Gourt Home::Gourt :: Tankōbon
is the Japanese term for a "compilation volume" of a particular series (such as a manga or a novel series), as opposed to a magazine or a complete works series which often contain multiple titles.
Typically, manga are first published in phone-book-sized weekly or monthly anthology manga magazines (such as Afternoon, Shonen Jump or Hana to Yume). These anthologies often have hundreds of pages and dozens of individual storylines by multiple authors. They are printed on very cheap newsprint and are considered disposable. A tankōbon collects chapters from a single series and reprints them in a roughly paperback-sized volume on higher quality paper.
In English, while a tankōbon translation is usually marketed as a "graphic novel" or "trade paperback," the terms "tankoubon" or "tankobon" (spelled as such) and "graphic novel" are used by online manga communities. Japanese people frequently call manga tankōbon komikku (コミック), from the English word "comic".
The term may also refer to the format itself—a comic collection in a trade paperback sized book (as opposed to the larger format used by traditional American graphic novels). The tankōbon format has made inroads in the American comics market, with several major publishers opting to release some of their titles in the format.
Aizōban
An is a collector's edition volume. These volumes are generally more expensive and lavished with special features such as special covers created specifically for the edition, special paper used for the cover, higher quality paper, a special slipcase, and so on. Aizōban are generally printed in a limited run, thereby increasing the value and collectability of those few copies made.
Kanzenban
is a term sometimes used instead of aizōban for a special release. As with aizōban, kanzenban are generally printed in a limited run, and generally only the most popular manga are released in this format.Bunkoban
A edition is a typical Japanese novel-sized volume. These are smaller (about 16cm tall) and thicker than tankōbon, printed on much higher quality paper, and usually have a new cover designed specifically for the release (in the case of manga). If there was a wideban release, the bunkoban release will generally have the same number of volumes. They are also sometimes referred to as bunko (without the -ban). An approximation for the number of bunko is half the number of regular tankōbon, e.g. Please Save My Earth was published in 21 tankōbon, and then re-released in 11 bunko.
Wideban
The edition is larger than the regular tankōbon, and generally collects a series in fewer volumes than the original tankōbon release. For example, Maison Ikkoku was originally released in 15 tankōbon volumes, but was released as 10 wideban volumes.
"Tankōbon"