Mangaka Akamatsu Ken To Launch Free Download Service of Discontinued Manga

by dtshyk
Nov 17, 2010 12:58 AM | 76 Comments

According to Anime!Anime!, mangaka Akamatsu Ken established a stock company J-Comi with Deguchi Ryusei. The aim of the company is to provide discontinued manga electronically for free. As a test launch of the beta version, all the fourteen volumes of Love Hina manga will be available for free downloading from November 26th. The full launch will be made on January 10th 2011 and scans of out-of-print manga will be provided in PDF format without copy protection.

Layout image of J-Comi website

Akamatsu came up with the idea when he started to receive letters from fans, who obtained his manga by illegal downloading. He thinks it's impossible to eliminate the illegal scans from the internet and it would rather be beneficial if the authors put advertisements to the scans and earn revenue from them. Akamatsu has found the way to establish a "Library of Out-of-print Manga" independent of publishers because publication contracts of manga usually expire in three to five years. Akamatsu is also planning to enable the users to upload scans and to share them via J-Comi after the inspection by the staff and the addition of advertisements.

Sources: Anime!Anime!, Natalie, J Comi official blog

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20 of 76 Comments Recent Comments

Conqueringgodess said:

midnighteternal said:
And THAT'S how it's done.. But it will probably be in Japanese, won't it? D:

Yeah but then if team can use these raw and translate them I don't see why he wouldn't make an english section since he would makes more money.

yes indeed. this is one step forward for all of us especially those living outside japan.. that is the way!

Dec 6, 2010 11:34 PM by d3stinY

If this plan go for english or spanish leanguage i will be in first row!!!

Dec 6, 2010 4:37 PM by kamuielric

He is my top favorite artist! And he is just more amazing!

Nov 22, 2010 10:05 AM by MXMach

midnighteternal said:
And THAT'S how it's done.. But it will probably be in Japanese, won't it? D:

Yeah but then if team can use these raw and translate them I don't see why he wouldn't make an english section since he would makes more money.

Nov 19, 2010 1:41 PM by Alycen

And THAT'S how it's done.. But it will probably be in Japanese, won't it? D:

Nov 19, 2010 12:58 PM by midnighteternal

Nice.

Nov 19, 2010 11:17 AM by MochaMongoose

NICE!! IDEA AKAMATSU SENSEI!!!

Nov 19, 2010 7:33 AM by kamuielric

agent535 said:
EDIT: i just realized, is it RAW scans, or TRANSLATED scans, or both?

I went to have a look. They're RAW scans.

Nov 19, 2010 2:04 AM by mikhailn

Celestz said:

dtshyk said:
According to Anime!Anime!, mangaka Akamatsu Ken established a stock company J-Comi with Deguchi Ryusei. The aim of the company is to provide discontinued manga electronically for free. As a test launch of the beta version, all the fourteen volumes of Love Hina manga will be available for free downloading from November 26th. The full launch will be made on January 10th 2011 and scans of out-of-print manga will be provided in PDF format without copy protection.

Layout image of J-Comi website

Akamatsu came up with the idea when he started to receive letters from fans, who obtained his manga by illegal downloading. He thinks it's impossible to eliminate the illegal scans from the internet and it would rather be beneficial if the authors put advertisements to the scans and earn revenue from them. Akamatsu has found the way to establish a "Library of Out-of-print Manga" independent of publishers because publication contracts of manga usually expire in three to five years. Akamatsu is also planning to enable the users to upload scans and to share them via J-Comi after the inspection by the staff and the addition of advertisements.

Sources: Anime!Anime!, Natalie, J Comi official blog

So basically he'll distribute ALL POSSIBLE discontinued titles or only his works?
If he does do what I understood from the lines, hell yeah! Freedom to the Otakus :D

the way i understand it, yes, he wants to have discontinued manga - not just his - to be distributed for free..

i can say it's a good move... for one, i don't see reading manga online as a bad thing for the industry... though i won't mind if they'd put some ads for extra revenue... anyway that's typical of any other free services online..

btw, i'm not much familiar with Love Hina... meanwhile, Akamatsu's other work, Negima, is my favorite manga... :)

EDIT: i just realized, is it RAW scans, or TRANSLATED scans, or both?

Nov 19, 2010 12:40 AM by agent535

Awesome... Add You're Under Arrest and I would be happy as all get out! :D --- Randy

Nov 18, 2010 8:17 PM by randywmorgan17

Hell ya.
Now this was a nickass move.

Nov 18, 2010 7:17 PM by Sabinlerose

So basically he'll distribute ALL POSSIBLE discontinued titles or only his works?
If he does do what I understood from the lines, hell yeah! Freedom to the Otakus :D

Nov 18, 2010 7:16 PM by Celestz

i hope the manga will be released in english,
i cant read japanese (T-T)

anyway good job akamatsu-sensei
you are my hero :D
i hope you gain success and many more ppl follow this heroic act

good luck~!

Nov 18, 2010 7:10 PM by GuyFreakz

What a good idea, Akamatsu truly understands the viewpoints of the fans, and his mangas are excellent too~ I hope it's a success.

Nov 18, 2010 5:09 AM by Hatchuu

That's awesome news!

It's good that Akamatsu can do something for the manga community.

Nov 18, 2010 2:17 AM by MomoHime125

sounds great to me =D

Nov 18, 2010 1:14 AM by Eternal_Shield

Makes sense for the authors really, better for them if they get a cut of the ad revenue rather than people getting manga through illegal downloads or online reading sites. Or, and I think this is very much more significant in Japan than overseas, reading/buying at used book stores like Book-Off. Authors don't see a dime from the used market, and I'd imagine that free legal online viewings would redirect a god chunk of customers from used book stores.

Nov 18, 2010 12:03 AM by kasumisama

kiosy said:
Way to go, Ken Akamatsu. And I want a good scans of Love Hina, too! The one I obtained "Illegally" is in poor quality! (But I still read it for about 3 to 4 times!) Lol! XD

Me too :D
This guy just secured his spot as my #1 favorite person even more than before.
First he writes my two favorite mangas (Love Hina and Negima), and now this!
Now he just needs to get good anime adaptions of his series, and he'll be legendary!

Nov 17, 2010 11:58 PM by uppfinnarn

Gasp. Someone actually using their head to fight piracy head on with something just as convenient, but it still helps the authors.

+1 karma to Akamatsu

Nov 17, 2010 8:56 PM by Tasolth

I hope other will follow this
I mean they will still make profit and probably more since it will be open worldwide right?
Ads and sponsorship etc..
Youtube is free but they make tons of freaking money

Nov 17, 2010 8:36 PM by R1seAgainst

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