In addition to the seven acquisitions of Japanese manga properties that Tokyopop announced at Anime Expo (see 'Tokyopop Announces Seven 04 Manga Series'), the company also announced three new domestically produced manga series for release this October. 

 

ShutterBox is a goth romantic fantasy by creative team Tavisha and Rikki Simmons of Studio Tavicat, described by Tokyopop as the first American shojo series. 

 

@Large, by graphitti specialist and videogame artist Ahmed Hoke, features hip-hop themes.

 

World of Hartz is an action adventure title by Terrence Walker, who's drawn newspaper comics and worked on videogame graphics, sound, and programming.

 

These are the precursors to a major expansion of American manga planned by Tokyopop.  According to a Tokyopop spokesperson, the company plans 25 American manga releases next year, in eight series.  Encouraged by the relative success of its first Rising Stars of Manga release, which sold in the middle of the Tokyopop pack, the company seeks the greater opportunity afforded by being involved in the original publication of intellectual property instead of licensing previously created material.