Del Rey Manga was an American publishing imprint that released English‑language editions of Japanese manga. The imprint was part of Del Rey Books, which itself was an imprint of Random House (later Penguin Random House).
History
- Launch – The Del Rey Manga line was introduced in 2004 as part of Random House’s effort to expand its presence in the growing U.S. manga market.
- Operations – The imprint acquired licensing rights from several Japanese publishers, including Kodansha, Shogakukan, and others, and produced paperback and trade‑paperback editions aimed at both general‑interest readers and collectors.
- Notable publications – Throughout its existence, Del Rey Manga released a variety of titles spanning different genres, such as works by acclaimed creators including Jiro Taniguchi and other series that were later re‑issued by other U.S. manga publishers.
- Closure – In 2010 Random House announced the discontinuation of the Del Rey Manga imprint. Selected titles were subsequently transferred to other publishers, most notably to Yen Press and Kodansha Comics, which continued to keep some of the series in print.
Corporate context
Del Rey Manga operated under the broader Del Rey Books brand, which was known for publishing adult and genre fiction, as well as for its partnership with Disney on the “Del Rey Books for Young Readers” line. The manga imprint represented Random House’s dedicated effort to market Japanese graphic novels in the North American book trade.
Legacy
Although the imprint existed for a relatively short period, its catalog contributed to the early 2000s expansion of manga availability in mainstream U.S. bookstores. The transfer of its titles to other publishers helped ensure continued accessibility of several series that had first been introduced under the Del Rey Manga label.
