In a bold move that signals a significant shift in the publishing landscape, HarperCollins‘ HarperAlley imprint, originally launched in 2020 with a focus on children’s literature, is set to broaden its horizons towards older readers. Following the trend of major publishers like Random House and their Inklore brand, HarperAlley is venturing into the realm of adult graphic novels, manga, and manhwa. This strategic expansion reflects a positive sign of market growth and diversification, catering to a wider audience that spans teenagers, young adults, and adults.
The decision to expand comes at a time when the graphic novel and manga industry, despite experiencing a slight dip in sales post-pandemic, continues to demonstrate a robust and consistent sales volume. This resilience has encouraged publishers to invest further in this sector, challenging the dominance of established entities such as Viz Media, Seven Seas Entertainment, Yen Press and Dark Horse, who have long held sway over the distribution and marketing in the space.
HarperAlley’s current catalog boasts an impressive array of titles, including co-branded books with other HarperCollins imprints. Notable examples include Nimona by N.D. Stevenson and New Kid by Jerry Craft, both of which have garnered critical acclaim and are published in conjunction with Quill Tree, another HarperCollins Children’s Books imprint.
The expansion is not without precedent within HarperAlley’s history. The imprint has previously dipped its toes into adjacent content, publishing the physical editions of UnOrdinary by uru-chan and HOOKY by Míriam Bonastre Tur, both of which originated on WEBTOON. This experience serves as a foundation for the imprint’s foray into the broader manga, manhwa and graphic novel markets.
As part of the expansion, internal restructuring has also taken place according to Publisher’s Weekly, with long-time HarperAlley staff Andrew Arnold promoted to VP and publisher, Rose Pleuler promoted to senior editor, Maddy Price promoted to designer, and Sophie Schmidt transitioning into a new senior editor role to better align with the imprint’s evolved focus. This shift from a strictly children’s book brand to a more inclusive publishing brand is a reflection of the changing dynamics in readership and market demand.
While specific details regarding future manga and manhwa titles remain to be announced, the industry awaits with anticipation to see how HarperAlley will curate its selection to appeal to its expanded audience. With a proven track record and a clear vision for the future, HarperAlley is poised to make a significant impact on the graphic novel, manga, and manhwa markets, offering its own fresh and diverse content to a growing demographic of readers.
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