You in all probability know far more about Okay-pop than I do. Not even in all probability. If you realize a lot in any respect you realize greater than I do.
I’ve at all times been extra of a punk rock woman with my roots in 80s and 90s sounds. Riot grrrls. One night time within the early Aughts, simply previous the flip of the century I went to a present the place a Japanese noise band referred to as Soften-Banana opened for Fantômas and some moments into their opening salvo I’d determined to maneuver to Japan so I may see them as usually as I favored. Which was usually.
As soon as in Japan, I promptly discovered asking somebody what sort of music they prefer to hearken to would elicit breathless monologues about Korean idols and pop singers. Then somebody would get away a smartphone, open YouTube or an app with a private playlist then beam with satisfaction whereas I nodded my head to the beat and cooed, “Hey, sure, I do prefer it!”
Proper now it’s BTS. BTS is nearly every little thing. I’ve met extra BTS followers previously few years than I may even rely. Not simply teenagers and younger individuals. All ages. At my day job I’ve discovered letting college students discuss BTS whereas I appropriate their phrase alternative and grammar tends to make free dialog lessons enjoyable for them. And when the scholars are having enjoyable then I’m having enjoyable and it’s arduous to imagine you may get paid to ensure somebody can gush about BTS in a manner that sounds pure to native English audio system. Hopefully.
In 2018 BTS conquered the American pop charts as their album Love Your self hit #1 on Billboard 200. Since then they’ve loved little however success after hit after hit after success and now they’re breaking into the comics scene through Ize Press and there’s little purpose to assume BTS will do something lower than crush it.
The opposite Okay-pop idols turned comedian e-book stars Tomorrow x Collectively and Enhypen haven’t been round fairly so long as BTS however I’m positive they’ll be comfortable to observe of their footsteps. As soon as we get by means of the screams and thrills of magical Okay-pop adventuring it’s solely then we get to the vampires and werewolves. The BTS and Tomorrow x Collectively tales appear to star the teams themselves however I’m questioning about that final one. The log line makes it seem to be a Okay-pop tackle Buffy the Vampire Slayer full with a teen woman heroine. Perhaps Enhypen are the vampires, sort of a collective Angel to her Buffy. Or they’re the werewolves which might make them Group Oz to her…
Willow?
I believe I simply offered this one to myself. Let’s see what these excessive octane musical powerhouses have for readers…
NEW YORK, NY (4/28/23)— Ize Press revealed the on-sale dates and covers of the English-language editions of HYBE’s personal IP-based ‘unique story’ webcomics with BTS (7FATES: CHAKHO), TOMORROW X TOGETHER (THE STAR SEEKERS), and ENHYPEN (DARK MOON collection). These three titles have been initially launched in ten languages on WEBTOON Worldwide Companies, collectively garnering over 70 million views in a single month.
As his final skilled work earlier than his premature passing in 2022, the artist of the favored Solo Leveling comedian DUBU illustrated the duvet of the print version of 7FATES: CHAKHO, Vol. 1. Ize Press may also publish the English print editions of HYBE’s webnovels of the identical names. Launch dates for the webnovels might be introduced at a later date.
7FATES: CHAKHOCreated by HYBEWith BTS
A collaboration with BTS, the dynamic story follows seven younger males sure by destiny. After rising up collectively by means of a collection of trials and tribulations, they need to change into a unified group of seven to unlock their future. 7FATES: CHAKHO is an city fantasy story set within the close to future, impressed by the Chakhogapsa tiger hunters of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The story portrays confrontations between people and the Beom tribe in a corrupt world.
7FATES: CHAKHO might be launched in October 2023.
THE STAR SEEKERSCreated by HYBEWith TOMORROW X TOGETHER
THE STAR SEEKERS follows a gaggle of younger males in a pop band who stay in a world the place magic is a part of on a regular basis actuality. The group awakens at some point to find they possess dormant magical talents. This improbable story options imaginary creatures, magic, and a enjoyable take a look at the world of leisure.
THE STAR SEEKERS might be launched in November 2023.
DARK MOON seriesCreated by HYBEWith ENHYPEN
Mixing city fantasy and teenage romance, the story follows the confrontation, confusion, and chemistry between a gaggle of vampires, a pack of werewolves, and a mysterious woman with a secret. The story of DARK MOON is advised within the type of a collection of tales, beginning with DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR. Combining a heroine with unimaginable talents, youthful friendships, and a strong secret, DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR brings new levity and vitality to teen romance.
DARK MOON might be launched in December 2023.
All three titles are set to launch Fall 2023. Readers can stay up for proudly owning bodily copies of those widespread fantasy collection. Ize Press is proud so as to add these all-star titles to their lineup of English print editions of Korean comics.
If you’re chart-toppers like these three acts the comedian charts are simply extra charts so that you can prime.
About HYBE
HYBE, rebranded from Massive Hit Leisure in March 2021, is a world leisure way of life platform firm that seeks boundless growth with the intention to innovate the music business. Ever since, HYBE has been increasing its multi label system together with BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, SOURCE MUSIC, PLEDIS Leisure, KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, ADOR, HYBE LABELS JAPAN, whereas HYBE AMERICA additionally manages its affiliate labels together with Massive Machine Label Group. Along with the label enterprise, HYBE established an built-in construction with its resolution enterprise that creates live performance, video content material, recreation, unique story and retail, in addition to a platform enterprise by means of Weverse, a world fandom platform. Composed of its three headquarters based mostly in Korea, Japan and the US, the corporate works in the direction of bringing modern change all through the worldwide music business.
