Tokyopop's Stu Levy has talked to Publishers Weekly about the company's plans to get back into North American publishing business. In terms of manga, he reiterated what he said at Anime Expo, that they'd have to pursue "hidden gems" rather than big titles or incomplete series.

"We have to talk with licensors, asking them to give us another chance," Levy said. “Some are open-minded, and some are skeptical. Our role is to find people that want to work with us to make it work, and make it sustainable financially.”

They are also in talks with TV, movie, and video game companies about doing original manga, along the lines of the company's earlier CSI, Star Trek andBattlestar Galactica releases.

Levy is also working on new digital comics initiative, POP Comics. This is a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows creators to upload and promote their original comics, with a closed beta up at thttp://popcomics.com

The comics on POP Comics will be free to read, and supported by online ads. Creators will get 70-75% of the ad revenue, with 30% going to Tokyopop.

Levy cited similar online platforms like LINE's Webtoons as the inspiration for POP Comics. "This kind of thing is a trend in Korea and Japan. LINE has 10 million users, reading manga on their apps that's not seen in any magazine."

Read more, including Levy's statements on the creative rights for Pop Comics works on Publishers Weekly.

------

Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.