that beta passcode thing on their website, so if I do receive if, i might give a go to posting my comic on there.