Exciting news was announced yesterday for comics and manga fans. According to Anime News Network, American publisher DSTLRY and Japanese publisher Kodansha have formed a partnership.
The collaboration between DSTLRY and Kodansha involves the exchange of artists for cover art, providing readers on both sides of the Pacific with exposure to artists from each company.
The first result of this partnership is a variant cover for the series Somna by Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay, featuring the artwork of ShūzŨ Oshimi from Flowers of Evil/Blood on the Track. Oshimi, known for his thrilling works that appeal to horror enthusiasts, is a perfect fit for this folk horror series.
DSTLRY describes Somna as:
Set in a quiet English village during the witch hunts of the 1600s, Somna follows a woman named Ingrid as she escapes from the confines of her puritanical world. Ingrid is unhappily married to Roland, the town’s bailiff and chief witch hunter, who is on a mission to purge the “heretics” in their midst. When a prominent town leader is found murdered, accusations fly, and no one is safe from Roland’s deadly crusade. Ingrid suspects the identity of the real murderer, but as she searches for the truth, she is pursued by a shadowy figure. Ingrid finds herself drawn to this foreboding phantom in ways she cannot resist, wondering if he holds the key to the mystery or if he will damn her soul to the darkest depths of Hell.
“I was captivated by the story of Somna, where dreams and reality intertwine, as well as the different artistic styles used to express it,” shared Oshimi. “Creating the variant cover was a fun experience!”
What does this partnership mean?
This collaboration between U.S. and Japanese publishers is not entirely unprecedented. Marvel and DC have previously licensed their characters for successful manga adaptations, and Kodansha has included contributions from North American artists in an Attack on Titan anthology a few years ago.
However, this partnership signifies a significant move for DSTLRY. Despite being a smaller publisher compared to Marvel or DC, DSTLRY has made a noticeable impact in its first year and was named The Beat’s Publisher of the Year for 2023.
While the partnership is currently focused on cover art, it opens up numerous possibilities for both publishers if it proves successful. For example, they could collaborate on projects similar to VIZ Media’s recent release, Betwixt: A Horror Manga Anthology, which brought together manga creators from Japan and the U.S., including Cloonan.
Take a look at Oshimi’s eerie variant cover for Somna #3 below!
Somna #3 is currently available for pre-order. DSTLRY plans to release the comic on March 27, 2024.