Papercutz has entered into an agreement with Holtzbrinck Publishers (which includes St. Martin’s Press, Farrar, Straus & Giroux and distributees Rodale and Wizards of the Coast among others) to distribute their cutting edge graphic novels to the book trade in the US and worldwide beginning October1, 2005.
Papercutz launched its line of graphic novels for tweens this spring to great success, bringing Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys into comics for the first time in many years. Press coverage has included major pieces appearing in USA Today, The New York Times Magazine, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Teen Newsweek. As a result, the first Nancy Drew graphic novel has already gone back to press.
The design for the Papercutz line takes its cue from successful manga books but expands the appeal to a more mainstream young audience. These pocket size full color 96 page books combine elements of the Japanese manga style with well-known licenses in all new comics and stories, not adaptations or screen captures. The publishing program will include 4 new titles per series each year in both paperback and hardcover.
“We were immediately enthusiastic when we were introduced to Papercutz,” said Patti Hughes, VP, Distribution Sales & Marketing, Holtzbrinck Publishers. “This fresh approach to an old favorite will bring a whole new generation of readers to these established brands. We look forward to working closely with Papercutz to make the line an even bigger success.”
“I am very excited to become part of the Holtzbrinck family of distributed companies,” Papercutz publisher Terry Nantier commented. “This will put great muscle behind our efforts to get our books out to eager kids everywhere.” Papercutz will next be launching its Zorro series of graphic novels on the eve of “The Legend of Zorro”, the new movie with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas. A number of other exciting projects are in the works for 2006.
Papercutz’ sister company NBM Publishing will continue to distribute to the comics trade.
The two principals of Papercutz are Terry Nantier, founder of NBM, a leading literary graphic novel publishing company and pioneer in the field, and Jim Salicrup, the fan-fave editor who built up Spider-Man while at Marvel and who was Editor-in-Chief at Topps Comics, publishing X-Files and Xena comics, among others.
Holtzbrinck Publishers is a group of publishing companies in the United States held by Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck, which is based in Stuttgart, Germany. US publishers include Farrar Straus and Giroux, Henry Holt & Company, Picador, Roaring Brook Press, St. Martin’s Press, and Tor Books. Holtzbrinck also distributes books for a variety of other publishers, including Bloomsbury USA, College Board, Consumer Reports, Rodale, Wizards of the Coast, and World Almanac.
