Cosmic Lion, an up-and-coming independent publisher, launches its Comic Lion Manga imprint with two summer releases: Side Quests to World Domination and the printed second half of the webtoon Half of the Crown. The move follows its pact with Prana Publishers for extended distribution. Ro Higashi and editor Eli Schwab lead the line, noting that expansion into manga was a natural step to add new voices and reflect changes in the comic industry.
Distribution and Format: The Technical Leap from Webtoon to Print 📘
The transition of Half of the Crown from vertical digital format to Western print requires layout adjustments. The Cosmic Lion team restructures panels and frames for horizontal reading, preserving the original artwork without cropping. Side Quests to World Domination, a new work, is designed directly for print using offset printing standards. The agreement with Prana Publishers ensures presence in specialized bookstores and chains, while digital distribution remains handled by previous platforms.
Another Manga Imprint: Because the Industry Was Missing Cats 🐱
Sure, because what the publishing world needed was another manga imprint with a lion in its name. But hey, if cats rule the internet, why not printed comics? Cosmic Lion now competes with established publishing felines, albeit with the promise of rescuing webtoons forgotten in digital limbo. At least Half of the Crown will have a pretty cover to collect dust on the shelf, right before they announce the third volume in three years.