Robert Hoffer

Been there. Done that. Twice.

[Boichi @Boichi_Bo1]

“A Move Toward the North American Digital Manga Market”

So far, no traditional Japanese manga publisher, no new digital manga service, no Japanese government agency, and no major company has actually launched a serious global manga service.
As I have mentioned before, there are certainly meaningful movements underway.
There are also initiatives that I have not mentioned this time.
And there are probably many more that I simply don't know about.

But no one has truly begun in earnest.

From a global perspective, that is exactly why this is the golden time.

While Japan has yet to establish a truly global manga service, anyone who moves quickly and takes the lead in the global manga market has a chance to prosper and win.
It is somewhat like what happened when Netflix moved quickly before Disney launched Disney+.
As we all know, Disney did not lose ground to Netflix because Disney lacked the ability to compete.
They were simply too slow.
That is what makes this a golden time—for challengers in the manga business outside Japan.

The market is remarkably crystal clear, yet almost completely empty.
There are manga readers all over the world who are already ready to consume manga.
Many of them are currently reading pirated manga simply because the industry has left them with so few legitimate alternatives—and then treated them as thieves instead of serving them.

So there are challengers entering this market.

In North America, I was fortunate enough to come across a company called GlobalComix.
I think the company has a vision and potential.

Then, this March, I came across the news that GlobalComix had successfully raised $13 million in funding.
This is an astonishingly important event.
It is powerful evidence of something I have been saying for years: There is money in the world that wants to invest in the manga industry.

It is also an opportunity to prove another one of my arguments: Investment capital has enormous power, and the manga industry needs to learn how to harness that power.

First, though, let me calm down a little bit and take a breath for a second and take a closer look at the investment.
https://t.co/FRTb8ZWMbp

The article was covered by Forbes!
That, in itself, is significant!
In the world of Forbes, a $13 million investment might not normally seem like an event large enough to deserve such prominent coverage.
Yet it was covered.
To me, that is another sign that Forbes—and the broader investment world—is paying attention to the manga industry, particularly the North American comics market.

The investors in GlobalComix include Point72, a U.S. investment firm, which joined forces with SBI, part of Japan's SoftBank Group, in this round.
My guess is that Point72 persuaded SBI to come on board.
In any case, this is effectively a joint investment involving the United States and Japan.

Point72 had already invested $6.5 million three years ago, meaning GlobalComix has now secured a total of approximately $20 million in investment.
All of this is astonishing.

And yes, I am getting excited again.
In my vision for the future of manga, creating a truly global manga market will require a massive amount of capital.
To attract that capital, we first need to prove that the business can work in North America.
That is why I have always believed that North America is a good place to begin.
If we can make it work in North America, the world can move.
Aspiring manga artists in countries around the world could begin creating their own local comics/manga industries in environments where they have access to proper education, production support, and opportunities—rather than having to start from poverty, poor conditions, and a lack of resources.

And yes, I’m getting excited all over again.
In my vision for the future of manga, creating a truly global manga market will require a massive amount of capital.
To attract that capital, I believe we first need to prove what is possible in the North American market.
That is why I have always believed that North America is the right place to start.
If we can make it work in North America, the rest of the world may follow.
When capital begins to flow into the industry, manga creators can finally have the resources they need to create in a healthy and sustainable environment.
They can begin to escape the hell of being expected to create their work for free.
Netflix did something similar.
It helped transform the Korean entertainment business and contributed to changes in the production environments for Japanese dorama and anime.

We can do this with manga, too.
No—I believe we must.
And perhaps I have just witnessed the beginning of it.
If GlobalComix uses its $20 million investment effectively, builds a genuine manga business in North America, and—most importantly—proves that its vision for manga can work, there will be more investment.

Blackstone invested $1.7 billion in the manga business.
If a genuine and successful manga business emerges in North America, Blackstone may eventually invest even more than $1.7 billion into the North American comics industry.

Then the power of capital—the very thing that modern businesses need in order to grow—will finally begin working in the manga industry.

[GlobalComix @globalcomix]

A huge congratulations to our friends at Upside Ventures, Arcade, and @Sidemen for organizing an extraordinary charity match at a sold-out @wembleystadium today. With £4.7 million raised for multiple incredible causes, this event was a testament to the power of visionary entrepreneurs to unite communities and drive real impact. 🎉

We were honored to be part of such a monumental moment, seeing GlobalComix featured among the screens in front of 90,000 passionate fans --and alongside brands like @MrBeast.

We couldn't imagine a more exciting way to get the word out about our incredible community of publishers and creators.

And of course, congratulations to the YouTube All Stars for taking home the win!

https://t.co/htHLP5Iyt4

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Why are there so few calls for Hamas to surrender? Clearly they have lost this war and it has cost the Gazan people dearly. If Hamas admits defeat and lays down its arms would not Israel be forced to accept victory and move on?

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

@explodikid_ Dude - come to our platform https://t.co/nOG8f25IUK and we won't screw you. Simple.

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

@elonmusk buy a vowel, bro.

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Yah - and Zune.

[Jon Erlichman @JonErlichman]

Steve Ballmer’s first take on the iPhone:

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

@topcowmatt @globalcomix Matt you’ve perfectly and succinctly summed up how we at GlobalComix feel about our community partners. Thank you for sharing. Rh

[Matt Hawkins @topcowmatt]

The announcement that we're live on @globalcomix went out today and I wanted to let ya'll know that this deal is a direct response to many of you reaching out and complaining about the lack of DRM free options now (continued)

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

https://t.co/h9PdyPB2br

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Can you name the movie in 6 seconds or less? https://t.co/368A9shdyG

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

@prior2art Loved Hulk v. Wolverine - good art.

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

@HeavyMetalInk @pattonoswalt @comiXology @CBR @globalcomix @globalcomix rocks

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

@ahzzzz let’s chat

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Okay live at 8:17pm https://t.co/rkMQvOuKmB

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Check out my latest article: Rage Against The Urge To Spread https://t.co/pZBgHCGfDL via @LinkedIn

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Check out my latest article: Where Small Businesses Can Get Help! https://t.co/WNUrKHZ88Y via @LinkedIn

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

No that's not new virus outbreaks. It's a mass-shooting map. #covidreboot has effectively ended mass-shootings; clearly it takes a Pandemic to stop an Epidemic. https://t.co/9zg3PLFjqD

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

#covidreboot has effectively ended mass-shootings; clearly it takes a Pandemic to stop an Epidemic. https://t.co/9zg3PLFjqD

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

Accusing Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct is apparently bad for your health.

[Robert Hoffer @roberthoffer]

I've been listening to a lot of pushback about the need to regulate social media. Four questions that come to mind are WHAT should be regulated, WHO should decide, and HOW can the goal actually be achieved technically... https://t.co/Egd6K95lrz