About HYBE ORIGINAL STORY
“HYBE ORIGINAL STORY” is an idea that refers to a novel story IP that HYBE is taking over a brand new problem. It’s linked to the artist’s model and message for music, but it surely goes past the boundaries of music, increasing its charms and prospects as a story-based IP no matter style and format. As well as, it permits readers to be intensely immersed within the tales and revel in them by casting artists in collaboration with the characters of every unique story. The three unique tales launched in January 2022, “7FATES: CHAKHO,” “DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR,” and “THE STAR SEEKERS” are linked to BTS, ENHYPEN, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, respectively. According to the above, “CRIMSON HEART,” launched in November, and “DARK MOON: THE GREY CITY,” launched in December, are linked to LE SSERAFIM and &TEAM, respectively. HYPE has introduced webcomics and internet novels based mostly on HYBE ORIGINAL STORY on the NAVER WEBTOON platform. It plans to increase the enterprise with content material in varied genres and codecs, which fits past webcomics and internet novels, based mostly on HYBE ORIGINAL STORY, a novel story IP that HYBE designed and developed.
About BTS
BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Past the Scene,” are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boyband that has been capturing the hearts of hundreds of thousands of followers globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for his or her genuine and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way in which they work together with their followers, the band has established themselves as twenty first century pop icons breaking numerous world data. Whereas imparting a optimistic affect by means of actions such because the LOVE MYSELF marketing campaign and the UN ‘Communicate Your self’ speech, the band has mobilized hundreds of thousands of followers internationally (named ARMY), collected six No.1 Billboard Sizzling 100 singles since 2020, and carried out a number of sold-out stadium exhibits internationally. They have been additionally named TIME’s Entertainer of the 12 months 2020. BTS are 5-time GRAMMY nominees (63rd to sixty fifth GRAMMY Awards) and have been acknowledged with quite a few prestigious awards just like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the 12 months 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards.
About TOMORROW X TOGETHER
TOMORROW X TOGETHER are thought to be Okay-pop’s voice of Gen Z for his or her musical narratives which give attention to the frequent experiences and feelings of youth throughout the globe. Debuted in 2019, TOMORROW X TOGETHER—consisting of SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN, and HUENINGKAI—have been listed on the prime of Billboard’s “25 Greatest Okay-Pop Songs of 2021: Critics’ Picks” with their 2021 launch, The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE, and the next album The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE was featured on Rolling Stone’s “The 50 Greatest Albums of 2021” as the one album by a Korean act. TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Could 2022 launch, minisode 2: Thursday’s Baby, made its debut at No.4 on the Billboard 200 and charted for 14 weeks. In 2022, the band wrapped up their first world tour with 20 exhibits throughout 14 cities and have become the primary Okay-pop group to carry out at LOLLAPALOOZA in Chicago in July 2022. Notably, TOMORROW X TOGETHER have been nominated at prestigious awards such because the American Music Awards and Individuals’s Selection Awards, and gained on the 2022 MTV EMAs (Greatest Asia Act) and BandLab NME Awards 2022 (Hero of the 12 months). The band’s latest EP, The Title Chapter: TEMPTATION made its debut on the prime of the Billboard 200 albums chart.
About ENHYPEN
ENHYPEN is the primary boyband created by BELIFT LAB, consisting of members JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, and NI-KI. Impressed by the ‘hyphen(-)’ that connects one phrase to a different, ENHYPEN implies that seven totally different boys join to find each other and develop collectively. Upon their official debut in November 2020, ENHYPEN broke out into the worldwide Okay-pop scene and started smashing from day one with 1st Mini Album BORDER : DAY ONE attaining the largest first week gross sales for a single album amongst Okay-pop teams to debut the identical 12 months. Lower than two years later, the band proved they’re the brand new powerhouse of Okay-pop, as they turned double “Million-Sellers” within the shortest time period (since debut) in Okay-pop historical past with 1st Studio Album DIMENSION : DILEMMA (launched in October 2021) and third Mini Album MANIFESTO : DAY 1 (July 2022), which each debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 11 and No. 6, respectively. In September 2022, the band launched into their first world tour ‘MANIFESTO’, headlining arenas in 12 cities throughout the globe for 22 exhibits. Armed with genuine tales of their music and multi-talented presence on stage, ENHYPEN proceed to seize the eye of viewers worldwide whereas acting on international exhibits like MTV Contemporary Out Dwell and The Kelly Clarkson Present.
About Ize Press
Based in 2022, Ize Press is the Korean-content imprint from Yen Press. A collaboration between Yen Press, REDICE STUDIO, and RIVERSE, Ize Press will set up itself as a market chief for print editions of content material that has captured the creativeness and dedication of readers all over the world. At a time by which comics and webnovels from Korea are rising in reputation on the pace of Okay-pop, Ize Press goals to ship high-quality bodily editions of many beloved tales to followers keen so as to add them to their collections. For extra data, go to izepress.com.
