Harlequin Enterprises has decided to publish and distribute its line of Harlequin manga here in North America.  Dark Horse Comics, which began publishing Harlequin manga last year (see 'Dark Horse to Publish Harlequin Manga'), will translate and package the Harlequin manga, which have their origins in Harlequin's extensive manga operation in Japan.  In Japan Harlequin publishes both translated versions of its romance novels and manga adaptations of Harlequin's best-selling romances.

Harlequin plans to use its own sales and distribution force to distribute its new manga line, which launches with four titles in September, all of which are priced at $7.99.  The Harlequin sales force has demonstrated a great ability to place books in multiple channels including mass-market retailers and grocery stores as well as bookstores.  Harlequin does not plan to distribute to comic shops via Diamond Comic Distributors, although interested retailers will be able to order directly from the publisher.

Harlequin plans to concentrate the re-launch of its manga line entirely on the Harlequin Pink Ginger Blossom imprint, which targets younger girls (ages 12 and up).  Harlequin's Mary Abthorpe told ICv2, 'Our research tells us that young girls are far more open to experimenting with different formats.'  Like the romance novels from which they are adapted, Harlequin's new manga line will be sequentially numbered.  The readers of these volumes can be assured that if they like one book in the Ginger Blossom series, they will find similar content (although with different characters) in other volumes in the series.

Harlequin hopes that bookstores will rack its titles both in the manga sections and with the Young Adult romances.  The first four titles to be released are:  Jinxed, adapted by Akemi Maki, Never Kiss a Stranger adapted by Maya Kasumi, No Competition adapted by Yukino Hara, and A Prince Needs a Princess adapted by Reiko Kishida.  Harlequin plans to release two more titles in November and an additional two volumes in January.