Atankōbon (単行本;lit. 'independent/standalone book')[a] is a standard publishing format for books in Japan, alongside other formats such asshinsho (17×11 cm paperback books) andbunkobon. Used as aloanword in English, the term specifically refers to a printed collection of amanga that was previously published in a serialized format. Mangatankōbon typically contain a handful of chapters, and may collect multiple volumes as a series continues publication.
Major publishingimprints fortankōbon of manga includeJump Comics (for serials inShueisha'sWeekly Shōnen Jump and otherJump magazines),Kodansha'sShōnen Magazine Comics,Shogakukan'sShōnen Sunday Comics, andAkita Shoten’sShōnen Champion Comics.
Increasingly after 1959,[citation needed]manga came to be published in thick,phone-book-sized weekly or monthly anthologymanga magazines, such asWeekly Shōnen Magazine orWeekly Shōnen Jump. These anthologies often have hundreds of pages and dozens of individual series by multiple authors. They are printed on cheapnewsprint and are considered disposable. Since the 1930s, though, comic strips had been compiled intotankōbon collecting multiple installments from a single series and reprinting them in a roughlypaperback-sized volume on higher quality paper than in the original magazine printing.[1] Strips in manga magazines and tankobon are typically printed in black and white, but sometimes certain sections may be printed in colour or using colored inks or paper.
InEnglish, while atankōbon translation is usually marketed as a "graphic novel" or "trade paperback", the transliterated termstankoubon andtankōbon are sometimes used amongst online communities. Japanese speakers frequently refer to mangatankōbon by the Englishloanword "comics" (コミックス,komikkusu),[2] although it is more widespread for being used in place of the word "manga", as they are the same thing. The term also refers to the format itself—a comic collection in atrade paperback sized (roughly 13 cm × 18 cm, 5 in × 7 in) book (as opposed to the larger 18 cm × 25 cm, 7 in × 10 in format used by traditional American graphic novels).[3]
Although Japanese manga tankobon may be in various sizes, the most common areJapanese B6 (12.8 cm × 18.2 cm, 5.04 in × 7.17 in) andISO A5 (14.8 cm × 21.0 cm, 5.83 in × 8.27 in). Thetankōbon format has made inroads in the American comics market, with several major publishers opting to release some of their titles in this smaller format, which is sometimes also called "digest format" or "digest size". In the United States, many manga are released in the so-called "Tokyopop trim" or "Tokyopop size" (approximately 13 cm × 19 cm, 5 in × 7.5 in).[4]
Anaizōban (愛蔵版;lit. "cherished edition") is acollector's editionvolume. These volumes are generally more expensive and lavished with special features such as a special cover created specifically for the edition, a special paper used for the cover, higher quality paper, a special slipcase, etc.Aizōban are generally printed in a limited run, thereby increasing the value and collectability of those few copies made. Theaizōban format has begun to make inroads into the US market, with titles such asFruits Basket andMobile Suit Gundam: The Origin being reissued in a similar format.
Abunkoban (文庫版;lit. "paperback edition") edition refers to atankōbon printed inbunko format, or a typical Japanese novel-sized volume.Bunkoban are generallyA6 size (105 mm × 148 mm, 4.1 in × 5.8 in) and thicker thantankōbon and, in the case of manga, usually have a new cover designed specifically for the release. In the case of manga, abunkoban tends to contain considerably more pages than atankōbon and usually is a republication oftankōbon of the same title which may or may not have been out of print.[5]
Thus, thebunko edition of a given manga will consist of fewer volumes. For example,Please Save My Earth was published in 21tankōbon volumes, and then re-released in 12bunko volumes.[6] If the original manga was awide-ban release, thebunkoban release will generally have the same number of volumes.
Agōka aizōban (豪華愛蔵版;lit. "luxury collector's edition") is another term occasionally used to designate a type of special release.[7]
Thekanzenban (完全版;lit. "complete edition") is yet another term sometimes used to denote a type of special release. Akanzenban release is generallyA5 size (148 mm × 210 mm, 5.8 in × 8.3 in) and will typically reproduce individual chapter covers, colour pages, and side-stories from its original magazine run, features that are often omitted or converted tograyscale in standardtankōbon releases. While theaizōban appellation emphasizes the value of the volumes, the termkanzenban emphasizes their completeness.
Similar to awide-ban, ashinsōban (新装版;lit. "redecorated edition") ortokusōban (特装版;lit. "specially bound edition") is a special edition released, usually with a new cover. The volumes in such a release usually have new colour pages and other extras. For example, in 2003,Sailor Moon was re-edited; some pages were completely redrawn, and most dialogues were rewritten by the author. The chapters were redivided to fit into 12 volumes instead of 18.[8]
Thesōshūhen (総集編;lit. "compilation") is a format published byShueisha beginning in 2008. Asōshūhen edition isB5 size (176 mm × 250 mm, 6.9 in × 9.8 in), larger than akanzenban, and similarly reproduces chapter covers and colour pages while also including a variety of bonus features such as posters and interviews. The majority ofsōshūhen releases are for popular manga with ongoing serializations. They contain far more pages than a standardtankōbon and feature more chapters in fewer volumes;Naruto Part I was originally published in 27tankōbon volumes, but was completed in just eightsōshūhen volumes.[9]
Awide-ban orwaidoban (ワイド版;lit. "wide edition") edition is larger (A5 size) than a regulartankōbon. Many manga, particularlyseinen andjosei manga, are published inwide-ban editions after magazine serialisation, and are never released in thetankōbon format that is common inshōnen manga andshōjo manga. When a series originally published intankōbon format is re-released inwide-ban format, each volume will contain more pages than in the original edition, and therefore the series will consist of fewer volumes. For example,Inuyasha was originally released in 56tankōbon volumes, but was republished as 30wide-ban volumes.[10]
The termkomikkusu (for comic books) spread and because of its English origin...
