U.S. manga publisher Tokyopop announced 10 winners of the Rising Stars of Manga, a contest sponsored by the publisher to find new American creators of manga.
The grand prize winners are the team of Priscilla Hamby and Clint Bickham, ages 20 and 21, respectively, and their manga work Devil's Candy. The grand prize—winning team will receive $2,500 and a trophy, as well as the opportunity to pitch the full-length manga project to Tokyopop's top executives.
Receiving the first-place award is the team of Michael Schwark and Ron R. Kaulfersch, both 27, and their work Van Von Hunter: Circlet of Necromancy. They will receive $1,000 and a trophy. Eight runners-up will each receive $500 and a plaque.
In a separate announcement, Tokyopop plans to publish a new manga series called Battle Royale by Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi. Described by the publisher as a modern day Lord of the Flies, the futuristic series follows the fortunes of a junior high school class stranded on an island and forced into a survival game.
