Danica Davidson
April 5, 2023 
Abrams ComicArts, an imprint of Abrams Books that’s turning into a division, has made several announcements about its future, including the fact it will begin publishing manga.
Media-Participations, a firm in France, is the owner of Abrams, and France also happens to be the biggest importer of manga in the world.
Vice President and Publisher of Abrams ComicArts Rodolphe Lachat remarked, “Media-Participations has built much of its success and reputation based on its extraordinary catalog of comics, graphic novels, and manga. These formats are intrinsic to our identity… Launching the first Abrams manga program, we will be able to leverage the relationships MPP, one of the first manga publishers in Europe, has built. Our new titles—soon to be announced—will further the immense richness and diversity of the Japanese culture here in the US.”
“Graphic novels, comics, and manga are an area of tremendous growth with a devoted and diverse fan base,” said Abrams president and CEO Mary McAveney. “Our unique access to rich content through MPP allows us to strategically expand our presence in this market. Our best-in-class publishing in the art of comics makes Abrams ComicArts the division to magnify our backlist publishing while expanding into this important market.”
Abrams gave this description of itself:
“Founded in 1949, ABRAMS was the first company in the United States to specialize in publishing art and illustrated books. The company continues to publish critically acclaimed and bestselling works in the areas of art, photography, cooking, craft, comics, interior and garden design, entertainment, fashion, and popular culture; children’s books ranging from middle grade to young adult fiction to picture books to board books. ABRAMS creates and distributes brilliantly designed books with the highest production values under the following imprints: Abrams; Abrams ComicArts; Abrams Image; Abrams Press; The Overlook Press; Abrams Books for Young Readers; Amulet Books; Abrams Appleseed; and a gift and stationery line, Abrams Noterie. ABRAMS also distributes books for Blackwell & Ruth, Booth-Clibborn Editions, Cameron + Company, Alain Ducasse Édition, Getty Publications, Lucky Spool, The Museum of Modern Art, Obvious State, SelfMadeHero, Tate Publishing, V&A Publishing, and The Vendome Press.”
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
