The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan and TOKYOPOP Join Hands to Fulfill a Young Girl's Wish
TOKYOPOP Proudly Presents REIGN OVER DESTINY. Debuting at San Diego Comic-Con 2006, it's an all-new manga created by Tessa Victoria Weyh and Blaer Ransburg, with art by Mara Aum.
Comic-Con - San Diego, CA (July, 2006)-When 16-year-old Tessa Victoria Weyh, diagnosed with a brain tumor, was given the opportunity to request a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation(r), she did not have to think very long. A lifelong fan of TOKYOPOP manga, the Detroit native's wish was to create and publish her own manga. Now, TOKYOPOP is proud to announce the release of Reign over Destiny, the all-new original manga by Tessa Victoria Weyh, Blaer Ransburg (Tessa's best friend since 7th grade), and artist Mara Aum, a recent Savannah College of Art and Design graduate. A 20-page pilot of Reign Over Destiny will debut exclusively on www.tokyopop.com July 2006.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, the largest wish-granting charity in the world, grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
"When Make-A-Wish comes into your life, one doesn't think about being sick, one thinks about the whole wide world and his or her part in it," said Tessa "I began writing Reign Over Destiny with Blaer in middle school, as a way to express a fantastical life. The characters have taken me to so many exciting places in this story that my dream is to give those places along with the characters, a true form in which to live. I thank Make-A-Wish and TOKYOPOP for making it happen."
"The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan is incredibly grateful to TOKYOPOP for helping to make Tessa's dream become a reality. Not only have they helped to ensure her manga gets published, they have also gone over, above and beyond to provide a wonderful and memorable experience for Tessa and her family at Comic-Con 2006," said Jeannette Tarcha, Director of Media and Public Relations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan.
In a word from Jeremy Ross, Director of Manga Development at TOKYOPOP, "When Make-A-Wish first approached us with Tessa's wish for her Reign Over Destiny story to be made into a manga, we realized that it was our destiny to turn her dream into reality. Tessa's compelling letter touched our hearts and her manga story excited our editorial team. Everything came together when Tessa met artist Mara Aum. Mara worked night and day making Tessa's world come to life on the page -- ensuring that every detail reflects her vision."
To learn more about Tessa and her manga, Reign Over Destiny, TOKYOPOP invites you to join Tessa and her family at San Diego Comic-Con on July 21 at 2:00pm in Panel Room #9.
