Fantagraphics to Introduce New Imprint Takumigraphics

 

Ever since Fantagraphics was founded in 1976, we’ve sought out graphic works that are imaginative, daring, and aesthetically compelling. For the first 30 years, our focus was primarily on English language cartoonists, with forays into definitive translations of exceptional European and South American works. 2010 marked our first serious entry into literary manga with the publication of A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by the pioneering shojo manga creator Moto Hagio. Since then, we have continued to publish groundbreaking manga by Atsushi Kaneko, Kago, Inio Asano, Susumu Higa, Gengoroh Tagame and others. Fantagraphics has continued to broaden the scope of our publishing throughout the 21st century, living up to our brash claim made decades ago — publishers of the world’s greatest cartoonists.

As part of our 50th Anniversary in 2026, we are proud to announce an imprint devoted exclusively to East Asian comics (encompassing comics, manga, manhwa and more from Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and other countries): Takumigraphics.

We chose Takumi from the Japanese because it’s double-bottomed meaning encapsulates the imprint’s editorial goals: it refers to “excellence,” skillfulness,” “adroitness,” “ingeniousness” — as well as a person who embodies those qualities. It’s a term we feel exemplifies the aesthetic caliber of the books that will comprise this imprint — works of mastery and vision.

While the initial focus of Takumigraphics will be on Japanese comics, future titles will include comics by authors from Korea, China, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, and other Asian countries. While this represents a wide range of nuanced cultures and backgrounds, comics from these countries often share an aesthetic and visual language that we believe readers will recognize and appreciate. We couldn't be more excited about this new chapter at Fantagraphics!

-Conrad Groth, Eric Reynolds & Gary Groth

Check out the Takumigraphics announcement at Publishers Weekly, and keep your eyes peeled for more exciting new about how we’re planning to celebrate our 50th Anniversary—we aren’t done yet!